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Mac Engel: Why the NBA's best coach had to leave the Mavericks and return to Indiana

Sports / Basketball /

FORT WORTH, Texas — The following is not an intended dig, shot or knock of a man who was forced to retire from a job he loved because of an unfortunate illness that finally stopped him from working.

Former San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is a Hall of Fame coach who maximized the considerable power, and talent, he was blessed to possess...Read more

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Mike Sielski: Sorry, Dylan Harper. Too bad, Ace Bailey. If I were the Sixers, I'd pass on Rutgers' two stars.

Sports / Basketball /

PHILADELPHIA — There is something inherently unfair about the next sentence I’m about to type, but here goes:

If I were the 76ers, if I were Daryl Morey and his scouting staff, and if I were given the opportunity to select either Dylan Harper or Ace Bailey in next week’s NBA draft, I would pick someone else.

I would not pick someone who ...Read more

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Lynx rally past Aces, will play for Commissioner's Cup

Sports / Basketball /

MINNEAPOLIS — Courtney Williams couldn’t buy a bucket in the first half Tuesday at Target Center. In the second half she cashed in. The Lynx offense was stuck in neutral for the first 20 minutes, in the second half it shifted into gear.

Once again, one half was enough.

With Napheesa Collier out of the game for most of the second half with ...Read more

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Angel Reese and the 'mebounds' myth: How Sky star is turning an (inaccurate) insult into a brand

Sports / Basketball /

CHICAGO — Angel Reese is embracing the “mebounds” — at least as a businesswoman.

The Chicago Sky star filed a trademark application over the weekend for the term, which refers to a rebound a player secures off her own missed shot. Although the term is relatively new, the “mebound” concept has hounded Reese throughout her first two ...Read more

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knPacers star Tyrese Haliburton to undergo MRI for calf strain before Game 6 of NBA Finals

Sports / Basketball /

The status of Tyrese Haliburton’s calf now hangs over the NBA Finals.

The Indiana Pacers’ star point guard played through a right calf strain in Game 5 and was set to undergo an MRI on Tuesday, according to ESPN.

Haliburton managed only four points on 0-of-6 shooting in Monday night’s 120-109 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, which put ...Read more

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Jim Souhan: What is Rudy Gobert's future with the Timberwolves?

Sports / Basketball /

MINNEAPOLIS — Timberwolves boss Tim Connelly could do just about anything this summer, and one of the most surprising things he could do is nothing.

No one knows, at the moment, what the future holds for Julius Randle, Naz Reid, Nickeil Alexander-Walker or Mike Conley, not to mention younger players who could become trade chips.

One of the ...Read more

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Kristian Winfield: Patient approach is right approach for Knicks' head coach search

Sports / Basketball /

NEW YORK — The Knicks don’t need to rush. They are a one-of-one — the only franchise in the NBA with an active head coaching vacancy. That means they can afford to take their time. And they should. Because the next move might be the most important yet under Leon Rose’s tenure.

This is their one shot to get it right.

The Knicks parted ...Read more

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What Magic's trade for Desmond Bane could mean for Celtics

Sports / Basketball /

BOSTON — Six weeks after being bounced by Boston in the opening round of the playoffs, the Orlando Magic pulled off the first major move of the NBA offseason.

The Magic gave up a haul Sunday to add Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane to their young and talented core. In return for the 26-year-old, Memphis received four first-round draft picks, a ...Read more

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Magic, Jeff Weltman 'valued' Desmond Bane, who became 'priority' for Orlando

Sports / Basketball /

ORLANDO, Fla. — The decision to trade guards Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony and multiple future first-round picks to acquire Desmond Bane from the Grizzlies was one Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman described as easy to make.

Speaking with the media Monday inside the AdventHealth Training Center for the first time ...Read more

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After heated moment, Sun's Tina Charles, Sky's Angel Reese show mutual respect

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UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Connecticut Sun veteran Tina Charles and Chicago Sky phenom Angel Reese had to be separated by multiple teammates and referees after a heated shoving match in Sunday’s game at Mohegan Sun Arena, resulting in double technical fouls for the star forwards.

The scuffle involved all three UConn alumni on the Sun’s roster, ...Read more

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Mike Bianchi: Blockbuster deal for Desmond Bane puts Magic in championship conversation

Sports / Basketball /

ORLANDO, Fla. — Hallelujah, the rebuild is over.

No, seriously, this time, it’s really over.

It’s finally, officially, historically, euphorically, dramatically, emphatically over.

After a dozen years of painful rebuilding and an endless pursuit of acquiring draft capital, cap flexibility and other future assets, Orlando Magic president ...Read more

Yong Kim / Staff Photographer/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

Keith Pompey: Sixers' future success depends on Joel Embiid's level of play -- not the upcoming NBA draft

Sports / Basketball /

PHILADELPHIA — Where these 76ers end up will depend on the health of a player who had two left knee surgeries in 14 months and three in nine years.

This was always the case.

What has changed is the level of intrigue regarding what the team will do in the June 25-26 NBA draft.

Right now, the Sixers are garnering headlines for exploring every...Read more

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Ira Winderman: Durant might want Heat, but history shows that only means so much

Sports / Basketball /

MIAMI — You start here: It didn’t matter what Damian Lillard wanted.

But you also start here: It did matter what Jimmy Butler wanted.

Because here the Pat Riley and the Miami Heat stand again, at a crossroads of desire and destination, this time with Kevin Durant.

Once again, a player who wants out, but also wants out to a preferred ...Read more

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Anthony Edwards-Kevin Durant reunion in Minnesota seems 'unlikely'

Sports / Basketball /

MINNEAPOLIS — The latest twist in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes seems to have the Timberwolves on the outside looking in as teams are assembling their best offers to entice the Suns to deal the 36-year-old former MVP.

On Saturday night, ESPN Senior NBA Insider Shams Charania reported Durant has a list of teams he would prefer to go to that ...Read more

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What acquiring Desmond Bane from Grizzlies in huge trade means for Magic

Sports / Basketball /

ORLANDO, Fla. — Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman made his first move Sunday looking through Orlando’s “win-now” lens that he described the organization entering after a second straight first-round playoff exit.

The Magic will acquire guard-forward Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for guard Cole ...Read more

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Sun fall to Sky as Angel Reese logs first career triple-double

Sports / Basketball /

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Despite standout performances from the star duo of Tina Charles and Marina Mabrey, the Connecticut Sun fell to last place in the Eastern Conference Commissioner’s Cup standings with a 78-66 loss to the Chicago Sky at Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday.

Mabrey led the Sun with 22 points, shooting 7 for 17 from the field and ...Read more

VJ Edgecombe's former coaches detail his rise from relative unknown to elite draft prospect: 'He produces winning plays'

Sports / Basketball /

PHILADELPHIA — In the first moments of New York’s 2023 Class AA state championship game, VJ Edgecombe received an up-the-court pass after a defensive stop, then elevated off two feet to throw down a dunk for his Long Island Lutheran team.

“I remember that play starting the game, like, ‘Whooo, no one’s beating us today,’ ” Long ...Read more

Ira Winderman: Time for Heat to consider dealing ... anyone and everyone?

Sports / Basketball /

MIAMI — All roads apparently lead to this intersection for the Miami Heat, where the hope of a union with Kevin Durant meets the reality of obstacles at play.

Over. And over. And over again.

So within a matter of days, likely ahead of the June 25 first round of the NBA draft, it again could be a case of coming up short amid lust for the ...Read more

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Patrick Reusse: On a traumatic day, Lynx advocate, inspire and keep on winning

Sports / Basketball /

MINNEAPOLIS — This was more than 90 minutes before the Lynx and the Los Angeles Sparks would have a noon tipoff at Target Center. The WNBA game was scheduled to be televised nationally on CBS.

There were 15 girls, maybe ages 10 to 13, ready to make a left turn from the skyway to the arena entry. The youngsters were wearing T-shirts saluting ...Read more

Caitlin Clark returns with 32 points as Fever hand Liberty first loss of season

Sports / Basketball /

Caitlin Clark is back.

The WNBA’s brightest young star returned Saturday afternoon against the Liberty after missing five games with a quad injury and lit up the defending champs in the Fever’s 102-88 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Clark’s 32 points was enough to overcome Sabrina Ionescu’s 34 and hand the Liberty (9-...Read more