NBA News

The offseason has arrived for the Phoenix Suns, and the thought experiments are underway. What should this team do to get better? No one is immune to it, and no one should be. That’s part of fandom. You want a better situation, a more competitive team, and you start building ideas around how to get there. The offseason is where …

Game Seven. Two of the most heart-pumping words in all of sports. Under any circumstances, the Philadelphia 76ers playing a win-or-go-home game with the season on the line would make for an edge-of-your-seat viewing experience. However, tonight has the added element of coming against the rival Boston Celtics, with all of the history that entails. The Sixers haven’t eliminated Boston …

HOUSTON — A few hours after the dust had settled from a seismic Game 3 collapse, when the quiet consumed the halls of Toyota Center, disenchanted team governor Tilman Fertitta, surrounded by friends and family, trudged toward the loading dock. A pair of hands calmly rested on Fertitta’s back, an attempt to lift the spirits of the typically cheerful 68-year-old …

The date is 12 March, and the Los Angeles Lakers are in the midst of a run that’s garnering a lot of well-deserved attention, in a month that sees them lose just two contests and win 15. The spirit of the locker room is at an all-time high, and it’s clear in talking to LeBron James, the 41-year-old storied veteran …

The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers are set for a Game 7 at TD Garden. The 76ers won Game 6 in Philadelphia, 106-93, giving the 76ers two straight wins in the series. Once down 3-1, the 76ers have tied the series up 3-3. With Joel Embiid back in the lineup for Philadelphia, Boston has struggled from three. The Celtics are …

On Friday night, the Detroit Pistons made history. Facing elimination in Game 6 of the opening round of the 2025-26 NBA Playoffs, the Pistons found themselves down 24 points in the second half. But then their defense locked in, Cade Cunningham took over, the Pistons came all the way back to force a Game 7 home in Detroit. Their 24-point …

The Boston Celtics are collapsing in on themselves, now having dropped back-to-back games against the Philadelphia 76ers. What was supposed to be a quick series for Boston has now turned into a slog, with Philly bouncing back from a 3-1 deficit to force a Game 7. It’s do-or-die time. No more second chances. The Celtics had several opportunities to close …

Whew. Sigh. LeBron! History eluded. Embarrassment avoided. Belief restored. The most secure legacy played with the most desperation. The most creaky veteran played with the most aggression. The winningest superstar played like he had everything to lose. Advertisement Wow. Gasp. LeBron! So it went at Houston’s Toyota Center on Friday night when the Lakers, just two losses from becoming the …

In Friday’s Brotherhood Playoff Action, Toronto eliminated Cleveland in overtime, 112-110, Detroit roared back to shock Orlando, 93-79, and Los Angeles eliminated Houston, 98-78. The big story of the night was RJ Barrett’s magnificent game-winner against the Cavaliers. Barrett didn’t shoot well overall, just 8-21/4-12, but he hit the only shot that people will be talking about. He also pulled …

Marcus Smart’s block. LeBron James’ dominant second quarter. Deandre Ayton’s relentless rebounding. The individual performances in the Lakers’ ugly, but decisive 98-78 series-clinching win over the Houston Rockets on Friday were almost too numerous for coach JJ Redick to focus on each one. Advertisement That collective spirit is also what makes him so confident heading into the Lakers’ first Western …

Heartbreak only happens when you put yourself in a position to make it possible. The Cleveland Cavaliers had their souls crushed by an RJ Barrett three that bounced off the rim multiple times before falling through to give the Toronto Raptors a 112-110 victory and force a Game 7. Advertisement The Cavs shouldn’t have been in that position. They didn’t …

HOUSTON (AP) — When leading scorers Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were both injured in an April 2 game, coach JJ Redick admitted things felt bleak for the Los Angeles Lakers. But instead of feeling sorry for themselves, the Lakers banded together to fight through the adversity and beat the Houston Rockets in six games to move on to face …

RJ Barrett did the Tyrese Haliburton. And Haliburton noticed. During Game 6 between the Raptors and Cavaliers on Friday night, the score was 110-109 as No. 5 seed Toronto, with its season on the line, scrambled on its potentially final possession at home against No. 4 seed Cleveland. Advertisement Scottie Barnes attempted to drive on Dean Wade, saw help from …

After a couple of losses, the Lakers finally finished off the Rockets, beating them 98-78 in Game 6 to advance to the second round. Los Angeles went on an impressive 13-1 run to start the second quarter, giving them control of the game and they never looked back. Advertisement Now the Lakers will face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder …

After taking care of the Rockets in six games, the Lakers will move to the second round for a matchup against the league’s best team in the Thunder. The series will start on Tuesday, May 5. The defending champions ran riot through everyone not named San Antonio this season, then made quick work of Phoenix in the first round. As …

HOUSTON — JJ Redick said the Lakers would need to “kill” the Rockets to close out their first round playoff series. And on Friday night at Toyota Center, the Lakers accomplished their goal, suffocating the Rockets’ offense to a permanent end of their season en route to a 98-78 victory in Game 6 of the best-of-seven series, advancing to a …

Well, that game took a turn, didn’t it? Full disclosure, this recap is coming so late because I had given up. It had been a tough work day, followed by an unwelcome call to a plumber, followed by an abysmal second quarter for the Detroit Pistons. Facing elimination and needing to deliver their A game, the Pistons delivered a D-, …

There will be no Game 7. After dropping consecutive closeout games that simultaneously put the series in jeopardy and gave the Rockets real momentum, the Lakers took care of business in Game 6, dominating the Rockets and leaving no doubt on who the better team was with a 98-78 victory. Advertisement The Lakers have now punched their ticket to the …

LeBron James knew what was at stake in this first-round playoff series and that it was on his shoulders to meet the moment and have his teammates follow his lead. James simply elevated his play like he has so many times over his illustrious 23-year NBA career, playing with a purpose and willing the Lakers to a 98-78 win over …

Well, if you were paying attention to the NBA Playoffs Friday night, you’ll most likely agree with us that there’s no question about what today’s Gold will be. With the seconds running down in overtime, RJ Barrett got a pass out at the top of the key from Toronto teammate Scottie Barnes, and put up a long three. Advertisement It …

The Cleveland Cavaliers made their bed. Now they have one game left to get out of it. All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player. Donovan Mitchell 24 points, 2 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 block, 3 turnovers Advertisement Mitchell should be the best player on the floor. That hasn’t been true for four straight games. Mitchell has …

LeBron James scored 28 points as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets to set up a Western Conference semi-final play-off against reigning NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder. James also added seven rebounds and eight assists to help the Lakers to a 98-78 victory, which secured a 4-2 series win against the Rockets. Advertisement The Lakers had led the …

Philadelphia 76ers (45-37, seventh in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (56-26, second in the Eastern Conference) Boston; Saturday, 7:30 p.m. EDT LINE: Celtics -7.5; over/under is 205.5 EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Series tied 3-3 Advertisement BOTTOM LINE: The Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers square off in game seven of the Eastern Conference first round. The 76ers defeated the …

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers bounced back in a big way to avoid playing Game 7 of their Western Conference first-round series against the Houston Rockets. James had 28 points, eight assists and seven rebounds as the Lakers beat the Rockets 98-78 on Friday, May 1. It was his league-record 157th playoff game with at least 25 points, …

There was no history made in Houston on Friday night. In fact, it was a night Rockets fans would like to forget entirely. The Lakers came out aggressive and focused from the opening tip, while Houston didn’t match that energy. At the same time, its offense went ice-cold at the worst possible time — Los Angeles packed the paint defensively …