NBA News

The NBA may or may not have an officiating crisis. But it definitely has a crisis of confidence, which is the only kind that matters. Even in the age of big data and AI-generated LeBron songs, we still do not have a reliable way to track if an NBA game was officiated well. This isn’t automatic balls and strikes; we’re …

Caleb Wilson hasn’t gotten to go through the NBA Draft combine yet, but there’s already a lot of buzz that he could be drafted top three overall. What wasn’t expected, however, is Yahoo Sports projecting that he could go higher than that. In their latest mock draft, they have Wilson being picked second overall by the Atlanta Hawks. For the …

Kobe Bryant rookie trading cards aren’t particularly rare. And because rarity equates to value, standard issue 1997 cards featuring the late Lakers great retail for a pedestrian $100 to $300. Then there are 1997 Kobe Bryant Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Green cards, which just by typing that highfalutin name can give even the most savvy collector goose bumps. Advertisement …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. The New York Knicks have dropped two straight games, and they’ll look to get back on track when they visit the Atlanta Hawks in Game 4 on Saturday. Jalen Brunson came up just short at the end of Game 3, but my Knicks …

With the availability of Victor Wembanyama (concussion) very much in question, the San Antonio Spurs are in Portland for a pivotal Game 3 tonight as their first round series continues against Deni Avdija and the Portland Trail Blazers tied at one game apiece. A finalist for NBA MVP this season and the league’s top defensive player, Wembanyama did light cardio …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. We have three games on the NBA Playoffs schedule this evening, and I’ve found value in my NBA player props. I’ll highlight Devin Vassell, LeBron James, and Tyrese Maxey. Advertisement Read more in my NBA picks for Friday, April 24. Best NBA player …

The Los Angeles Lakers have a 2-0 lead against the Houston Rockets without top scorers Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves as they enter Game 3 on April 24 (8 p.m. ET, Prime Video). LeBron James has led the Lakers alongside inspired efforts from Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton. They hope to maintain their level of play as their …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. If Joe Mazzulla had a fever, the cure wouldn’t be more cowbell. It would be more threes. Despite the Boston Celtics coming out on the losing end of a shootout with the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, don’t expect their head coach to dial …

Having won both games in Southern California to open the series against the Rockets, Lebron James and the Lakers can take a stranglehold of their 2026 NBA first-round playoff series tonight in Game 3. Minus Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) the Lakers were actually the underdog in those first two games, but their defense has suffocated the Rockets …

It’s time to check LeBron James’ birth certificate. Is he really 41? James, the NBA’s oldest player – unless we discover otherwise – is the first component of the Los Angeles Lakers’ secret code. The code they’ve used while taking a 2-0 lead over the Houston Rockets in their first-round, best-of-seven playoff series, with Game 3 set for Friday, April 24 in …

ATLANTA — The Knicks have a Mitchell Robinson dilemma. Not with his production, though that also wasn’t strong during the Knicks’ Game 3 loss Thursday at State Farm Arena. But rather with his ability to play well with Karl-Anthony Towns while sharing the court. Advertisement And with Towns scoring 21 points and helping carry the Knicks’ offense down the stretch, …

The Philadelphia 76ers are preparing for a crucial first-round Game 3 in their NBA playoffs matchup against the Boston Celtics, but uncertainty looms over the availability of their star center, Joel Embiid. Embiid has been upgraded to doubtful ahead of Friday’s pivotal Game 3 at home against the Celtics. The star center underwent an emergency appendectomy two weeks ago while …

ATLANTA — On his long list of things he believed went wrong, Mike Brown included the officiating. When asked about the Hawks’ ability to close out on 3-point shooters after the Knicks’ 109-108 Game 3 loss at State Farm Arena, Brown explained how he wanted his players to drive past them and get into the paint. Advertisement But, when they …

If you were to draw up the worst-case scenario for the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 — that didn’t involve injuries — it’d look pretty similar to what we saw. The Cavs couldn’t keep control of the ball, had awful games from their star backcourt, missed clean looks, and weren’t putting up good contests on three-point shots. This all came …

The only thing that would make the job JJ Redick is doing better is if he were wearing a suit. If the Lakers’ coach looked the part. The part of a lawyer, walking down his opposition in the open court. He delivered an airtight opening argument that was stunning for how much stronger it was than opposing coach Ime Udoka’s. …

The NBA playoff series between the No. 2 Boston Celtics and the No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers is now tied 1-1. The Celtics swept Game 1 last Sunday, 123-91, but the 76ers came back strong with a 111-97 win at Boston’s TD Garden for Game 2 on Tuesday. The series moves to Philadelphia’s Xfinity Mobile Arena for Game 3 this Friday. …

Can someone explain to me how the Houston Rockets are 9.5-point favorites tonight in Game 3 against the Los Angeles Lakers? Sure, I get that the game is in Houston. The Rockets are in desperation mode after dropping the first two games in LA. Role players almost always play better at home than on the road in the playoffs. The …

Game Two of the San Antonio Spurs’ first-round playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers went about as poorly as it could go. Not only did the team lose at home, surrendering home-court advantage, but they also lost their superstar big man, Victor Wembanyama, to a concussion. Now, Wembanyama’s status becomes the big question for Game Three. Wembanyama traveled with …

ATLANTA — CJ McCollum hit a fadeaway jumper with 12.5 seconds left to ruin New York’s night again, leading the Atlanta Hawks to a 109-108 victory and a 2-1 lead over the Knicks in their first-round playoff series on Thursday night. After starring in a Game 2 stunner at Madison Square Garden, McCollum got the ball with his team trailing …

One of the most important elements of this site, the thing I find close to sacred, is that we don’t censor what we say or do. That is for other sites or reporters to do, whether it’s to stay in the good graces of the team’s PR department or of their sources. At SLC Dunk, we don’t sugarcoat. But that …

At least Mikal Bridges gets a few days out of New York. In a 109-108 loss to the Atlanta Hawks in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series, the Knicks wing posted a stat line — a 0-1-2 (or zero points, one rebound and two assists) with four turnovers — that will live in infamy if his team cannot come …

BREAKING NEWS!!! To absolutely nobody, while I’m sure many BYU fans out there were crossing their fingers, holding out hope AJ Dybantsa would run it back for one more year, that stuff simply doesn’t happen. Cooper Flagg played with the same gimmick last year as well. These top prospects need to give their fans a break and stop acting like there’s …

New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (46-36, sixth in the Eastern Conference) Atlanta; Saturday, 6 p.m. EDT LINE: Knicks -1.5; over/under is 214.5 EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Hawks lead series 2-1 Advertisement BOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Hawks host the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference first round with a 2-1 lead in the …

Detroit Pistons (60-22, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (45-37, eighth in the Eastern Conference) Orlando, Florida; Saturday, 1 p.m. EDT LINE: Pistons -2.5; over/under is 214.5 EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Series tied 1-1 Advertisement BOTTOM LINE: The Orlando Magic host the Detroit Pistons in game three of the Eastern Conference first round with the series tied 1-1. …

Oklahoma City Thunder (64-18, first in the Western Conference) vs. Phoenix Suns (45-37, seventh in the Western Conference) Phoenix; Saturday, 3:30 p.m. EDT LINE: Thunder -9.5; over/under is 214.5 WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Thunder lead series 2-0 Advertisement BOTTOM LINE: The Oklahoma City Thunder visit the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference first round with a 2-0 lead in the …