NBA News

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. The Orlando Magic shocked the Detroit Pistons in their series opener, and that has the East’s No. 1 seed ripe for a rebound in Game 2 tonight. Advertisement After an extended break, Detroit came out flat against an Orlando squad that has been …

Florida basketball coach Todd Golden is shooting down the possibility of him leaving the Gators for an NBA job with the Golden State Warriors. Golden’s name was linked to the Warriors on Monday, April 20 by Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor, who reported that if Steve Kerr decides to leave the NBA franchise after 13 seasons, the Warriors would pursue Golden. However, based …

Since Michigan basketball cut down the nets inside Lucas Oil Stadium on April 6, the top priority for men’s college basketball programs over the last two weeks has been finding solutions to holes in their roster from last season with the transfer portal. Programs like Louisville, Indiana, Texas and Tennessee have proven to be big winners with their activity in …

This is a chaotic week in the basketball world. The transfer portal is churning. Friday is the NBA Draft declaration deadline, and a handful of potential first rounders — Duke’s Patrick Ngongba, UConn’s Braylon Mullins, and both Florida’s Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh — have already elected to return to college. Others remain undecided, weighing NIL offers against draft-slot expectations. …

Pop quiz one focused on Giannis Antetokounmpo, while pop quiz two featured Ryan Rollins. Up next is the most divisive Buck, Kevin “Sakuta” Porter Jr. Season in a snippet 38 GP, 33.2 MPG, 17.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 7.4 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG, .465/.322/.878 Advertisement Kyle’s end of season grade: B- Porter ended last season on such a tear that …

Marcus Smart stepped up to meet Kevin Durant at three-quarters court. The Lakers guard reached and poked the ball away. Instead of letting the lanky, nearly 7-foot Durant corral the loose ball, the 6-foot-3 Smart dove to secure it for himself. The Crypto.com Arena crowd jumped to its feet. Advertisement From the opening minute to the final horn, Smart set …

The Oklahoma City Thunder continue the defense of their title tonight as their first-round series continues against the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center. The questions for Phoenix is…how can they win even tonight’s game? Advertisement Lets start with a review of Game 1. The MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 25 and the Thunder’s defense limited Phoenix to 35% shooting in …

A playoff series is never easy for the Knicks. The team hasn’t played in a series that went fewer than six games since the 2023 first round against the Cleveland Cavaliers. After blowing a 12-point fourth quarter lead in a 107-106 Game 2 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, that streak has a good chance of continuing. And the Knicks have …

Tom Dundon’s first month as Portland Trail Blazers owner hasn’t been subtle, to say the least. Reports have been rampant, some concerning the eyebrow-raising cost-cutting measures the 54-year-old Texas billionaire has taken to frugally run the Blazers — tactics reminiscent of how he slashed expenses after buying the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes in 2017 — and some have centered around his …

(Please note I am currently in a deep basketball-induced depression and will be in mourning for the next 24 hours – Holly) On Tuesday night, the Rockets and Lakers kicked off Game 2 of the first round. Houston was looking to even things out. Advertisement This series has been pretty weird so far. I mean, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves …

The Spurs are heading to Portland for games 3 and 4 of the best of 7 series. While they are away, fans are invited to gather at The Rock at La Cantera to cheer on the Silver & Black with fellow fans. Friday, April 24th, Game 3- San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail Blazers Advertisement The party starts at 9:00 …

Who knew? LeBron James flying down the lane unchecked for a pumping over-the-shoulder slam. Marcus Smart diving and scrapping and leading cheers with a scream. Luke Kennard stepping to the free-throw line and hearing the chant, “MVP! … MVP! … MVP!” Advertisement Who knew? Without their two best players, facing the quicker and more bruising Houston Rockets in the first …

In Tuesday’s Brotherhood Playoff Action, Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics lost to the Philadelphia 76ers 111-97; Mason Plumlee and the San Antonio Spurs fell to the Portland Trail Blazers 106-103, while Luke Kennard helped lead JJ Redick’s Los Angeles Lakers to a 101-94 win over the Houston Rockets. Tatum just missed a triple-double with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and 9 …

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol after tumbling face-first to the court during Tuesday night’s playoff loss to Portland. “He has a concussion. He’s in the protocol,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said after San Antonio fell 106-103 to even the Western Conference first-round series at one game apiece. “We’ll take the proper and …

At times it was almost easy to forget Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were sitting on the Los Angeles Lakers bench Tuesday, April 21. The Lakers did it again, beating the Houston Rockets, 101-94, and taking a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series with their two top scorers sidelined with injuries. Advertisement LeBron James was the brute. Luke Kennard …

With Victor Wembanyama out, the fourth quarter was very different. The Portland Trail Blazers erased a 14-point deficit with a little more than eight minutes to play to upset the San Antonio Spurs, 106-103, tying their first-round playoff series at one game apiece. Advertisement Wembanyama was diagnosed with a concussion, and, since Game 3 is just two days away, on …

LOS ANGELES — Back in March, the Lakers were winning games thanks to an incredibly potent offense. One month later, they’re winning playoff games on the back of their defense. A necessary change following injuries to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, the Lakers are suffocating the Rockets. In Game 2, that defense forced 15 turnovers as LA moved ahead 2-0 in …

Do the Lakers have a new Big Three? LeBron James, Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard are putting in their bid to make it so. They did the heavy lifting for the Lakers, combining for 76 points, 16 rebounds and 16 assists to carry the Lakers to a 101-94 win over the Houston Rockets in Game 2 of the Western Conference …

Denver Nuggets (54-28, third in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33, sixth in the Western Conference) Minneapolis; Thursday, 9:30 p.m. EDT LINE: Nuggets -1.5; over/under is 234 WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Series tied 1-1 Advertisement BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Timberwolves host the Denver Nuggets in game three of the Western Conference first round with the series tied 1-1. The …

With Kevin Durant back in the fold and the Rockets desperate to push as hard as possible to take a split back to Houston, the Lakers were able to match the Rockets’ physicality and fend them off down the stretch to hold on for a 101-94 victory and take control of the series with a 2-0 lead. This was a …

Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Toronto Raptors (46-36, fifth in the Eastern Conference) Toronto; Thursday, 8 p.m. EDT LINE: Cavaliers -3; over/under is 219.5 EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Cavaliers lead series 2-0 Advertisement BOTTOM LINE: The Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference first round with a 2-0 lead in the series. The …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. Gary Payton is best known for his legendary Seattle Supersonics career, and he sees the return of the Sonics as a necessity for the Emerald City. Advertisement The Hall of Fame point guard established his legacy in the NBA as a member of …

New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (46-36, sixth in the Eastern Conference) Atlanta; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT LINE: Hawks -1.5; over/under is 216.5 EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Series tied 1-1 Advertisement BOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Hawks and the New York Knicks are in a 1-1 series tie in the Eastern Conference first round. The …

BOSTON — As the door to the Philadelphia 76ers’ locker room opened in the bowels of TD Garden, following a 111-97 victory over the host Celtics, evening the first-round playoff series 1-1, Trendon Watford welcomed an oncoming horde of media members. “I told you,” he said, “You’re gonna get some good s*** to write about.” Advertisement He was right. The …

LOS ANGELES — Kevin Durant was back for the Rockets. That made the marquee matchup “LeBron James vs. Durant,” a showdown of two of the all-time greats. LeBron winning that showdown is not why the Lakers are up 2-0 in their series with the Rockets. It’s because of their defense, which forced nine Durant turnovers. And it’s because the Lakers …