NBA News

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 …

MINNEAPOLIS — Jaden McDaniels and the Minnesota Timberwolves flexed even more of their defensive muscle against the flagging Denver Nuggets, seizing a 2-1 lead in the first-round NBA playoff series with a dominant 113-96 victory in Game 3 on Thursday night. McDaniels had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Ayo Dosunmu added 25 points and nine assists off the bench, and …

TORONTO — Scottie Barnes set career playoff highs with 33 points and 11 assists, RJ Barrett added a career playoff-high 33 points and the Toronto Raptors beat Cleveland 126-104 on Thursday night, snapping a 12-game playoff losing streak against the Cavaliers. Collin Murray-Boyles had 22 points, Jamison Battle scored all of his 14 points in the final quarter and Brandon …

ATLANTA (AP) — When the Atlanta Hawks need a clutch shot, they know where to turn. It used to be Trae Young. Now it’s CJ McCollum, who has led an Atlanta resurgence since arriving in a trade that sent the face of the franchise to the Washington Wizards. Advertisement The 34-year-old McCollum came through for the second game in a …

The Cleveland Cavaliers got run off the floor in Game 3 against the Toronto Raptors. All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player. Donovan Mitchell 15 points, 3 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 turnovers Advertisement Mitchell didn’t do enough tonight. Simple as that. It’s unusual to see Mitchell so uninvolved in a playoff game. The Raptors aggressively denied …

The Cleveland Cavaliers took a blow in their first game on the road against the Toronto Raptors. Let’s go over today’s losers, because there are no winners. Except the Tyson family, who deserve an honorary shout-out. Advertisement LOSER – Turnovers Let’s start by setting the table. Or, like the Cavs, by spilling things all over the place and causing a …

The Toronto Raptors are on the board, scoring a bounce-back 126-104 win in Game 3 at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who now lead the seven-game series 2-1. Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett scored 33 points apiece, while rookie Collin Murray-Boyles chipped in 22 points off the bench. The game was tied at halftime, but the Raptors used a dominant …

The Cleveland Cavaliers fought hard for three quarters, but got run off the floor in the final frame. Their inability to control the ball and rough games from their star backcourt came back to bite them. As did the Toronto Raptors‘ inability to miss in the final frame. This all added up to a 126-104 loss in Game 3. The …

After trailing for most of Thursday’s Game 3, the New York Knicks had a chance to win it in the closing seconds, with the ball in the hands of Jalen Brunson — their captain, their closer, last season’s Clutch Player of the Year. But it’s not last year. The Knicks were set to inbound with 12.5 seconds left in regulation, …

Are the New York Knicks in trouble? For the second time in three nights, the Atlanta Hawks upset New York in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, and now the Knicks have fallen behind in the series, 2-1. In Game 2, it was a historic blown lead in the fourth quarter. With New York’s 109-108 loss Thursday, April 23, …

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon was ruled out of Game 3 of the first-round NBA playoff series at Minnesota on Thursday because of tightness in his left calf muscle. After initially listing Gordon as questionable to face the Timberwolves, the Nuggets downgraded the 12th-year veteran to doubtful before coach David Adelman declared him out before tipoff. Spencer …

The San Antonio Spurs’ crucial Game 3 against the Portland Trail Blazers could hinge on whether Victor Wembanyama is able to suit up. The NBA’s newly crowned Defensive Player of the Year was officially listed as questionable in the Spurs’ injury report released Thursday, April 23. Game 3 is scheduled for Friday, April 24 (10:30 p.m. ET) in Portland. Advertisement …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. The Los Angeles Lakers were left for dead when Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were ruled out for this Round 1 matchup with the Houston Rockets. Advertisement But after two games in L.A., it would seem everyone and their cat is writing off …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. Will Victor Wembanyama play in Game 3? We may not know the availability of the San Antonio Spurs’ star until shortly before tip-off against the Portland Trail Blazers. Advertisement These Spurs vs. Trail Blazers predictions and NBA picks have a better chance of …

The Oklahoma City Thunder are looking to do what hasn’t been done in nearly a decade in the NBA: win back-to-back titles. Although their path to the NBA Finals will be difficult, as they are almost guaranteed to have to face two of the Lakers, Rockets, Nuggets, Timberwolves, and Spurs in the next two rounds, they have proven themselves a …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. You had my interest, but now you have my attention, Portland Trail Blazers. While no one is glad Victor Wembanyama suffered a concussion in Game 2, the San Antonio Spurs suddenly have a series on their hands. Advertisement My Spurs vs. Trail Blazers …

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Austin Reaves has been upgraded to questionable for Game 3 of the Los Angeles Lakers’ first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets. The Lakers made the designation on their high-scoring guard Thursday while the team flew to Houston. Los Angeles has a surprising 2-0 series lead heading into Game 3 on Friday night despite playing …

The Denver Nuggets are facing an injury issue to one of their key players. Power forward Aaron Gordon, a versatile playmaker and defender, appeared on the injury report with left calf tightness. It’s yet another injury Gordon is having to contend with this season, after he sat most of the year with hamstring and calf issues. Either way, Gordon is …

Thomas Haugh was projected as a possible lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. ESPN ranked the 6’9 junior wing at No. 13 overall on its big board, which is historically the best gauge of how NBA executives and scouts are viewing a player in the draft process. SB Nation had Haugh at No. 21 overall in its post-March Madness …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. The Philadelphia 76ers have stolen home court advantage from the Boston Celtics as this Round 1 series swings to the City of Brotherly Love for Game 3. Advertisement Despite that, Boston is a sizable road favorite, and my Celtics vs. 76ers predictions expect …

Kevin Durant returned to the Houston Rockets lineup for Game 2 against the Los Angeles Lakers after missing Game 1 with a knee injury. Now he’s questionable for Game 3 with a new ankle injury. The Rockets listed Durant as questionable on Thursday for Friday’s game. Per the Rockets, Durant is dealing with a sprained left ankle. Advertisement Details of …

The Philadelphia 76ers are “hopeful” star center Joel Embiid will be able to return for their first-round series against the Boston Celtics less than a month removed from his emergency appendectomy. Embiid, who began a strength and conditioning program earlier this week, took a big step toward making that timely comeback, participating in parts of the Sixers’ Thursday practice. On …

Earlier this week, we took a look back on some of the players whose preseason rankings missed the mark, with some being more egregious than others. This column focuses on the “hits,” with some making good on high expectations and others proving the skeptics correct. Rankings are an inexact science, to say the least, but they are fun to look …

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks are finalizing a deal with Taylor Jenkins to fill their head-coaching position that became vacant after Doc Rivers’ departure, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Thursday. The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because no hire had been announced. ESPN first reported that the Bucks …

The Oklahoma City Thunder had to figure out how to win without Jalen Williams for most of the regular season, they are going to have to do it again, likely for at least the rest of their first-round series against the Phoenix Suns. Jalen Williams has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain and “he will be re-evaluated …