NBA News

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. Even with a banged-up Anthony Edwards, the Minnesota Timberwolves have found their playoff gear — and they’ve got Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on the ropes heading into Game 4. Advertisement While Minnesota’s smothering defense got the headlines after limiting Denver to …

The Eagles were busy handling business on Friday night as they navigated Day 2 of the NFL Draft, but the real action was at the Sixers game. Not only was first-round pick Makai Lemon inaugurated into Philly sports culture by ringing the bell ahead of the Sixers-Celtics game, but he took in the game court-side next to DeVonta Smith. Tank …

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jayson Tatum let his final 3-pointer fly — a dagger, in NBA parlance — and the rip of the net could be heard on the other side of the court. Tatum pounded his chest in a pure adrenaline rush moment for the big bucket that quieted the crowd, crushed the hopes of a 76ers’ late run, and …

HOUSTON — LeBron James scored 29 points, including a tying 3-pointer with 13 seconds left in regulation, Marcus Smart had eight points in overtime and the Los Angeles Lakers took advantage of a Houston Rockets team missing Kevin Durant for a 112-108 win Friday night to take a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference first-round series. The Lakers rallied from …

For three straight games, Bronny James has received some minutes at the start of the second quarter for the Los Angeles Lakers in their first-round series against the Houston Rockets. He made them count in Game 3, with some help from his father. Advertisement The eldest son of LeBron James scored his first career playoff points with a pull-up 3-pointer …

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jaden McDaniels pushed himself into the spotlight in the first round of the NBA playoffs with his declaration following Minnesota’s comeback victory in Game 2 that the key to offensive success in this series was driving to the basket and directly attacking a Denver team he said was filled with “bad defenders.” The external consensus was that …

For the second year in a row, an Atlanta Hawk is the Most Improved Player in the NBA. Last season, it was Dyson Daniels. This season, Nickeil Alexander-Walker earned the honor. “Nickeil’s dedication, continual work on his craft, and the ensuing results this season make him incredibly deserving of this award,” said Hawks coach Quin Snyder. “He has a tireless …

After one season at Duke, Cameron Boozer has declared for the 2026 NBA Draft. He made the announcement on his Instagram account on Friday. “Thank you for everything @dukeuniversity,” Boozer wrote on the post. “Duke Blue forever 💙💙” Advertisement Boozer averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.4 steals in 38 games for the Blue Devils this past season. …

Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been named as the NBA’s Most Improved Player for the 2025-26 season. Alexander-Walker had a career year, starting in 71 of the 78 games he played in this season. The 27-year-old guard averaged 20.8 points, 3.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game – all personal career highs. Walker also set the Hawks …

HOUSTON (AP) — Kevin Durant won’t play in Game 3 of Houston’s first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night because of a sprained left ankle. Durant also missed the opener of the series because of a bruised right knee. He returned for Game 2 and scored 23 points in 41 minutes of the 101-94 loss that …

Nickeil Alexander-Walker is the NBA’s 2026 Most Improved Player, taking home the honor in his first year with the Atlanta Hawks. Alexander-Walker beat out the Detroit Pistons’ Jalen Duren and the Portland Trail Blazers’ Deni Avdija for the honor. After time spent on three other NBA teams, Alexander-Walker found his groove with the Hawks as a starting shooting guard, putting …

TORONTO (AP) — Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley aggravated his strained right hamstring while working his way back from the injury and will not be available during Toronto’s first-round playoff series against Cleveland, the team said Friday. Quickley averaged 16.4 points, a career-high 5.9 assists and 4.0 rebounds in 70 games in the regular season. He scored at least 20 points …

The Los Angeles Lakers appear on the verge of getting Austin Reaves back even sooner than expected. The star guard is trying to play in Game 3 against the Houston Rockets on Friday, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, about three weeks after he went down with an oblique strain. If he can’t play Friday, he will reportedly push for Game …

Who will stay and who will go? It’s the question some of the top players in men’s college basketball need an answer to as the deadline to declare for the NBA draft has arrived on Friday, April 24. Entering your name into the 2026 NBA Draft doesn’t shut the door completely on college eligibility, as the deadline is when players …

As expected, Alba Berlin combo guard Jack Kayil has declared for the 2026 NBA Draft, according to agents Kevin Bradbury and Milan Nikolic. Don’t fret, as the Gonzaga Bulldogs commit can still decide to opt out and play his first college basketball season in 2026-27 in Spokane, Washington. He’s testing the waters, looking to hear back from scouts and NBA …

The Toronto Raptors clawed back into their first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday with a 126-104 victory at home. If they’re going to climb out of what was previously a 2-0 hole and advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals, they’ll have to do so without Immanuel Quickley. Advertisement The team announced Friday that the 26-year-old guard re-injured …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. Our NBA player prop projections are locked in ahead of Game 3 between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers, with the model highlighting several high-value spots across the board. Advertisement By breaking down the data and comparing it to current market lines, we’ve pinpointed …

Rather than declare as early entry candidates for the 2026 NBA Draft, several of the top players in college basketball decided to go back to school. With the significant rise of NIL packages offered to collegiate players to play another season with their college team or use the transfer portal, the basketball world has never seen such little financial incentive …

With the Knicks down 2-1 to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the playoffs following their loss on Thursday night, head coach Mike Brown said on Friday that the starting lineup for Game 4 on Saturday will be a “game-time decision.” Brown mentioned that everything is on the table for New York, who has dropped the last two …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. The New York Knicks now find themselves in some adversity after two gut-wrenching losses to the Atlanta Hawks. Advertisement Jalen Brunson struggled from 3-point range in New York’s latest 109-108 loss in Game 3, but that won’t stop the Knicks’ superstar from putting …

If you’re wondering how Portland owner Tom Dundon’s penny-pinching ways — or even the reputation of it — can hurt the Trail Blazers on the court, this situation is a great example. The Portland Trail Blazers plan to make a run at two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo if/when he becomes available for a trade this offseason, reports Bill Oram of The …

Subscribe to The Dunker Spot We have a jam-packed episode of The Dunker Spot coming your way! First, Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones continue dissecting first-round playoff action! They share their biggest takeaways from the Game 2s & 3s we’ve gotten, then go back to the Panic Meter for the teams that suffered tough (injury) losses. Advertisement From there, the …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. The Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic take their Round 1 set to the “Sunshine State” with the series locked up at 1-1. Advertisement Game 3 has a tight spread, but my same-game parlay tips its hat to the visitors, with Detroit boasting one …

This was expected, but now Darryn Peterson has made it official. Peterson has declared for the NBA Draft, announcing his decision on Instagram. Peterson, a 6’5″ combo guard, is an elite shot creator and finisher who averaged 20.2 points and 4.2 rebounds a game, shooting 32.8% from 3-point range. That season at Kansas also raised a few eyebrows because of …

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here. The next time the sports betting gods deal out a bad beat, just think of those who backed Kevin Durant to clear his points prop in Game 2 of this opening-round series. Advertisement Durant came out hot, dropping 20 points in the first …