NBA

12:31 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas has agreed to a two-year extension worth $30.1 million, agents Aaron Mintz, Mitch Nathan and Drew Morrison of CAA Basketball told ESPN on Wednesday. Valanciunas, who had one year left on his contract after being traded to New Orleans this offseason, is now tied

8:00 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN KEMBA WALKER‘S FIRST basket in a New York Knicks uniform was a simple one. A couple minutes into New York’s preseason opener at Madison Square Garden against the Indiana Pacers, Walker had the ball at the top of the key. He then executed a give-and-go with Julius Randle, darted around

8:00 AM ET Who will win the biggest awards for the 2021-22 NBA season? Giannis Antetokounmpo picked up where he left off on opening night, pouring in 32 points with 14 rebounds and 7 assists. Is a third MVP in his future or will another superstar take home the award? Could we see a repeat

4:16 AM ET LOS ANGELES — LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook failed their first real test together, a 121-114 loss to the Golden State Warriors on opening night, but they found some common ground. The defeat meant that all three of them lost in their Lakers debut: James against the Portland Trail Blazers

3:38 AM ET LOS ANGELES — The Golden State Warriors followed a familiar flow chart through almost all of last season’s up-and-down campaign that resulted in a second straight year without a playoff appearance. If star guard Stephen Curry shot well, the Warriors had a chance to win. If he didn’t — they didn’t. Even

12:12 AM ET MILWAUKEE — James Harden did not sign an extension prior to the midnight deadline on Oct. 18, but he made it clear the Brooklyn Nets have “nothing to worry about.” Harden said not to read anything negative into his decision to pass on an extension before the deadline. “Honestly, I’m just focused

9:55 PM ET Associated Press DETROIT — Pistons guard Cade Cunningham has been ruled out of the team’s season-opening game against the Chicago Bulls due to a sprained right ankle. Detroit will host the Bulls on Wednesday night without Cunningham, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NBA draft. Cunningham hurt his ankle early

8:02 PM ET Jamal Collier MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Bucks handed out their championship rings and unveiled the banner for the franchise’s first championship in 50 years ahead of Tuesday night’s season-opening 127-104 win over the Brooklyn Nets. “Milwaukee, we did it,” Bucks forward Khris Middleton said to the crowd at Fiserv Forum during the

9:01 PM ET Jamal Collier MILWAUKEE — Bucks guard Jrue Holiday left Tuesday night’s 127-104 win over the Brooklyn Nets before the end of the second quarter due to a right heel contusion and was ruled out for the game. The Bucks had a short offseason following their championship run last summer, but Holiday’s break

8:00 PM ET The NBA is celebrating its 75th anniversary all season long during 2021-22, and part of that celebration includes the unveiling of the list of the 75 greatest players in NBA history. It has been 25 years since the league unveiled its list of the 50 greatest players in NBA history, which tipped

8:17 PM ET The high-powered agent who represents Sacramento Kings forward Marvin Bagley issued a rare public rebuke Tuesday of the team’s treatment of his client on the eve of his final season under contract. “Sacramento has informed Marvin Bagley he is not in the opening night rotation, which is completely baffling,” Jeff Schwartz said

5:57 PM ET LOS ANGELES — As the Golden State Warriors ready for the start of the 2021-22 NBA season, they do so with the renewed optimism of a team that hopes to rise back to the top of the Western Conference standings after failing to qualify for the playoffs in each of the past

3:47 PM ET PLAYA VISTA, Calif. — Los Angeles Clippers center Serge Ibaka (back) won’t be available to play in the team’s season opener Thursday against the Golden State Warriors, coach Tyronn Lue said after practice Tuesday. The 32-year-old Ibaka recently progressed to full 5-on-5 drills during practice, but has been limited since undergoing back

12:24 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN PHILADELPHIA — The 76ers announced Tuesday afternoon that Ben Simmons has been suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team, which will cause him to miss the team’s season-opening game in New Orleans against the Pelicans. The statement was released late in the team’s practice Tuesday — after, sources

10:31 AM ET The Brooklyn Nets may be the consensus favorites at U.S. sportsbooks, but the betting public is significantly more invested in the new-look Los Angeles Lakers. At Caesars Sportsbook, more money has been bet on the Lakers to win the NBA championship than has been bet on all the other teams combined. Fifty-one

8:00 AM ET The 2021-22 NBA season is here! Less than three months ago, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks were hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy after winning Game 6 of the NBA Finals over the Phoenix Suns. After somehow squeezing in the NBA draft, free agency, summer league and preseason into another truncated offseason,

8:00 AM ET It’s opening night of the 2021-22 NBA season, but our experts are already looking ahead to the postseason. Will Tuesday’s game between the Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets be an Eastern Conference finals preview? Last year, the playoff series between the two juggernauts came down to Kevin Durant‘s foot, and the Nets

12:10 AM ET Washington Wizards center Daniel Gafford has agreed to a three-year, $40 million contract extension, his agent, Raymond Brothers of ROC Nation Sports, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Gafford, 23, was acquired in a trade last season with the Chicago Bulls as a way to help shore up Washington’s frontcourt rotation after Thomas Bryant‘s