NBA

9:36 PM ET DALLAS — Spencer Dinwiddie, who frequently attributes his phenomenal early fit with the Dallas Mavericks to the team’s culture and role definition, admitted Saturday that the perception he was a poor teammate during his brief stint with the Washington Wizards bothered him. Dinwiddie arrived in Dallas at the trade deadline along with

8:25 PM ET There has been an increasing push among many in the Los Angeles Lakers organization to demote nine-time All-Star guard Russell Westbrook from the starting lineup, but so far coach Frank Vogel has resisted bringing him off the bench, sources told ESPN. The coaching staff and Westbrook have had differing visions on how

6:05 PM ET NEW YORK — As the Brooklyn Nets wait for Ben Simmons to recover from a back issue that he is dealing with as he prepares to play in an NBA game again for the first time in nine months, veteran guard Patty Mills remains convinced that Simmons will be able to help

3:51 PM ET DALLAS — Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic has been ruled out of Saturday afternoon’s game against the Sacramento Kings due to a left toe sprain. Sources told ESPN that the injury is “no concern” as far as lingering long term. Doncic, a first-team All-NBA selection the past two seasons, is averaging 27.8

2:49 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has returned to the city after spending nearly two months in Portland rehabbing his injured foot away from the team, sources told ESPN on Saturday. Williamson, who fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during the summer, is set to rejoin the team

1:11 AM ET Jamal CollierESPN CHICAGO — Fans at United Center may have reveled in Bulls forward Derrick Jones Jr.’s flagrant foul on Milwaukee Bucks guard Grayson Allen on Friday night, but Jones insisted afterward that the foul was not intentional and denied being a dirty player. Jones was given a flagrant foul 1 in

7:37 PM ET Jamal CollierESPN CHICAGO — Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez has been cleared to be a full participant at practice for the first time since undergoing back surgery in December, coach Mike Budenhozler said prior to Friday’s game against the Bulls. Lopez went through a light workout on the court Friday at the

12:47 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Cleveland Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff was fined $20,000 by the NBA on Friday for his behavior while being ejected from a game this week. Bickerstaff received two technical fouls and was tossed — for the first time as Cleveland’s coach — by referee Natalie Sago in the

11:34 AM ET The lawyers leading the NBA’s investigation into the Phoenix Suns are preparing to interview Robert Sarver regarding the accusations against the team and its majority owner, sources close to the investigation told ESPN. Sources said more than 300 people have been interviewed as part of the investigation, which the league launched in

8:00 AM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN “DUB NATION, are you ready?” The crowd roared its affirmation as the lights dimmed to announce the Golden State Warriors‘ starting five. Draymond Green‘s name was called first, followed by Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney and Stephen Curry. Curry’s name is usually announced last, but the night of Jan. 9 was

3:32 AM ET LOS ANGELES — After the Los Angeles Lakers were crushed by the rival Clippers on Thursday night, Russell Westbrook said he still is trying to figure out his role with the team, which he said has “changed every single night.” The Clippers embarrassed their hallway neighbors 132-111 to sweep the season series

12:09 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN BOSTON — When Celtics guard Marcus Smart sees Jayson Tatum get going the way the All-Star forward did in the fourth quarter Thursday night against the Memphis Grizzlies, he said his approach becomes a simple one. “Make sure I’m staying out of his f—ing way,” Smart said. “Let him do

10:42 PM ET After scoring 100 points combined in back-to-back G League games, guard Nik Stauskas has agreed to a two-year contract with the Boston Celtics, his agents Mark Bartelstein and Andy Shiffman told ESPN on Thursday night. Stauskas, who had 57 and 43 points in consecutive games for the Grand Rapids Gold, joins the

10:16 PM ET NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets star forward Kevin Durant spent part of his morning brushing off the notion that he wasn’t going to be a “savior” for his struggling team, then he almost did just that in a 113-107 loss to the Miami Heat on Thursday night. After missing a month and

7:37 PM ET NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Harris will have season-ending surgery on his left ankle, the team announced prior to Thursday’s game against the Miami Heat. Harris had an initial surgery on his ankle on Nov. 29 and was expected to be out only between four and eight weeks, but his

6:01 PM ET Boston Celtics wing Jaylen Brown, Indiana Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon and Phoenix Suns center Bismack Biyombo were all reelected as vice presidents on the NBA Players Association’s Executive Committee, the union announced on Thursday. The three players were initially elected in 2019 and will now serve new three-year terms. Members of the

4:15 PM ET Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby will be sidelined for two weeks to rest a fractured finger, sources told ESPN on Thursday. Anunoby will re-evaluated at the end of that stretch on a plan for his return to play, sources said. 1 Related Anunoby, who’s averaging career highs in points (17.5), rebounds (5.5)

3:33 PM ET Bradley Beal says he is no rush to make a decision on his future but acknowledged he is leaning toward re-signing with the Washington Wizards this offseason. “It’s fair,” Beal told reporters in Washington on Thursday when asked if he is leaning toward staying with the Wizards. “It’s fair.” Beal is eligible