11:44 PM ET The Sacramento Kings will bring head coach Luke Walton back for a third season, sources confirmed to ESPN. The Kings extended their record-tying 15-year playoff drought after a second consecutive 31-41 season under Walton, who has two years left on his deal. Sacramento is in the midst of a multiyear rebuilding process
NBA
3:27 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball has heard his name swirl in trade rumors almost from the time he entered the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers four years ago. But now, for the first time, Ball could have a say in his next destination as he approaches restricted free
1:10 PM ET Bradley Beal said his strained left hamstring won’t be 100 percent and that he will have to manage it when the Washington Wizards play the Boston Celtics in the play-in tournament on Tuesday. Beal said his hamstring did not worsen after scoring 25 points and grabbing six rebounds in 35 minutes during
1:01 PM ET Oklahoma City Thunder center Al Horford addressed the unique situation of him shutting down for the team’s final 28 games, calling it a mutual decision that had always been a possibility since his arrival to the franchise and was accelerated by the injury to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “We’ve had great communication since the
10:19 AM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Marv Albert is retiring after the NBA’s Eastern Conference finals, ending a broadcasting career spanning nearly 60 years. Albert will call the series for TNT. He has been with Turner Sports for 22 years, 19 as an NBA play-by-play announcer. Albert, known for his signature “Yes!” call,
12:38 AM ET With a first-round rematch between their teams set, Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic said there are no hard feelings remaining from the heated rivalry that he developed with LA Clippers forward Marcus Morris Sr. during last season’s series. According to Doncic, Morris apologized to him during a game earlier this season about
The 2020-21 NBA playoffs — and play-in! — are finally here. And this thing is as wide open as ever. But before we lock in the full 16-team field, here’s a look at the first round of the play-in tournament, during which two teams from each conference will secure the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds:
2:00 AM ET The Los Angeles Lakers‘ repeat title bid will commence with LeBron James facing a familiar foe in the Golden State Warriors during the play-in tournament, led by James’ pick for MVP, Stephen Curry. “I mean, just look at what he’s done this year,” James said after L.A.’s 110-98 win at the New
11:11 PM ET NEW YORK — The Brooklyn Nets secured the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with pizazz on Sunday night, completing one of the most impressive plays of the team’s season during their 123-109 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the final seconds of the first half, Blake Griffin intercepted Cedi Osman’s
3:14 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN Rapper J. Cole made his debut with the Patriots Basketball Club on Sunday and held his own on the court in the Basketball Africa League. Cole, whose real name is Jermaine Cole, finished with three points, three rebounds and two assists in just under 18 minutes of action as the
5:39 PM ET SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry is the NBA’s scoring king for the 2020-21 season. An 11-foot floater late in the first quarter of Sunday’s 113-101 win over the Memphis Grizzlies gave Curry enough points to clinch the scoring title over Washington Wizards All-Star Bradley Beal. After Beal scored
5:32 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN After leading the New York Knicks not only to their first playoff appearance in eight years, but also securing the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 96-92 win over the Boston Celtics, Julius Randle said he isn’t interested in discussing how far the Knicks have exceeded their lowly
6:08 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN For months, the 2020-21 season looked like it would be a lost one for the Washington Wizards. There were injuries early on, rumors swirling about a Bradley Beal trade and eventually, COVID-19-related absences that took the Wizards off the floor for nearly two weeks. The Wizards were 17-32 on the
4:16 PM ET Associated Press CHICAGO — Milwaukee Bucks star Khris Middleton will miss the regular-season finale against the Chicago Bulls because of a sore left ankle. Middleton, averaging 20.4 points, was ruled out Sunday after scoring 21 points the previous night in a win over Miami. The two-time All-Star is missing his fourth game
12:16 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN A day after watching his longtime friend and teammate Kevin Garnett go into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, longtime Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce joined him in Springfield, Massachusetts. Pierce, along with two-time champion and 11-time All-Star selection Chris Bosh, five-time All-NBA selection Chris Webber, and four-time Defensive
8:36 AM ET ESPN News Services The Brooklyn Nets are about to begin their postseason pursuit of an NBA championship, but Kyrie Irving says he’s currently focused on issues other than basketball. Irving declined to answer game-related questions Saturday after Brooklyn’s 105-91 victory over the Chicago Bulls and made multiple references to the ongoing violence
6:38 PM ET NEW YORK — As the NBA regular season winds down and the playoff picture continues to take clearer shape, the Nets’ Big Three of James Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were able to play together for just the eighth time this season on Saturday afternoon. After a slow start, the Nets