NBA

6:54 AM ET NBA commissioner Adam Silver said fans should think of the upcoming All-Star Weekend in Atlanta as a “television-only event,” and once again discouraged fans from traveling to the game, which is being played without fans because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The message within the NBA community is that we’re going to be

8:00 PM ET The 2021 NBA All-Star Game will be held Sunday, March 7, in Atlanta. But because of COVID-19, a weekend’s worth of events will be compressed into a single night — the skills challenge and 3-point contest will take place pregame, while the dunk contest will act as the halftime show. All-Star voting

8:44 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN The past two years, LeBron James couldn’t have Giannis Antetokounmpo on his All-Star team, because the two of them were captains of their respective squads. But this year, with Kevin Durant getting the other captaincy opposite James, he made sure he would be playing alongside the NBA’s two-time reigning Most

8:19 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson will miss Thursday night’s contest against the Miami Heat because of irritation in his right fifth toe, but sources told ESPN that he is still expected to play in Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game. Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy said the toe

7:17 PM ET LA Clippers All-Star guard Paul George was ruled out just before Thursday night’s tipoff against the Washington Wizards because of dizziness. George, who is scheduled to play in this weekend’s All-Star Game in Atlanta, warmed up before the game at Capital One Arena and felt dizzy before being ruled out. Point guard

8:42 PM ET Associated Press CLEVELAND — Kevin Love‘s devotion to raising awareness and advocating for mental health during isolating times has earned him another honor. The Cavaliers forward and five-time All-Star received the first Humanitarian of the Year Award on Thursday night at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards, an annual event that brings out

6:43 PM ET Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum has been cleared for contact practice as he continues to recover from a left foot fracture, president of basketball operations Neil Olshey announced Thursday. The Blazers also issued an update on Jusuf Nurkic, saying the center is making progress in his recovery from a right wrist

2:16 PM ET Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry and forward Draymond Green did not travel to Phoenix and will not play in Thursday’s first half finale against the Suns, according to a league source. Curry, who is scheduled to participate in Sunday’s All-Star Game, is resting Thursday on the second night of a back-to-back.

1:43 PM ET For the first time in league history, the NBA will have a referee crew composed entirely of graduates of historically Black colleges and universities officiating Sunday’s All-Star Game in Atlanta. With the NBA supporting and celebrating HBCUs as a theme of this weekend’s All-Star Game, Tom Washington will be the crew chief

7:00 AM ET TIM CONNELLY SENSED something was off with Nikola Jokic. A year after selecting the center No. 41 overall in the 2014 NBA draft, the Denver Nuggets‘ president of basketball operations wondered: “Where are all these cool passes?” Jokic had impressed Connelly with a funky yet effective style of play as a teenager

6:58 AM ET A dunk is worth just two points, but the best dunkers in the world always find ways to make it feel like more. From signature in-game slams to unforgettable posterizations to you-had-to-be-there dunk contest moments, players from generations past and present have left an indelible mark on the game with their ability

12:53 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid said his dominant performance in a 131-123 win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night was fueled by playing against Rudy Gobert. Embiid, who had 40 points — including the game-tying 3-pointer with 6.5 seconds left to go with 19 rebounds, three assists, a steal

2:56 AM ET Montrezl Harrell offered a sharp rebuff to the technical foul he received in the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 123-120 loss at the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, calling the whistle a “soft” decision by the official. “I think some of the referees — and this is not bashing any referee in general — but

12:43 AM ET Andrew LopezESPN NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson was not happy with his performance in Wednesday’s 128-124 loss to the Chicago Bulls. Williamson had 28 points, nine rebounds and five assists and once again shot over 50% from the field. He even attempted a season-high 16 free throws. The

12:07 AM ET Toyota Center public address announcer Matt Thomas attempted to use the same tone and excitement Wednesday night when James Harden‘s turn came up in the starting lineup introductions as he did throughout the previous eight seasons. The circumstances, of course, were quite different. So was the reaction from Houston Rockets fans, who

12:35 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN After Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell was hit with technical fouls on two separate plays in the final minute of overtime and was ejected with 30.5 seconds to go in Utah’s 131-123 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, the All-Star said he’s tired of the Jazz being “screwed” by the referees,

10:25 PM ET NBA Insiders Wednesday night’s NBA slate of games includes numerous intriguing matchups, from the top team in the East facing the top team in the West, the drama of James Harden‘s return to Houston, All-Stars going up against each other with the Chicago Bulls‘ Zach LaVine facing the New Orleans Pelicans‘ Zion