NBA

2:51 AM ET LeBron James, donning a gray, plastic walking boot, a black hooded sweatshirt and a black mask, and Anthony Davis, in a lime green jacket and a bright yellow mask, were hard to miss on the sidelines during the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 111-94 loss at the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. But Lakers point

8:59 PM ET Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball is expected to miss the rest of the season with a fracture to his right wrist, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Ball, considered a frontrunner for NBA rookie of the year, is seeking a second opinion to confirm the diagnosis, the source said. Ball, 19, appeared

7:55 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN Celtics guard Marcus Smart said that in the wake of the team’s loss to the Sacramento Kings on Friday night — Boston’s fourth in five games to open the second half of the regular season — the Celtics held a team meeting to try to right themselves and turn around

5:32 PM ET ESPN News Services HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets extended their team-record losing streak to 20 games Sunday, falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder 114-112 when John Wall missed two shots in the final 10 seconds. The Rockets’ skid is tied for the ninth worst in NBA history and the longest since Philadelphia’s

2:31 PM ET Blake Griffin will make his debut with the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday against the Washington Wizards. Griffin said that he will be on a minutes restriction. Griffin last played on Feb. 12 against the Boston Celtics when he was still a member of the Detroit Pistons. After agreeing to a buyout with

1:09 PM ET Associated Press TAMPA, Fla. — The NBA has fined Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse $50,000 for throwing his facemask behind the scorer’s table and toward the stands, plus for directing profanity toward game officials before leaving the floor at the end of a game Friday night. The league announced the fine Sunday.

1:20 AM ET Eric WoodyardESPN The Bucks have won 11 of their last 12 games thanks to Saturday night’s 120-113 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Milwaukee. But the national hype hasn’t been the same around this year’s group compared to the past two seasons, when it finished atop the league standings. And for

4:53 PM ET LOS ANGELES — LeBron James exited the Lakers’ game against the Atlanta Hawks in the first half on Saturday after Solomon Hill collided with James’ right ankle. James, 36, knocked over a chair in frustration on his way to the locker room. Hill was called for a foul with 10:50 remaining in

2:46 PM ET Jeremy WillisESPN.com Indiana Hoosiers fans are not going to let their dreams of hiring Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens go quietly. On Monday, Indiana fired head coach Archie Miller after four seasons and never made the NCAA tournament in his tenure. Stevens, from Zionsville, Indiana, took Butler to two Final Fours before

4:42 AM ET Denver Nuggets guard Monte Morris has joined the Brooklyn Nets‘ Spencer Dinwiddie in committing to playing for Nigeria internationally as a naturalized player, head coach Mike Brown has confirmed to ESPN. Multiple reports in local media emerged on Friday that Morris would be playing for the African nation at the Olympics. The

7:14 PM ET Golden State Warriors star guard Stephen Curry will not play Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies and is doubtful for Saturday’s game as he continues to recover from a tailbone contusion. “Steph is still pretty sore,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said before Friday’s game. “Frustrated he wants to be going tonight, but will

7:48 PM ET Associated Press WASHINGTON — Washington Wizards forward Davis Bertans is expected to miss about two weeks because of a strained right calf. The team said Friday that Bertans had an MRI that revealed the extent of the injury. He was hurt during Washington’s 131-122 victory over the Utah Jazz on Thursday night,

6:11 PM ET Eric WoodyardESPN Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said he expects P.J. Tucker to be available for Saturday’s game against San Antonio barring any last-minute setbacks. Tucker, 35, participated in a significant part of Friday’s practice after his trade from the Houston Rockets became official earlier in the day. “The situation is perfect,”

2:52 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Gary Payton II is following in his father’s footsteps when it comes to elite defense. Payton II was announced Friday as the G League’s Defensive Player of the Year — a trophy that comes 26 years after his father, Basketball Hall of Famer Gary Payton, won the

3:40 PM ET LA Clippers All-Star Paul George was fined $35,000 by the NBA for critical comments he made about officiating following Wednesday’s loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Frustrated over not getting foul calls after repeatedly drawing contact in the paint, George characterized his conversations with officials as “just a bunch of lies” when he

3:14 AM ET LOS ANGELES — LeBron James has been awarded the NBA’s MVP award four times in his career, tied with Wilt Chamberlain for the third most all time, but one of his teammates, Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma, says James should have double that. At least. “The NBA MVP is a very

2:50 AM ET Associated Press ATLANTA — Fourteen Atlanta Hawks players received their first vaccinations for COVID-19 following Thursday night’s win over Oklahoma City. The team said in a statement after the game that 36 individuals with the basketball operations staff, including 14 players, took their first dose after meeting the state’s eligibility requirements. Three

2:48 AM ET Kyle Kuzma cocked his arm back like a quarterback about to hit a tight end on a go route. His target was LeBron James, and the Los Angeles Lakers ‘ star had a step on LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets. Not many defenders in any sport are going to stop James