Sports
/ArcaMax
What's Mark Pope looking for as he builds his first Kentucky roster? He tells us the plan.
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Still less than two weeks removed from a Rupp Arena coronation that caught the attention of the entire college basketball world, Mark Pope has been a busy man.
Meeting with recruits and their families. Showing potential transfers around Keeneland. Spreading the gospel of Kentucky basketball on national TV shows. Driving to ...Read more
Dave Hyde: Does Heat's stunning Game 2 win vs. Celtcis open dream of upset for the ages?
About the time Boston fans began leaving quietly into the night with less than a minute left, the small smile of accomplishment began flickering on Miami Heat players. Tyler Herro, at the free-throw-line, offered a quick grin to Bam Adebayo, who offered one back before finishing their night’s work.
Caleb Martin, as the clock ticked toward ...Read more
UConn coach Dan Hurley embracing role as main character in men's college basketball
HARTFORD, Conn. — UConn men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley feels a responsibility to embrace his position as one of the main characters in this new age of college basketball.
The power in the sport has shifted with legends like Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Boeheim, Roy Williams and Jay Wright all retiring from coaching within the last three years, ...Read more
Lakers fade again in Game 3 loss to Denver, moving to brink of elimination
LOS ANGELES — The climb is mountainous, trouble lurking at every step.
One bad dribble, and Denver runs the other direction, creating an open three. One missed assignment, and Aaron Gordon cuts baseline for a dunk. One whiffed box out and the Nuggets get a second, and sometimes, a third chance.
One missed shot, and the margins get tighter, ...Read more
Joel Embiid sets playoff high with 50 points to propel Sixers to Game 3 win over Knicks
PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid had already splashed four shots from beyond the arc. In the third quarter.
But then he baited New York Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein into a his fifth foul with more than seven minutes to play in Thursday’s final period, then sank all three foul shots to re-extend the 76ers’ Game 3 advantage.
Embiid set a new...Read more
Magic rebound to rout Cavs for first home playoff victory in 13 years
ORLANDO, Fla. — The slogan on Jalen Suggs‘ shirt said it all Thursday.
“Seek discomfort.”
The Cavaliers experienced plenty.
Trailing 0-2 in the first-round series between the Nos. 4 and 5 seeds in the East entering, Orlando looked anything but uncomfortable from start to finish in its first home playoff game since 2019 inside an ...Read more
Warriors star Steph Curry named Clutch Player of the Year
Stephen Curry has another trophy to add to his mantel.
The 36-year-old Curry was named the 2023-24 Clutch Player of the Year. He finished with 45 of 99 first-place votes, edging out DeMar DeRozan at the ballot box.
Curry is the second winner of the award, which was won by Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox in its inaugural year last season.
Curry ...Read more
Odds are in on Hornets' chances for No. 1 pick in NBA draft. Who could they select?
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It’s already making the rounds.
Long before the Charlotte Hornets’ season wrapped up, triggering the next phase of the team’s seemingly yearly reconstruction, the jokes were flowing on social media and via word of mouth. With the 2024 NBA draft class being widely labeled as one of the worst in recent memory — and the...Read more
Ken Sugiura: Solving Young-Murray conundrum hardly Hawks' only offseason challenge
ATLANTA — It came time Friday for the Hawks to recount their versions of the 2023-24 season. When it was Clint Capela’s turn at the end-of-season news conference at the team’s training complex, his comments were unsparing.
In the perspective of the veteran center, selfishness and a lack of commitment undid a team that aimed to build on ...Read more
Dylan Hernández: Despite Game 2 loss, Clippers clearly need Kawhi Leonard
LOS ANGELES — Their offense looked disjointed.
Doesn't matter.
The Clippers had to play Kawhi Leonard.
Their first-round playoff series is now level at one game apiece, as the Dallas Mavericks stole a 96-93 victory at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday night.
Doesn't matter.
The Clippers had to play Kawhi Leonard.
Because the Clippers aren't ...Read more
Patrick Reusse: There's no doubt Chris Finch is the right coach for the Timberwolves
MINNEAPOLIS — Chris Finch is one of the coolest dudes we've ever had around here as the head coach of a high-profile men's athletic team in the Twin Cities. This is based on his back story, him being straightforward, giving good answers to good questions, making quick work of bad ones, and never working hard to shine the light on himself, even...Read more
Lakers are searching for the right adjustments and when to make them
LOS ANGELES — As the Lakers were rolling through the final third of the NBA season, their identity complete with Rui Hachimura in the starting lineup and their offense humming, a trend was quietly developing.
The Lakers, over those 32 games with Hachimura cemented as a starter, were the second-best offense in the NBA in the first half, ...Read more
Heat shove their way back into series vs. Celtics with emphatic 111-101 victory fueled by Herro, Adebayo
BOSTON — The Miami Heat, at least this injury-depleted version of the Miami Heat, could not have asked for more, could not have scripted it better.
There were 3-pointers falling at a record pace, silky Bam Adebayo mid-range jumpers nestling through the net when relief points were needed, Tyler Herro sizzling as both set-up man and scorer, and...Read more
Timberwolves center Naz Reid named NBA's Sixth Man of the Year
MINNEAPOLIS — Fellow LSU star Shaquille O'Neal opened the sealed envelope Wednesday and read the NBA's 2024 Sixth Man of the Year winner on national television: Timberwolves forward Naz Reid.
He's the first player in Wolves history to win the award and only the third player undrafted — out of LSU, via New Jersey — to win it, joining only ...Read more
Sue Bird joining Storm ownership group
SEATTLE — Sue Bird is joining the Storm ownership group, the team announced Wednesday.
“As a player, I poured my heart into every game for the Seattle Storm, and now, as part of the ownership group, I am thrilled to continue contributing to the growth of the game,” Bird said in a statement released by the Storm. “Investing in women’s ...Read more
Angel Reese isn't taking anything for granted as a WNBA rookie, but her goals for the Sky are set: 'I want to dominate'
CHICAGO — Angel Reese doesn’t want to take any part of her rookie season with the Chicago Sky for granted.
It doesn’t matter that she was the No. 7 pick in this year’s WNBA draft a year after winning a national championship with LSU. Or that she’s one of the most famous women’s basketball players in the world, garnering three ...Read more
John Clay: Mark Pope's Kentucky basketball roster rebuild will require plenty of portal patience
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Patience is a virtue, they say. It’s also a saying worth remembering as Mark Pope embarks on the great adventure of being the new Kentucky men’s basketball coach.
As of Tuesday morning, Pope’s UK roster for 2024-25 consisted of three players — Collin Chandler, the former BYU signee who is returning from a mission; ...Read more
Karl-Anthony Towns was in foul trouble, but Timberwolves didn't flinch
MINNEAPOLIS — Timberwolves All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns didn't play the entire second quarter of Tuesday's Game 2 playoff series against Phoenix because of second-quarter foul trouble.
"I was pretty motivated," he said after a 105-92 victory at Target Center. "Pretty motivated."
He followed that second quarter idled by three first-...Read more
Jaden McDaniels jolts Timberwolves, Target Center in sinking Suns
MINNEAPOLIS — The Timberwolves are headed to Phoenix with a 2-0 series lead, and they leaned on No. 3 to get there.
The best player on the floor Tuesday night at Target Center was Wolves forward Jaden McDaniels, who scored a game-high 25 points and played terrific defense on Suns star Kevin Durant.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven, first-round ...Read more
Sixers' Tyrese Maxey named NBA's Most Improved Player
PHILADELPHIA — All of the transformations experienced by the 76ers this season were overshadowed by one massive makeover.
It delighted the fans, put the NBA on notice, and silenced critics who had long since hardened their opinions. It was a young point guard who stepped in and filled James Harden’s shoes without any problem.
You know ...Read more
Popular Stories
- Odds are in on Hornets' chances for No. 1 pick in NBA draft. Who could they select?
- Magic rebound to rout Cavs for first home playoff victory in 13 years
- Joel Embiid sets playoff high with 50 points to propel Sixers to Game 3 win over Knicks
- Warriors star Steph Curry named Clutch Player of the Year
- Ken Sugiura: Solving Young-Murray conundrum hardly Hawks' only offseason challenge