MIAMI — Of all of Pat Riley’s recent postseason media sessions, Monday’s was arguably as on point as any in years. Riley recognized the need for clear, coherent reasoning regarding where he stands as Heat president and where his team stands after failing to make the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons.

For an hour, the typical ...Read more

BOSTON — Joel Embiid shook his coach’s hand and pumped his fist and then half-walked, half-limped toward midcourt and wrapped his arms around Jaylen Brown. He pulled the Boston Celtics superstar in close and whispered something into his ear. Soon, his son was in his arms, and the cameras were all around him and he was smiling and shrugging ...Read more

BOSTON — The Celtics’ 2025-26 season ended Saturday the way it began: with a home loss to the Philadelphia 76ers that Jayson Tatum watched from the bench.

With Tatum, whose early-March return from Achilles surgery was supposed to elevate Boston from impressive overachievers to true title contenders, a late scratch due to left knee tightness...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — As everyone said for the past six months, the Minnesota Timberwolves blew it during the regular season.

Just not in the way that the team’s coaches and fans expected.

What the Wolves proved during their six-game victory over the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the NBA playoffs was that they didn’t coast enough. They ...Read more

BOSTON — The Boston Celtics added Jayson Tatum to their injury report hours before Saturday’s must-win game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The team officially ruled Tatum out Saturday afternoon for Game 7 of the first-round playoff series at TD Garden with left knee stiffness.

Tatum dealt with what he described as stiffness in his left ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The Nuggets had delusions of adequacy.

They aspired to choke. They never led long enough to gag.

Instead, they spent Thursday night at the Target Center desperate and dismantled.

They blew a prime opportunity to force a winner-take-all cagematch Saturday in Denver by blowing chunks in the biggest game of the season.

The ...Read more

HOUSTON — LeBron James knew what was at stake in this first-round playoff series and that it was on his shoulders to meet the moment and have his teammates follow his lead.

James simply elevated his play like he has so many times over his illustrious 23-year NBA career, playing with a purpose and willing the Los Angeles Lakers to a 98-78 win...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — Desmond Bane scored on an up-and-under layup to open the third quarter. His basket gave the Orlando Magic a 24-point lead (62-38). At the time, it appeared the Magic were on the trajectory of a blowout victory, but the Detroit Pistons refused to surrender.

They picked up their production on both ends to open the third quarter....Read more

Caitlin Clark says she's "good" after a brief injury scare during a preseason game Thursday.

"I feel good," the Indiana Fever guard said after the 95-80 loss against the Dallas Wings. "I just landed on my kneecap really hard."

The two-time All-Star was visibly in pain after being fouled and falling to the floor early in the third quarter. ...Read more

The tallest player in college basketball history plans to take his long strides from Gainesville, Fla., to Orange County.

Olivier Rioux, who is 7-foot-9 yet seldom played at Florida, has committed to UC Irvine, he announced on Instagram. His move likely was prompted by the near certainty that he wouldn't crack the Gators' starting lineup next ...Read more

For the second consecutive year, the Golden State Valkyries have been named Sportico’s most valuable WNBA franchise.

The Valkyries have far and away exceeded their Sportico evaluation from last year. Valued at $500 million in 2025, Golden State’s 2026 season valuation has come in at $850 million — a 70% increase.

Entering their second ...Read more

SEATTLE — This could be a cautionary tale.

Specifically, for the Super Bowl champion Seahawks.

Last month, the NBA board of governors approved a sale of the Portland Trail Blazers to a group led by Texas billionaire Tom Dundon. In the weeks since, Portland made its first playoff appearance since 2021, upsetting the Phoenix Suns in a play-in ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Since Game 4 of this series, the Minnesota Timberwolves have suffered blow after blow on their injury report. They entered Game 6 down four key starters and rotation players as Ayo Dosunmu (right calf tightness) and Kyle Anderson (illness) joined the previously injured Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo.

The outmanned Wolves ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — You kept waiting for something to change. Nothing ever did. The best team on the basketball court at Xfinity Mobile Arena was the team that was blown out the last time it played there, the team that has been facing elimination since Sunday, the team that looked like a dead team walking for the first five quarters of the series. ...Read more

ATLANTA — The Knicks knew the Atlanta Hawks were fighting for their playoff lives.

They didn’t let Atlanta even come up for air.

In a historic display of domination, the Knicks punched first and just kept pounding in Thursday night’s first-round-series-clinching 140-89 victory over the Hawks in Game 6 at State Farm Arena.

The Knicks led...Read more

ATLANTA — Maybe the Hawks booked their flights to Cancun a day in advance.

Maybe they drank their own Kool-Aid and thought home-court advantage alone would be enough to force a sudden-death Game 7 at Madison Square Garden. Maybe the bright lights of a win-or-go-home playoff game proved too big of a moment for a young, inexperienced Hawks team...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Days ago, the Celtics looked poised to coast into the Eastern Conference semifinals after bludgeoning the 76ers in Game 4 of their first-round series.

Now, coach Joe Mazzulla’s bunch finds itself one loss away from a disastrous end to the season.

After collapsing on their home floor in the second half of Game 5, the Celtics ...Read more