LOS ANGELES — WNBA All-Star weekend is only a few days away, with the anticipation of hometown favorite Caitlin Clark serving as captain of Team Clark for the game in Indianapolis palpable among fans.

Nothing like a pulled muscle to mute the buzz.

The Indiana Fever superstar guard grabbed her right groin and appeared to be holding back tears...Read more

NEW YORK — Caitlin Clark’s face said it all.

Moments after she grabbed the inside of her right leg, the Indiana Fever superstar went to the bench in visible frustration in the final minute of Tuesday’s win over the Connecticut Sun in Boston.

And while the Fever had maintained the possibility that the 23-year-old sensation would be able ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The Clippers will add scoring punch to their lineup by acquiring three-time All-Star Bradley Beal after he clears waivers following a contract buyout from the Phoenix Suns, his agent, Mark Bartelstein, confirmed to The Los Angeles Times.

Beal has agreed to a two-year, $11 million deal that includes a player option for the second...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Think back. It’s difficult, sure. It’s especially difficult in light of that press release that the 76ers dropped Monday: that Paul George had knee surgery earlier in the day. That he would be evaluated again sometime before training camp, in late September. That a 35-year-old former star with three years and $162.4 million ...Read more

BOSTON — The Connecticut Sun and Indiana Fever put on a show for a sold-out crowd of more than 19,000 fans at TD Garden on Tuesday night, but the visiting team emerged with an 85-77 victory after seven lead changes and 10 tied scores.

The Sun never led in the second half, but the game didn’t get out of reach until the final minutes of the ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — NBA expansion is among the items expected to be discussed Tuesday when the league’s board of governors meets in Las Vegas during the Summer League.

After years of talks about the potential to expand from the NBA’s current 30 franchises, with Las Vegas and Seattle among the favorites to receive one, Tuesday’s meeting marked ...Read more

NEW YORK — Caitlin Clark’s previous visit to Barclays Center marked a rare low point in her young career.

Then a rookie, Clark managed only three points on 1-of-10 shooting in her Indiana Fever’s blowout loss to the Liberty on June 2, 2024.

“As a team, we understand who the head of the monster is on that team,” Liberty guard Sabrina ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — Yuki Kawamura came to Las Vegas with a simple goal: get a contract.

The second-year point guard understands the challenge. Last season, Kawamura was the shortest player in the NBA at 5-foot-8. No matter. He won a training camp contract, then a two-way deal with the Memphis Grizzlies. His playing time wasn’t much — 93 minutes ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The Clippers team Brook Lopez grew up watching as a young kid in Southern California is not that same franchise anymore.

These Clippers are about putting a winning product on the court and about putting together the right talent to win games — and that is what sold Lopez on signing with them.

"It's crazy to see, but it's very...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Paul George might be one of the unluckiest 76ers when it comes to injuries.

The 76ers announced that the forward underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Monday at NYU Langone Sports Medicine Center in New York.

Dr. Jonathan L. Glashow performed the surgery on the nine-time All-Star. Glashow has worked with and rehabbed...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Shaquille O'Neal has an issue with a recent ranking of the all-time best NBA players.

On Monday, Bleacher Report released its list of the "top 100 NBA players ever," based on a compilation of rankings from a "legion of B/R NBA experts, writers and editors."

O'Neal finished just outside the top five. He didn't seem to have an ...Read more

DENVER — Michael Porter Jr. might be your Lex Luthor, but he’s Ashley Salvador’s Superman.

“I knew that it was probably coming because (the Nuggets) needed to kind of shake things up,” Salvado told me last Friday. “I was still sad when they announced it.”

MPJ officially became a member of the Nets last week. While you cheered, ...Read more

LOS ANGELES —The news seemed routine.

The ramifications could be resounding.

Late last month, LeBron James exercised his $52.6 million player option with the Lakers for next season. It was an expected transaction that, at first weary glance, appeared to be no big deal.

Of course he would take the guaranteed money, more than anyone else in ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — It was a bit of worlds colliding for the Heat as June turned into July, with Duncan Robinson dealt to the Detroit Pistons and Miami’s summer roster moving into action.

In each case, it was a reminder of the possibilities of the Heat’s developmental wing, how undrafted does not necessarily mean untalented, unwanted or ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — The Atlanta Hawks moved to 2-0 in Summer League play after downing the Phoenix Suns, 98-80, Sunday afternoon at Cox Pavilion.

First-round pick Asa Newell found his bearings and handled the pace of NBA play. He had 18 points and 11 rebounds, while remaining engaged and active on the defensive end.

“It’s just competitive nature...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — A year ago, when the Sixers signed Paul George to a four-year, $211 million free-agent contract, team executives were realistic.

They knew it would take at least a season for their new star to mesh with their old ones, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. They had no idea whether their first-round pick, Jared McCain, would contribute ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — In the moment, the package received by the Miami Heat in the Feb. 6 Jimmy Butler trade to the Golden State Warriors at the NBA trading deadline felt … meh.

When the first-round pick acquired from the Warriors in that trade last month turned into Kasparas Jakucionis, in his fall from lottery prospect to No. 20 Heat selection, the...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — There’s a shortage of perfect sporting events in the world. Would be a pity to damage one.

Never underestimate the NCAA, though. Its men’s and women’s basketball committees are kicking around the terrible idea of expanding the NCAA tournaments, and while the committees tabled those discussions during their meetings ...Read more