FORT WORTH, Texas — When the Dallas Mavericks introduced Kristaps Porzingis in January 2019, coach Rick Carlisle made a point of thanking members of KP’s “team.”

A guy who has a “team,” and it’s not the team, can be a problem.

There’s usually a family a member, and a friend, and some sycophantic “coach” whose collective ...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky coach John Calipari all but said it out loud during his final radio appearance of the disastrous 2020-21 season a couple of months ago.

Kentucky basketball is at a crossroads.

Calipari used the word “unacceptable” several times in that last radio show, reflecting on the Wildcats’ 9-16 season and promising it ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — They have shared the same city since 1984 and same arena since 1999, but the degree to which the Lakers and Clippers have circled one another reached a new level in the summer of 2019.

With their Playa Vista practice facility undergoing renovations, the Clippers hosted workouts at an El Segundo high school less than a half mile ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — With the regular season winding down and an advantageous spot in the play-in tournament at stake, the Golden State Warriors must take care of business against the sub-.500 teams left on their schedule.

On Thursday night, they did, defeating the rebuilding Oklahoma City Thunder 118-97 at Chase Center in the first of a six-game ...Read more

The Nets were already without James Harden (hamstring). But an APB needed to be put out on Kevin Durant, who couldn’t be found in the Nets’ 113-109 loss to the Mavericks on Thursday. It’s the Nets’ fourth loss in a row; not-so perfect timing for a team jockeying for playoff position.

Durant shot just 7 of 21 from the field for 20 points...Read more

This is why you cut the check.

It’s why you pay DeAndre Jordan to facilitate Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving coming to Brooklyn at a $300 million tag. It’s why you sacrifice draft capital and young, promising players to trade for James Harden, in the second year of his four-year, $171 million deal.

It’s why you saddle yourself in luxury ...Read more

As Connecticut’s WNBA season opener approaches, and the world still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, it is pertinent not to overlook the mental health aspect of maintaining a positive mindset, even when Sun players experience virtually little to no break between their international and domestic seasons.

Despite approaching her mid-30s, Sun...Read more

History is full of fascinating what-ifs. What if Washington never crossed the Delaware? What if Franz Ferdinand never went to Sarajevo? What if Michael Martinez never ran down that Chipper Jones line drive at the warning track in left-center in the 10th inning of the last day of the 2011 season?

That last one is a question that the Sixers would...Read more

NEW YORK — A return is near.

James Harden is “very confident” he’ll return to the Nets for at least their first playoff game.

Speaking to reporters for the first time since initially straining his hamstring on March 31, an injury that has cost him the team’s last 19 games (the most in his career), an upbeat Harden was optimistic ...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Major changes are coming to the Kentucky basketball program.

Orlando Antigua and Chin Coleman were announced Thursday as the newest members of John Calipari’s coaching staff at UK, bringing confirmation to a move that has been expected for weeks.

Antigua and Coleman spent the past four seasons as assistant coaches at ...Read more

A sign of the ugliness to come for the Knicks, Tom Thibodeau picked up a technical foul just 28 seconds after the opening tip.

He was fuming over the early calls — including two against RJ Barrett — but his passionate pleas for whistles were never going save the Knicks on Wednesday night, not in their Denver hellhole and not against the ...Read more

HOUSTON — What’s a 76ers’ game without the opposing team being undermanned?

Wednesday’s contest against the Houston Rockets was the Sixers’ sixth consecutive game against a team missing numerous key players. And Philly was victorious against the Rockets just like in the previous five games. This time, it was a 135-115 decision at the ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Apart from which team won — for the Wolves it didn't really matter — what transpired at Target Center Wednesday was some impressive entertainment.

Starring: Wolves rookie of the year candidate Anthony Edwards vs. reigning ROY Ja Morant of Memphis.

Back and forth, all night. Morant primarily driving, attacking. Edwards ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic didn’t have enough firepower to keep up with Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics.

Walker matched his season-high with 32 points and Tatum scored 27 as the Celtics rolled to a 132-96 victory over the Magic on Wednesday at Amway Center.

Dwayne Bacon and Moritz Wagner each scored 20 points while...Read more

This is what retirement looked like for former North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams on Wednesday:

A sun-drenched day at the Wells Fargo Championship Pro-Am in Charlotte, with his son Scott caddying for him, his good friend Mack Brown as one of his playing partners and his wife Wanda and several of their grandchildren walking outside the...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando Magic coach Steve Clifford has experience watching his teams from afar.

While coaching in Charlotte, N.C., during the 2017-18 season, he missed 21 games due to severe headaches brought on by sleep deprivation.

So when Clifford missed the Magic’s past six games while in the NBA’s health and safety protocols, he had...Read more

NEW YORK — The Knicks are bringing aboard an Argentine prospect.

The team agreed to a four-year, $13.6 million deal with playmaker Luca Vildoza, a source confirmed, with the final three years non-guaranteed.

Vildoza, 25, will join the Knicks after clearing immigration and COVID-19 protocols, according to a source. Typically, the protocol ...Read more