LAS VEGAS —A’ja Wilson will be on the court for Las Vegas’ decisive Game 3 on Thursday night against the Indiana Fever after the WNBA didn’t suspend or fine her following an incident with a fan during Game 2 of the series.

A person familiar with the ruling told the Associated Press the decision was made after officials did an in-game ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The unraveling happened so jarringly it was as if the Minnesota Lynx vanished beneath a trap door. Their collapse, strangely, was simultaneously sudden and creeping. From magic to misery before anyone could halt the momentum.

Rarely does a No. 1 seed in the playoffs in any sport put forth such a feeble, uninspired effort.

Where...Read more

Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson said she apologized to her teammates for getting a technical foul late in a 98-89 playoff loss to the Indiana Fever on Tuesday night in Indianapolis.

But the four-time league MVP is not apologizing for her actions that led to the foul being called.

With about four minutes left in the fourth quarter and the Aces ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The three words that have long defined Tyrese Maxey were also the ones that landed LeBron James with the 76ers. They were spoken a little more than six years ago by Rajon Rondo, the longtime NBA point guard who’d starred at the University of Kentucky before embarking on a pro career that saw him win a championship and make ...Read more

DENVER — The hamstrings get the last word. Always. Aaron Gordon turned 31 on Sept. 16. Like most of the rest of us over 35, his body doesn’t recover the way it did when he was 23 or 24, kissing the sky with graceful ease.

“So I got into the league at 18 years old … and I could roll out of bed and play 48 minutes and then go back to bed ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — On the court, Austin Reaves really doesn't have much left to prove. Well, except whether he can stay on the court.

The Lakers' star guard is tough, he's talented, he has the temperament and competitive compass to lead a team. He's been blessed with a sense of the moment and a sense of humor. It's been a treat to watch him go ...Read more

NEW YORK — The Lynx’s 2026 season was one of overperforming, then falling short of, expectations.

First, they watched much of a deep 2025 roster turn over this offseason through free agency and the expansion draft. They knew star Napheesa Collier would miss significant time — it ended up being 27 games — recovering from two ankle ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — When he's at his best, Matisse Thybulle is already regarded as an elite, ball-hawking wing. Now think about what the new Los Angeles Lakers guard can do with Walker Kessler by his side.

"[I] just feel like I can fully live up to my defensive potential," Thybulle said Monday at Lakers media day, "because of having a rim protector...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Two-time NBA champion J.R. Smith has been arrested in Texas on family violence charges.

The former Los Angeles Laker is being held on suspicion of family violence assault causing bodily injury, with no bond currently set, according to the Hunt County jail's booking records. The charge is usually a misdemeanor for first-time ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — The NBA is set to choose a winning ownership group for the league’s Las Vegas expansion team from a list of three finalists, according to ESPN. The fee will be between $12 billion and $13 billion, the network reported.

The three remaining Southern Nevada bid groups include one led by Walmart heiress Nancy Walton Laurie and her ...Read more

DETROIT — It takes a deadline to make a deal.

So in that sense, at least, you could view all the drama that was drummed up Monday as the Pistons — like all but two other teams across the NBA — held their annual preseason media day as much ado about nothing.

This wasn’t the real deadline for Jalen Duren, the Pistons’ All-NBA center, ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Olivia Miles began her first pro season in New York, shouting out her family on stage at the WNBA draft. She flipped open her suit jacket to show the names of her parents and her brother stitched inside.

Five months later, Miles and the Lynx are gearing up to head back to New York for Game 2 vs. the Liberty in the first round of...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Much of the past, present and future success of the Lynx franchise sits in the hands of head coach and president of basketball operations Cheryl Reeve.

On Monday, Reeve — after receiving her record fifth WNBA Coach of the Year award — sat side by side onstage with a big part of that future, Olivia Miles, the 2026 Rookie of ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The bromance between Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves remains strong and it's a bond the Lakers will lean on with LeBron James no longer on the team.

After eight years of James being the Lakers' leader, the role now will be shared by Doncic and Reaves.

Doncic already took a step in that direction when he invited his teammates to ...Read more

NEW YORK — LeBron James wanted to play for the Knicks — until they won a championship.

James confirmed as much Monday, saying he “had visions” of finishing his career at Madison Square Garden before he signed with the Philadelphia 76ers over the summer.

“I think it’s the No. 1 arena in the world, as far as for a basketball player,�...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — LeBron James grabbed and glanced at the name tag perched on a table, then quipped, “You guys know who I am, right?”

Those assembled inside the 76ers’ practice facility did, of course. James, one of the NBA’s all-time greats and a mainstream international celebrity, generally commands such hubbub. But the blue No. 23 ...Read more

MIAMI — From the moment he was acquired in June, the singular goal by the Miami Heat has been to get Giannis Antetokounmpo into a comfort zone.

For weeks, actually months, it had been going swimmingly.

And then, on the pool deck of Antetokounmpo’s new Pinecrest home, everything changed.

As he made clear during his July introductory media ...Read more

DENVER — Nikola Jokic on Monday said his decision to delay signing a contract extension with the Denver Nuggets this offseason was entirely business-driven, reaffirming his plan to sign a five-year deal with the franchise next summer.

Jokic shut down any notion that his choice to delay signing for a second consecutive year was influenced by ...Read more

DENVER — Basketball season finally, unofficially tipped off Monday when the Denver Nuggets reported to Ball Arena ahead of training camp. After they began the week with media day, they headed to Boulder, Colo., for a few days of training camp that starts Tuesday.

This is an unusual moment for Denver. Outside expectations for the franchise are...Read more