MIAMI — The competition for the Miami Heat is real when it comes to a potential trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. The question for the Milwaukee Bucks is whether the timing is ideal.

It is against that backdrop — of whether the Bucks opt to wait until the offseason to determine their future with their franchise superstar — that all ...Read more

PHOENIX — The countdown to the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline is on. This year could be one of the most impactful trade periods in several seasons, as many high-profile players could be on the move.

The Milwaukee Bucks reportedly have started making trade calls about Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is ready to find a new home.

The Detroit Pistons have...Read more

DENVER — The NBA has rescheduled Denver’s postponed game in Memphis, Tenn., for March 18, adding a league-leading 17th back-to-back to the Nuggets’ regular season.

The Nuggets were supposed to face the Grizzlies on Sunday afternoon, but the game was called off about three hours before tip due to inclement weather. The Nuggets spent three ...Read more

CLEVELAND — Luka Doncic grabbed at his left leg. He immediately thought of Dru Smith. The Miami Heat guard's knee injury suffered in 2023 when he slipped off the side of the Cleveland Cavaliers' elevated court haunted Doncic while he winced in pain near the Lakers bench.

The Lakers superstar avoided serious injury after falling off the side ...Read more

On Wednesday morning, the NBA’s unofficial press secretary, ESPN’s Shams Charania, sent up the flare that the Golden State Warriors have been staring at the sky waiting to see for half a decade.

Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, the tweet read, is “ready for a new home.”

For Warriors CEO Joe Lacob, this was supposed to be the ...Read more

In the same season the University of Houston Cougars football team finished 10-3, beat LSU in the Texas Bowl and were No. 21 in the final College Football Playoff rankings, they were last in the Big 12 in home attendance, and 72nd nationally.

And this is in a nice, pretty on-campus facility, not the old, dumpy Astrodome (although the Astrodome ...Read more

A few nights after the Timberwolves snapped a five-game losing streak against a short-handed Warriors team, they faced the Mavericks, who also had a lengthy “out” list on the injury report.

The Wolves did as they should in coming home with a 118-105 victory over Dallas at American Airlines Center with Oklahoma City up next on Thursday, Jan....Read more

BOSTON — Eleven days after being blown out by the Celtics on their home floor, the Hawks got their revenge at TD Garden.

Atlanta led by as many as 23 points Wednesday night in a 117-106 win over Boston. It was the first double-digit defeat for the Celtics since Dec. 11 — when they lost by 15 to the Milwaukee Bucks — and their first at ...Read more

MIAMI — Yes, the Orlando Magic have the Miami Heat’s number.

So make it 4-0 for the Magic against the Heat this season with their 133-124 victory Wednesday night at Kaseya Center, a run that also includes an NBA Cup victory.

Actually, make it 6-0 if you choose to add a couple of Heat preseason losses to the Magic.

As in the case of the ...Read more

Six steals for OG Anunoby, a 30-point barrage from Mikal Bridges and a massive third-quarter run that broke the seal for the Knicks’ fourth win in a row.

With Mitchell Robinson (load management) and Miles McBride (ankle) sidelined for the second leg of a home-road back-to-back following Tuesday’s victory over the Sacramento Kings, the ...Read more

DENVER — He’s been a superhero so many times this month, you almost forgot Jamal Murray is still mortal.

And no mortal is immune from missing a timely free throw.

Murray missed two of them Tuesday, the final nails in the coffin for Denver in a 109-107 loss to Detroit. Among the finite number of ways a basketball game can end, this one was ...Read more

NEW YORK — There was no need Wednesday night for another furious second-half comeback.

Nor was there ever much doubt that No. 25 St. John’s would extend its season-long winning streak.

St. John’s imposed its will early and never looked back, cruising to a coast-to-coast 92-70 victory over Butler at Madison Square Garden for its seventh ...Read more

CLEVELAND — Lakers teammates and coaches clapped. LeBron James stared stoically at the video board. Instead of acknowledging the Cleveland crowd showering the Lakers star with applause after a video tribute on Monday, James lifted his jersey over his face.

He wiped his eyes.

More than two decades after the Cavaliers drafted him first overall...Read more

MIAMI — It is a multiple-choice question the entire NBA, including the Miami Heat, has to evaluate, even if there is no definitive correct answer:

— A. The Milwaukee Bucks will trade Giannis Antetokounmpo by the Feb. 5 NBA trading deadline.

— B. The Milwaukee Bucks will not trade Giannis Antetokounmpo by the Feb. 5 NBA trading deadline. ...Read more

BOSTON — During an hour-long interview with “The Pivot” podcast, Jayson Tatum spoke at length about his grueling recovery from Achilles surgery.

The Celtics star hinted at when he might be planning to return to the court — and admitted he’s given considerable thought to the potential challenges of reintegrating himself into a Boston ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Wonder what Caitlin Clark thinks about the confusion surrounding Austin Reaves' imminent return to the Lakers lineup? Or whether Jeanie Buss has turned on LeBron James? Or if she has nothing but praise for Luka Doncic?

Tune in to the Lakers' matchup against the New York Knicks on the NBC Sports debut of "Basketball Night in ...Read more

NEW YORK — Giannis Antetokounmpo is reportedly coming around to the idea of a trade, which means it’s time to revisit which Knicks chips are actually in play should the Greek Freak decide New York is the only place he wants to play.

Antetokounmpo reportedly named the Knicks as his preferred destination during an offseason meeting with Bucks...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — After Tennessee spoiled the return to men’s intercollegiate basketball of NBA G League center Charles Bediako Saturday night by beating his new/old college team, Alabama 79-73, the Volunteers men’s basketball social media team had some fun.

On the UT men’s hoops X account, Tennessee tweeted at the 2023 G League champion...Read more

It ended with a loose ball, a shove, bodies flying in from every direction and a lengthy delay that sucked the air out of a tight game. Egor Dëmin and Dillon Brooks tangled as Ziaire Williams fought for a loose ball late and the scrum spilled outward. By the time order was restored, the momentum Brooklyn had just found was gone.

That moment ...Read more