LAS VEGAS — It might take some time to develop chemistry and cohesiveness. Josh Pastner obviously hopes it occurs sooner than later.

But with several new faces on his second UNLV basketball team, just like with his first UNLV basketball team, Pastner the coach knows all too well about the patience one needs to sort things out. I’m just not ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — With nine new players on the roster still working on maximizing their on-court chemistry, the Los Angeles Lakers are taking a patient approach to the start of the NBA season.

For now, it looks as if they’re fine with following Luka Doncic‘s lead.

The Lakers star had another sensational performance, finishing with 45 points ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr is not quite sure why rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is especially coachable, why the first-year forward is particularly receptive to instruction.

Kerr opined that perhaps the 24-year-old’s agreeability comes from his vast experience in the college ranks. Six years of collegiate hoops at three ...Read more

Apparently, the Brooklyn Nets know where to go when they need their first win.

Nearly a year after ending a 0-7 start on this same Gainbridge Fieldhouse floor, the Nets returned Sunday still searching for their first victory of another season. And once again, the Indiana Pacers were standing in their way.

The circumstances were familiar. So ...Read more

It’s going to take a road warriors mentality for the Boston Celtics to get through November.

The Celtics play 12 of their 16 games this month away from TD Garden, and it started Sunday afternoon in what’s been a house of horrors for Boston of late with it paying a visit to the Orlando Magic.

The Celtics looked at home for the most part, ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO – Gabby Williams was done being a decoy.

The All-Star had, by design, floated through the most important first half of the most important game of her life. Williams was asked to distract the Atlanta Dream: Create space for others by virtue of her presence.

The Dream were locking down a stagnant Valkyries offense to begin Game 7...Read more

SAN DIEGO — The new point guard at San Diego State, Chance Gladden, said he was overlooked coming out of high school.

He’s probably right.

Elzie Harrington is the lone returning guard who played for SDSU last year. Aztecs fans will want to enjoy the sophomore, even if growing pains are inevitable. The bigger-payroll schools will notice a ...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — In Mark Pope’s first year coaching the Kentucky men’s basketball team, a well-constructed roster he put together meshed into a good team whose season was sabotaged by injuries to key players.

For Pope’s second year leading the Wildcats, an ill-fitting roster he put together yielded a so-so team whose season was ...Read more

MIAMI — Erik Spoelstra has had similar moments before, coaching against a mentor in Stan Van Gundy and against a protege in David Fizdale.

But Monday at Kaseya Center was different.

No, Dusty May never coached alongside Erik Spoelstra and, yet, as with many coaches in South Florida during Spoelstra’s 19-year tenure as Heat coach, a bond ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Earlier this week, in an L.A Superior Court filing, Lakers governor Jeanie Buss formally responded to her five siblings’ petition from two weeks ago, accusing her siblings of using the media to craft a narrative surrounding their attempt to sell the Buss Family Trust’s remaining 17.8% minority stake in the franchise using go-...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Valkyries are WNBA champions, and they have Gabby Williams to thank.

Williams dragged the Valkyries over the finish line in their 68-63 win over the Atlanta Dream in Game 7, shaking off a tough first half to score 15 points in the third quarter and 13 in the fourth to take over offensively and help Golden ...Read more

The Timberwolves fell on Halloween night, 121-111, to Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.

The Wolves came in at a disadvantage, not only missing Anthony Edwards (right knee surgery) but also Rudy Gobert, who was a late scratch with low back spasms.

When facing the ultra-height of Wembanyama, having Gobert is a critical part of the ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — Steve Kerr loves to tell anyone who will listen that every day in the NBA is Wednesday.

It’s an 82-game grind designed to numb you into submission. Most nights in late October are sleepwalk specials where veterans punch the clock and collect their checks.

Friday night at Chase Center was definitely not Wednesday.

The ...Read more

STORRS, Conn. — The seasons and the decades pass, and the responsibilities are passed along. The old names, Rebecca Lobo and Ray Allen, Breanna Stewart and Rip Hamilton, Maya Moore and Kemba Walker, to name only a few, hang on banners along the walls.

And down on the court at what is now M&T Bank Center at Gampel Pavilion on campus or ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — When Luka Doncic started cooking in the first quarter, the Los Angeles Lakers followed his lead in opening a 25-point lead in the second quarter over the Golden State Warriors on Friday night.

But then the Lakers started getting cooked.

Cooked by going down by 17 points in the fourth quarter. Cooked by turning the ball over ...Read more

PHOENIX — As bright and intense as the Phoenix Suns’ orange court was, Jamal Murray shone even brighter.

Murray scored 37 points on 10-of-18 shooting, including 7-of-9 from deep, and the Nuggets opened NBA Cup play with a 127-120 win Friday night in Phoenix. Their next group stage game is Nov. 20 against the Rockets, who lost their opener ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Lakers owner Mark Walter and Josh Kushner of Thrive Capital have agreed to the outstanding terms of the team's sale, valued at an NBA-record $12.5 billion, according to several people with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

Kushner, a venture capitalist and the younger brother of Jared ...Read more

NEW YORK — Coach J.B. Bickerstaff has expressed satisfaction with Ron Holland II's performance so far this season. He believes the third-year forward has been making impactful plays through his defense and hustle.

However, Bickerstaff hasn't emphasized his offensive struggles, since the challenges Holland has faced are similar to those the ...Read more

BOSTON — The Celtics opened 2026 NBA Cup group play by cruising past the Chicago Bulls for the second time in five days.

Boston won, 125-111, on an ooze-green TD Garden court Friday night, leading by as many as 32 points against a rebuilding Bulls squad.

As was the case on Monday, when the Celtics crushed Chicago 134-99 in the same arena, ...Read more

Moments after the Knicks picked up their first victory of the season — a 111-97 victory over the Detroit Pistons that came four games too late — head coach Mike Brown said his team, briefly, addressed a critical issue: for one night, they paid attention to the player on the opposing team’s bench who had the hot hand entering the night.

...Read more