SAN FRANCISCO — Ballhalla has always been a fortress for the Golden State Valkyries to defend. But never quite like they defended on Monday at Chase Center.

In a pivotal Game 5 of the WNBA Finals, the Valkyries shut down the Atlanta Dream's offense in a 64-55 win. It was the Dream’s lowest scoring total by nine points this season – their ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — In his 24 seasons, LeBron James said he’s observed that there’s one facet of the game that typically takes a long time to calibrate when acclimating to new teammates or a new team — the offensive side of the ball. Not just the offense as a whole, but specifically the halfcourt, where teammates have to adapt to the ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Give Joel Embiid credit for lobbying to be out there.

Give his bosses even more credit for not listening.

The Philadelphia 76ers need Embiid healthy for the long haul. Desperately so. That much was obvious in their first game without him, a 106-93 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. It was a scheduled breather for ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — UNLV basketball coach Josh Pastner sat in his arena and watched second-round draft pick Trey Kaufman-Renn play for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Summer League in July.

Now he’s going to have to try to design a defense to stop him in a college basketball game next month.

Pastner’s task will be made more difficult, at ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — This might have been a different story if the Raptors had been able to roll out Kawhi Leonard, but the Minnesota Timberwolves weren’t going to let up just because Toronto was missing its star player.

The Timberwolves are still undefeated in this young season after beating the Raptors, 117-94.

If you’re an NBA team that’s ...Read more

NEW YORK — The last time an NBA team lost its first three games to start its first season as reigning champions, they were swept out of the first round of the playoffs and finished just a handful of games over .500.

Fourteen years later, the New York Knicks find themselves in the wrong kind of rare company.

After winning the franchise’s ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — For the first time since 2008, the Detroit Pistons are 3-0. They won Sunday night, 106-93, over the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 26 points on 9-for-19 shooting, eight rebounds and eight assists. John Collins recorded his first double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 ...Read more

NEW YORK — Tyrese Haliburton had enough room to entertain himself.

After stealing a Julius Randle pass in the third quarter Sunday night, the Indiana Pacers guard bounced the basketball off the Barclays Center hardwood, gathered it and threw down a dunk. The Brooklyn Nets had already allowed plenty of easy baskets. This one came with a ...Read more

SALT LAKE CITY — Luka Doncic raised three fingers toward the Utah crowd. Fans were left counting more than just his points.

Doncic hit three clutch 3-pointers late in the fourth quarter and took a momentum-swinging charge to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a nail-biting 132-123 victory over the Utah Jazz on Sunday at Delta Center. Doncic led ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid will miss the Philadelphia 76ers’ home game against the Detroit Pistons Sunday night to manage plantar fasciitis, according to the NBA’s injury report.

This is not a surprise with the Sixers (3-0) on the second night of a back-to-back set. Embiid has not played both games of a back-to-back in recent seasons to ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Kevin Willard embarrassed himself and Villanova University on Thursday night. The solace that he and the school’s leaders can take from the episode is that they’re at least getting out of the Big 5, getting what they want, and getting what is best for their men’s basketball program. But the bad taste that Willard left in ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Aces have some important decisions to make this offseason after their run at a fourth WNBA championship in five years ended in a semifinal sweep at the hands of Gabby Williams and the Golden State Valkyries.

With the 2027 season set to tip off in May, the Aces will have to determine how to approach an offseason that ...Read more

MIAMI — The Miami Heat’s first road trip of the season stands as a unique reminder of what was and what still must be.

First there was Friday’s anniversary of the Heat’s first road trip a year ago, when on Oct. 23, 2025 the Heat’s Orlando hotel was swarmed by FBI agents and Terry Rozier was arrested as part of a gambling investigation...Read more

DURHAM, N.C. — Duke's John Blackwell has that look.

He’s good. He knows it. Put a basketball in his hands and he’s going to score with it.

“Hunt the rim,” as he puts it.

Blackwell doesn’t come off as cocky. Confident, yes. Confident of his ability to score against anyone he plays, yes. But not cocksure.

Blackwell was brought in...Read more