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

PHOENIX – After LJ Cryer buried a 3-pointer from the top of the arc, the second-year guard meandered to the bench as the Phoenix Suns called a timeout with three minutes remaining in Saturday’s game at Mortgage Matchup Center.

The first man to greet him off the bench? Steph Curry, decked out in a gray hoodie and green striped pants. Next to...Read more

DENVER — Flash back to Jan. 27, 2026, in Ball Arena. That night against the Detroit Pistons, Jamal Murray missed two consecutive free throws after drawing a foul with 0.7 seconds left, with the Denver Nuggets down by two.

On Saturday night, in front of an anxious crowd aching for a win over the New Orleans Pelicans in the home opener, Murray ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid collected the ball off the offensive rebound and dished it to Jaylen Brown for the 3-pointer from the right wing.

It gave Embiid his 10th assist to accumulate his 11th career triple-double. The former NBA All-Star finished with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and those 10 helpers. And it helped clinch the 76ers’ 127-116 ...Read more

It took a 22-point deficit and nearly 40 minutes for the Nets to offer their first glimpse of what the future might look like.

With 8:18 remaining in the fourth quarter Saturday night, Egor Dëmin checked into the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Mikel Brown Jr. was already on the floor. For the first time in their NBA careers, Brooklyn’...Read more

Say what you will about the Golden State Valkyries, but you can’t say they don’t have a pulse.

Saturday’s Game 4 of the WNBA Finals wasn’t, strictly by the book, an elimination game.

But did the Valks ever treat it like one.

Lose, and you’re down 3-1, packing your emotional bags and listening as Atlanta talks about parade routes. ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — What could go wrong did go wrong in a disastrous final stretch of the Golden State Warriors’ 111-108 defeat to the visiting Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night.

The Warriors led by 12 with 3:47 left in the game, the Chase Center was rocking in the team’s home opener against the young Grizzlies. All the Warriors had to do ...Read more