The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning.’ The NBA Play-In Tournament wraps tonight, setting the final two playoff spots, with the postseason proper beginning Saturday and Sunday. To break down some of the biggest questions in
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Injured Los Angeles Clippers Norman Powell and Kawhi Leonard are healing well as the NBA Playoffs approach, signaling a potential return for the two. As the Los Angeles Clippers face off against the Phoenix Suns in a regular season preview of the playoffs, Clippers small forward Robert Covington made sure to remind everyone that the
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 26: Paul George #13 of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts after a play during the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena on December 26, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting
12:37 PM ET LA Clippers star Paul George has entered health and safety protocols after testing positive for COVID-19 and will miss Friday night’s play-in game against the New Orleans Pelicans, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim Bontemps. The winner of Friday’s game earns the No. 8 seed and a first-round meeting with the
DALLAS, TEXAS – APRIL 10: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks is attended to my Casey Smith head trainer in the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at American Airlines Center on April 10, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this
There are two early suitors that could be interested in acquiring guard Russell Westbrook from the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason. The Los Angeles Lakers were expected to be contending for the Larry O’Brien Trophy at the end of the 2021-22 regular season, especially after they brought in guard Russell Westbrook. Instead, the team failed
8:00 AM ET Andrew LopezESPN THE LINE WAS wrapped around the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. It was July 5, 2019, and the debut of Zion Williamson was here. After waiting through the first three games, fans were eager to see the main event: Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans taking on the
Every NBA MVP candidate has flaws in their resume but digging into those flaws leads down a neverending rabbit hole of arguments and counterarguments. The NBA MVP Award, given to the most valuable player of the current regular season, has been around since 1956. Until the 1979-80 season, players voted on the winner. Since then,
Apr 10, 2022; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) walks off the court injured during the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports Auburn football schedule won’t do the Tigers, Bryan Harsin any favors by Alicia de Artola Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic
1:01 AM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors are back in the playoffs for the first time in two years. And unlike the last time they were in the postseason — and the four times before that — there aren’t many expectations surrounding them. Sure, they are expected to make it
ESPN broadcaster Doris Burke ( Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports How can Steelers make room to sign Tyrann Mathieu? by Rylie Smith Marcus Smart has a strong case for why he should win DPOY. In a Twitter conversation ESPN Broadcaster, Doris Burke added her opinion on why he should win too. Doris Burke and Malika
It looked like Shaun Livingston’s career was doomed to injuries until a late-career surge made us remember him for his role in an all-time team. Around 2013, if you had asked anyone about Shaun Livingston, they’d probably have winced and mentioned his gruesome knee injury. NBA fans know all too well about injuries stealing a
The Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets feature three of the smartest and most creative stars in the NBA. How will their first-round matchup play out? The NBA playoffs have a way of selecting for the most disciplined, intelligent and adaptable teams, but it’s still rare for the first round to deliver the kind of
4:38 PM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry participated in the team’s scrimmage Thursday, marking another benchmark in his return from a left foot strain that has kept him out since March 16. Warriors coach Steve Kerr said both he and Curry are optimistic that the guard will be
Indian basketball player Satnam Singh Bhamara (Photo credit should read STR/AFP via Getty Images) Packers sign former Chiefs star to help fill wide receiver void by Cody Williams Tom Brady has hilarious request for Elon Musk buying Twitter by Sapphires Sealey Former NBA Player Satnam Singh made his debut last night, and it was not
11:02 PM ET Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges struck a young fan with his mouthpiece after he was ejected from the team’s 132-103 play-in loss to the host Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night, later calling his actions as he exited the court “unacceptable.” With Atlanta up big in the second half and Charlotte’s season winding
Mar 27, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson yawns during pre-game warm ups before their game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports MLB fans are loving Astros losing on a walk-off error to Diamondbacks by Alicia de Artola Zion Williamson
Mar 29, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) high fives guard Kyrie Irving (11) during the third quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Barclays Center. The Nets defeated the Pistons 130-123. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports Kevin Durant makes his pick for NBA MVP by Cody Williams The Brooklyn
Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Wayne Ellington called out Denver Nuggets point guard Facundo Campazzo on Twitter after an egregious flagrant 2 foul. Sometimes, a flagrant 2 foul call just isn’t enough. At least, that’s how Lakers shooting guard Wayne Ellington seems to feel following a high-scoring 146-141 win over the Denver Nuggets on April
12:24 AM ET ATLANTA — Atlanta Hawks coach Nate McMillan took some heat from his coaching staff — as well as some fans on social media — for having starters on the court with just over five minutes left in Wednesday night’s 132-103 play-in victory over the Charlotte Hornets. “The coaches were yelling and screaming
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges. (Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports) Florida State football gets huge transfer win with former Georgia 5-star OT by Cody Williams Charlotte Hornets star Miles Bridges lost his temper after being ejected against the Hawks and threw his mouthguard at fans in Atlanta. Play-in games can feel like life or death situations
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – APRIL 06: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks rests during the game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on April 06, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions
7:00 AM ET Andrew LopezESPN ON THE FINAL night of the All-Star break, New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum, forward Brandon Ingram and coach Willie Green went out for a small, private dinner at FLINT by Baltaire in Phoenix. The Pelicans had gone 1-4 since the Feb. 8 trade that sent Josh Hart, Tomas Satoransky,
Apr 12, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Patrick Beverley (22) throws his jersey into the crowd after the Timberwolves secured a play-off spot by defeating the Los Angeles Clippers in a play-in game at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports The Whiteboard: Nets precision, Clippers meltdown and the Trae Young stopper
3:23 AM ET MINNEAPOLIS — Anthony Edwards and Patrick Beverley stood on the Target Center scorer’s table, screaming and celebrating in an ode to an iconic moment in Minnesota Timberwolves franchise history when Kevin Garnett stood on the table and celebrated in the 2004 playoffs. Not long after jumping off the table, Beverley sat on
Patrick Beverley has plenty of playoff experience, and he revealed the advice he gave his Timberwolves teammates. For just the second time since a run to the Western Conference Finals in 2004, the Minnesota Timberwolves are in the playoffs. It’s just the play-in games right now, but they’ll host the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday
Apr 12, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Reggie Jackson (1) locks arms and has words with Minnesota Timberwolves guard Patrick Beverley (22) after a whistle during the first quarter of a play-in game at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports Watch: Kyrie Irving explains being able to play while fasting
12:38 AM ET NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets star forward Kevin Durant has been in the league long enough to know that it’s not wise to give a playoff opponent any extra motivation before a series begins. So when Durant heard Nets guard Bruce Brown‘s critique of the Boston Celtics, saying that the Nets can
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. The NBA Play-In Tournament kicks off tonight with the Brooklyn Nets facing the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Clippers taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves. In each case, the
3:09 PM ET Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams — architect of the NBA’s best regular-season team — has been voted the National Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year for a second consecutive time. The award, named in honor of the late NBCA executive director Michael H. Goldberg, is based on a vote of the