12:01 AM ET After a tough Game 3 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, the Atlanta Hawks found their way in Game 4, despite their star guard, Trae Young, being sidelined with a bone bruise after twisting his ankle on an official’s foot on Sunday. Lou Williams led all scorers as Atlanta claimed a 110-88 victory
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 26: Owner Steve Ballmer of the LA Clippers reacts during the first half in game four of the Western Conference Finals against the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center on June 26, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using
Skip Bayless, Shannon Sharpe, Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman all reacted to the Los Angeles Clippers’ Game 5 win over the Phoenix Suns to keep their NBA title hopes alive. The goal for the Los Angeles Clippers was simple — win Game 5 to keep their NBA title hopes alive. After winning their first
Will Kawhi Leonard play in Game 6 between the Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns? The forward’s injury status still looms large over the series. The Clippers and Suns NBA Playoff series will continue on Wednesday with Game 6 in Los Angeles. The big question: Will Kawhi Leonard play? The simple answer is: It’s not
When Rick Carlisle stepped down as head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, the speculation began about where he was headed next. After 13 years in Dallas that included a championship in 2011, Carlisle would undoubtedly have plenty of suitors in terms of his next stop. The two organizations that were the favorites to land him
1:21 PM ET Kevon Looney is exercising his $5.1 million option to return to the Golden State Warriors next season, his agent Todd Ramasar told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The 6-foot-9 big man signed a three-year, $15 million deal with the team prior to the 2019-20 season. Golden State selected Looney with the 30th overall pick
76ers center Dwight Howard. (Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports) Will Conor McGregor and Jake Paul ever fight each other? by Mike Straus Philadelphia 76ers fans caught sight of Dwight Howard sitting on the Atlanta Hawks baseline during Game 3 against the Bucks and they were not happy. If you had a Dwight Howard sighting on your
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 Finals are rapidly approaching but much of the rest of the league is already focused on the offseason and building fantasy blockbuster trades. The Warriors are reportedly
The Phoenix Suns had a golden opportunity to close out the LA Clippers in Game 5 and advance to the NBA Finals. Now their resilience will be tested. Resilience and poise have been staples for the Phoenix Suns all season long. As a younger team, with four of their top-seven rotation players experiencing playoff basketball
2:40 AM ET PHOENIX — After scoring a playoff-career-high 41 points on seven different Phoenix Suns defenders to help the LA Clippers stave off elimination, Paul George took a well-deserved seat with 1:14 remaining in Monday night’s Game 5 when he was greeted by a line of Clippers coaches all congratulating him one-by-one. Finally, Ty
MEMPHIS, TN – FEBRUARY 6: Penny Hardaway, head coach of the Memphis Tigers looks on from the sideline against the East Carolina Pirates during a game on February 6, 2021 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis defeated East Carolina 66-59. (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images) Kawhi Leonard officially ruled out for must-win Game 5 by
James Wiseman, Golden State Warriors, Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors. (Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports) Who is Dee Devlin? by Maria Morales The Golden State Warriors could trade James Wiseman and the No. 7 overall pick to the Toronto Raptors for former All-Star Pascal Siakam. Needing to make the NBA Playoffs after a two-year postseason absence, the Golden
5:28 PM ET The Philadelphia 76ers‘ Ben Simmons has informed the Australian Olympic basketball team that he will not participate in the Tokyo Games. Coach Brian Goorjian said in a statement that he and Team Australia “understand and support his decision.” “The best thing for everybody right now is for him to go on and
Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports Here are three players that will not return to the Oklahoma City Thunder next season. While the 2021 NBA Playoffs have now entered the conference finals, all eyes will be on the draft lottery taking place Tuesday night. With the right to select Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham on the line,
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 25: Kemba Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics dribbles during the first half of Game Two of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on May 25, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks. (Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports) NBA rumors: Warriors might trade James Wiseman, No. 7 pick for Pascal Siakam by John Buhler Atlanta Hawks star point guard Trae Young has an injured ankle heading into Game 4 Tuesday. The Atlanta Hawks lost Game 3 of the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals at home on Sunday night
John Calipari, Kentucky Wildcats. (Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports) College coaches have not fared well in the NBA. Which current coaches will likely try to make the jump and are attractive to the NBA? As difficult as it is for college basketball players to take the next step and succeed in the NBA, it’s
3:15 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN ATLANTA — An MRI on the sprained right ankle of Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young revealed a bone bruise in his foot Monday afternoon, and he’ll be listed as questionable for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night. “That’s the head of our
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 11: Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks in action against the Toronto Raptors during a game at Madison Square Garden on April 11, 2021 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Raptors 102-96. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using
NBA legend Magic Johnson believes the New York Knicks are a free-agent destination superstars will seriously consider. For the past decade, there aren’t too many positive memories about the New York Knicks. They were stuck at the bottom of the NBA, embody everything a franchise shouldn’t be. Because of their history of failure, many didn’t
The 2021 NBA Draft Lottery is on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. Find out which teams have the most at stake with the complete list of odds. Three years ago, the NBA changed its Draft Lottery system to provide each of the three worst teams in the regular season equal odds of landing the first overall
1:06 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN ATLANTA — Atlanta Hawks star guard Trae Young said his sprained right ankle was sore and hurting after Sunday’s 113-102 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, adding that it “hopefully” feels better for Game 4 Tuesday night. “It’s sore right now,” said Young, who finished with 35 points — but only
Stan Van Gundy of the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) 2 reasons Alabama football will repeat as national champions by John Buhler The New Orleans Pelicans hunt for a coach again after parting ways with Stan Van Gundy. One of the more disappointing teams during the NBA season were the New Orleans
Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images If the New Orleans Pelicans want to salvage their relationship with Zion Williamson, they must hire one of these three candidates to be his next head coach. The New Orleans Pelicans were the biggest winners of the 2019 offseason, as they won the NBA Draft Lottery to earn the right
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports With Damian Lillard reportedly considering asking for a trade, these are the teams who could get the Trail Blazer’s attention with a compelling offer. After their early exit from the 2021 NBA Playoffs, the Portland Trail Blazers knew they’d face a pivotal offseason. It just got a whole lot more dramatic. Talisman
10:38 PM ET The Portland Trail Blazers reached an agreement on a five-year deal to hire LA Clippers assistant Chauncey Billups as the franchise’s new coach on Sunday, sources told ESPN. Billups, 44, will be introduced at a Tuesday news conference in Portland. The deal includes a team option on the fifth season, sources said.
Deandre Ayton’s playoff leap is the reason the Phoenix Suns are on the cusp of the NBA Finals. Game 4 of the 2021 Western Conference Finals was ugly. It felt like a rock fight, only calling it a rock fight would be slanderous to rock fights. After going a combined 10-for-40 from the field in
3:02 AM ET LOS ANGELES — The LA Clippers are the only team to come back from 2-0 deficits in the first two rounds, and head coach Ty Lue says they can continue their postseason of comebacks even if the odds are historically slim. The Clippers went cold in the fourth quarter, including one of
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks. (Mandatory Credit: Elsa/POOL PHOTOS-USA TODAY Sports) Watch: Vanderbilt had the craziest walkoff win you’ll ever see in College World Series vs. Stanford by Ethan Lee Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young explained why he shimmied before hitting a 3-pointer against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference
The Milwaukee Bucks throttled the Atlanta Hawks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, and NBA Twitter was in shock. After the Atlanta Hawks stole Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on the road behind a historic Trae Young performance, many wondered how the Milwaukee Bucks would respond in Game 2. On Friday