New York Knicks fans are so excited about their team they got a NSFW chant about the Brooklyn Nets going. Following the New York Knicks‘ 120-103 win over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday afternoon, basketball fans in the Big Apple were feeling pretty pumped about their team. And why wouldn’t they? The Knicks have won
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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. It’s been a rough year for the Pistons in terms of the standings, but from a player development perspective, they’ve had plenty of wins. Jerami Grant has thrived in
7:23 PM ET After missing the past three games because of a bruised thigh, Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant returned on Sunday and erupted for 33 points in 28 minutes in a 128-119 victory over the Phoenix Suns. “It’s like riding a bike,” Durant said. “You get your footing right and just get your rhythm
The New York Knicks are currently on their longest winning streak since 2014. Along the way, they’ve defeated several teams with whom they’re competing for a playoff spot – and unbelievably, home-court advantage in the first round – including the Atlanta Hawks and the Charlotte Hornets. While the Knicks still have the sixth-hardest remaining schedule,
Another injury for the Denver Nuggets will only add to the difficulty as the playoffs near, with small forward Will Barton sidelined by a hamstring. Losing Jamal Murray to an ACL tear was bad enough for the Denver Nuggets. Monte Morris suffering a hamstring injury a few days later poured salt on the wound. It
Forget Drew Lock, Nikola Jokic should be the Denver Broncos’ quarterback. It’s been well established that Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic is the best passing big man in NBA history, and one of the best passers in the league, period. But in all honesty, after the dime he threw in Saturday’s game against the Houston
10:34 AM ET Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant is planning to return to the lineup for Sunday’s game against the Phoenix Suns, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarwoski. Durant missed three games with a left leg contusion. He injured himself early in the first quarter of the Nets game against the Miami Heat last weekend. Durant
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 18: Head coach Steve Clifford of the Orlando Magic looks on during the first half against the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center on January 18, 2020 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting
2:07 AM ET There’s only a dozen games left in the regular season for the Los Angeles Lakers after Saturday’s 108-93 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. And even though the defending champions have been playing together for more than four months since the start of training camp, Lakers star Anthony Davis said the critical juncture
The Eastern Conference playoff race is heating up as the top three teams separate themselves from the rest of the pack. There’s a real battle happening at the back end of the playoff picture as well between the Washington Wizards, Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls. In a week that saw teams get hot, teams go
Photo by LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP via Getty Images 5 bold predictions for Detroit Lions in 2021 by Rucker Haringey 2021 NFL Draft: Biggest Team Needs, Trevor Lawrence Jitters by Mike Tanier If you’ve always wanted to see LeBron James do his thing in a slam dunk contest, you’ll have to turn the clock all the way
8:48 PM ET The already-depleted Denver Nuggets will be without starting guard Will Barton for “the foreseeable future,” according to head coach Michael Malone. Barton suffered a right hamstring strain early in Friday night’s 118-97 loss to the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco. The veteran guard pulled up awkwardly after driving to the basket,
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MARCH 23: Dennis Schroder #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands on the court during the fourth quarter of an NBA game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on March 23, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and
Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports Seahawks sign Aldon Smith to bolster defense by Russell S. Baxter Brett Favre is mumbling to clouds about politics in sports, again by Brad Berreman The Chicago Bulls have already been in a tailspin and the loss of Zach LaVine could push their postseason hopes to the brink. The deadline trade
NBA Hall-of-Famer Gary Payton believes LeBron James is a “better all-around player” than Michael Jordan but argues against comparisons in the first place. It’s a question that sparks debate and endless argument: Who is better, LeBron James or Michael Jordan? The latest to weigh in is Gary Payton. “If you ask me who’s a better
3:08 AM ET SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry paid Draymond Green the ultimate compliment after watching the forward tie a career high with 19 assists in Friday’s 118-97 win over the Denver Nuggets on Friday night, calling him the “smartest basketball player I’ve played with.” “When he gets in a groove
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – APRIL 18: Miles Bridges #0 of the Charlotte Hornets catches a pass over Rondae Hollis-Jefferson #2 of the Portland Trail Blazers in the first quarter at Spectrum Center on April 18, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this
The Charlotte Hornets had great news to share about rookie LaMelo Ball, who will return from his wrist fracture sooner than expected. LaMelo Ball could be back on the court for the Charlotte Hornets much sooner than anticipated. On Monday night, the team announced the good news that Ball’s fractured wrist has healed. He’s cleared
11:58 PM ET Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox has been placed in the league’s health and safety protocols and is expected to miss at least 10-14 days, sources told ESPN on Friday. The Kings, winners of two out of their last three games to stop the bleeding following a nine-game losing streak, enter the weekend
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. If you think you’re tired of the LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan, GOAT argument, imagine being a retired NBA player. As your immediate relevancy fades, all you have is
Brooklyn Nets head coach Steve Nash says there is a chance that Kevin Durant returns to the court this weekend. The Brooklyn Nets have not had the greatest week in terms of player health. In this past Sunday’s game against the Miami Heat, Kevin Durant left with what was later determined to be a left
Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant had major praise for Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis during a Twitter debate, calling him a human cheat code. Kevin Durant has time on his hands right now, recovering from a thigh contusion he suffered on Sunday. So he’s doing what he does best besides playing basketball: Tweeting. This
4:06 PM ET Marc J. Spears Phoenix Hillcrest Prep senior forward Michael Foster told The Undefeated on Instagram Live on Friday that he will be joining the G League Ignite next season. Foster is currently the seventh ranked high school player in the 2021 ESPN Class of 100. The 6-foot-8, 215-pounder chose joining the G
With less than a month remaining in the regular season, the playoff races are heating up. The new play-in tournament will allow more teams into the thick of things as the season winds down. One team looking to make a return to postseason play is the Memphis Grizzlies, led by dynamic point guard Ja Morant.
On April 20, 1986, Michael Jordan torched the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the 1986 NBA playoffs, wowing the entire basketball universe. Jordan dropped a playoff-record 63 points for the Chicago Bulls against the favorited Celtics squad – and Jordan was only 23 years old. And he did it playing at Boston Garden. His performance had
What do you see when you watch these Boston Celtics? If you stare at them long enough they’re likely to morph into something completely different. The 2021 Boston Celtics are a Rorschach test. Watch them play. What do you see? A dark horse, scarred but still standing, the proverbial grizzled team nobody wants to face?
10:28 PM ET Terrence Clarke, a freshman guard for the Kentucky Wildcats this past season, died following a car accident in the Los Angeles area on Thursday, it was announced. Clarke’s mother was at his side when he died, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Clarke was 19 years old. Los Angeles Police Department Sergeant John
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (not in uniform) at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports NCAA gymnastics championship broadcast was a quantum leap forward by Lela Moore 5 breakout stars to watch for Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021 by Russell S. Baxter The Knicks have many happy fans these days and you
Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young had to be helped off the court during Wednesday’s game against the New York Knicks after suffering a left ankle sprain. The Atlanta Hawks, the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, had a pivotal game on Wednesday night against the surging New York Knicks. In the second half, the team
11:20 PM ET There were 67 days, 30 missed games and five missed shots for Anthony Davis before he could finally officially stamp his return from injury with a bucket Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks. After the Los Angeles Lakers star’s 19-foot stepback jump shot fell through the net with 4:51 remaining in the first