Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam and his teammates. (John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports) UFC Vegas 51: Drakkar Klose takes shot at old coach, Mark Madsen after winning comeback fight (Video) by Thomas Albano The Toronto Raptors earned the fifth-seed in the Eastern Conference. Here is the team’s full playoff schedule. After missing the playoffs last
Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden. (Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports) Ump interferes with Kenley Jansen’s warm-up routine by Scott Rogust During the 76ers playoff game against the Raptors, Philadelphia star James Harden got away with taking six steps between dribbles. James Harden already has a bit of a reputation for traveling. Like many stars in this
2:43 PM ET Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker is likely to miss Games 3 and 4 against the New Orleans Pelicans with a mild right hamstring strain, but he hasn’t been ruled out for the rest of the opening-round Western Conference series, sources told ESPN. The Suns were still evaluating results of an MRI on
Jordan Poole has been the breakout star of the NBA Playoffs so far and he looks like just what the Golden State Warriors need to make another title run In Game 2 of their first-round match-up with the Denver Nuggets, the Golden State Warriors went on one of their patented third-quarter runs. They outscored Denver
3:27 AM ET Andrew LopezESPN PHOENIX — Before every game when his team is doing pregame handshakes, New Orleans Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. has a message for Brandon Ingram. “You’re the best player on the floor,” Nance tells him. Nance and Ingram were teammates on the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2016-17 season and
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 Utah Jazz are in trouble. They’ve split the first two games of their series with the Dallas Mavericks but Luka Doncic didn’t play for the Mavs in either
Apr 5, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker celebrates in the second half against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Rockies lock up lefty Kyle Freeland to new five-year deal by Eric Treuden After hitting a buzzer-beating shot in the
12:18 AM ET PHOENIX — After a prolific 31-point first half, Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker was forced from his team’s playoff game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday with right hamstring tightness. Booker appeared to suffer an injury with 4:30 left in the third quarter after challenging a Jaxson Hayes dunk in transition.
In Joel Embiid’s postgame interview, following the Philadelphia 76ers’ win over the Toronto Raptors, he spoke about what was said to Nick Nurse. During the NBA playoffs, it is expected for players to heckle their opponents. It is a high-intensity atmosphere, and it often brings out the best in the players. Most would expect the
5:09 PM ET BOSTON — Brooklyn Nets swingman Ben Simmons has been cleared for contact as he continues to make his way back from a back injury that has prevented him from playing since he was acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers just before February’s trade deadline. Nets head coach Steve Nash ruled Simmons out of
DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 23: Head coach George Karl of the Sacramento Kings talks to DeMarcus Cousins (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) Freddie Freeman gets emotional before facing the Braves for the first time by Rylie Smith Former Sacramento Kings Coach George Karl responded to comments DeMarcus Cousins made regarding his time with the team.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Bellator 277: Patricio Pitbull Freire says AJ McKee trilogy would have to be at featherweight (Video) by Curtis Calhoun The Phoenix Suns enter the NBA playoffs with the league’s best record, looking to avenge their NBA Finals loss last year. Here is the team’s full playoff schedule. The Phoenix Suns
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. Every NBA playoff series has now had a Game 1 and things mostly went according to script — five of the eight were decided by double-digits and we only
8:00 AM ET Andrew LopezESPN IT WAS AN early April evening, and the Miami Heat had just gone up by 18 points with 1:36 to play against the Chicago Bulls. It was time to call it. So when coach Erik Spoelstra looked down his bench, he called out a familiar name. Udonis Haslem, now 41
SANTA MONICA, CA – JUNE 25: (L-R) Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson Jr., Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley speak onstage at the 2018 NBA Awards at Barkar Hangar on June 25, 2018 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Turner Sports) Twitter thread shows Patrick Mahomes might be better businessman than QB by
DALLAS, TEXAS – APRIL 18: Jalen Brunson #13 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket against Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz in the fourth quarter of Game Two of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center on April 18, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly
Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse complained about the lack of foul calls against Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid. Embiid gets the star treatment — surely a veteran coach like Nurse knows this. But after the Raptors lost by 20 points in Game 1, Nurse had to give some sort of rallying cry other than “well,
Apr 18, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) reacts with forward Tobias Harris (12) after a score and one against the Toronto Raptors during the first quarter in game two of the first round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports Freddie Freeman
1:11 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN PHILADELPHIA — 76ers star Joel Embiid heard Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse complain about the way Embiid was officiated in the opener of the teams’ first-round playoff series on Saturday night. So, after Embiid finished with 31 points, 11 rebounds and went 12-for-14 from the free throw line — taking
Kyrie Irving returned to Boston for the first day of the playoffs on Sunday, and he was not given a warm welcome. The Brooklyn Nets point guard and shooting guard Kyrie Irving returned to the TD Garden in Boston for the Playoffs on Sunday. He’s a former Boston Celtics player, and his return to the
5:16 PM ET MIAMI — A couple of hours after the Miami Heat opened up their postseason run with a dominant 115-91 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday, the NBA announced the finalists for the 2021-22 regular-season awards. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was named one of the top three candidates for Coach of the
Revisiting one of the greatest icons in NBA history — Allen Iverson — and how he has impacted an understanding of survival in America. There’s something inexplicably impossible about Allen Iverson, even in 2022 — 12 years after his retirement from basketball. There’s no fancy crossover here, just a simple fact: Iverson is someone who
8:00 AM ET If NBA fans outside of Pennsylvania didn’t know the name Tyrese Maxey, they sure do now. While the Toronto Raptors were keying in on superstars Joel Embiid and James Harden, the Philadelphia 76ers‘ second-year guard was showcasing why he is such an important player in their success with 38 points in a
MIAMI, FLORIDA – APRIL 17: Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat fouls Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks during the first half in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round at FTX Arena on April 17, 2022 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) Celtics take Game 1: Best memes and tweets about insane ending by Alicia de Artola Check out this fan angle of the Jayson Tatum game-winner for the Boston Celtics on Sunday. Jayson Tatum lifted the Boston Celtics past the division rival Brooklyn Nets in the final seconds.
8:49 PM ET BOSTON — Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving said he was responding to words he heard from the crowd when he flipped off several Boston Celtics fans on two separate occasions during Sunday’s 115-114 loss in Game 1. After the game, Irving made it clear that he would have “the same energy for
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – FEBRUARY 15: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on February 15, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms
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 Hawks used a balanced effort to knock off the Hornets last night, with six different players scoring in double-figures and five players knocking down multiple 3-pointers. They’ll face
Will the New Orleans Pelicans have Zion Williamson available for the NBA Playoffs? Opinions differ on the star big man’s return to the lineup. Three years ago, the Pelicans drafted Zion Williamson with hopes of the Duke star leading them to playoff glory. They’ve made it to the postseason for the first time in his
6:45 PM ET ESPN News Services BOSTON — Jayson Tatum made a layup at the buzzer on a pass from Marcus Smart to give the Boston Celtics a dramatic 115-114 victory over the Brooklyn Nets in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday. Tatum scored 16 of his 31 points in the second