Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports 3 teams that should trade for Deebo Samuel and Jimmy Garoppolo by Braulio Perez Video of Mike Tyson assaulting a passenger on a plane leaked by Sapphires Sealey Marcus Smart lets everyone know that he is DPOY by showing up to TD Garden
12:47 AM ET MINNEAPOLIS — In one of the most dramatic comebacks in NBA postseason history, the Memphis Grizzlies clawed their way out of a 26-point hole on Thursday night to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 104-95. Improbably, the Grizzlies now lead the best-of-seven first-round series 2-1. “We all know the game is never over until
Ben Simmons #10 of the Brooklyn Nets . (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) Alex Morgan raising the standards, as a professional athlete and a mom by Mark Carman Kevin Durant explains Celtics’ defense: ‘two or three guys hitting me’ by Sapphires Sealey Fans may finally get to see Ben Simmons make his Brooklyn Nets debut for
Jan 21, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) and Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) fight for the ball on the court during the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports Look: Georgia football players show off national championship rings at G-Day by John Buhler Atlanta
The Miami Heat have a 2-0 series lead over the Atlanta Hawks, and look to make it 3-0 with a Game 3 win on Friday. The Miami Heat entered the NBA Playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks earned the eighth seed after defeating the Charlotte Hornets and
6:48 PM ET Milwaukee Bucks star Khris Middleton will miss the rest of the opening-round playoff series against the Chicago Bulls due to a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee, sources told ESPN on Thursday. Middleton will be re-evaluated in two weeks when a timeline on his possible return in these playoffs —
Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) Ben Simmons could make his Nets’ debut at home in Game 4 by Sapphires Sealey Kevin Durant has not been his best offensively in the first two games of the Brooklyn Nets-Boston Celtics series. He explained why. Kevin Durant has not been himself
8:00 AM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN JUST SEVEN MONTHS ago, one of the most important role players on a club desperate to return to its dynastic reign and the son of the legendary Seattle Supersonics’ Gary Payton, was preparing to apply for a desk job in the team’s video department. Seven months ago. Gary Payton II,
Aaron Rodgers No. 12 of the Green Bay Packers. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images) Joel Embiid talked s**t to Drake after sinking game-winning shot vs. Raptors [Video] by Patrick Schmidt Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers doesn’t just attend Milwaukee games as a fan. He’s a minority owner of the Bucks. If you caught Packers stars Aaron
TORONTO, ON – APRIL 20: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers holds his thumb in the second half of Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on April 20, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or
The Utah Jazz look to hold serve when they host the Dallas Mavericks in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night. All tied up at a game apiece, the Utah Jazz are hoping to win their first one at home in their first-round playoff series vs. the Dallas Mavericks in Game 3
11:41 PM ET Brianna Williams Joel Embiid knows what it’s like to be losing on the side of a go-ahead 3-pointer in the NBA playoffs, but that wasn’t the case on Wednesday night. The Philadelphia 76ers star splashed a turnaround three with under one second remaining in overtime to secure a 104-101 win against the
Cleveland Cavaliers’ President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman, spoke on Collin Sexton’s future with the team The Cleveland Cavaliers‘ season ended with a play-in game loss to the Atlanta Hawks. But now that their season is over, the front office has some decisions to make, and one of those decisions has to do with the
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,