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
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – APRIL 05: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the first half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on April 05, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the
Apr 5, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Houston Rockets shooting guard Jalen Green (0) drives the ball against Brooklyn Nets small forward Bruce Brown (1) and Brooklyn Nets center Andre Drummond (0) during the first half of the game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports White Sox shopping young outfielder after electric
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 31: Ben Simmons and Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets look on during their game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Barclays Center on March 31, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is
8:24 PM ET DALLAS — An MRI on Monday confirmed that Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic suffered a left calf strain in the team’s regular-season finale, a source told ESPN. The source said no timetable has been set for Doncic’s return. Asked if he could be ruled out for Game 1 of the team’s first-round
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 begins tomorrow and the potential for chaos is everywhere. To break down some of the biggest questions in the NBA this week, I tapped in
10:43 PM ET EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — With Frank Vogel removed as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers earlier in the day, Lakers point guard Russell Westbrook opened up about the disconnect that existed between the two of them in his first season in L.A. “I think it’s unfortunate, to be honest, because I’ve never
David Fizdale, Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) The Los Angeles Lakers will likely replace former head coach Frank Vogel after three seasons. With Frank Vogel likely out, the Los Angeles Lakers need to find a new head coach to lead them. The Lakers failed spectacularly this season. Not only did the lineup age horribly,
2:08 PM ET The Los Angeles Lakers fired head coach Frank Vogel on Monday, the team announced. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Frank both on and off the court,” Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka said in a statement. “Frank is a great coach and a good
Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports 3 coaches the Lakers could hire to replace Frank Vogel by John Buhler The Los Angeles Lakers have fired head coach Frank Vogel, but the worst isn’t behind them just yet. NBA fans are ruthless, and they’re coming for the Lake Show. LA informed Vogel he was fired on Monday afternoon, after
1:03 AM ET DENVER — Anthony Davis thinks he and LeBron James can still be the core of a title team moving forward despite two straight disappointing seasons following their championship in 2020. “I think us two can. We’ve shown that we can,” Davis said, conducting a season-wrap news conference before the Los Angeles Lakers
Apr 10, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday (21) reacts with teammates after leaving the game after just eight seconds played in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports Watch Scottie Scheffler put on the Green Jacket after winning The Masters by
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports Pirates: Latest report makes Bob Nutting look even cheaper by Ethan Lee The NBA Playoffs begin on Saturday, Apr. 16. Here are the matchups for the first-round. The 2021-22 NBA regular season has officially reached its conclusion on Sunday night. With that, it is time for the playoffs, where teams will
Brooklyn Nets Kevin Durant (7) and Kyrie Irving (11): Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports Scottie Scheffler continues his year for the ages with Masters title by David Salituro The NBA’s Play-In Tournament is officially set. Here is the schedule and seeding in both the Eastern and Western Conferences. Sunday was the last official day of the
3:38 PM ET Brooklyn Nets forward Ben Simmons‘ pain-free progress is fueling hope that he could return in the first-round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, even if it’s just in a 10-15 minute a game role, sources told ESPN on Sunday. The Nets would need to advance out of the Play-in Tournament this week and,
6:46 PM ET DALLAS — Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic avoided a one-game suspension when the NBA rescinded the technical foul called on him during Friday night’s blowout win over the Portland Trail Blazers. The league office made the determination Saturday after a review of what would have been Doncic’s 16th technical foul of the
8:00 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN The NBA regular season’s final weekend is here, and all we know is 48 hours of chaos lie ahead. Thanks to a jumbled seeding picture in both conferences, only a handful of seeds are decided. Here’s a quick rundown of all of it, beginning with the crowded top of the
7:58 PM ET ESPN News Services NEW YORK — Rookie Evan Mobley was back in the starting lineup for the Cleveland Cavaliers for Friday’s key game against the Brooklyn Nets. Mobley missed the previous five games with a sprained left ankle and the Cavaliers lost four of them without their big man. Mobley is a
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks. (Nic Antaya/Getty Images) Cardinals Opening Day roster has 3 likely surprises by Miranda Remaklus Luka Doncic put on a show for the Mavericks against the Pistons on Wednesday night, stunning NBA Twitter with his no-look passes. The Mavericks continued to put pressure on the Warriors for third place in the Western
1:17 AM ET Jamal CollierESPN CHICAGO — After entering the All-Star break tied for first place in the Eastern Conference, the Chicago Bulls’ prolonged second-half struggles have seen them fall in the standings as they endure their worst stretch of the season heading into the playoffs. Chicago locked itself into the No. 6 seed in