7:07 PM ET Houston Rockets point guard John Wall is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a Grade 2 hamstring strain, sources told ESPN. The typical recovery time for such an injury is approximately three weeks, and the Rockets have no intention of rushing Wall back with the team
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. Last week we looked at the surging New York Knicks through the prism of the individual improvement of Julius Randle and R.J. Barrett. Randle will likely run away with
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 30: Sterling Brown #0 of the Houston Rockets reacts against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on January 30, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to
Kevin Porter Jr. tried to protect his Houston Rockets teammate Sterling Brown during an assault at the strip club on Monday and faces severe consequences. More details are coming to light about a bloodied assault on Houston Rockets player Sterling Brown at a strip club in Miami. Apparently, teammate Kevin Porter Jr. stepped in to
7:00 AM ET If the NBA season ended today, Madison Square Garden would be hosting Game 1 of a first-round playoff series. The New York Knicks have won nine straight games for the first time since the 2012-13 season, the year they finished as the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed. While Julius Randle & Co.
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors. (Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports) Russell Westbrook recreated his own meme when he was told an interesting stat (Video) by Kristen Wong Steph Curry believes he is the only choice for NBA MVP this season. Steph Curry is the reason why the Golden State Warriors remain in the Western Conference playoff
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) Ryan Garcia withdraws from bout due to ‘health and wellbeing’ concerns by Curtis Calhoun The Golden State Warriors’ road game vs. the New Orleans Pelicans will be Marvel-themed. If you are really into The Avengers, then you are really going to be into ESPN’s May 3 telecast of
3:01 AM ET SAN FRANCISCO — Stephen Curry‘s record-setting month of April rolled on Sunday night against the Sacramento Kings, as Curry hit seven 3-pointers in a 117-113 Warriors victory to set a new NBA record for most 3s in a calendar month with 85 and counting. The previous record was held by Brooklyn’s James
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
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