11:21 PM ET OKLAHOMA CITY — It was the first play of the game and as is customary in Oklahoma City, the (mostly) full house crowd stood waiting the first bucket of the game for the home team. The Oklahoma City Thunder were playing the Golden State Warriors on a Saturday night in the big
It may be just a few weeks into the season, but a myriad of storylines have already made their social media and television rounds, chief among them players that seem to have taken a leap on the court and are emerging as game-changers or even potential stars. Many of these spots could be taken by
12:12 AM ET Eric WoodyardESPN CHICAGO — James Harden exited the game and took a seat next to Thabo Sefolosha on the Houston Rockets bench with 3:37 remaining in the fourth quarter at the United Center on Saturday. He ended the night one point shy of a triple-double with 42 points, 10 rebounds and nine
Kyle Lowry sustained another thumb injury Friday night, but another look at the anatomy of the injury and its potential impact on the Toronto Raptors is necessary this time around. The Toronto Raptors were trailing the New Orleans Pelicans by two with approximately 75 percent of the first quarter under wraps. Pelicans forward Derrick Favors
4:48 PM ET After missing 10 games to start the season, Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin plans to make his season-debut against Minnesota on Monday, league sources tell ESPN. Griffin, who’s been rehabilitating a sore knee and hamstring since preseason, had been ramping up for a return in recent days. He had several pain-free practices
Almost to a fault at times, making a comparison is so easy when it comes to the NBA. Whether if it’s comparing teams or players, we always like to think someone or something reminds us of Team X or Player X. This season is still in its infant stages, yet we’re already seeing reminded of
3:27 AM ET LOS ANGELES — Amid a renaissance start to the season for both the Los Angeles Lakers as a successful franchise and LeBron James as a dominant player, James has no plans to miss games due to load management in anticipation of a postseason run. “If I’m hurt, I don’t play. If not,
Understanding the science of load management can add context to the discussion about the positives and negatives of resting players. Andrew Patton has over ten years of experience as a strength and conditioning coach working with athletes ranging from Olympians and All-Americans to regular recreational athletes. He is also involved in strength and conditioning research relating
Losing Deandre Ayton should’ve been a death sentence for the Phoenix Suns, but instead, Aron Baynes has stepped in perfectly for the NBA’s most surprising team. When Deandre Ayton‘s 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s Anti-Drug Policy was announced, it felt like more of the same misery that’s hovered over the Phoenix Suns for the
Our writers answer some of the most interesting questions of the young NBA season, including Brandon Ingram‘s finishing and more. 1. More surprising — Brandon Ingram shooting 48.6 percent on 3s or Brandon Ingram shooting 66 percent on drives? Louis Zatzman (@LouisZatzman): A hot, early-season shooting percentage is like a monogamous relationship; it takes forever
12:52 AM ET Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. — Damian Lillard scored a career-high 60 points for Portland in the Trail Blazers’ 119-115 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night. Spencer Dinwiddie scored 34 points and Kyrie Irving had 33 for Brooklyn to help send Portland to its fourth straight victory. Lillard set a franchise
Almost to a fault at times, making a comparison is so easy when it comes to the NBA. Whether if it’s comparing teams or players, we always like to think someone or something reminds us of Team X or Player X. This season is still in its infant stages, yet we’re already seeing reminded of
The Philadelphia 76ers were already contenders, but Al Horford represents a luxury for both Joel Embiid and the team that could push them over the top. Had the Philadelphia 76ers possessed a capable backup center, they might have won the 2018-19 NBA championship. While there’s a lot of grey area in that kind of “what
4:17 PM ET Eric WoodyardESPN CHICAGO — A key contributor won’t be in the lineup for the Chicago Bulls when they tip off against Houston on Saturday. Swingman Otto Porter Jr. has been ruled out against the Rockets with a left foot sprain, with no timetable for his return. “It’s a soft-tissue injury, so it’s
Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat are still figuring things out. Considering the early returns and their vaunted “Heat Culture,” that’s pretty scary for the rest of the East. Heading into a matchup with the Phoenix Suns Thursday night, it was impossible not to see the similarities between the pleasant surprise of Western Conference and
Markelle Fultz’s first two NBA seasons were defined by injury and a seemingly lost ability to shoot. But early into his third season, he’s showing new life as a member of the Orlando Magic. In July 1966, Bob Dylan, in the immediate aftermath of releasing three of the greatest records in the history of popular
11:17 PM ET Nick DePaulaESPN Rui Hachimura made history before ever stepping on an NBA court. The 6-foot-8 forward became the first player born in Japan to be drafted when the Washington Wizards selected him with the No. 9 overall pick this June. His popularity in his home country is unmatched, making him unique among
Almost to a fault at times, making a comparison is so easy when it comes to the NBA. Whether if it’s comparing teams or players, we always like to think someone or something reminds us of Team X or Player X. This season is still in its infant stages, yet we’re already seeing reminded of
12:38 AM ET PHOENIX — Justise Winslow was placed in the NBA concussion protocol, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra confirmed, after a 124-108 win over the Phoenix Suns Thursday. Winslow took a blow to the head in a collision with Denver Nuggets forward Paul Millsap in the Heat’s loss Tuesday. The Heat said he was
HOUSTON, TX – MAY 24: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets speaks to Kristen Ledlow after Game Five of the Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 24, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by
If it weren’t for Tyler Herro’s explosion or Ja Morant’s late-game heroics, Knicks guard R.J. Barrett might be the NBA’s best rookie, a week into the 2019-20 season. Pray for R.J. Barrett. While some lauded the Knicks this summer for sticking to short-term contracts, not blocking playing time for their young players, and generally recovering
2:26 PM ET Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin has been cleared to participate in all basketball-related activities, putting him on track for a return to game action, the team announced Thursday. Griffin has yet to play this season due to what the team is calling left hamstring and posterior knee soreness. The Pistons are calling
Almost to a fault at times, making a comparison is so easy when it comes to the NBA. Whether if it’s comparing teams or players, we always like to think someone or something reminds us of Team X or Player X. This season is still in its infant stages, yet we’re already seeing reminded of
Can we trust Brandon Ingram’s spectacular start to the season? And what does it mean for his role on the Pelicans moving forward? Four games into the New Orleans Pelicans‘ season, Brandon Ingram‘s hot start is the biggest non-Zion Williamson-related story. Zion’s knee injury is the single most important thing to the team’s future right
7:20 AM ET After an offseason of furious player movement — including eight 2019 All-Stars changing teams — one intriguing storyline of this NBA season will be how players are received by fans when they return to the cities they left. Some will be easier to predict than others. Kyrie Irving in Boston? Won’t be
NBA Betting Tip Sheet is a daily rundown of NBA betting lines and key factors that could impact the numbers in Las Vegas. All NBA odds are courtesy of The Action Network. Tonight’s lines (odds are subject to change): Washington Wizards (+4, +153 ML) @ Indiana Pacers (-4, -171 ML) (O/U 224.5) Notes: The Wizards remain without backup center Ian Mahinmi
Star centers Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns got into an old-fashioned brawl rarely seen in the NBA these days. Now the question is what kind of punishment they’ll face. The on-court action between the Philadelphia 76ers and Minnesota Timberwolves took a backseat Wednesday night, as star centers Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns stole the show
10:23 PM ET 76ers guard Ben Simmons did not return for the second half Wednesday at Utah because of what the team called a minor sprain in his AC joint in his right shoulder and will be re-evaluated Thursday in Denver. Simmons appeared to injure the shoulder in the first quarter when he collided with
In the season’s early going, a familiar cast of characters has emerged in the race for Defensive Player of the Year. In a league increasingly reliant on versatility and the implementation of pace and space, though, some new candidates have emerged, as other, position-less defenders have a greater opportunity than ever to force their way
4:21 PM ET Despite All-NBA star Kawhi Leonard sitting out consecutive national television games one week apart, the league said that the LA Clippers are in compliance of its rules on resting players. Leonard will miss Wednesday night’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks on ESPN, his second straight week that a national TV absence fell