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Napheesa Collier scores 29 to help the Lynx beat the Storm 102-93 in double overtime
The Associated Press | Posted May 17 - 10:49 p.m. | Save Story
Napheesa Collier had 29 points, nine rebounds, five assists and six steals, Kayla McBride added 19 points and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Seattle Storm 102-93 in double overtime on Friday night. Minnesota led 78-67 with 3:22 left in regulation before Seattle scored the next 11 points. McBride missed two free throws with 24.1 seconds left in regulation and she fouled Jewell Loyd on a 3-point attempt at the other end. Loyd made all three free throws to tie it at 78-all. Collier made the first of two free throws to tie it at 88-all with 2.7 seconds left in the first overtime. But she missed the second free throw. Collier and McBride each made a 3-pointer on back-to-back possessions to start the second overtime.
Siakam helps Pacers beat Knicks 116-103 in Game 6 to send Eastern Conference semifinals to the limit
Michael Marot, Associated Press | Updated May 17 - 10:27 p.m. | Save Story
Pascal Siakam scored 25 points and Myles Turner added 17 points to help the Indiana Pacers turned the tables on New York with a 116-103 victory to even the Eastern Conference semifinal at 3-3. The decisive Game 7 will be played Sunday at Madison Square Garden. Indiana outhustled the Knicks after getting dominated on the glass in Game 5 and the difference was obvious as Indiana never trailed in the second half. Jalen Brunson again led the severely short-handed Knicks with 31 points on 11 of 26 shooting. Josh Hart did not finish the game because of abdominal soreness after playing nearly 31 minutes.
Josh Hart leaves Game 6 versus Pacers with what Knicks say is abdominal soreness
The Associated Press | Posted May 17 - 9:01 p.m. | Save Story
Josh Hart left in the fourth quarter of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Indiana on Friday night with what the New York Knicks said was abdominal soreness. Hart was seen holding his midsection multiple times during the game and asked to be taken out. Hart played just 31 minutes before becoming the latest injury for a team decimated by them. With All-Star Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson and Bojan Bogdanovic all sidelined, Hart has been one of the Knicks' most dependable players. He logged all 48 minutes three times in the postseason and came into the game leading all players in total minutes played, and trailing only MVP Nikola Jokic in total rebounds.
The Sun score 15 straight points in the fourth quarter to pull away from the Mystics 84-77
The Associated Press | Posted May 17 - 8:07 p.m. | Save Story
DeWanna Bonner had 22 points and six of Connecticut's 14 steals, DiJonai Carrington added 21 points and the Sun used a big fourth quarter to beat the Washington Mystics 84-77. Connecticut has won 10 of the last 11 regular-season meetings with Washington. Connecticut trailed 62-56 with 8:18 left in the fourth quarter before scoring the next 15 points to take a 71-62 lead. The Sun finished with 32 points in quarter after scoring just 36 in the first half. Julie Vanloo, a 31-year-old rookie, completed a three-point play with 1:50 left to get Washington within 75-72 but Tyasha Harris answered with a basket and free throw at the other end. Bonner grabbed an offensive rebound and made a shot in the paint with 27.1 seconds left for an 82-75 lead.
Budenholzer reminisces on Arizona past, but quickly turns to future leading the Phoenix Suns
David Brandt, Associated Press | Posted May 17 - 3:01 p.m. | Save Story
Mike Budenholzer was introduced as coach of the Phoenix Suns on Friday. The 54-year-old is savoring his chance to lead the team he grew up following. Budenholzer is from Holbrook, a small Arizona town about three hours northeast of Phoenix. Budenholzer spoke in front of a few dozen family and friends, including his 94-year-old dad Vince, who he called "the original coach Bud." The two-time NBA coach of the year will be charged with getting more out of the team's All-Star trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal as the franchise continues its chase for a championship.
Las Vegas Aces sell out a WNBA-record 15 of 20 home games
Mark Anderson, Associated Press | Posted May 17 - 1:11 p.m. | Save Story
The Las Vegas Aces have sold out 15 of their 20 home games. It's the most in WNBA history. Las Vegas in March became the first team to sell out its allotment of season tickets. The only games where individual tickets remain at Michelob Ultra Arena are Tuesday against the Phoenix Mercury, Aug. 30 against the Atlanta Dream, Sept. 15 against the Connecticut Sun and Sept. 19 against the Dallas Wings. Tickets also remain for the Sept. 3 game against the Chicago Sky at T-Mobile Arena. The Aces are chasing a third consecutive championship.
Dallas Wings' Natasha Howard will miss up to 6 weeks after breaking foot in season opener
Dallas, Associated Press | Posted May 17 - 9:45 a.m. | Save Story
Dallas Wings forward Natasha Howard is expected to miss up to six weeks after breaking her foot in a season-opening victory on Wednesday. Howard's injury left the Wings with only eight healthy players. That enabled the Wings to sign free agent Monique Billings to a salary-cap hardship contract. Billings' hardship contract must be terminated once the Wings have 10 other players available. The 32-year-old Howard had 15 points, 13 rebounds and five assists Wednesday in Dallas' 87-79 win over the Chicago Sky. The 6-foot-2 forward averaged 16.5 points and 8 rebounds for the Wings last season.
Murray's elbow is hurting after early injury and 4-for-18 shooting night in Game 6 flop by Nuggets
Dave Campbell, Associated Press | Posted May 17 - 12:24 a.m. | Save Story
Jamal Murray failed to make a fadeaway on Denver's first possession and then tried a floater that spun around the rim and spit out in portending fashion. Neither of those misses hurt the normally smooth-shooting Nuggets point guard like what came next for him on defense in Minnesota in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals. Murray hurt his right elbow trying to move around a high screen by Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert early in the first quarter of the 110-75 loss in Game 6. He finished 4 for 18 from the floor for 10 points.
Timberwolves force Game 7 by blowing out Nuggets 115-70 behind 27 points from Anthony Edwards
Dave Campbell, Associated Press | Updated May 16 - 11:38 p.m. | Save Story
Anthony Edwards scored 27 points to pull the Minnesota Timberwolves out of their mid-series slump and deliver a flawless 115-70 victory over the Denver Nuggets to force a Game 7 in this roller-coaster playoff matchup. Jaden McDaniels pitched in 21 points and lockdown defense, and Mike Conley had 13 points in his return from injury. Big men Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns and Naz Reid combined for 38 rebounds and a relentless effort to keep NBA MVP Nikola Jokic to a relatively quiet 22 points. The decisive game for a spot in the Western Conference finals is in Denver on Sunday.
Breanna Stewart ruins Caitlin Clark's home debut by leading Liberty past Fever 102-66
Michael Marot, Associated Press | Updated May 16 - 9:02 p.m. | Save Story
none after the first quarter. But the Liberty pulled away with a 12-0 second-quarter run and never let the Fever get within single-digits in front of a sellout crowd of 17,274.
Caitlin Clark fever races through Indy to overshadow Pacers and Indianapolis 500
Jenna Fryer, Associated Press | Updated May 16 - 5:21 p.m. | Save Story
Caitlin Clark had yet to even be drafted by the Indiana Fever before fans were openly calling for her to be given an honorary role at the Indianapolis 500. She's been a resident of Indiana for just about a month and is already one of the biggest stars in the city. Her WNBA home debut with the Fever comes Thursday night, deep into preparations for the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500. Anticipation to see the No. 1 overall draft was so high that drivers were checking their daily schedules to see if there was room to see Clark play the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Every WNBA team to begin using charter flights by May 21
The Associated Press | Updated May 16 - 4:41 p.m. | Save Story
Every WNBA team will start using charter flights to travel to games by May 21. The league is following through on plans to commit $50 million over the next two years to provide full-time charter flight service for its teams during the season. The move addresses years of player safety concerns and means the players no longer have to deal with long security lines. It comes at a time when the league's popularity has grown to all-time highs, boosted by the arrival of Caitlin Clark and other well-known rookies like Angel Reese and Cameron Brink.
Wembanyama headlines France's preliminary roster for Paris Olympics basketball tournament
Tom Nouvian, Associated Press | Posted May 16 - 12:09 p.m. | Save Story
With Victor Wembanyama as the focal point, France head coach Vincent Collet announced an extended list of 19 players on Thursday for his preliminary roster for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Fresh off winning the NBA Rookie of the Year award, the 7-foot-3 Wembanyama will bolster France's medal aspirations alongside key players like Rudy Gobert, Nicolas Batum, and Evan Fournier. In Gobert and Wembanyama, France boasts two of the NBA's best defensive players. Gobert won the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award for the fourth time of his career, narrowly beating out Wembanyama.
Atlanta Dream moving two games vs Caitlin Clark-led Fever to NBA arena
The Associated Press | Posted May 16 - 9:31 a.m. | Save Story
To accommodate much larger crowds, the Atlanta Dream are moving their two regular-season home games against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever to the downtown home of the NBA Hawks. The Dream's regular venue, 3,500-seat Gateway Center Arena near the city's airport, is the smallest in the WNBA. The Hawks play at State Farm Arena, which can hold more than 17,000. Atlanta is scheduled to host the Fever on June 21 and Aug. 26. The games will feature the last three No. 1 overall picks in the WNBA draft: Clark and her teammate Aliyah Boston as well as Dream star Rhyne Howard.
The Celtics are in a good headspace as they head to a 3rd consecutive Eastern Conference finals
Kyle Hightower, Associated Press | Updated May 16 - 8:31 a.m. | Save Story
The Celtics are back in the Eastern Conference finals for the third consecutive season following their 4-1 series victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. They also like the headspace they are in after facing their first true dose of adversity this postseason. Boston played the entire second round without center Kristaps Porzingis, who continues to recover from a strained calf. But they were carried throughout the series by the play of All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, a great sign for a group that finds itself four victories from making its second trip the NBA Finals in three seasons. Up next is some rest before a matchup with either the New York Knicks or Indiana Pacers
Doncic posts 31-point triple-double as Mavericks top Thunder to take 3-2 series lead
Cliff Brunt., Associated Press | Updated May 15 - 10:59 p.m. | Save Story
Luka Doncic scored 31 points in a triple-double to help the Dallas Mavericks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 104-92 and take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semifinal series. He made 12 of 22 field goals and had 11 assists and 10 rebounds in Game 5 for his sixth career playoff triple-double. Derrick Jones Jr. scored 19 points and P.J. Washington added 10 points and 10 rebounds for Dallas. The Mavericks can advance to the Western Conference Finals with a win Saturday at home. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the top-seeded Thunder.
Howard, Charles lead Dream to 92-81 win over Sparks, despite Clarendon's first career triple-double
The Associated Press | Posted May 15 - 10:33 p.m. | Save Story
Rhyne Howard scored 25 points, Tina Charles had 21 with 14 rebounds and the Atlanta Dream turned back the Los Angeles Sparks 92-81 in their season opener. Howard had five points as the Dream opened the fourth quarter with an 11-0 run for a 77-66 lead. The Sparks got within 87-81 on a 3-pointer by Cameron Brink, the overall No. 2 pick, with 1:34 left but they missed their last four shots and had a critical turnover while Atlanta went 5 of 6 from the foul line. Kia Nurse had five 3-pointers and 23 points for Los Angeles and Layshia Clarendon had 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for her first career triple-double.
Caitlin Clark's WNBA debut helps ESPN set viewership record for league game on network
The Associated Press | Posted May 15 - 10:12 p.m. | Save Story
ESPN's broadcast of the Connecticut Sun's game against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever had the highest viewership of a WNBA game on the network. The Sun's 92-71 win over the Fever in Clark's WNBA debut on the league's opening night on Tuesday drew an average of 2.1 million viewers on ESPN2, ESPN+ and Disney+, including a high of 2.3 million viewers between 7:45 p.m. and 7:59 p.m. That topped ESPN's previous mark of nearly 1.5 million viewers for a Phoenix Mercury-Connecticut Sun game on May 22, 2004, in Diana Taurasi's rookie season.
Cavaliers eliminated by the Celtics in 5 games. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff says they made progress
Jimmy Golen, Associated Press | Posted May 15 - 9:30 p.m. | Save Story
Cleveland Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff wants to come back for another season. After all, he's already been through the hard part. Bickerstaff said after the Cavaliers fell to Boston 113-98 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals that his team never gave up. Even when injuries left them without two of their starters against the NBA's top seed. Center Jarrett Allen and All-Star Donovan Mitchell watched the finale from the bench in street clothes. Evan Mobley matched his season high with 33 points, and Marcus Morris Sr. came off the bench to score 25 for Cleveland.
