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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.
Jayson Tatum scores 25 to lead Celtics past Cavaliers 113-98 and into 3rd consecutive East finals
Kyle Hightower, Associated Press | Updated May 15 - 9:08 p.m. | Save Story
Jayson Tatum had 25 points and 10 rebounds, and the Boston Celtics beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 113-98 on to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the third straight season. Al Horford added 22 points, 15 rebounds and six of Boston's 19 3-pointers to post their third consecutive win of the series and earn a 4-1 win. The Cavaliers played shorthanded without star Donovan Mitchell (calf), center Jarrett Allen (rib) and key reserve Caris LeVert (knee). Cleveland stayed close and pulled within 88-85 early in the fourth. Boston then went on a 13-2 run to take a 101-87 lead. Evan Mobley scored a playoff career high 33 points. Marcus Morris Sr. had five 3-pointers and finished with 25 points.
Ogunbowale owns fourth quarter, Wings pull away from Sky 87-79 in season opener
The Associated Press | Posted May 15 - 8:38 p.m. | Save Story
Arike Ogunbowale scored 14 of her 25 points in the fourth quarter, Teaira McCowan and Natasha Howard had double-doubles and the Dallas Wings pulled away down the stretch for an 87-79 win over the Chicago Sky in their season opener. Trailing 75-73 with 3:16 to go, the Wings scored the next 14 points, capped by a deep 3-pointer by Ogunbowale for an 87-75 lead with 31 seconds left. Howard finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds and McCowan had 18 points and 13 rebounds. Marina Mabrey had 19 points and nine rebounds for the Sky, who had all five starters in double figures.
The Nuggets are playing like champions again and putting the Timberwolves on the ropes
Dave Campbell, Associated Press | Posted May 15 - 6:23 p.m. | Save Story
None of the five teams to win the NBA championship prior to Denver last year advanced past the second round of the playoffs the following season. The Nuggets are one win away from stopping that streak. They lead the Minnesota Timberwolves 3-2 in their Western Conference semifinal series entering Game 6 in Minneapolis. Nikola Jokic is coming off a 40-point, 13-assist game that led the Nuggets to victory in Game 5 in Denver. The Nuggets presented a fierce defense for Wolves star Anthony Edwards and limited him to 5-for-15 shooting.
Cavaliers without Donovan Mitchell, Caris LeVert as they try to stave off elimination vs. Celtics
The Associated Press | Posted May 15 - 4:47 p.m. | Save Story
The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to extend their season without star Donovan Mitchell and Caris LeVert, who were both ruled out prior to Game 5 of their Eastern Conference semifinals matchup with Boston. Mitchell is dealing with a strained left calf and LeVert has a bruised left knee. The Cavs trail the matchup with the Celtics 3-1. Cleveland will also be without center Jarrett Allen for the eighth consecutive game as he continues to work back from a rib injury he sustained in the previous round against Orlando. Center Kristaps Porzingis remains out for Boston with a strained right calf.
Zach Edey insists there's more to his game than meets the eye as he prepares to enter NBA
Andrew Seligman, Associated Press | Posted May 15 - 3:07 p.m. | Save Story
Zach Edey realizes there are some huge questions surrounding his game. Though he was the national Player of the Year the past two seasons at Purdue and led the Boilermakers to the championship game this year, he is viewed as a slow-footed defender who can't stretch the floor on offense, either. Those are two big marks against him as he prepares to enter the NBA. He also wanted to make it clear at the NBA draft combine there's more to his game than meets the eye. He says he has a chance to "re-establish myself."
LeBron James shows up to watch son Bronny play at NBA draft combine
The Associated Press | Posted May 15 - 1:58 p.m. | Save Story
Bronny James' famous father was on hand Wednesday to watch him play at the NBA draft combine. LeBron James showed up wearing a black hoodie and sat in the second row for Bronny's second and final scrimmage of the combine. The NBA's career scoring leader, his wife and daughter were frequent spectators for Bronny's games at Southern California. The four-time MVP and four-time NBA champion just completed his 21st season and could become a free agent if he opts out of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. But he also said following a season-ending loss to Denver that he hasn't "given much thought lately" to playing alongside his son. Bronny James is deciding whether to turn pro after one season.
Caitlin Clark's WNBA debut dwarfs betting on last year's clinching game in the finals
Mark Anderson, Associated Press | Posted May 15 - 1:46 p.m. | Save Story
Caitlin Clark's much-anticipated WNBA debut produced record betting. It was far larger than the amount of money wagered on last year's clinching game for the WNBA championship. Betting was six times higher at Caesars Sportsbook on the Indiana Fever's 92-71 loss to the Connecticut Sun than Game 4 of the Las Vegas Aces' victory over the New York Liberty last season. Clark's first regular-season game for the Fever also was the most-bet game at Caesars over any WNBA game last season.
