Month: May 2022

4:58 PM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — It seems unlikely, but Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II might be able to return during the latter portion of the Western Conference finals, coach Steve Kerr said Sunday. “We’re not ruling him out for the whole conference finals, but we’re not saying he’s going to

4:00 PM ET Associated Press MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Grizzlies are willing to spend whatever is necessary to keep their core together, including signing All-Star guard Ja Morant to a contract extension this offseason. Zach Kleiman, the Grizzlies’ general manager and vice president of basketball operations, made that very clear Sunday. Memphis finished with

9:38 PM ET Jamal CollierESPN BOSTON — To successfully defend their NBA championship, the Milwaukee Bucks knew they needed a combination of strong player performances, health and, perhaps, a little bit of luck. But the absence of forward Khris Middleton loomed large throughout their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Boston Celtics and was ultimately

3:22 PM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr has cleared health and safety protocols. He rejoined the Warriors on Sunday as they begin to prepare for the Western Conference finals. Kerr tested positive for COVID-19 just two hours before Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals, thrusting associate head

6:25 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN BOSTON — For the fourth time in the last six seasons, the Boston Celtics are headed to the Eastern Conference finals. The hope is this time, they can take it one step further. To do that, they’ll have to do exactly what the TD Garden crowd started chanting late in

10:13 PM ET PHOENIX — The Western Conference Finals will have a surprise participant after Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks dismissed the top-seeded Phoenix Suns in completely dominant fashion. The Mavericks claimed the right to advance to face the Golden State Warriors by rolling to a 123-90 rout of the Suns in Sunday’s Game