3:41 PM ET Associated Press MILWAUKEE — – Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer says Khris Middleton practiced fully Thursday as the three-time All-Star works his way back from a sore right knee and prepares for the playoffs. Middleton hasn’t played since the injury caused him to exit an April 5 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
NBA
2:55 PM ET After orchestrating one of the most dramatic turnarounds in the league in years and ending a 16-year playoff absence, Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown has been voted the National Basketball Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year, sources told ESPN on Thursday. The award, named in honor of late NBCA executive director Michael
1:09 PM ET ESPN News Services Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet plans to take his time making a decision on his contract option. One day after the Raptors were eliminated from the play-in tournament in a home loss to the Chicago Bulls, VanVleet said Thursday he’s not rushing the call on whether to stay in
10:56 AM ET California high school guard A.J. Johnson, a projected 2024 NBA draft lottery pick, told ESPN on Thursday that he has decommitted from the Texas Longhorns and signed a deal with the Illawarra Hawks of the National Basketball League in Australia. Johnson, a 6-foot-6 senior at the Southern California Academy, is the highest-profile
9:00 AM ET The NBA playoffs have arrived and that also means some bettors will make their first wager of the season. So what’s the best approach? Handicapping the regular season is an acquired taste and not for the weak-minded. It requires discipline, dedication and tolerance to stomach load management and other variables. Many recreational
12:46 AM ET Associated Press NEW ORLEANS — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander highlighted his 32-point night with a go-ahead baseline jumper and four clutch free throws in the final 29 seconds, the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the New Orleans Pelicans 123-118 on Wednesday night to remain alive in the Western Conference play-in tournament. Josh Giddey had 31
11:59 PM ET Jamal CollierESPN TORONTO – As Fred VanVleet stepped up to the free throw line with 52 seconds remaining in the third quarter of Wednesday’s play-in game between the Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors, the home crowd went silent as the Raptors guard took a few hard dribbles and spun the ball in
10:11 PM ET Associated Press TORONTO — Zach LaVine scored 39 points, DeMar DeRozan had 23 against his former team and the Chicago Bulls overcame a 19-point deficit to beat the Toronto Raptors 109-105 in a play-in tournament game Wednesday night. The Bulls will visit the Miami Heat on Friday night for the chance to
6:14 PM ET Associated Press Philadelphia officials have announced “an independent and comprehensive evaluation” of the Philadelphia 76ers‘ proposal to build a $1.3 billion sports arena next to the city’s Chinatown neighborhood, an idea that has drawn strong opposition from some Chinatown residents and leaders. Mayor Jim Kenney on Wednesday called the proposal announced last
3:43 PM ET Arkansas freshman Anthony Black, a projected top-10 pick, will enter the 2023 NBA draft and forgo his remaining college eligibility, he said on ESPN’s “NBA Today” on Wednesday. “Being one and done was always a goal of mine, but it wasn’t something I necessarily expected to happen,” Black told ESPN. “Coming in,