12:35 AM ET Nick DePaulaESPN Vanessa Bryant revealed in a series of social media posts earlier this week that she was blindsided upon seeing an image of a shoe she helped design, a black and white “Mamba Forever” special edition of the Nike Kobe 6 Protro, from her late husband Kobe Bryant’s signature series with
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2:49 AM ET Kawhi Leonard treated Friday night like a Game 7 and it showed, from wanting to guard Luka Doncic to matching his playoff career-high with 45 points. With the LA Clippers‘ season and title hopes on the line, Leonard delivered arguably his finest all-around performance as a Clipper to help L.A. beat the
10:50 PM ET After a fourth first-round playoff exit in five seasons, the Portland Trail Blazers and coach Terry Stotts mutually agreed to part ways on Friday, sources told ESPN. Stotts leaves Portland as the second-winningest coach in franchise history, including eight consecutive playoff appearances — the longest streak in the league. Portland’s season ended
12:34 AM ET LOS ANGELES — The Lakers thought they would be gathering as a team Friday to catch a flight to Phoenix for Game 7 of their first-round series against the Suns. Instead, they met for exit interviews to rehash a season that went awry. “I think when you fall short of the goal
1:34 AM ET NBA Insiders With their season on the line, the fourth-seeded LA Clippers overcame a seven-point deficit in the third quarter of Game 6 to stave off elimination, defeating the fifth-seeded Dallas Mavericks 104-97. It marked the sixth time in six games the road team has won in this series. Five-time All-Star Kawhi
5:10 PM ET Associated Press PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid‘s status for Game 1 of Philadelphia’s playoff series is still unknown because of a cartilage tear in his knee. The 76ers center remained day to day, and coach Doc Rivers said no decision has been made on the All-Star’s availability for Game 1 against Atlanta. The
3:39 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday is the winner of the 2020-21 NBA sportsmanship award, the NBA announced Friday. “It means a lot,” Holiday said after receiving the Joe Dumars Trophy, which is given to the NBA player who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court. “Just knowing that
1:06 PM ET Phoenix went from 60-1 long shots to 8-1 contenders to win the NBA title in a week, a meteoric shift that has some sportsbooks wary of the rising Suns. Phoenix finished off the defending-champion Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, rallying from a 2-1 deficit to win the series and advance to take
4:51 PM ET NEW YORK — Jeff Green has been ruled out of the Nets‘ series opener against the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday and his status will be “day-to-day” moving forward, according to Brooklyn coach Steve Nash. “Just going to continue to monitor it and then over the course of the next two, three days,
2:09 PM ET Jean Montero is signing with Overtime Elite, as the Dominican Republic native becomes the first international player to join the new American professional basketball league. Montero, the projected No. 17 pick in ESPN’s 2022 mock draft, will be on loan from Spanish ACB team Gran Canaria, where he is still under contract.