12:00 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN TORONTO — Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart had a very simple Christmas wish: To wake up and open his eyes without any discomfort. After dealing with a diabolical case of viral conjunctivitis that wound up causing an infection in both of his eyes — an ailment that, including Boston’s Christmas
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6:25 PM ET PLAYA VISTA, Calif. — It will be 65 days since the Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers last faced each other. And when the two teams take to the Staples Center floor again on Christmas, Kawhi Leonard expects both to look very different than they did on opening night. “It was just
4:13 PM ET Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone has signed a contract extension through the 2022-2023 season, league sources tell ESPN. The Nuggets made official an agreement on Tuesday. Malone, 48, was awarded his second extension in consecutive years, reflecting a steady climb into Western Conference contention under his watch. Denver reached the playoffs for
1:49 PM ET DALLAS — Luka Doncic was a full participant in the Dallas Mavericks‘ Christmas Eve practice — his first since spraining his right ankle almost two weeks ago — and could return as soon as Thursday’s home game against the San Antonio Spurs. “He seems to be doing better every day,” Mavs coach
1:28 PM ET Adrian Wojnarowski Close NBA Senior NBA Insider Joined ESPN in 2017 Host of The Woj Pod Dave McMenamin Close ESPN Staff Writer Lakers and NBA reporter for ESPN. Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09. The Los
1:22 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN BOSTON — All Celtics forward Gordon Hayward wants for Christmas is the nerve pain in his left foot to go away. Hayward, who has missed the past three games because of the issue, went through practice Tuesday and is listed as probable for Wednesday’s Christmas Day matinee against the Raptors
8:17 AM ET Christmas is one of the biggest days on the NBA calendar. We have a slate of five games and a great opportunity to evaluate many of the league’s top title contenders in awesome matchups. But each of the 10 teams playing on Wednesday — beginning at noon ET on ESPN and the
7:00 AM ET Nick DePaulaESPN Christmas Day has become not only a showcase for the league’s best teams, but it has also become a footwear showcase for NBA players — from the biggest signature stars to those simply looking to stand out. Before the league loosened its footwear color restrictions before the start of the
2:58 AM ET SAN FRANCISCO — The Minnesota Timberwolves lost their 11th straight game in a 113-104 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Monday. After it was over, both players and coaches wore a look of frustration while trying to describe what it will take to get the group back on track, besides getting
7:00 AM ET LeBron James has spent nearly half of his life in the NBA. He was drafted on Jun. 26, 2003, 6,752 days after he was born. Monday, he’ll celebrate his birthday, 6,031 days after walking across the New York stage and shaking then-commissioner David Stern’s hand. In that time, James has spent more