2:17 PM ET Carmelo Anthony says he was prepared to walk away from the NBA if the Portland Trail Blazers hadn’t called and offered him a roster spot last month. “I was preparin’ myself,” Anthony told ESPN’s Rachel Nichols in a conversation that aired on Tuesday. “And I had prepared myself to kinda just walk
NBA
1:50 PM ET NEW YORK — The Brooklyn Nets will continue to play without All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving for at least the next two games, coach Kenny Atkinson said after practice on Tuesday. Atkinson said Irving, who has missed the past nine games because of a right shoulder impingement, will stay behind and continue
12:34 AM ET Eric WoodyardESPN MILWAUKEE — After a 29-point, 15-rebound performance in 22 minutes, Giannis Antetokounmpo stretched out in front of his locker using leg recovery technology while recapping highlights from the Milwaukee Bucks‘ latest 132-88 win against the New York Knicks on his phone. By halftime, the game was well out of reach
11:22 PM ET ATLANTA — If there was ever a time to do it, Monday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors presented the Atlanta Hawks an excellent chance to snap a double-digit losing streak — and they didn’t miss their chance. “It wasn’t pretty, but we’ll take it,” coach Lloyd Pierce said. “It feels a
1:01 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN PHILADELPHIA — Before the Utah Jazz played the final game of what can only be described as an abysmal road trip against the Philadelphia 76ers, coach Quin Snyder was asked about his team’s uneven start to this season. “Oftentimes,” Snyder said, “growth is not linear.” If the Jazz are going
8:10 AM ET It’s time to admit that James Harden is the NBA’s best scorer since Michael Jordan. On Saturday night, Harden dropped 60 points on the Atlanta Hawks in less than three quarters of play. It was another virtuoso performance by the world’s greatest offensive basketball player. Through 19 games, Harden is averaging an
3:41 PM ET Carmelo Anthony‘s return to the NBA is barely two weeks’ old, and he’s already being recognized for his strong play. The league on Monday named the Portland Trail Blazers forward its Western Conference Player of the Week. The Trail Blazers went 3-0, beating the Bulls twice as well as the Thunder. Anthony
8:43 PM ET LOS ANGELES — Almost a year ago, at the end of October of his rookie season, Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic faced the player whom he watched for years growing up overseas: LeBron James. The game was held at Staples Center, and it was Doncic’s first matchup against a player he idolized.
Clippers ‘still learning each other’ despite hanging 150 on Wizards For the second time this season, the Clippers scored 150 points at home, this time in a rout of the Wizards. But Kawhi Leonard remained humble, saying, “It’s going to take time, just learning each other, playing in these games,” referring to Paul George.
8:15 AM ET Golden State Warriors center Kevon Looney, who has missed most of the season with a nerve condition, is expected to play Monday against Atlanta, coach Steve Kerr said. Looney will receive treatment Monday morning, at which point the team will decide whether he’ll play Monday night. Kerr said the team will limit