3:20 AM ET LOS ANGELES — Paul George drove to the rim, was shoved from behind and still found a way to score with the foul. “I’m back!” George screamed before completing the three-point play in the third quarter Saturday night against the Atlanta Hawks. Many came to Staples Center hoping to see Kawhi Leonard
NBA
11:21 PM ET Associated Press SAN ANTONIO — CJ McCollum scored 32 points and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the San Antonio Spurs 121-116 on Saturday night to spoil Tim Duncan’s first shot at coaching following Gregg Popovich’s ejection. LaMarcus Aldridge had 30 points and 13 rebounds but the Spurs lost their fifth straight and
10:15 AM ET Nick DePaulaESPN Players across the league took to the court in new looks of their latest signature sneakers and statement-level models this week, headlined by a bevy of All-Stars breaking necks in loud colorways. For Damian Lillard, the official debut of his Adidas Dame 6 was hard to miss in a vivid
10:33 PM ET Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS — James Harden scored 49 points on a whopping 41 shots from the field and the undermanned Houston Rockets won their seventh straight game, 125-105 over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night. With Russell Westbrook resting, the Rockets needed Harden to shoulder an even bigger scoring load than usual.
10:53 PM ET Eric WoodyardESPN CHICAGO — On the final night of a five-game road trip, the Brooklyn Nets entered the fourth quarter at the United Center trailing the Chicago Bulls 78-74, without All-Star guard Kyrie Irving — as he rested his injured shoulder. Then Spencer Dinwiddie caught fire down the stretch, and they didn’t
9:38 PM ET LOS ANGELES — The LA Clippers will have to wait a little longer before seeing Kawhi Leonard and Paul George play in their first game together this season. Leonard was ruled out of Saturday night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks due to a left knee contusion. It was his second straight missed
8:41 PM ET Portland Trail Blazers President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey had tried to get Carmelo Anthony in trades with the New York Knicks, tried to get him as a free agent post-Oklahoma City. Now, they were together on a call Thursday morning. Time had passed, circumstances had changed. “You need us,” sources said
2:48 PM ET Golden State Warriors guard D’Angelo Russell is out at least two weeks with a sprained right thumb. The Warriors announced that an MRI performed on Russell’s right thumb after Friday night’s loss to the Boston Celtics game confirmed the sprain. He will not travel with the Warriors on their upcoming four-game road
2:11 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN The New Orleans Pelicans will be short-handed once again Saturday when they take on the Miami Heat. On Saturday afternoon, the team downgraded guard Lonzo Ball (right adductor), guard JJ Redick (left great toe sprain) and center Jahlil Okafor (left ankle sprain) from questionable to out. They also downgraded forward
12:52 PM ET Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving will not play in Saturday’s game against the Chicago Bulls, the team announced. Irving has been dealing with a right shoulder impingement and had been uncertain to play in Thursday’s contest against the Denver Nuggets. He received treatment and posted 17 points, 9 assists and 6