10:35 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN TORONTO — NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday night that, after a heated exchange involving a Utah Jazz fan and Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook back in March, he spoke with the Jazz and thanked them for how they handled its aftermath. “I did speak directly to that team,
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9:07 PM ET Drake didn’t have to open his mouth to start trolling the Golden State Warriors ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday. The rapper and Toronto Raptors mega-fan strolled into Scotiabank Arena wearing Dell Curry’s No. 30 Raptors jersey. Curry, the father of Warriors superstar guard Stephen Curry, finished his
3:21 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN TORONTO — Ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night, NBA commissioner Adam Silver explained why the league had a discussion with rapper — and Toronto Raptors superfan — Drake about his conduct on the sideline during the Eastern Conference finals. “The league office had conversations directly
7:00 AM ET As the Golden State Warriors try to navigate the beginning of the NBA Finals without star Kevin Durant, team leader Draymond Green acknowledged that his role within the framework of the team is dramatically different without Durant on the floor. “It completely changes,” Green told ESPN’s Rachel Nichols in an interview that
5:30 PM ET The Golden State Warriors are trying to cement their place as an all-time team by winning their fourth NBA title in five seasons. Bettors believe that they will do just that and are overwhelmingly backing them in Game 1, despite the Warriors potentially being an underdog in an NBA Finals game for
6:51 PM ET Adrian WojnarowskiESPN Houston Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni has ended talks with management about a contract extension. “We could not come to terms on an extension,” D’Antoni told reporters, according to the Houston Chronicle. “I have my contract still. I’m looking forward to the year and having a great season.” D’Antoni said he
3:40 PM ET Richard Jefferson First of all, congratulations to the Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors. One team is going to the NBA Finals (Game 1, ABC, 9 p.m. ET) for the first time, and the other is going for the fifth consecutive time. Franchise history is being made in two very different ways.
1:39 PM ET Associated Press ATHENS, Greece — Panathinaikos coach Rick Pitino has criticized fans of the Greek club for smoking and lighting flares during games, saying they are showing a lack of respect for the players. “It’s extremely self-centered and selfish of people,” Pitino said late Wednesday after Panathinaikos beat Peristeri 91-68 in the
12:46 PM ET Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins, who tore a left quad muscle in April, will be active Thursday night for Game 1 of the NBA Finals, coach Steve Kerr said. Kerr also said it was a “longshot” that All-Star Kevin Durant, sidelined with a strained calf, would be cleared for practice before
1:33 PM ET Nick DePaulaESPN Throughout his high-school career, LeBron James was no stranger to sneaker brands clamoring to sponsor his Saint Vincent-Saint Mary’s basketball team in Akron, Ohio, outfitting the Fighting Irish with uniforms and sneakers well before he had officially turned pro. Before his son LeBron James Jr. even enters high school later