6:10 PM ET Dallas Mavericks point guard Dennis Smith Jr. plans to accept an invitation to participate in the slam dunk contest at All-Star Weekend, a source confirmed. Smith, who was eliminated in the first round of last year’s dunk contest, has had a change of heart since media day in September. He said then
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6:21 PM ET There will be at least one Curry in the 3-point shooting contest during All-Star Weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina, next month. Portland Trail Blazers guard Seth Curry will compete in the contest in his hometown, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday. Curry’s brother, Stephen Curry, is second in the league
2:58 PM ET Associated Press CLEVELAND — Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson will miss about two more weeks because of a sprained left foot, another blow to the NBA’s worst team. The team provided the update Friday for the 6-foot-10 veteran, who has been sidelined for the past four games. The Cavs (9-40) have lost five
1:58 PM ET The NBA has suspended Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic for one game for leaving the team’s bench during an altercation against the Utah Jazz, it was announced Friday. Jokic left the bench area during a physical confrontation between Jazz power forward Derrick Favors and Nuggets backup center Mason Plumlee on Wednesday. Favors
2:14 PM ET Philadelphia 76ers guard Jimmy Butler is seeing a specialist for his sprained right wrist, the team said Friday. Coach Brett Brown said Butler’s visit in Los Angeles is “precautionary.” Butler has missed the Sixers’ past two games and is doubtful for Saturday’s game in Denver. In addition to the ailing Butler, Philadelphia
2:47 PM ET Houston Rockets star James Harden is on a historic pace, with 21 straight games scoring at least 30 points, including a career-high 61 against the New York Knicks on Wednesday night. Defenders aren’t the only ones having a hard time keeping up. Six hours before game time, the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook
10:37 AM ET Nick DePaulaESPN As Martin Luther King Jr. Day served as an annual platform for messages of inclusion and equality earlier this week, players around the league took to their sneakers to highlight causes, quotes and themes that have taken on extra meaning in their lives. In the latest chapter of Puma’s relaunch
1:02 AM ET WASHINGTON — Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant spoke proudly Thursday about the opening of an after-school facility that bears his name and the opportunity to be a force for change in his old neighborhood. Durant spent Wednesday night presiding over the opening of College Track at the new Durant Center in
11:24 PM ET The Golden State Warriors met with former President Barack Obama on Thursday in Washington. The visit, in Obama’s office, lasted about an hour. The Warriors contingent included the players and coach Steve Kerr. Warriors coach Steve Kerr says he doesn’t think his team will land four players in the All-Star Game after
8:59 PM ET Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will serve as team captains of the NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 17 in Charlotte, North Carolina, after receiving the most votes in their respective conferences. James led all players in voting, and Antetokounmpo led the Eastern Conference vote. The