8:00 AM ET The Toronto Raptors have the deepest roster in franchise history, a player with a chance to win the Most Valuable Player Award and a flexible style designed to handle any opponent. This has all the makings of an incredible season, especially now that archrival LeBron James has moved to the West Coast.
NBA
10:25 PM ET LOS ANGELES — Russell Westbrook will miss Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers, his second straight game as he recovers from knee surgery, but is closing in on a return with a possible eye on Sunday’s game against the Sacramento Kings. After going through an energetic post-shootaround workout, which included a
2:40 AM ET MINNEAPOLIS — Jimmy Butler‘s unusual standoff with the Minnesota Timberwolves took another twist Friday night as fans showered him with boos when he was introduced, only to turn and serenade him with “MVP!” chants after a masterful performance. Butler growled at team management that they couldn’t win without him when he returned
8:54 PM ET MINNEAPOLIS — Disgruntled guard Jimmy Butler was booed when he was introduced and at times when he touched the ball in the Minnesota Timberwolves‘ home opener Friday night. It was a generally unpleasant mood at Target Center as the crowd also heavily booed coach and team president Tom Thibodeau during introductions and
7:35 PM ET EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The day after losing their season opener in Portland, the Los Angeles Lakers gathered in their film room and listened to a Pulitzer Prize winner talk to the team about sacrifice, preparation and releasing negativity. Kendrick Lamar, the first rapper to win the Pulitzer for music, visited with
1:32 AM ET Malika AndrewsESPN PHILADELPHIA — Just months removed from a season plagued by a much-scrutinized missing jumper, 76ers guard Markelle Fultz checked one box Thursday on the path back to regaining the scoring touch he showed in college: He drained his first career 3. Ben Simmons had a triple-double with 13 points, 13
12:35 AM ET PORTLAND, Ore. — A single red rose was placed on the courtside seat that used to be occupied by Paul Allen, as the Portland Trail Blazers opened up a season for the first time in 30 years without their longtime owner, who died this week. No one is providing many details yet
4:54 AM ET PORTLAND, Ore. — LeBron James‘ debut with his new club began with two monstrous tomahawk dunks in the span of 19 seconds. But James knows he and the Los Angeles Lakers are far from a slam dunk right now and that their chemistry won’t come nearly as fast. After the LeBron Lakers
8:03 PM ET Associated Press WASHINGTON — Dwight Howard sat out the Washington Wizards‘ season opener Thursday night with what the team said is a sore buttocks. Washington’s new starting center missed all of training camp and the entire exhibition schedule. He did not participate in any practices at all until Monday. Coach Scott Brooks
4:07 PM ET PORTLAND, Ore. — As LeBron James embarks on his 16th season when the Los Angeles Lakers open their season against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, the three-time champion is imploring Luke Walton to keep him on the court. “I’m always fresh,” James said after shootaround Thursday morning. “All my coaches want