11:55 AM ET Adrian WojnarowskiESPN The Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat advanced to the brink of a blockbuster trade for All-Star forward Jimmy Butler over the weekend — only for the deal to fracture before completion, league sources told ESPN. Minnesota had shared Butler’s medical information with Miami late in the week, sources said, a
NBA
11:47 PM ET The Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers played Saturday night in a preseason rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference finals, and it wasn’t long before some of last season’s postseason animosity emerged. With 3 minutes, 38 seconds left in the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena, a scuffle broke out between the teams
9:39 PM ET ANAHEIM, Calif. — Los Angeles Lakers fans will have to wait a little bit longer to see LeBron James and Lonzo Ball take the court together in the preseason for the first time. James and Ball will both be held out for rest in Saturday’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Clippers,
4:32 PM ET Michael C. Wright SAN ANTONIO — Spurs rookie guard Lonnie Walker IV underwent an MRI examination Saturday morning in San Antonio that revealed a right medial meniscus tear, the team announced. Walker is likely to miss six to eight weeks, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Walker suffered the knee injury at
12:18 AM ET SEATTLE — The memories came back quickly for Kevin Durant as he entered KeyArena on Friday night. The 30-year-old superstar remembered walking down the same walkway he used as a rookie for the Seattle Supersonics in 2007. He appreciated the loud cheers he got both in pregame warmups and after being announced
7:50 PM ET Kyrie Irving made a splash on Thursday night at the Boston Celtics‘ annual Fan Appreciation Night by announcing his intention to re-sign with them after season’s end. On Friday, he explained his decision further — casting light on the turnaround from his perceived indecision about whether to to stay in Boston. “I’m
7:25 PM ET Chris Paul has defended Carmelo Anthony and his addition to the Houston Rockets this season, saying Friday his good friend and 10-time All-Star has been a target of unwarranted criticism. “Obviously I’m a little biased because that’s one of my closest friends,” Paul said at training camp in Houston in an appearance
7:10 PM ET ESPN News Services PHILADELPHIA — Charles Barkley is being honored in Philadelphia with a media award. Barkley received the Lew Klein Excellence in the Media Award at Temple University on Friday. The basketball Hall of Famer and commentator on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” told the room full of journalists to “be mad,
6:39 PM ET Boston Celtics assistant coach Jerome Allen pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida to accepting an $18,000 bribe in 2014, according to multiple reports. Allen’s plea agreement with the government requires Allen to repay the $18,000 in addition to a $200,000 fine. Allen, who joined the
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