6:40 PM ET The Toronto Raptors have embarked on a head-coaching search that’s expected to be broad in scope and include a robust initial wave of candidates among NBA assistants, ex-NBA head coaches and NCAA and WNBA coaches, sources told ESPN on Thursday. The Raptors have gathered permission to interview several top assistant coaches to
NBA
7:14 PM ET Associated Press CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers still aren’t saying if Joel Embiid will be able to return from a sprained right knee and play next week in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The 76ers completed a sweep of the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday, providing a great opportunity for
10:45 AM ET New York Knicks center Jericho Sims underwent surgery on his right shoulder, ending his promising second season in the NBA, sources told ESPN. The procedure, done Wednesday and considered successful, will require five months of recovery and rehabilitation. Sims, 24, is expected to be prepared for the start of training camp in
11:08 AM ET Associated Press PITTSBURGH — Dick Groat, a two-sport star who went from All-American guard in basketball to a brief stint in the NBA to ultimately an All-Star shortstop and the 1960 National League MVP while playing baseball for his hometown Pittsburgh Pirates, has died. He was 92. Groat’s family said in a
4:03 AM ET SACRAMENTO — Over the years, these Golden State Warriors have sent and delivered a lot of messages. Sometimes the coaching staff will splice in a funny video clip with a particular theme, hoping it cuts through and lands. Other times one of the veteran players will speak up, publicly or privately. There
8:00 AM ET IT’S GAME 5 between the Sacramento Kings and the Golden State Warriors, the series tied, and Stephen Curry is in the midst of creating the kind of dagger moment that has defined his career. There are just over 30 seconds left in regulation, with the Warriors trying to expand a 119-114 lead
12:59 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN MILWAUKEE — Less than two weeks ago, the Miami Heat were trailing with under five minutes to go in the final Eastern Conference play-in game against the Chicago Bulls. At that point, it was easy to see a world in which the Heat wouldn’t even make the playoffs — and
4:02 AM ET Jamal CollierESPN MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo took a deep breath and ran his hands through his hair before answering a question at his news conference Wednesday night following the Milwaukee Bucks‘ stunning 128-126 overtime loss to the Miami Heat in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series. The Bucks, who owned the
1:04 AM ET MEMPHIS — Desmond Bane backed up his previous declaration and issued another one. Two nights after promising that the Memphis Grizzlies would stave off elimination, Bane delivered in a 116-99 Game 5 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, scoring a game-high 33 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out five
2:04 AM ET MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Coming into the night tied with Derek Fisher for the most closeout victories in NBA history, there was no sugarcoating it — even with that history on his side — after LeBron James missed 12 of the 17 shots he attempted and coughed up a game-high five turnovers in