3:51 PM ET PLAYA VISTA, Calif. — As Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant prepare to face each other in a playoff series for the first time, Westbrook says there is no animosity between him and his former Oklahoma City teammate. Westbrook and Durant will be reunited on the floor when the LA Clippers face the
NBA
10:13 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN The NBA sent a memo to its league office staff Tuesday instructing them to reduce expenses and limit hiring for the remainder of the fiscal year because of economic constraints, sources confirmed to ESPN. “Like other businesses in the US and globally, the league office is not immune to macroeconomic
4:00 AM ET LOS ANGELES — Long before the midseason trade that changed everything for the Los Angeles Lakers. Before Russell Westbrook dabbled as a sixth man and jawed with coach Darvin Ham at halftime the night LeBron James became the NBA’s all-time scoring leader. Before Anthony Davis was lost for 20 games with the
1:24 AM ET Associated Press LOS ANGELES — LeBron James had 30 points and 10 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers claimed the seventh spot in the Western Conference playoffs with a grueling 108-102 overtime victory over the short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA’s play-in tournament Tuesday night. Dennis Schroder scored 21 points and iced
12:27 AM ET MIAMI — Jimmy Butler remains steadfast in his belief the Miami Heat can turn things around after a frustrating 116-105 loss to the Atlanta Hawks in a play-in tournament game Tuesday night. But he knows there is plenty to fix heading into Friday’s must-win against the winner of Wednesday night’s No. 9
4:47 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN METAIRIE, La. — New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson said Tuesday that he is feeling fine physically and will return to the court “when I feel like Zion,” acknowledging the mental hurdle of rejoining the team as it embarks on a postseason run. Williamson, who has been out since Jan.
3:09 PM ET The Houston Rockets have received permission to interview two top assistant coaches on Western Conference contenders — Golden State‘s Kenny Atkinson and Phoenix‘s Kevin Young, sources told ESPN on Tuesday. The Rockets are beginning a search to replace former coach Stephen Silas, who didn’t have the fourth-year option on his contract picked
3:31 PM ET Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Hornets aren’t expected to be big spenders in free agency this summer even if Michael Jordan sells the team. The Hornets are a projected $39 million under the NBA salary cap for next season — which ranks in the top 10 in the league in
8:00 AM ET Ryan Hockensmith Close Ryan Hockensmith is a Penn State graduate who joined ESPN in 2001. He is a survivor of bacterial meningitis, which caused him to have multiple amputation surgeries on his feet. He is a proud advocate for those with disabilities and addiction issues. He covers everything from the NFL and
10:07 PM ET Associated Press MIAMI — Trae Young scored 25 points, Clint Capela grabbed 21 rebounds and the Atlanta Hawks grabbed the No. 7 in the Eastern Conference playoffs by beating the Miami Heat 116-105 in a play-in tournament game Tuesday night. Dejounte Murray added 18 points for the Hawks, who avenged a five-game