7:08 PM ET A white, game-worn Bill Russell Boston Celtics jersey sold for $1,022,250, including buyer’s premium, Hunt Auctions announced Friday. The jersey was autographed, with letters of authenticity from Hunt Auctions and James Spence Authentication (JSA), as well as a signed letter of provenance from Russell. Friday’s online-only auction was the second of two
NBA
2:25 PM ET NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets swingman Ben Simmons continues to make progress from a back injury but likely won’t play in Game 3 Saturday against the Boston Celtics, while noting that it was ‘reasonable’ to think he would play in Game 4 on Monday if he comes through the next couple days
3:43 PM ET Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III intends to make a return in limited minutes for Game 3 vs. Brooklyn on Saturday — with an intention of escalating his minutes in Game 4 on Monday, sources told ESPN. The plan is contingent on Williams’ left knee remaining pain-free prior to Saturday’s Game 3
4:29 PM ET The Sacramento Kings have secured permission to interview several assistant coaches for their head-coaching job, including Golden State‘s Mike Brown, Brooklyn consultant Steve Clifford, Milwaukee‘s Darvin Ham and Charles Lee, and Boston‘s Will Hardy, sources told ESPN on Friday. Among other candidates whom the Kings don’t need permission to interview and are
8:00 AM ET JUST ACROSS THE street from FTX Arena, on a billboard space that was regularly occupied by Dwyane Wade during his legendary Miami Heat tenure, Tyler Herro is all angles, pictured in a Hudson Jeans advertisement dribbling a basketball, wearing a short-sleeved black T-shirt, ripped black jeans and black boots. Inside the arena
4:21 AM ET DENVER — After delivering their best punch and still losing 118-113 to fall behind 3-0 to the Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone said he told his players they have a decision to make on Sunday. “Are we going to roll over?” Malone said of Sunday’s Game 4. “Or are
3:54 AM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN DENVER — Ahead of Thursday night’s Game 3, Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone vowed to “go down swinging” in the NBA playoffs against the Golden State Warriors while trying to find some fight within his team. The Nuggets, after being pummeled in the first two games of the first round,
12:47 AM ET MINNEAPOLIS — In one of the most dramatic comebacks in NBA postseason history, the Memphis Grizzlies clawed their way out of a 26-point hole on Thursday night to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 104-95. Improbably, the Grizzlies now lead the best-of-seven first-round series 2-1. “We all know the game is never over until
2:25 AM ET SALT LAKE CITY — Dallas Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson barked a few choice words at a referee, earning only the second technical foul of his NBA career, as he rubbed his lower back and gingerly walked toward the locker room. Utah Jazz forward Royce O’Neale had just delivered a running elbow to
6:48 PM ET Milwaukee Bucks star Khris Middleton will miss the rest of the opening-round playoff series against the Chicago Bulls due to a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee, sources told ESPN on Thursday. Middleton will be re-evaluated in two weeks when a timeline on his possible return in these playoffs —