8:00 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart, the leading defender on the NBA’s leading defense, believes he is the Defensive Player of the Year. So, too, does Mikal Bridges, the Phoenix Suns‘ fourth-year wing and the franchise’s top NBA All-Defensive candidate. But, based on the award’s history, it’s unlikely either of the
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12:07 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN The top of the NBA’s Eastern Conference couldn’t be much more compact. Entering Tuesday’s action, four teams — the Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers — were within a single loss of one another. And, in serendipitous timing, all four were set to face off, with the
5:08 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN PORTLAND, Ore. — For the first time in his career, CJ McCollum knows what the opposing locker room inside the Moda Center looks like. McCollum was a member of the Portland Trail Blazers for the first 8½ seasons he was in the NBA. After being dealt at the deadline, he’s
7:41 PM ET ESPN News Services WACO, Texas — Baylor standout freshman Kendall Brown and point guard James Akinjo both announced Wednesday they are entering their names into the NBA draft. The players revealed their decisions individually on their social media accounts. Akinjo still had another season of eligibility at Baylor, where he transferred last
4:34 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN When asked directly within the past 24 hours if their teams are fully vaccinated, both the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers declined to comment to ESPN — opening the possibility that both teams could potentially be missing players in road games of a first-round playoff series against the Toronto Raptors.
5:02 PM ET ESPN Facebook Twitter Facebook Messenger Pinterest Email print The Los Angeles Lakers have listed LeBron James as out and Anthony Davis as doubtful for Thursday’s game at the Utah Jazz. Both didn’t play in Tuesday’s 128-110 blowout loss to the Dallas Mavericks. James has been dealing with a left ankle sprain since
4:21 PM ET Associated Press CLEVELAND — Cavaliers star rookie forward Evan Mobley will miss at least the next three games with a sprained left ankle, an injury that could keep Cleveland from clinching one of the top six playoff spots. Mobley got hurt in the first half of Monday’s win over Orlando when he
4:06 PM ET Notre Dame freshman Blake Wesley will enter the 2022 NBA draft, saying he has no plans to return to the Fighting Irish. “I plan on staying in the draft,” he told ESPN on Wednesday. “I’m in a great position. I’m ready for the NBA. I’m ready to start my next journey.” Wesley,
10:42 AM ET Eric GomezMexico writer Blanca Burns worked her first game as an NBA referee earlier this season, a clash between the Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs on Dec. 27. Before the night was over, she found herself on the receiving end of several loud complaints from legendary Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. For
8:27 AM ET After undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee Wednesday morning, Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III is expected to return within four to six weeks — a timetable that could land him back in the lineup as soon as the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, sources told