12:22 PM ET Atlanta Hawks forwards John Collins and Jalen Johnson have entered the league’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Hawks now have 10 players in the protocol, including starters Collins, Trae Young and Kevin Huerter. Collins led the team with 20 points in Atlanta’s 101-87 Christmas Day loss
NBA
1:46 AM ET LeBron James passed Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer on Christmas Day. James’ 13th point of the first half, coming on a free throw with 3 minutes, 52 seconds remaining in the second quarter, gave him 396 career points on the holiday, eclipsing Bryant’s 395. James
1:28 AM ET When the NBA schedule makers locked in the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets to play on Christmas Day, the vision was to pit L.A.’s big three of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook against Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden in a star-studded affair. Thanks to a left
9:04 PM ET There’s renewed momentum for the creation of a future in-season NBA tournament among the league’s 30 teams, sources told ESPN. The NBA and National Basketball Players Association have been discussing elements of the tournament, which could become part of the calendar as soon as the 2022-2023 or 2023-2024 seasons, sources said. Negotiations
6:46 PM ET LA Clippers All-Star Paul George suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and will rest the injury for the next three-to-four weeks prior to a revaluation, the team announced Saturday. There’s no clear timetable on a return to play, but the hope is that resting the injury over the
7:50 PM ET Jamal Collier MILWAUKEE — Although Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo would never prefer to sit out for an extended stretch of games, he acknowledged after Milwaukee’s 117-113 victory over the Boston Celtics on Christmas Day that his stint in the NBA’s health and safety protocols gave him an opportunity for a much-needed mental
10:13 PM ET PHOENIX — Stephen Curry knew the answer. The Golden State Warriors‘ star guard knew that after leading his undermanned team to an impressive 116-107 win over the Phoenix Suns on Christmas Day on Saturday in front of a loud, sold-out crowd at Footprint Center, the proud team had just pulled out its
7:29 PM ET Kelly CohenESPN If you are a fan of Wisconsin sports, specifically the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Bucks, you got two extra gifts on Christmas Day. Led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks erased a 19-point deficit against the Boston Celtics and won their 22nd game of the season 117-113. The Bucks’ comeback
10:40 AM ET Amid a dramatic franchise transformation, Cleveland Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff has agreed on a long-term extension that will keep him under contract through the 2026-27 season, sources told ESPN on Saturday. Bickerstaff and general manager Koby Altman have worked together to reshape the Cavaliers around a young core — including guard Darius
3:48 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN NEW YORK — Kemba Walker‘s Christmas began with him being officially given back his starting point guard spot. He then delivered Knicks fans a 101-87 victory over the Trae Young-less Atlanta Hawks here at Madison Square Garden, and did so in style: by recording the third triple-double of his career,