11:04 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN PHILADELPHIA — After yet another ugly individual performance Monday night in a season full of them so far, Portland Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard said his poor start is a chance for him to show the world what he’s really about. “I always look at struggles as an opportunity to
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11:39 PM ET ESPN News Services BOSTON — Marcus Smart called out Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown after the Boston Celtics lost their third game in a row on Monday night, saying the star duo needs to get their teammates more involved. “Every team knows we’re trying to go to Jayson and Jaylen,” Smart said
12:58 AM ET Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant’s widow won’t have to undergo psychiatric testing for her lawsuit over graphic photos of the 2020 helicopter crash that killed the basketball star, her 13-year-old daughter and seven others, a federal judge ruled Monday. Los Angeles County sought to compel psychiatric evaluations for Vanessa Bryant
3:20 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN METAIRIE, La. — New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson is “progressing” in his recovery from a fractured right foot, but his return to play is still up in the air. Pelicans coach Willie Green told reporters on Monday that doctors were encouraged by the latest set of scans on Williamson’s
7:32 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN PHILADELPHIA — Already without Ben Simmons, the Philadelphia 76ers also were missing both Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris for Monday night’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Wells Fargo Center. Embiid, who has been questionable for each of the past five games because of right knee soreness, was ruled
6:11 PM ET SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors center James Wiseman has been cleared to participate in full-team practices, the team announced Monday. Wiseman, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, played in just 39 games during a rookie year that was cut short in large part due to a right
4:34 PM ET Associated Press CLEVELAND — Cavaliers forward Kevin Love has been placed in the NBA’s health and safety protocols and will miss Monday’s game at Charlotte — and likely several more. It’s not known if Love is still with the team. The Cavaliers provided a brief statement on Love as they got ready
7:55 PM ET Associated Press MIAMI — Max Strus expects to be sidelined for maybe just a couple weeks. Given how badly he initially feared his left knee was injured, that’s a major win for the Miami Heat guard. The Heat diagnosed Strus’ injury as a sprain Monday, learning he did not suffer major structural
8:00 AM ET After falling to 3-4, the Milwaukee Bucks have forfeited the No. 1 spot this week. The Utah Jazz, who were the league’s final unbeaten team before falling to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, handed Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks their third straight loss on their way to the top of our list.
10:12 AM ET William E. Ricks You might’ve heard the term “Knickstape” as a slogan for the New York Knicks and their fan base. Well, that could be retiring. Replaced by two simple words: “Bing Bong.” Knicks fan Jordie Bloom shouted the phrase on opening night of the Knicks’ season in a video from Sidetalk,