11:15 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Boston Celtics were 0.5 seconds away from taking a commanding 3-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the defending champion Toronto Raptors. But after Raptors forward OG Anunoby shook free for a stunning buzzer-beating 3-pointer that saw Toronto escape with a heart-stopping
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11:56 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN If not for an old Hubie Brown DVD, the Toronto Raptors could be looking at a 3-0 hole in their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Boston Celtics. As he was walking toward the bus following Thursday night’s come-from-behind 104-103 victory over the Celtics, Raptors coach Nick Nurse glowingly talked
2:00 AM ET Patrick Beverley played only 12 minutes Thursday, but the LA Clippers could hear and feel his impact. With Beverley back from a left calf injury that he said “humbled” him, the Clippers smothered the Denver Nuggets 120-97 in Game 1 of their best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series. Beverley’s return marked just the
6:48 PM ET The Grizzlies‘ Ja Morant has been named the NBA Rookie of the Year. The league announced Morant as the winner Thursday night, saying he received 99 first-place votes and 498 total points in polling of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters. Heat guard Kendrick Nunn finished second with 204 points. The Pelicans’ Zion Williamson,
3:03 PM ET The Charlotte Hornets announced Thursday that radio broadcaster John Focke will not return for violating the team’s social media policy. The Hornets had suspended Focke indefinitely on Aug. 17 after he used a racial slur in a tweet about the playoff game between the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz. Focke used the
9:53 PM ET After playing three of their starters 40-plus minutes and fighting for their playoff survival, the Toronto Raptors were staring a 3-0 deficit to the Boston Celtics in the face and were down to their final second. Make that a half second. Kemba Walker, who finished the game with 29 points, nearly iced
2:20 AM ET After two thrilling first-round Game 7s, the NBA’s conference semifinals are finally set. The Houston Rockets edged the Oklahoma City Thunder to set up a meeting with the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers, while the Denver Nuggets outdueled the Utah Jazz to clinch a matchup with the LA Clippers. The Eastern Conference semis
6:38 AM ET After two thrilling Game 7s to finish the first round of the NBA playoffs, we finally have our Western Conference semifinals set: LA Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets. Are the L.A. rivals on a collision course for the West finals, or are they in for a
12:00 PM ET NBA Insiders Two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash is the new head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, taking on the task of championship pursuit with superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Nash has signed a four-year deal with the Nets, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Nash, 46, played 18 seasons in the NBA,
9:49 AM ET Hall of Fame guard Steve Nash has signed a four-year contract to become the next coach of the Brooklyn Nets, sources told ESPN. The Nets announced the hiring Thursday afternoon. In recent weeks, Nets owner Joe Tsai and general manager Sean Marks have been aggressive in recruiting Nash to make the leap