Anthony Edwards embodies the spirit of old NBA, Oklahoma City Thunder's guard-guard action praised, Bulls contemplating trades and rebuilding, respect for boxers shown. [ more ]
Cap expert projects $100 million payday for Bulls' best prospect
With the NBA free agency period set to begin at the end of June, the pressure is officially on for the Bulls to make the most of a bad situation and find a way to put an improved roster out there on the court next year.Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Everseley have a difficult task on their hands when it comes to finding a balance between adding new talent and bringing back the established core, but it's one we have to hope they're well-equipped to take on.
Lakers' Austin Reaves to play for Team USA in FIBA World Cup
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
A summer in which he's expected to sign a multiyear contract worth, at minimum, $51 million became more memorable for the Lakers' Austin Reaves as the former undrafted guard committed to play with Team USA at the FIBA World Cup in Japan this summer.Sources with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly said Reaves committed to USA Basketball President Grant Hill in the weeks following the Lakers' elimination from the Western Conference finals.
Knicks' defensive issues re-emerging before playoffs | amNewYork
After rattling off three straight wins, the Knicks have now lost two in a row, allowing 267 combined points to the Timberwolves and Heat which renews questions about the Knicks' defensive ability as the team heads into its playoff push.The biggest area of concern in both losses was the Knicks' ability to defend the three-point shot.
Grade the Trade: Bulls move up in the draft to select the next Derrick Rose
The Chicago Bulls have plenty to think about this offseason, especially after a disappointing season where they were unable to make it to the playoffs.Various reports have come out that the Bulls are expecting to retool their roster around Zach LaVine, and this has understandably caused an avalanche of rumors surrounding the team's roster going into next season.
NBA Twitter reacts to Raptors release of Juancho Hernangomez
The Toronto Raptors pulled off a surprise move on Tuesday with the signing of former Washington Wizards guard Will Barton.In order to create a roster spot, the team waived forward Juancho Hernangomez.With the release of Hernangomez, the Raptors clear a bit of a logjam at forward and hopefully add some much-needed three-point shooting with the recently freed Barton, who had his contract bought out by the Wizards in time to sign with a playoff team.
Way-too-early prediction for Bulls' 2023-24 starting lineup
As the Chicago Bulls stumble into their final stretch of games in the 2022-23 season, the future looks quite bleak.Neither the playoffs nor a top-four position in the draft lottery looks particularly realistic as of now, so this team is left hoping for a stroke of luck or perhaps divine intervention to tilt the scales in their favor.
Wizards vs. Timberwolves final score: Kristaps Porzingis's career night powers 142-127 win
The Washington Wizards let the Unicorn loose on the Minnesota Timberwolves to snap their three-game losing skid for a 142-127 win on Monday.The game started off with not one, not two, but three Kristaps Porzingis triples to help propel the Wizards to an early double-digit lead.That set the tone for how the rest of the night was going to be.
Lakers put forth best effort of season, still fall to Wolves for fifth loss
The Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 111-102 on Friday.Anthony Davis was a late scratch due to back soreness, and Russell Westbrook made his return from injury off the bench.He had 18 points and 8rebounds in the loss.Before the cruel reality of losing another game became abundantly clear for Laker Nation, there was hope.
3 All-NBA players Raptors star Pascal Siakam is outperforming
The Toronto Raptors haven't shied away from letting Pascal Siakam be the main offensive force that drives Toronto's entire operation.The results have not only been acceptable, given Toronto's 3-2 start, but they've been nothing short of jaw-dropping and record-setting.Siakam has averaged 25.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game in the first five games of the season, three of which have been Raptors wins.
NBA rumors: Knicks again eyeing Raptors' OG Anunoby via trade
The New York Knicks' run to the second round of the NBA postseason might prompt the front office to be even more aggressive in acquiring a star.The Toronto Raptors, a team who is expected to change the fundamental shape of their roster, might be able to help them out with an OG Anunoby trade.Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report mentioned that many around the league expect Karl Anthony-Towns, a New Jersey native and CAA client who could be jettisoned by a Timberwolves team looking to build around Anthony Edwards, to eventually end up in New York via a trade.
What do the Knicks need to fix to get back to their winning ways?
Just a couple of weeks ago, Knicks fans couldn't wait for the playoffs to get here.Fresh off of a nine-game winning streak, we were all excited with the team's play and were looking forward to the prospect of making some noise in the post season.But after their recent 3-6 stretch, many are thankful that there is still some time for this team to right the ship and get back on track.
NBA on ESPN Preview: Three tough teams and the Mavs are slated for Wednesday Night
Wednesday's ESPN doubleheader has snuck up on you again.There are two excellent games on the docket with the Dallas Mavericks (36-39) facing the Philadelphia 76ers (49-25), and then the NBA champion Minnesota Timberwolves (39-37) taking on the Phoenix Suns (40-35).These are four professional basketball teams and both games should be competitive late into their fourth quarters.
The Minnesota Timberwolves came to Madison Square Garden without the services of Anthony Edwards or Karl-Anthony Towns.They left conquerors, 140-134 over the New York Knicks.Sometimes the music means more than the meaning, and that was the case with this one: it sucks that the Knicks lost, but this game was headline after headline after headline, three spinning newspapers in one.
After the 1994-95 NBA season, the Washington Bullets faced a crossroads.The team had been sub-par going on 15 years, ever since the days of Elvin Hayes, Wes Unseld and Bobby "Greyhound" Dandridge.The '95 campaign ended with the Bullets having two obvious strengths and one glaring hole.Their frontcourt was stacked between Chris Webber and Juwan Howard, both only 21.
Raptors hold through the game to win big over Minnesota 122-107
The Toronto Raptors welcomed the Minnesota Timberwolves to Scotiabank Arena tonight as they attempt to climb in the standings during the last weeks of the regular NBA Season.With nearly similar records and placements in the East and West, it's crunch time for both these teams.The T-Wolves came into this game undermanned, missing Anthony Edwards after he suffered a bad ankle injury last night.
Toronto Raptors vs Minnesota Timberwolves Matchup: Can they put together some wins?
The Raptors have a chance to string multiple wins together tonight has they host an injury-ridden Minnesota Timberwolves team in Toronto tonight.The Raptors most recently won against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and sit in ninth place in the Eastern Conference.The Timberwolves on the other hand are eighth in the Western Conference, but will be missing a plethora of players going into tonights' game.
Nets gut out overtime victory over Timberwolves, 124-121
These are the types of games the Nets are going to have to get used to.The gritty, ugly, grind-it-out performances have become part of the fabric of the identity the Nets must assume if they're going to salvage the second half of what was once a season with championship expectations.That's what it took to get back on track and secure a 124-123 overtime victory over Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.
Coming off of a huge comeback win against the Nuggets on Saturday, the Knicks take on the Timberwolves at the Mecca Monday night trying to build off of another memorable Garden evening.The Knicks fought back from down double digits in the third quarter to beat the team with the best record in the west over the weekend and made another statement to the rest of the league.
Coming into last night's game it was fully expected that Toronto would be going home with an addition to the win column.Minnesota lost Anthony Edwards to an ankle injury the previous night and had just endured a double overtime game so it was safe to say they were easy pickings.Minnesota showed tremendous effort all game long and even gave the Raptors a scare in the thor quarter but overall it was a sweat-free win for Toronto.
Predicting Bulls' record over final 17 games in 2022-23
Five seconds remaining on the clock, Patrick Beverley is shaken off his man, Tyrese Haliburton pulls up from well beyond the arc, and the go-ahead three-pointer falls.The ball goes into the hoop, but the hopes and dreams of every Chicago Bulls fan in attendance are what pours out the basket as the ball makes its way to the floor before its thud is deafened by the crowd.
Kurtenbach: The Warriors have finally found their Gary Payton II replacement
The Warriors might be back on the right path and in the thick of things in the Western Conference, but they are still experimenting with lineups.Draymond Green moving to the second unit might have solidified the Warriors' non-Steph Curry minutes, but it also weakened those non-Green minutes.The Warriors had proven to be one man short in their top-eight a team's true depth come the playoffs.
The Miami Heat came into their Monday night matchup with Minnesota off the back of a devastating defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night.Being blown out in that one, they should have been motivated coming into the Twin City, though fatigue could have been a factor as well due to the game on Sunday.
Bam was the first to score for the Heat, showing no signs of knee pain.He carried the offense early, throwing down alley-oops and sinking midrange jumpers.On defense, Jovic looked hot and cold as he stayed in front of Gobert but struggled to defend the key against the more athletic attackers like Anthony Edwards.
Rudy Gobert on controversial Celtics finish: 'I'd never lose a jump ball to Grant Williams'
Celtics Williams, who is seven inches shorter than Gobert, won a key jump ball in the final seconds on Wednesday.According to NBA rules, a jump ball can't be tapped until it reaches its highest point.So, when 6-foot-6 Grant Williams beat out 7-foot-1 Rudy Gobert for a key jump ball in the waning seconds of the Celtics' 104-102 win over Minnesota on Wednesday night, there was some controversy.
Anthony Edwards Looking to Take Minnesota 'to the Next Level | SLAM
Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert are looking to take Minnesota "to the next level" next season and lead the team to a second-straight playoff appearance.