I went to Minnesota when I was young. Straight out of high school, I brought all my friends that I could. Through that whole process of being there, we just grew up as young guys into, you know, young adults. So Minnesota, with the dope lakes and the more simplistic things you can do, it's like a big small city.
The Los Angeles Clippers have had a difficult last three months. Star forward Kawhi Leonard and owner Steve Ballmer became the epicenter of a scandal to allegedly circumvent the NBA salary cap by investing in a fraudulent environmental start-up, Aspiration. The team is also off to a disastrous 6-17 start and is expected to be one of the more active trade partners ahead of the 2025-26 NBA Trade Deadline, less than two months away.
Charlotte's LaMelo Ball, Memphis' Ja Morant and Atlanta's Trae Young all seem to be stuck in a sort of limbo with the franchises that they've been the faces of since entering the league as high lottery picks. There is rampant speculation among rival teams that Ball, Morant and Young could all be available leading up to the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
"I just remember his demeanor. That's why we nicknamed him 'Easy E,' " Scott told The Times. "He was just so cool, nothing speeding him up. He was going to take his time. He was just easy. He was such a good dude. I loved Easy, man."
PHILADELPHIA -- 76ers center Joel Embiid returned to game action for the first time in three weeks Sunday night against the Atlanta Hawks as he, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey played together for the first time this season. Yet the fact those details became a footnote spoke to the strangeness of the game, won 142-134 by the Hawks in double overtime.
With a current FanDuel offer, new users who sign up can place a qualifying moneyline bet on any team to win, and if that bet is successful, they will receive bonus bets. This means you could place a $5 wager on the Knicks to win their matchup against the Magic, and if they do, you'll get your cash profit from the bet plus an extra $150 in bonus bets.
Here's how the unexpected happened: Minnesota pushed ahead 113-105 with after Donte DiVincenzo hit his second free throw with 1:09 left. Phoenix brought the ball up the court and Brooks' 3-pointer was off the mark, but Royce O'Neale was there for the offensive rebound and putback, cutting it to 113-107 with 49.3 seconds left. A few seconds later, Gillespie stole the in-bounds pass and Brooks found Jordan Goodwin for a 3-pointer, slicing the lead to 113-110. There were still 43.4 seconds remaining.
Part 1, which you can find below, was in theory dedicated to the question of which teams this season are cool. I say in theory because we had to first get through an extended Luka Garza segment, a lengthy appreciation of Tyrese Maxey and V.J. "MJ Edgecombe" Edgecombe, and a brief look at the dire state of the New Orleans Pelicans.
The NBA has instituted yet another new format for the All-Star Game, one that will ensure there are eight international All-Stars no matter what. That could provide a way for RJ Barrett to make his first ever All-Star Game - a brand new loophole, if you will, for the Canadian wing to skate right through. The Toronto Raptors did not have an All-Star last season as they stumbled their way through a lost year.
Landing a premiere talent, who proved to be one of the most dynamic scorers in the NBA at his peak seemed like a can't lose situation for the Clippers, especially considering the discounted price they landed him at. Beal joined the Western Conference contenders with the chance to not only prove he had plenty left in the tank, but that the Suns could be to blame for his career falling off the rails over the last few season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's scoring average across 12 games this season is 33.2, third best in the league. The Thunder's hot start, despite Jalen Williams missing every game and several other rotation players missing chunks, can be credited to their unusual depth. But everything is riding on the continued greatness of the league's most consistent scorer. Gilgeous-Alexander won the scoring title a season ago, producing 32.7 points per game and has upped that output early in his eighth season. It appears he's getting better. -- Anthony Slater
SAN ANTONIO -- De'Aaron Fox scored 24 points in his season debut, Victor Wembanyama added 18 points and 18 rebounds and the San Antonio Spurs beat the New Orleans Pelicans 126-119 on Saturday night. Stephon Castle added 14 points and 14 assists as San Antonio won its second straight after two straight losses following a franchise-best 5-0 start.
They've been buddies forever, but this was the first time Jokić paid attention to how his friend makes a living. Pavkov was in constant motion, going from his phone to his customers in the front of his shop to the back, where he oversaw a paint job for one of Jokić's sulkies, the two-wheeled, chariot-like vehicles that attach to Jokić's horses as they race around his track down the street.
You have moments where it's like-obviously, you play this game and you're trying to win-but this was just a cool day as a whole for me. And obviously, to have the night I had was definitely special as well. But I wouldn't put the game I had based on the court. This kid pissed me off today, I was playing 2K. I had been playing 2K for like two hours, and I told him, too, I said 'Just wait.'
During the first half of Wednesday night's 122-112 loss to the Denver Nuggets, the Miami Heat were dealt a massive blow with Bam Adebayo exiting the game with a left foot injury. Adebayo was injured after taking a step during a pitch back to guard Norman Powell in transition. He hobbled off the court and headed to the locker room and did not return. Adebayo played just eight minutes, finishing with two points and one rebound, making one of his five shot attempts.
A United States congressional committee is meeting with NBA officials Wednesday in Washington, D.C., in wake of the indictments of Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier and Damon Jones, sources tell ESPN's Shams Charania. The meeting is considered an informational sit-down for members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and will include conversations about the league's partnerships with sportsbooks and measures to prevent illegal use of non-public information, the sources said.
