Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis continues to battle side effects of the viral illness th...

<p>Boston Celtics center <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/44888" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/44888">Kristaps Porzingis</a> continues to battle side effects of the viral illness that first afflicted him in March, a source told <a href="https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1921287730299822447">Shams Charania of ESPN</a>.</p><p>He suffered an energy crash just before Game 1 of his team's series against the New York Knicks on Monday, limiting him to 13 minutes of action. The sudden loss of energy is reportedly one of multiple side effects stemming from the ailment, which caused the Latvian to miss eight consecutive regular-season contests from late February to mid-March.</p><p>The 7-footer suited up for Game 2, but <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/12" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/12">Al Horford</a> replaced him in the Celtics' starting lineup. Porzingis played a team-low 14 minutes off the bench, finishing with eight points and four rebounds.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>He didn't start Saturday's Game 3 either, but made his first appearance midway through the first quarter.</p><p>Porzingis has reportedly tried to alleviate the side effects by taking IV fluids and immune boosters, as well as altering his sleep patterns. The 29-year-old said in March that doctors couldn't identify the specific illness.</p><p>The Latvian felt he had turned a corner before the start of the playoffs, according to Charania. Porzingis played all five games of Boston's first-round series win over the Orlando Magic, averaging 27.4 minutes with 12 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest. However, he struggled with his shot in the series, shooting just 35.2% from the floor, including 2-of-17 (11.8%) from deep.</p>

BOSTON, MA - MAY 5: Kristaps Porzingis #8 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the New York Knicks during Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 5, 2025 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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Report: Porzingis still battling side effects of viral illness

Miami Heat president Pat Riley admitted Friday that the roster will likely undergo significant al...

<p>Miami Heat president Pat Riley admitted Friday that the roster will likely undergo significant alterations this summer following a disappointing end to the season.</p><p>"I think we do have to make changes," Riley told reporters, including <a href="https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/05/09/pat-riley-wont-apologize-for-butler-approach-says-of-heat-there-has-to-be-some-change/">Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel</a>. "There's no doubt. There has to be some change."</p><p>Miami's campaign crashed to a halt with a 55-point home loss on April 28, capping a first-round sweep against the Cleveland Cavaliers and one of the most lopsided series in NBA playoff history.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Riley acknowledged it'll fall on him and the front office to find avenues to improve the Heat this summer.</p><p>"We probably won't run it back," he said, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/Anthony_Chiang/status/1920890432587706654">Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald</a>. "But players aren't just going to show up. You have to make deals."</p><p>Miami has 12 players on guaranteed or partially guaranteed deals through 2025-26, including its leading duo of <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/53731" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/53731">Bam Adebayo</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/69689" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/69689">Tyler Herro</a>.</p><p>Thanks to an extension signed in July 2024, Adebayo is secured through 2027-28 and holds a player option for the following year. Herro, under contract through 2026-27, won't require action this summer but will have a three-week window from Oct. 1-20 to sign an extension worth up to $150 million over three years.</p><p>Riley revealed Friday that he and Herro have spoken about the looming extension window but didn't divulge details of the discussion. However, he said he hopes the 25-year-old stays in Miami long term and suggested adding pieces to complement the guard's playing style.</p><p>"He's pivotal for us as an offensive player," Riley said. "We need more around him to do a little more of what he does. He's getting beat up, getting overly schemed. I hope he can stay here the rest of his career."</p><p>Riley also addressed the dramatic midseason saga involving <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/2809" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/2809">Jimmy Butler</a> for the first time since trading the 35-year-old to the Golden State Warriors in February. Butler feuded with Riley for months after the executive refused the forward's extension request, with the standoff resulting in multiple team-issued suspensions for the six-time All-Star.</p><p>While Riley echoed Heat head coach Eric Spoelstra's previous <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3278431" href="https://thescore.com/news/3278431">comments</a> and acknowledged that the situation negatively affected the Heat's on-court performance, the 80-year-old stood by his decision Friday.</p><p>"I'm not going to apologize for saying no on the contract extension," Riley said.</p>

MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 09: Pat Riley speaks to media at Kaseya Center on February 09, 2025 in Miami, Florida.

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Pat Riley: 'No doubt' Heat have to make changes

Looking to avoid a historically insurmountable 3-0 series deficit, Jayson Tatum acknowledged his ...

<p>Looking to avoid a historically insurmountable 3-0 series deficit, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/52651" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/52651">Jayson Tatum</a> acknowledged his shooting struggles against the New York Knicks as the Boston Celtics prepare for Saturday's Game 3.</p><p>"I take full ownership of the way that I've played in this series and can't sugarcoat anything," Tatum told reporters Thursday, according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45058336/celtics-jayson-tatum-shoulders-blame-need-better">ESPN's Brian Windhorst</a>. "I need to be better, and I expect to be a lot better."</p><p>Tatum was efficient in the Celtics' first-round series against the Orlando Magic, recording shooting splits of 44.7/36.4/90.2 across five games. But through the opening two contests - both at TD Garden - versus the Knicks, he's shot just 28.6% from the floor (12-of-42) and 25% from three (5-of-20).</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Tatum isn't the only Celtics player having issues, though. Boston posted a 35.1 shooting percentage in Monday's series opener, its lowest mark in any regular season or playoff game this campaign.</p><p>Game 2 offered only a slight improvement, with the Celtics shooting 36.2% and making the same number of shots (34) on three fewer attempts (94) than in Game 1 (97). Boston went 0-4 during the regular season when registering 34 or fewer field goals in a contest.</p><p>Head coach Joe Mazzulla said he believes Tatum will find his rhythm again in the series after the six-time All-Star shot 45.2% from the field and 34.3% from three in the regular season. However, with the Celtics blowing 20-point leads in both games, Mazzulla stressed that Tatum isn't solely to blame for the team's current predicament.</p><p>"It's a credit to (Tatum), I don't think that I appreciate the fact that he would (take responsibility), but I think it's on everybody," Mazzulla said.</p><p>"We all could be better. I could be better. The things that I can help our team execute on our entire team can be better. And yeah, he can too. So, just says who he is taking responsibility for that, and I expect him to be better."</p><p>Teams that lose the first two contests of a seven-game series at home have gone on to advance in just four of 28 prior instances, according to <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/7-game-playoff-series-outcomes-22111.html#:~:text=23%2D241-,0%2D2,-HH/">Basketball Reference</a>.</p><p>Game 3 tips off Saturday in New York at 3:30 p.m. ET.</p>

Boston, MA - May 5: Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum walks off the court after Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinal against the New York Knicks at TD Garden.

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The Cleveland Cavaliers could be without Evan Mobley and De'Andre Hunter in Game 2 against the In...

<p>The Cleveland Cavaliers could be without <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/96054" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/96054">Evan Mobley</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/53037" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/53037">De'Andre Hunter</a> in Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday.</p><p>Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson revealed Monday that both players are considered questionable after sustaining injuries in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 121-112 loss in Game 1, according to <a href="https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2025/05/05/cavs-vs-pacers-injury-update-will-evan-mobley-deandre-hunter-darius-garland-play-game-2-cavaliers/83459973007/">Matthew Glenesk of the Indianapolis Star</a>. </p><p>Mobley, the Defensive Player of the Year, hurt his left ankle, while Hunter dislocated his right thumb.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Mobley rolled his ankle after attempting a turnaround hook shot and landing on <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/37711" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/37711">Myles Turner</a>'s foot with 8:10 to play. Hunter was hurt on the Cavs' next offensive possession at the 7:45 mark when his attempt at the rim was blocked by <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/102759" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/102759">Bennedict Mathurin</a>.</p><p>Atkinson, who unsuccessfully challenged the block by Mathurin, said that he felt both instances were borderline reckless plays by the Pacers.</p><p>"I don't think they were dirty plays, but I think it passed a line of physicality," the Coach of the Year finalist said. "That line we've kind of been talking about where it became excessive. So, number one was the non-call on De'Andre's layup. ... They reviewed it, and I'm just in shock. I don't know. And I guess I gotta know the rules better. So, maybe I don't know the rules. I felt he got absolutely obliterated and dislocated his thumb, so he'll be questionable.</p><p>"And then Evan, around the same time ... Turner contests his 2-point shot, comes under, clearly under him - and shooters need space to land - and is pushed off-balance in kind of our opinion and tweaks his ankle pretty bad. I think you guys saw him limping the rest of the game."</p><p>Mobley played a team-high 36 minutes Sunday, shooting 9-of-13 and finishing with a 20-point double-double. Hunter scored 11 points (4-of-8 from the field) with four rebounds and an assist in 30 minutes off the bench. Mobley was swapped out for <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/53393" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/53393">Jarrett Allen</a> during the review stoppage but returned for the final six minutes. Hunter remained in the game for another four minutes following his thumb injury and entered again with 1:38 to play.</p><p>The Cavaliers are already without starting guard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/70243" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/70243">Darius Garland</a>, who's now missed three straight games due to a sprained toe. He was initially listed as questionable for Game 1 before being ruled out shortly before tipoff.</p><p>Following Tuesday's Game 2 in Cleveland, the series will shift to Indianapolis for Games 3 and 4.</p>

CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 4: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers during Round 2 Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 4, 2025 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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Mobley, Hunter at risk of missing Game 2 vs. Pacers

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green revealed his focus ahead of Sunday night's Game 7 vi...

<p>Golden State Warriors forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/2982" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/2982">Draymond Green</a> revealed his focus ahead of Sunday night's Game 7 victory over the Houston Rockets was to re-evaluate how to lead by example after feeling ashamed by his conduct in Game 6.</p><p>"I pouted way too much last game, so I spent the last two days embarrassed at what I gave to the game, what I gave to the world," Green told <a href="https://youtu.be/U6_wVhZGN40?t=85">media</a>, including House of Highlights, after the Warriors' series-clinching 103-89 win. "I was embarrassed. ... I wanted to come out and prove again just who I am - with poise but with the same fire, same tenacity, but poise. And I think I delivered that and gave our guys something to follow.</p><p>"What I gave them last game to follow, they followed it - and that's why we got bullied. But I think I gave them something different to follow today and that was the message. That was the goal. And we got it done."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Green was assessed a flagrant-1 foul a little more than three minutes into Game 6 for hitting Rockets guard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/96116" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/96116">Jalen Green</a> in the head while jostling with the 23-year-old on the perimeter. Despite officials making the decision after a video review, the Warriors vet continued to argue with referees as play resumed. The Rockets went on to win the first quarter and never trailed for the rest of the contest, winning 115-107 and overturning a 3-1 series deficit.</p><p>During a players-only meeting Saturday, Green said he took responsibility for his Game 6 behavior and wanted to inspire his teammates ahead of Sunday's do-or-die clash in Houston. He then opened Game 7 by scoring eight of Golden State's first 13 points, including two threes in the opening five minutes.</p><p>Despite never scoring more than eight points in Games 1-6, Green finished Game 7 with 16, as well as six rebounds and five assists. He was also a team-high plus-18.</p><p>"I think what goes into it is really deciding who's going to give the speech," Green <a href="https://youtu.be/U6_wVhZGN40?t=151">said</a> about how the Warriors prepared for the team meeting. "Obviously, I always try to defer to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/148" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/148">Steph (Curry)</a>. I defer to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/2809" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/2809">Jimmy (Butler)</a>, and they wanted me to speak, but I had a lot to say. And like I said, most importantly was calling myself out. You can't go into a Game 7 expecting guys to rally off the game we had before and not address it.</p><p>"And so I wanted to address that, number one. But then secondly, tell everybody else what we needed, which was a togetherness like no other. ... But as much as I think this team needed it, I feel like I needed it for myself even more because you got to be accountable. You can't be a leader and not be accountable, and (if) you call other guys out when their shit stinks, then you better say when yours does, too That's what I tried to make a point in doing."</p><p>Warriors head coach Steve Kerr commended the 35-year-old for how he led the team on and off the court after Game 6.</p><p>"Draymond set the tone last night at the team meeting," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said, courtesy of <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45002120/stephen-curry-buddy-hield-lead-warriors-game-7-victory">ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk</a>. "Basically, he owned up to losing his poise in Game 6, and I agreed with him.</p><p>"I thought the flagrant foul was a tone-setter, and he knew it and so he talked to the group and said, 'I got to be poised and I have to be better, and we're going to come in here tomorrow and get it done.' And I think his emotional stability tonight, just his poise from the start, set a great tone."</p><p>The Warriors now travel to Minnesota to face the Timberwolves on Tuesday in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. The series will pit Green against longtime rival <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/30615" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/30615">Rudy Gobert</a>, who he infamously put in a headlock during a 2023 matchup that earned Green a five-game suspension.</p><p>However, the forward said he plans to continue to keep his comportment in check.</p><p>"I have to keep it similarly (calm) for my guys," he said, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6333604/2025/05/05/draymond-green-playoffs-game-7-rockets-emotions">The Athletic's Anthony Slater</a>. “Forget anybody else. "I'll be locked in.</p><p>"Finding that balance, finding that line and not crossing it is important for me and this team. I gave them my word, and I’ll continue to give them my word."</p>

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 4: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round 1 Game 7 on May 4, 2025 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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'Embarrassed' Draymond took accountability in team speech after Game 6

Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday is cleared to return for Monday's Eastern Conference semifinals...

<p>Boston Celtics guard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/383" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/383">Jrue Holiday</a> is cleared to return for Monday's Eastern Conference semifinals opener against the New York Knicks, the team announced Sunday, citing a clean injury report.</p><p>Holiday, 34, missed the final three games of Boston's first-round series over the Orlando Magic with a hamstring strain.</p><p>The two-time All-Star averaged 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.1 steals in 62 starts this season.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>In Games 1 and 2 against Orlando, Holiday scored a combined 20 points and dished 11 assists while shooting 7-of-15. He went 3-of-4 from distance in Game 1 - his only made field goals - but missed all three of his 3-point attempts in Game 2.</p><p>The Celtics' clear report also suggests that Celtics wing <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/45455" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/45455">Jaylen Brown</a> has recovered from his lingering knee issue. Brown was listed as questionable with a right knee posterior impingement for the same games Holiday missed but played in all three, averaging 21 points and 7.7 rebounds as the Celtics closed out the Magic in five games. </p><p>The issue limited Brown during the second half of the regular season, during which he missed 10 of the Celtics' 27 games after the All-Star break.</p><p>Monday will mark Boston's first postseason meeting with New York since the Knicks won their 2013 first-round series in six games. The clubs haven't met in the conference semifinals since 1984, when the Celtics, led by Larry Bird, won the series 4-3.</p>

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 20: Jrue Holiday #4 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after scoring against the Orlando Magic in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on April 20, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts.

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Holiday available for Game 1 vs. Knicks, Celtics at full strength

Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler urged his team to be more introspective after the Hous...

<p>Golden State Warriors forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/2809" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/2809">Jimmy Butler</a> urged his team to be more introspective after the Houston Rockets won Game 6 on Friday to force a winner-take-all showdown Sunday in Texas.</p><p>"We'll be ready. I think we got to stop focusing so much on them and focus on us," Butler told <a href="https://youtu.be/nhLeSrcQ8qY?t=359">reporters</a> after the Warriors lost 115-107, dropping their final home game of the series. "If we do that, then we're going to be fine.</p><p>"We're not going to sit here and act like we've been playing our best version of basketball, because we haven't. And they've been doing OK, but they haven't played their best version of basketball either."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Friday's loss marked back-to-back missed opportunities for Golden State to close out the first-round matchup after taking a 3-1 series lead. Despite 29 points from <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/148" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/148">Stephen Curry</a> and another 27 from Butler, reserve guards <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/96093" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/96093">Moses Moody</a> (13) and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/110258" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/110258">Brandin Podziemski</a> (10) were the only other Warriors to score double-digits as all five starters finished with a negative plus-minus.</p><p>Steve Kerr's squad entered the fourth trailing by only two points but a foul by <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/37868" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/37868">Gary Payton Jr.</a> on a made 3-pointer by <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/25275" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/25275">Fred VanVleet</a> six seconds into the frame appeared to crush the Warriors' momentum. Golden State scored just five points through the final frame's first eight minutes, during which Houston's lead ballooned to 17 - its largest of the game.</p><p>Veteran forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/2982" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/2982">Draymond Green</a> said the Warriors' effort level is what has allowed the Rockets to prolong the series.</p><p>"Get loose balls," Green <a href="https://x.com/957thegame/status/1918526158955790475">told reporters</a>, including 95.7 The Game, when asked what his team needs to do to win Game 7. "I think they probably had 20 points off broken plays and getting loose balls and kicking out for threes, so get loose balls. And we'll defend them way better.</p><p>"(We're) kind of getting a first effort, but in order to beat this team you gotta make second and third efforts. And the last two games we have not done that."</p>

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler III head to the bench in 4th quarter of Dubs' 115-107 loss to Houston Rockets in NBA Playoffs' First Round Game 6 at Chase Center in San Francisco on Monday, May 2, 2025.

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Gregg Popovich is stepping away from his longtime role as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, he...

<p>Gregg Popovich is stepping away from his longtime role as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, he announced Friday.</p><p>The 76-year-old will transition to full-time team president, a role he already served simultaneously to his head coaching duties.</p><p>"While my love and passion for the game remain, I've decided it's time to step away as head coach," Popovich said in a statement. "I'm forever grateful to the wonderful players, coaches, staff, and fans who allowed me to serve them as the Spurs head coach and am excited for the opportunity to continue to support the organization, community, and city that are so meaningful to me."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank you, Coach Pop, for your brilliance on and off the court. We look forward to our next chapter together. <a href="https://t.co/4x6AFpSmQM">pic.twitter.com/4x6AFpSmQM</a></p>— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1918336064126681210?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The decision brings an end to Popovich's 29-year run on the bench - the longest single-team tenure of any head coach in NBA history. The Hall of Famer was on the bench for San Antonio's first five regular-season games this season but stepped away from the team after suffering a stroke Nov. 2. He informed the team in late February that he wouldn't return to the sideline for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign in order to focus on his health and recovery.</p><p>Mitch Johnson, who replaced Popovich on an interim basis during his absence, will succeed the franchise icon as San Antonio's head coach, the team confirmed. The 38-year-old went 32-45 with the team after stepping in for Popovich in November. He first joined the latter's coaching staff in 2019, a year after winning the G League championship as an assistant with the Spurs' affiliate in Austin.</p><p>Popovich ends his coaching career as the NBA's all-time wins leader with 1,422 to his name (that mark includes Johnson's victories from last season). He passed Don Nelson's 1,332 career victories in March 2022, which had stood as the record for 12 years.</p><p>"Coach Pop's extraordinary impact on our family, San Antonio, the Spurs, and the game of basketball is profound," Spurs managing partner Peter J. Holt said.</p><p>"His accolades and awards don't do justice to the impact he has had on so many people. He is truly one-of-one as a person, leader, and coach. Our entire family, alongside fans from across the globe, are grateful for his remarkable 29-year-run as the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs."</p><p>Popovich captured five championships with San Antonio. He claimed his first in the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season - only his third year at the helm - and won four more within the next 15 years. He helped establish a dynasty throughout nearly three decades in San Antonio, bridging a post-David Robinson era with the emergence of a new core in Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker. During the quartet's run together from 2002-16, the franchise qualified for the playoffs every year and made nine trips to the conference finals.</p><p>A three-time NBA Coach of the Year, Popovich also won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Games. He was an assistant on Larry Brown's staff on the 2004 USA squad that won bronze in Athens as well.</p>

DENVER, CO - APRIL 2: Head Coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets on April 2, 2024 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE

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Popovich won't return as Spurs coach

LeBron James admitted Wednesday that he's uncertain about how much longer he intends to continue ...

<p>LeBron James admitted Wednesday that he's uncertain about how much longer he intends to continue playing in the NBA.</p><p>"I don't know," James said after the Los Angeles Lakers' series-ending Game 5 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, courtesy of <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/44945908/lebron-james-undecided-future-lakers-first-round-exit">Dave McMenamin of ESPN</a>.</p><p>"I don't have an answer to that. ... I'll sit down with my family, my wife, and my support group and kind of just talk through it and see what happens. And just have a conversation with myself on how long I want to continue to play. I don't know the answer to that right now to be honest. So we'll see."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The 40-year-old's contract features a player option worth $52.6 million for next season that he must decide on by June 29. If he returns, James will break his tie with retired Hall of Famer Vince Carter for most NBA seasons played by one player. Both are currently at 22 seasons.</p><p>Playoff success has eluded the 21-time All-Star since he won his fourth career NBA title in his second season in L.A. In the five campaigns since that 2020 championship, the Lakers have failed to make the playoffs as many times as they've advanced past the first round, and that solitary trip in 2023 ended in a four-game sweep by the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals.</p><p>This year's early elimination also marks the first time in James' career that he's suffered first-round exits in back-to-back seasons.</p><p>James clarified Wednesday that the uncertainty about his future is regarding his career as a whole and not regarding any doubts about returning to the Lakers, according to McMenamin.</p><p>He did, however, take a reserved approach when asked if he felt taxed playing without an experienced center after <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/11373" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/11373">Anthony Davis</a> was shipped to the Dallas Mavericks in the trade that brought over <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/68198" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/68198">Luka Doncic</a>.</p><p>"No comment. I'll never say that, because my guy AD said what he needed, and then he was gone the following week," he told <a href="https://x.com/ohnohedidnt24/status/1917820029749363189">reporters</a> while laughing. "I got no comment. I put that uniform on every night, I gave everything I had and that's all that matters."</p><p>After just seven seasons in L.A., at an average of 60 games played each year, James has already cracked the top 10 in several of the iconic franchise's all-time leaderboards. His 943 threes as a Laker are second only to the 1,827 scored by the late Kobe Bryant throughout his 20-year career with the club. James' 49 triple-doubles in purple and gold are also second only to Magic Johnson's 138, and he already ranks eighth in assists (3,376) and 10th in points (11,146).</p><p>He also broke the NBA's all-time scoring record as a member of the Lakers, a mark long held by another franchise legend in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. James surpassed Abdul-Jabbar on Feb. 8, 2023 and now sits at 42,184 total regular-season points, nearly 12,000 more than the next active player (Kevin Durant, 30,571).</p>

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 30: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves during Round One Game Five of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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LeBron unsure of NBA future after Lakers' elimination

Gordie Herbert will be the next head coach of the Canadian senior men's basketball team through t...

<p>Gordie Herbert will be the next head coach of the Canadian senior men's basketball team through the 2028 Olympics, Canada Basketball announced Thursday.</p><p>He will officially start in the summer of 2026.</p><p>Herbert currently serves as head coach of EuroLeague club Bayern Munich and previously led Germany to a gold medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The 66-year-old Canadian has been coaching since 1994. He previously served as an assistant for Canada on two separate occasions (2001-02, 2018-2021). Herbert has mostly worked overseas in Europe but had a brief stint as an assistant with the Toronto Raptors from 2008-09.</p><p>"I'm incredibly honored and excited for the opportunity to coach my home country," Herbert said in a statement. "Canada Basketball has made tremendous progress in recent years, and the depth of talent in the program is as good as anywhere in the world.</p><p>"I look forward to building on the strong culture that's been established and working with our athletes to continue pushing Canada to new heights."</p><p>Herbert has enjoyed plenty of success in his coaching career. He led Germany to a bronze medal at EuroBasket 2022, along with a gold medal in 2023, and he's won the Bundesliga championship (2004), the French Cup (2007), the Finnish Cup (2009), and the FIBA Europe Cup (2016).</p><p>There have also been many individual accolades for Herbert. He's won Austrian League Coach of the Year (2000), Bundesliga Coach of the Year (2016), Finnish Coach of the Year (2023), and All-German Sport's Coach of the Year (2023).</p><p>"It's great to welcome Gordie back to our program," Rowan Barrett, Canada Basketball's general manager and executive vice-president, said of the hire. </p><p>"He knows what it means to represent Canada and brings the experience, leadership, and vision to guide this group through the next chapter of our journey."</p><p>Herbert will replace current Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez as Canada's bench boss. Fernandez took over the role in June 2023 but stepped down in early 2025 to focus on the Nets.</p><p>Canada finished fifth at the 2024 Games in Paris, the country's best finish in the men's basketball tournament since it placed fourth in 1984. The program boasts arguably its greatest-ever talent pool with multiple players owning significant NBA experience, including Denver Nuggets guard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/44995" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/44995">Jamal Murray</a>, Houston Rockets forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/39256" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/39256">Dillon Brooks</a>, and MVP candidate <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/60411" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/60411">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander</a> of the Oklahoma City Thunder.</p>

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 6: Gordie Herbert Head Coach of Germany is calling a play during the Men's Quarterfinal match between Team Germany and Team Greece on day eleven of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 6, 2024 in Paris, France.

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Canada Basketball names Gordie Herbert new men's head coach

The Cleveland Cavaliers were determined to punch their ticket to the second round as soon as poss...

<p>The Cleveland Cavaliers were determined to punch their ticket to the second round as soon as possible.</p><p>However, they probably expected a little more resistance.</p><p>The Cavs' 138-83 rout of the Miami Heat in Monday's Game 4 capped one of the most lopsided series wins in NBA playoff history, with plenty of statistical context to illustrate their four-game dominance over the Heat.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p><strong>1st </strong>- Cleveland's 55-point win is the largest margin of victory in any postseason series-clinching game in league history.</p><p><strong>4th </strong>- The result is also the fourth-biggest victory ever registered in a playoff contest, according to the <a href="https://x.com/Anthony_Chiang/status/1917034614268309862">Miami Herald's Anthony Chiang</a>. The Minneapolis Lakers (1956) and Denver Nuggets (2009) share the record with 58-point wins.</p><p><strong>11 </strong>- The Cavaliers pulled off their 11th sweep in franchise history, but the first without <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/72" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/72">LeBron James</a> on the roster.</p><p><strong>30</strong> - This year's Heat are the first NBA team to lose back-to-back playoff games by at least 30 points in the same season, per stats specialist <a href="https://x.com/keerthikau/status/1917035208093700284">Keerthika Uthayakumar</a>. Both big losses came in front of their fans in South Beach.</p><p><strong>39 </strong>- Cleveland's 39-point halftime lead (72-33) is the third-largest in postseason history. The record still belongs to the Cavaliers, who led the Boston Celtics by 41 at the break in Game 2 of the 2017 East finals before cruising to a 130-86 win.</p><p><strong>77</strong> - No other team has ever hit more threes in a four-game playoff series than this year's Cavaliers. The only club to match that number across four contests was the 2016 Cavs - the same squad that went on to win the franchise's only championship.</p><p><strong>122</strong> - Cleveland's point differential over the four-game series is the largest in playoff history, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/ByTimReynolds/status/1917034943500226781">The Associated Press' Tim Reynolds</a>.</p>

MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 28: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts after making a basket against the Miami Heat during the third quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Kaseya Center on April 28, 2025 in Miami, Florida.

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By the numbers: Cavs in rarified air with dominant sweep of Heat

Shaquille O'Neal is joining Sacramento State to become the general manager of the school's basket...

<p>Shaquille O'Neal is joining Sacramento State to become the general manager of the school's basketball program, reports <a href="https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1917006039754445184">Shams Charania of ESPN</a>.</p><p>The Hall of Famer is reportedly taking the role on a voluntary basis.</p><p>O'Neal will be joined by his son Shaqir at Sacramento State for the 2025-26 season. The 22-year-old announced in March that he was transferring to the Hornets for his senior year after playing 29 games and making 17 starts for Florida A&amp;M this past season.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>A 6-foot-8 forward, the younger O'Neal scored 6.7 points and grabbed 3.4 rebounds per game in 18.1 minutes per contest with the Rattlers. He joined Florida A&amp;M after his freshman and sophomore campaigns with Texas Southern.</p><p>Sacramento State hired former NBA guard Mike Bibby in March to be its next head coach. Bibby played 14 seasons in the league but is likely best remembered for his six-and-a-half-year stint with the Sacramento Kings, during which he frequently battled Shaquille O'Neal's Los Angeles Lakers in both the regular season and playoffs.</p><p>Under head coach Michael Czepil last season, Sacramento State went 3-15 (7-25 overall) and finished last in the Big Sky. The Division I program, which has posted an overall winning record in just two of its 34 seasons of existence, is still searching for its first NCAA Tournament appearance.</p><p>O'Neal has worked as an on-air analyst with TNT since 2011. He's part of the network's main quartet on "Inside the NBA" alongside host Ernie Johnson and fellow ex-NBAers Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley.</p>

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 14: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member Shaquille O'Neal gets a fist bump as he attends a semifinal game of the Emirates NBA Cup at T-Mobile Arena between the Atlanta Hawks and the Milwaukee Bucks on December 14, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bucks defeated the Hawks 110-102.

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Report: Shaq agrees to join son at Sacramento State in voluntary GM role

The NBA's last-two-minute report for the Minnesota Timberwolves' narrow Game 4 win over the Los A...

<p>The NBA's last-two-minute <a href="https://official.nba.com/l2m/L2MReport.html?gameId=0042400164">report</a> for the Minnesota Timberwolves' narrow Game 4 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday determined that <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/93891" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/93891">Jaden McDaniels</a> should've been assessed a foul for tripping <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/68198" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/68198">Luka Doncic</a> with 35 seconds left in the fourth quarter.</p><p>"McDaniels (MIN) steps forward into Doncic's (LAL) path, initiating illegal foot contact that causes him to lose his balance," the league said in its assessment Monday.</p><p>The play, which occurred after McDaniels converted a free throw to put Minnesota up one, forced JJ Redick's squad to burn a timeout with Doncic grounded inside the Lakers' half. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/72" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/72">LeBron James</a>' attempted bounce pass to Doncic from the sideline was then poked away by McDaniels, returning possession to Minnesota.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"Luka got tripped. That was a blatant trip," Redick told <a href="https://twitter.com/YahooSports/status/1916634001303019896">reporters</a> postgame. "He doesn't just fall on his own. We watched it - he gets tripped. We should have been at the free-throw line. That's not an excuse for why we lost, but he got fouled."</p><p>Replays of the incident show Doncic <a href="https://x.com/Eurohoopsnet/status/1916735102438015081">stepping</a> on McDaniels' right foot before stumbling with the ball in his hands.</p><p>L.A. appeared to get the ball back after the next possession when James seemingly knocked the ball loose off <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/93912" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/93912">Anthony Edwards</a>, causing the guard to slip and the ball to roll out of bounds. However, Wolves coach Chris Finch successfully challenged the play, and James was instead assessed a foul after a video review. Edwards' two free throws then put Minnesota up 116-113, which held as the final score after Lakers guard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/96101" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/96101">Austin Reaves</a> missed a corner three at the buzzer.</p><p>The last-two-minute report confirmed the foul on James was the correct call. However, the Lakers star disagreed with the officials immediately following the loss, which left his squad one loss away from elimination.</p><p>"That play happens all the time. Hand is part of the ball, that's what they say," James <a href="https://x.com/espn/status/1916648547266478385">said</a> after the loss. "I feel like the hand was a part of that ball. I was able to get his hand on top of the ball, the ball stripped down, and out on him. Seen that play over and over before, but it is what it is."</p><p>Game 5 is Wednesday in L.A. If the Timberwolves advance, it'll mark the first time in franchise history that the club has progressed past the first round in consecutive seasons.</p>

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 27: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves during Round 1 Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2025 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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L2M report rules McDaniels tripped Doncic late in Game 4

Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler will start Monday's Game 4 against the Houston Rockets...

<p>Golden State Warriors forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/2809" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/2809">Jimmy Butler</a> will start Monday's Game 4 against the Houston Rockets, the team announced.</p><p>Butler returns to the lineup after missing Game 3 with a pelvic contusion sustained after a hard fall in Game 2.</p><p>The Warriors were hopeful that Butler would return Monday, but head coach Steve Kerr said the six-time All-Star would go through his warmup first before a decision was made, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/NotoriousOHM/status/1917010172666613872">ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk</a>.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Kerr <a href="https://twitter.com/NotoriousOHM/status/1917010711731179854">added</a> that Butler wouldn't be under a minutes restriction if he plays.</p><p>The 35-year-old scored 25 points and led the Warriors in assists (six) and steals (five) while playing over 42 minutes in their Game 1 win. However, he left Game 2 with under 2 minutes to play in the first quarter after Rockets forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/110271" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/110271">Amen Thompson</a> inadvertently undercut Butler as he attempted to grab a rebound.</p><p>Following the multi-team swap that sent Butler to the Bay Area ahead of the February trade deadline, he averaged 17.9 points, 5.9 assists, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.7 steals in 30 games. Golden State went 23-7 with Butler in the lineup, helping Kerr's squad finish seventh in the West and advance to the playoffs through the play-in tournament.</p><p>Monday marks Butler's first home playoff contest at Chase Center, though he previously played in front of the Warriors fans during their 121-116 play-in tournament victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.</p>

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 15: Jimmy Butler #10 of the Golden State Warriors /smiles during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2025 SoFi Play-In Tournament on April 15, 2025 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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Butler starts Game 4 vs. Rockets after missing Game 3

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard suffered a noncontact leg injury during Sunday's Game 4 agai...

<p>Milwaukee Bucks guard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/5343" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/5343">Damian Lillard</a> suffered a noncontact leg injury during Sunday's Game 4 against the Indiana Pacers.</p><p>Lillard sustained the injury while attempting to run and grab an offensive rebound. He was carried off the court by Bucks staffers and teammates and didn't return.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Damian Lillard goes down with a non-contact injury. <br><br>Prayers. 🙏<br><br> <a href="https://t.co/5tcfsPSOCb">pic.twitter.com/5tcfsPSOCb</a></p>— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheHoopCentral/status/1916673991093481799?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>There's fear Lillard suffered a left Achilles tear, sources told <a href="https://x.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1916678815616798724">NBA insider Chris Haynes</a>.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Bucks head coach Doc Rivers admitted postgame the team isn't optimistic about Lillard's imaging, which is scheduled for Tuesday.</p><p>"Obviously, it's lower leg, and just being honest, it's not very promising," Rivers said, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/eric_nehm/status/1916712287450153433">Eric Nehm of The Athletic</a>.</p><p>The 34-year-old missed the final 14 regular-season contests, as well as Game 1 of the playoff series, due to deep vein thrombosis in his right calf. He was placed on blood-thinning medication but returned for Game 2.</p><p>"I knew it right away. I feel bad for him," Rivers said, according to <a href="https://x.com/ByTimReynolds/status/1916709976661234026">Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press</a>. "The guy tried to come back for his team. I just feel bad for him."</p><p>Lillard averaged 10.5 points, six assists, three rebounds, and a steal in two postseason contests.</p><p>"This is a tough one, honestly. Blood clot, followed by this," Rivers <a href="https://x.com/ByTimReynolds/status/1916710294409093607">added</a>. "It's just tough. ... He's just such a great freakin' dude. On the basketball level, but more importantly, as a teammate and a father, all that stuff. No one deserves it."</p><p>The nine-time All-Star holds career averages of 25.1 points, 6.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and a steal over 13 seasons.</p>

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 27: Damian Lillard #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts from the court after an apparent injury during the first quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at Fiserv Forum on April 27, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Lillard helped off court, reportedly feared to have torn Achilles

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick confirmed Luka Doncic was battling an illness before and ...

<p>Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick confirmed <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/68198" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/68198">Luka Doncic</a> was battling an illness before and during their 116-104 Game 3 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.</p><p>"He hasn't been feeling well for the last 24 hours," Redick told <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/ohnohedidnt24.bsky.social/post/3lnowfdwuz22j">reporters</a> postgame. "I don't know how much he slept last night. He didn't feel well last night. His stomach was bothering him. He was vomiting all afternoon.</p><p>"I'm not sure what happened at half time, I'll find out. But he's really under the weather."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Doncic, who usually opens the third quarter with the rest of the Lakers' starters, was not with the team when it emerged from the locker room to begin the second half. However, he rejoined the bench on his own shortly thereafter before subbing in for <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/38557" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/38557">Gabe Vincent</a> 49 seconds into the second half.</p><p>The 26-year-old Doncic, who wasn't on the team's injury report ahead of Game 3, scored 17 points with eight assists and seven rebounds in 40 minutes Friday but was a minus-16, tied for the second-worst mark in the game. He was 6-of-16 from the floor and 2-of-8 from deep, with his 37.5 field-goal percentage ranking worst among Lakers to attempt at least four shots.</p><p>Doncic's 17 points were also his fewest in any game since he scored 14 on Feb. 19, in what was his third game as a Laker following his stunning midseason trade from the Dallas Mavericks. After scoring 14, 16, and 14 respectively in his first three contests with L.A., Doncic averaged 29.8 points through the final 25 games of the regular season. He then opened the series against the Timberwolves with 37 points on 12-of-22 shooting in a Game 1 loss, followed by a 31-point showing (9-of-20) to help the Lakers rebound with a Game 2 win.</p>

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 25: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on during the game during Round 1 Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2025 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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Redick: Luka 'vomiting all afternoon' before Game 3 loss to Wolves

It's going to take more than some profanity to throw off the NBA's Clutch Player of the Year.  De...

<p>It's going to take more than some profanity to throw off the NBA's Clutch Player of the Year.</p><p>Detroit Pistons fans launched audible "F--k you, Brunson" chants during the New York Knicks' 118-116 Game 3 victory Thursday in Detroit, but Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau brushed off the notion that the crowd at Little Caesars Arena got into his star guard's head.</p><p>"To Jalen, those are cheers," Thibodeau said postgame, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/IanBegley/status/1915592542197895438">Ian Begley of SNY</a>. "He lives for that stuff."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Brunson didn't appear bothered by the chants, which appeared to break out for the first time after he was assessed a flagrant 1 for hitting <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/6179" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/6179">Tim Hardaway Jr.</a> in the face on a 3-point contest midway through the first quarter. The Knicks guard finished with 30 points, second only to teammate <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/37817" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/37817">Karl-Anthony Towns</a> among all scorers.</p><p>He led all players with 12 in the final frame, with eight coming in the final 1:24 to help New York deny Detroit its first playoff win at home since Game 2 of the 2008 Eastern Conference finals.</p><p>Brunson, who said he'd never been subjected to that kind of targeted hostility from an opposing crowd in the NBA, credited the Detroit faithful for trying to inspire their squad.</p><p>"They made an environment special for their home team," Brunson said, courtesy of <a href="https://x.com/sny_knicks/status/1915601753606594976">SNY</a>. "At least we found a way to win the game, but that was definitely a lot. So I gotta give a lot of credit to that fan base."</p><p>Brunson will face the Pistons crowd again when the two sides square off Sunday in Detroit for Game 4.</p>

DALLAS, TX - NOVEMBER 27: Jalen Brunson #11 and Head Coach Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks talk during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on November 27, 2024 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE

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Thibodeau dismisses Pistons fans' anti-Brunson chants: 'He lives for that'

USC junior guard Desmond Claude will enter the transfer portal, sources told Jeff Borzello of ESP...

<p>USC junior guard Desmond Claude will enter the transfer portal, sources told <a href="https://x.com/jeffborzello/status/1914831635939532806">Jeff Borzello of ESPN</a>.</p><p>Claude averaged 15.8 points and 4.2 assists this past season, leading the Trojans in both categories. He scored 20-plus points in 11 contests, including a 28-point showing in a double-overtime victory over Rutgers in the Big Ten Tournament and a season-high 31 in a January regular-season win over Illinois.</p><p>Claude's departure would mark USC's second significant transfer development Tuesday following the commitment of former Maryland guard Rodney Rice.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Rice became head coach Eric Musselman's eighth transfer addition this offseason, reportedly joining the Trojans on an NIL deal worth over $3 million, according to the <a href="https://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/story/2025-04-22/usc-basketball-recruiting">Los Angeles Times' Ryan Kartje</a>.</p><p>Claude's next squad will be his third in four seasons. The 6-foot-5 ball-handler represented Xavier as a freshman and a sophomore, winning the Big East's Most Improved Player award in his second campaign.</p>

LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 03: Desmond Claude #1 of the USC Trojans handles the ball during the quarterfinal round of the Crown College Basketball Championship against the Villanova Wildcats at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 03, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Report: USC's leading scorer Claude enters transfer portal

The NBA revealed its three finalists for the 2024-25 awards Sunday. Oklahoma City Thunder guard S...

<p>The NBA revealed its three finalists for the 2024-25 awards Sunday. Oklahoma City Thunder guard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/60411" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/60411">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander</a> is attempting to dethrone three-time MVP <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/37604" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/37604">Nikola Jokic</a> of the Denver Nuggets. The pair is joined by Milwaukee Bucks star <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/30611" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/30611">Giannis Antetokounmpo</a> as the third finalist.</p><h3>Most Valuable Player</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781509/cropped_GettyImages-2210569557.jpg?ts=1745179271" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781509/w220xh124_GettyImages-2210569557.jpg?ts=1745179271 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781509/w320xh180_GettyImages-2210569557.jpg?ts=1745179271 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781509/w640xh360_GettyImages-2210569557.jpg?ts=1745179271 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781509/w768xh432_GettyImages-2210569557.jpg?ts=1745179271 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781509/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2210569557.jpg?ts=1745179271 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Joe Murphy / National Basketball Association / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Name</th>
<th>Team</th>
<th>Position</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Shai Gilgeous-Alexander</td>
<td> Oklahoma City Thunder</td>
<td> G</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nikola Jokic</td>
<td> Denver Nuggets</td>
<td> C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Giannis Antetokounmpo</td>
<td> Milwaukee Bucks</td>
<td> F</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>The MVP race has been a two-man competition all season between Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic. SGA led the Thunder to the winningest campaign in franchise history and the NBA's best record. He also paced the league in scoring with 32.7 points per game. Meanwhile, Jokic is looking to win his second consecutive MVP and third in the last four years. He became the third player in league history to average a triple-double and posted career highs in points (29.6) and assists (10.2). Antetokounmpo's numbers were nothing to laugh at either, as he posted 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game. He also shot over 60% from the field for the second straight season.</p><h3>Rookie of the Year</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781516/cropped_GettyImages-2209584209.jpg?ts=1745180643" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781516/w220xh124_GettyImages-2209584209.jpg?ts=1745180643 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781516/w320xh180_GettyImages-2209584209.jpg?ts=1745180643 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781516/w640xh360_GettyImages-2209584209.jpg?ts=1745180643 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781516/w768xh432_GettyImages-2209584209.jpg?ts=1745180643 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781516/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2209584209.jpg?ts=1745180643 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Michael Gonzales / National Basketball Association / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Name</th>
<th>Team</th>
<th>Position</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Stephon Castle</td>
<td> San Antonio Spurs</td>
<td> G</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Zaccharie Risacher</td>
<td>Atlanta Hawks</td>
<td>F</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jaylen Wells</td>
<td>Memphis Grizzlies</td>
<td>G</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>San Antonio Spurs freshman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/121685" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/121685">Stephon Castle</a> is the likely front-runner for the league's first-year honor. The 20-year-old led all qualified rookies in scoring with 14.7 points per game while missing just one contest all season. However, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/121714" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/121714">Zaccharie Risacher</a>, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, impressed out of the gate for an Atlanta Hawks squad that reached the play-in. Meanwhile, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/121734" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/121734">Jaylen Wells</a>, a second-round find by the Memphis Grizzlies, was thrust into the starting lineup after just six games and never relinquished his spot.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Sixth Man of the Year</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781517/cropped_GettyImages-2210099367.jpg?ts=1745180691" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781517/w220xh124_GettyImages-2210099367.jpg?ts=1745180691 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781517/w320xh180_GettyImages-2210099367.jpg?ts=1745180691 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781517/w640xh360_GettyImages-2210099367.jpg?ts=1745180691 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781517/w768xh432_GettyImages-2210099367.jpg?ts=1745180691 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781517/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2210099367.jpg?ts=1745180691 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Brian Fluharty / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Name</th>
<th>Team</th>
<th>Position</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Payton Pritchard</td>
<td> Boston Celtics</td>
<td>G</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Malik Beasley</td>
<td>Detroit Pistons</td>
<td>G</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ty Jerome</td>
<td>Cleveland Cavaliers</td>
<td>G</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Microwave scoring guards are frequent candidates to win the league's top reserve prize, and this year is no exception. All three finalists averaged at least 12 points and shot a minimum of 40% from distance while providing their respective squads with timely offensive boosts when called upon off the bench.</p><h3>Defensive Player of the Year</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781518/cropped_GettyImages-2208651664.jpg?ts=1745180754" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781518/w220xh124_GettyImages-2208651664.jpg?ts=1745180754 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781518/w320xh180_GettyImages-2208651664.jpg?ts=1745180754 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781518/w640xh360_GettyImages-2208651664.jpg?ts=1745180754 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781518/w768xh432_GettyImages-2208651664.jpg?ts=1745180754 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781518/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2208651664.jpg?ts=1745180754 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">David Liam Kyle / National Basketball Association / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Name</th>
<th>Team</th>
<th>Position</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Evan Mobley</td>
<td> Cleveland Cavaliers</td>
<td> F</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dyson Daniels</td>
<td> Atlanta Hawks</td>
<td> F</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Draymond Green</td>
<td> Golden State Warriors</td>
<td> F</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>The Defensive Player of the Year award race was blown wide-open once <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/110276" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/110276">Victor Wembanyama</a> went down with a blood clot. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/96054" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/96054">Evan Mobley</a> felt like the favorite as the defensive catalyst of the East-best Cavaliers. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/102785" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/102785">Dyson Daniels</a> led the league with three steals per game and 229 total swipes. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/2982" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/2982">Draymond Green</a>, unlike the other finalists, forced himself into contention with some self-promotion, and the Warriors' 20-7 record post-All-Star break added fuel to his fire.</p><h3>Most Improved Player</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778564/cropped_GettyImages-2205959916.jpg?ts=1743623257" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778564/w220xh124_GettyImages-2205959916.jpg?ts=1743623257 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778564/w320xh180_GettyImages-2205959916.jpg?ts=1743623257 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778564/w640xh360_GettyImages-2205959916.jpg?ts=1743623257 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778564/w768xh432_GettyImages-2205959916.jpg?ts=1743623257 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778564/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2205959916.jpg?ts=1743623257 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Megan Briggs / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Name</th>
<th>Team</th>
<th>Position</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cade Cunningham</td>
<td>Detroit Pistons</td>
<td>G</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dyson Daniels</td>
<td>Atlanta Hawks</td>
<td>G</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ivica Zubac</td>
<td>Los Angeles Clippers</td>
<td>C</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Cade Cunningham's incredible leap was a pivotal factor in the Detroit Pistons' complete turnaround following a dismal 2023-24 campaign, making him the likely favorite. However, Ivica Zubac's own across-the-board improvement was instrumental in helping the Los Angeles Clippers replace some of the production that left with Paul George's exit, while Daniels' emergence as a defensive menace earned him plaudits in his debut campaign with the Hawks.</p><h3>Coach of the Year</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781555/cropped_GettyImages-2209564484.jpg?ts=1745190234" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781555/w220xh124_GettyImages-2209564484.jpg?ts=1745190234 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781555/w320xh180_GettyImages-2209564484.jpg?ts=1745190234 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781555/w640xh360_GettyImages-2209564484.jpg?ts=1745190234 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781555/w768xh432_GettyImages-2209564484.jpg?ts=1745190234 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781555/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2209564484.jpg?ts=1745190234 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">David Liam Kyle / National Basketball Association / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Name</th>
<th>Team</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Kenny Atkinson</td>
<td>Cleveland Cavaliers</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>J.B. Bickerstaff</td>
<td>Detroit Pistons</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ime Udoka</td>
<td>Houston Rockets</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Ime Udoka is the only Coach of the Year finalist who was with his current team last season. In his debut year in Cleveland, Atkinson transformed the Cavaliers into a free-flowing juggernaut in the Eastern Conference, and with much of the same roster from last season. J.B. Bickerstaff, who Atkinson replaced in Cleveland, vindicated himself in the Motor City by winning 44 games with a Pistons squad that won just 31 in the previous two seasons combined.</p><h3>Clutch Player of the Year</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781556/cropped_GettyImages-2204207527.jpg?ts=1745190337" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781556/w220xh124_GettyImages-2204207527.jpg?ts=1745190337 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781556/w320xh180_GettyImages-2204207527.jpg?ts=1745190337 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781556/w640xh360_GettyImages-2204207527.jpg?ts=1745190337 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781556/w768xh432_GettyImages-2204207527.jpg?ts=1745190337 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/781556/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2204207527.jpg?ts=1745190337 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">AAron Ontiveroz / Denver Post / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Name</th>
<th>Team</th>
<th>Position</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Nikola Jokic</td>
<td>Denver Nuggets</td>
<td>C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jalen Brunson</td>
<td>New York Knicks</td>
<td>G</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Anthony Edwards</td>
<td>Minnesota Timberwolves</td>
<td>G</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>The league's most recently introduced end-of-season honor recognizes those who made the most significant contributions in crunch time. It's no surprise then that all three finalists ranked inside the top 10 for total points in clutch games, which the NBA defines as contests separated by no more five points with five minutes remaining in the fourth or overtime. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/93912" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/93912">Anthony Edwards</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/45223" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/45223">Jalen Brunson</a> were Nos. 1 and 2 with 157 and 156 clutch points, respectively, while Jokic placed fourth with 140.</p>

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MARCH 10: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets look on during the game on March 10, 2025 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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NBA awards finalists: SGA, Jokic in tight race for MVP

JJ Redick doesn't believe his Lakers were prepared for the Minnesota Timberwolves' physicality in...

<p>JJ Redick doesn't believe his Lakers were prepared for the Minnesota Timberwolves' physicality in Los Angeles' series-opening blowout defeat Saturday.</p><p>"It's not to say our guys weren't ready to withstand a playoff-level basketball game," the Lakers head coach <a href="https://x.com/NBATV/status/1913798958964498477">said</a> following the 22-point loss in L.A. "We were mentally ready. I thought our spirit was right. I thought even when they made runs, our huddles were great. The communication was great. I'm not sure physically we were ready, if that makes sense.</p><p>"Really, when they started playing with a lot of thrust and physicality, we just didn't respond immediately to that. And then that stretch from the start of the second through four-to-five minutes to go in the third, we lost that stretch by 34. So that's a blowout."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The span in question resulted in the Timberwolves' largest lead of the game at 27 after a <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/69736" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/69736">Naz Reid</a> three made it 88-61 with 4:23 left in the third.</p><p>The Lakers did mount a 17-6 run to close out the frame. However, Minnesota opened the fourth by making its first three field goals, including a <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/31118" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/31118">Julius Randle</a> 3-pointer immediately after the Lakers had trimmed the gap to 12 - the closest Redick's squad came in the final quarter.</p><p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/72" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/72">LeBron James</a> suggested the Timberwolves' imposing style of play caught the Lakers off guard, but he said they shouldn't have any excuses come Game 2 back in L.A. on Tuesday.</p><p>"We know when you play this Minnesota team, you gotta be physical," James told reporters, courtesy of <a href="https://x.com/MarkG_Medina/status/1913801992591589693">Mark Medina of Sportskeeda</a>. "That's what they bring to the table.</p><p>"Maybe it took us one playoff game to now get a feel for it and know to up our physicality, to up our intensity ... because that's just the way they play. We should be more than prepared for that on Tuesday night."</p><p>The 22-point loss is the Lakers' largest in the playoffs since the Golden State Warriors defeated them by 27 in Game 2 of the 2023 Western Conference semifinals. The last time they suffered a heavier margin of defeat in a series opener was in 2012 when they were blown out by 29 by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the conference semis.</p>

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 19: Head Coach JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during Round 1, Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 19, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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Redick, LeBron: Lakers not physical enough in blowout loss to Wolves

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