NBA

8:51 PM ET ATLANTA — Reluctant to invite outside expectations surrounding his return date but clearly encouraged by the progress he’s made so far, Los Angeles Lakers star big man Anthony Davis spoke to reporters Friday for the first time since suffering a stress injury in his right foot two weeks ago. “Feeling a lot

10:41 AM ET Associated Press PARIS — Teen prodigy Victor Wembanyama embellished his fast-growing reputation when he became the youngest MVP in the French league’s All-Star game. The 18-year-old Wembanyama finished with 27 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists Thursday night as the All-Star France team won 136-128 against the All-Star World team — an

8:04 PM ET Buddy Hield wasted no time finding the scoring column Thursday night. And he did so in record-breaking fashion. The Indiana Pacers sharp-shooter grabbed a game-opening jump ball out of midair that Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen had swatted his way, pivoted at the top of the key and coolly connected on a

10:13 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Detroit guard Killian Hayes and Orlando’s Moritz Wagner were each given multigame suspensions for their roles in a scuffle, while the NBA suspended eight Magic players one game apiece Thursday for leaving the bench area during an altercation. Hayes, who struck Wagner in the back of the

12:59 AM ET Andrew LopezESPN With time ticking away in the fourth quarter and the New Orleans Pelicans trailing the Minnesota Timberwolves, CJ McCollum joked that the Pelicans’ game plan became quite simple. “Get the ball to Z and get the f— out the way,” he said. Zion Williamson finished with a career-high 43 points,

12:24 AM ET MIAMI — Back in the arena where he played arguably the best basketball of his career, LeBron James was asked to look to the future rather than back into the past and share how much longer he plans to play in the NBA. “I don’t have a number,” James said Wednesday after

9:11 PM ET ESPN News Services DETROIT — Orlando’s Moritz Wagner appeared to briefly get knocked out by a punch to the back of the head after starting a fight in the first half against the Pistons that led to three ejections Wednesday night in a scene that triggered memories of an ugly brawl in

8:00 AM ET One Eastern Conference contender is streaking up the NBA standings. With a win on Monday over the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Brooklyn Nets have run their streak to nine games, tying the longest in the league this season. (The other two teams to pull it off, the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks, sit

11:35 PM ET Luka Doncic is unreal. Get exclusive access to more than 3,000 premium articles a year from top writers.• Miller: Ranking CFB’s top players »• Givony: New 2023 NBA mock draft »• Doolittle: Post-FA MLB stock watch » More ESPN+ content » The Dallas Mavericks star put up a triple-double for the ages

6:19 PM ET ESPN News Services SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Kings coach Mike Brown has entered the league’s health and safety protocols and missed the team’s game against the visiting Denver Nuggets on Tuesday. Associate head coach Jordi Fernandez filled in for Brown against the Nuggets and will run the team in his absence. Brown will

12:48 AM ET ESPN News Services DETROIT — Paul George scored 32 points, and the LA Clippers overcame a 14-point deficit in the final 3 minutes of regulation to beat the Detroit Pistons 142-131 in overtime on Monday night. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue pulled his starters when his team fell behind 126-112, but a lineup

12:16 AM ET CLEVELAND — Prior to leading his team to its ninth straight win — a 125-117 triumph over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night — Brooklyn Nets coach Jacque Vaughn acknowledged what he thought was the key to his team’s recent hot play. “Basketball,” Vaughn said before the game. “We have not steered

7:51 PM ET Sacramento Kings All-Star center Domantas Sabonis has been diagnosed with an avulsion fracture of the ulnar collateral ligament of the right thumb, the team announced Monday. The Kings said he will be listed as questionable for Tuesday’s home game against the Denver Nuggets, indicating he may try to play through the injury.

10:38 PM ET Jamal CollierESPN BOSTON — Jayson Tatum scored 41 points, including 20 during the third quarter, to lead the Boston Celtics to a 139-118 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, turning a marquee Christmas Day matchup featuring the two teams with the best records in the league into a blowout. Boston held a one-point

2:23 AM ET ESPN News Services DENVER — Nikola Jokic authored a triple-double, and the Denver Nuggets outlasted the short-handed Phoenix Suns 128-125 in overtime Sunday night, bringing a grand conclusion to the NBA’s annual Christmas Day slate. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Jokic’s effort, which closed with 41 points, 15 rebounds and

7:55 PM ET DALLAS — The Los Angeles Lakers‘ Christmas Day took a turn for the worse after halftime, with the Mavericks blitzing L.A. in the third quarter to win 124-115, L.A.’s fourth straight loss without Anthony Davis. Lakers coach Darvin Ham has continued to start the 6-1 Patrick Beverley alongside the 6-1 Dennis Schroder

10:58 AM ET All-Star guard James Harden is seriously considering a return to the Houston Rockets in free agency this July — if he decides against a new deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, sources told ESPN. Harden and his inner circle have been openly weighing Houston in recent months, sources said, a remarkable possibility given

9:47 PM ET Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker is expected to return from a groin injury Sunday for the Christmas Day matchup with the Denver Nuggets, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Booker last played one week ago, when he scored 58 points in a comeback win over the New Orleans Pelicans. He landed on the