NBA

12:25 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN BOSTON — The Celtics‘ Jaylen Brown started Sunday afternoon’s game against the Brooklyn Nets after successfully testing out his sprained right ankle before tipoff. Celtics coach Ime Udoka had said earlier Sunday that Brown’s status would be determined by a pregame workout, and that the ankle sprain — which Brown

2:40 AM ET LOS ANGELES — Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors played the foil in the most notable bounceback of LeBron James‘ career back in the 2016 NBA Finals. On Saturday, they were subjected to another classic “desperation” performance by James. James scored 56 points, his highest-scoring game ever with the Los Angeles

8:25 PM ET There has been an increasing push among many in the Los Angeles Lakers organization to demote nine-time All-Star guard Russell Westbrook from the starting lineup, but so far coach Frank Vogel has resisted bringing him off the bench, sources told ESPN. The coaching staff and Westbrook have had differing visions on how

11:34 AM ET The lawyers leading the NBA’s investigation into the Phoenix Suns are preparing to interview Robert Sarver regarding the accusations against the team and its majority owner, sources close to the investigation told ESPN. Sources said more than 300 people have been interviewed as part of the investigation, which the league launched in

1:11 AM ET Jamal CollierESPN CHICAGO — Fans at United Center may have reveled in Bulls forward Derrick Jones Jr.’s flagrant foul on Milwaukee Bucks guard Grayson Allen on Friday night, but Jones insisted afterward that the foul was not intentional and denied being a dirty player. Jones was given a flagrant foul 1 in

7:37 PM ET Jamal CollierESPN CHICAGO — Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez has been cleared to be a full participant at practice for the first time since undergoing back surgery in December, coach Mike Budenhozler said prior to Friday’s game against the Bulls. Lopez went through a light workout on the court Friday at the

8:00 AM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN “DUB NATION, are you ready?” The crowd roared its affirmation as the lights dimmed to announce the Golden State Warriors‘ starting five. Draymond Green‘s name was called first, followed by Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney and Stephen Curry. Curry’s name is usually announced last, but the night of Jan. 9 was

10:16 PM ET NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets star forward Kevin Durant spent part of his morning brushing off the notion that he wasn’t going to be a “savior” for his struggling team, then he almost did just that in a 113-107 loss to the Miami Heat on Thursday night. After missing a month and

3:33 PM ET Bradley Beal says he is no rush to make a decision on his future but acknowledged he is leaning toward re-signing with the Washington Wizards this offseason. “It’s fair,” Beal told reporters in Washington on Thursday when asked if he is leaning toward staying with the Wizards. “It’s fair.” Beal is eligible

11:29 AM ET NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets star forward Kevin Durant says he will play Thursday against the Miami Heat after missing a month and a half because of a sprained left MCL. Durant has not played since getting hurt in the Nets’ Jan. 15 win over the New Orleans Pelicans and will provide

12:49 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN PHILADELPHIA — After a third straight sterling performance in a 76ers uniform — but a first in front of the fans here inside Wells Fargo Center — James Harden declared Philadelphia feels like home. “Just exciting,” Harden said after finishing with 26 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in Philadelphia’s

5:31 PM ET NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant is expected to return Thursday night against the Miami Heat after missing a month and a half of action because of a sprained left MCL. Durant, who was not listed in Wednesday’s injury report for the first time since suffering the inj in a

8:00 AM ET SIXTY YEARS AGO, Wilt Chamberlain posted what is widely regarded to be the greatest individual performance in NBA history, scoring 100 points for the Philadelphia Warriors in a win over the New York Knicks. On March 2, 1962, Chamberlain made 36 of his 63 shot attempts and 28 of his 32 free

3:14 AM ET LOS ANGELES — As bleak as things might seem for the Lakers after Tuesday’s 109-104 loss to the Dallas Mavericks — their 10th defeat in their last 13 games — dropped Los Angeles just two games away from falling out of the play-in tournament altogether, LeBron James insisted he won’t give up

12:47 PM ET Isaiah Thomas is signing a 10-day contract with Charlotte, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The veteran point guard has played in five games this season with the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks, signing 10-day deals with each team during the height of the league’s COVID-19 outbreak this season. Thomas averaged

8:01 PM ET The Philadelphia 76ers are emerging as front-runners to acquire center DeAndre Jordan either as a waiver claim or a free-agent signing, sources told ESPN on Monday. The Sixers have been aggressive in pursuit of a backup center since including Andre Drummond in the trade-deadline deal to acquire James Harden from the Brooklyn

11:17 PM ET ESPN News Services MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant threw down a massive dunk over 7-footer Jakob Poeltl, knocked down a buzzer-beater without touching the ground and then broke his own franchise record for points in a regular-season game just two days after setting it. Morant scored 52 points on

11:14 AM ET New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Monday that he wants to see Kyrie Irving playing home games at Barclays Center but making an exception for the unvaccinated Brooklyn Nets star guard “would send the wrong message” to the rest of the city. Adams made his comments to CNBC and added that