NBA

Denver Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly is traveling to meet with Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor this weekend in the next step in the team’s pursuit to hire Connelly and make him one of the NBA’s highest-compensated executives, sources told ESPN. Connelly has discussed the job extensively with Timberwolves minority owners Marc Lore

8:38 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo highlighted the 2021-22 NBA All-Defensive teams, which were announced on Friday night. Smart, the league’s 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year, earned his third first-team nod. He was joined at the guard spot by

2:25 AM ET Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors have a history of big third quarters. No one exactly knows why. Maybe Warriors head coach Steve Kerr gives the best halftime speech around. Maybe it takes them 24 minutes to fully assess how their opponent is approaching the game. Maybe they need

May 18, 2022 Andrew LopezESPN Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes, the 2021-2022 NBA Rookie of the Year, highlights the league’s All-Rookie teams announced on Wednesday. Barnes was one of three players to receive the maximum of 100 first-place votes for the first team along with Detroit’s Cade Cunningham and Cleveland’s Evan Mobley. The All-Rookie teams,

MIAMI — The Boston Celtics are a team of long-distance runners. For years, former Celtics president Danny Ainge employed a consultant that would identify draft picks and free agents’ “brain types” under the belief that certain personality traits made for better players. Ainge and that system are gone, but the Celtics — be it by

1:04 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN MIAMI — For the first few minutes of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, it appeared the Boston Celtics could be in some trouble. They left Miami’s shooters open for three quick 3-pointers. They allowed the Heat to get multiple second-chance opportunities. Robert Williams looked uncomfortable defending in space,

5:30 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN Philadelphia’s City Council decided to give Joel Embiid an MVP award Thursday morning. But rather than the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award that the superstar center for the Philadelphia 76ers hoped to win this year — he wound up finishing second behind Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic — he’ll have

8:00 AM ET Mark Fainaru-Wada Close ESPN Staff Writer Investigative reporter for ESPN’s Enterprise and Investigative Unit since 2007 Co-author of New York Times best-selling books “League of Denial” and “Game of Shadows” Co-winner, 2004 George Polk Award Steve Fainaru Close ESPN Senior Writer Winner, 2008 Pulitzer Prize in International Reporting Four-time first-place winner in

May 17, 2022 Andrew LopezESPN Jamahl Mosley was feeling lucky. Heading into Tuesday night’s NBA draft lottery, the Orlando Magic were going to be represented by president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman on stage. But early Tuesday morning, a switch was made because of a feeling Mosley had. So when the lottery took place Tuesday

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Tuesday that he is working “side by side” with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert to try to bring Brittney Griner home. Silver, speaking to ESPN’s Malika Andrews in a televised interview from Chicago prior to the NBA draft lottery, said his league was following the advice of experts when it did

All odds are provided by Caesars Sportsbook. What you need to know for Game 1 Interesting interior: The Warriors are the most perimeter-oriented team in the league, and the Mavs will likely attempt to limit the 3-point damage during this series. Considering that 68.3% of Andrew Wiggins‘ field goal attempts this postseason have come inside

MIAMI — Jimmy Butler is worth the drama. That isn’t exactly how Erik Spoelstra termed Butler’s game on Tuesday night, of course. The Miami Heat coach was his usual controlled self after guiding his team to a 118-107 victory over the Boston Celtics, fueled by Butler’s greatness, to take a 1-0 lead in the NBA

PHOENIX — For the second straight year, Suns point guard Chris Paul’s season came to an end with his team failing to protect a 2-0 series lead en route to a disappointing NBA playoffs exit. And for the second straight year, Paul felt compelled to announce he has no plans to walk away from the

Which teams are headed to the 2021 NBA Finals? In the Eastern Conference finals, two rivals collide in the Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics showdown. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and the Celtics are fresh off unseating Giannis Antetokounmpo and the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks. The top-seeded Heat, meanwhile, ousted the Philadelphia 76ers in

12:13 AM ET Tory BarronESPN Editor Close Tory Barron is a Bristol-based writer and editor for ESPN.com. After retiring from playing lacrosse at UConn, the DC native decided to try her hand at writing about people playing sports. Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’re probably privy to the fact LeBron James and the

May 15, 2022 Kendra AndrewsESPN SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr has cleared health and safety protocols. He rejoined the Warriors on Sunday as they begin to prepare for the Western Conference finals. Kerr tested positive for COVID-19 just two hours before Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals, thrusting associate head

And then there were four teams left standing in the 2022 NBA playoffs. After the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns — last year’s NBA finalists — were knocked out in Game 7s on the same day, the 2021-22 season is one step closer to crowning a new champion. The Boston Celtics overcame an otherworldly series

BOSTON — There was a receiving line of Boston Celtics players and coaches waiting to speak to Giannis Antetokounmpo after Game 7 ended Sunday afternoon, each patting the Milwaukee Bucks star on the chest or shoulders. They were happy to give him respect but mostly eager to say goodbye. When the Celtics arrive in Miami