INSIDER
Hornets send Gordon Hayward to Thunder for 3 players, 2 second-round draft picks, AP source says
Read full article: Hornets send Gordon Hayward to Thunder for 3 players, 2 second-round draft picks, AP source saysA person familiar with the situation says the Charlotte Hornets are sending often-injured forward Gordon Hayward to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for guard Tre Mann, forward Davis Bertans, point guard Vasilije Micic and second-round draft picks in 2024 and 2025.
Germany holds off Latvia and will next play the USA in the Basketball World Cup semifinals
Read full article: Germany holds off Latvia and will next play the USA in the Basketball World Cup semifinalsGermany will play the United States in the semifinals of the Basketball World Cup in a rematch of an exhibition matchup from earlier this summer where the Americans needed a big rally to win.
Rare buzzer-beater helps outmanned Nuggets beat Mavs 98-97
Read full article: Rare buzzer-beater helps outmanned Nuggets beat Mavs 98-97Vlatko Cancar hit a buzzer-beater from near midcourt when the final 2 seconds of the first half were replayed after the break, and the outmanned Denver Nuggets went on to beat the Dallas Mavericks 98-97.
Suns rally from 22 points down to beat Mavericks 107-105
Read full article: Suns rally from 22 points down to beat Mavericks 107-105Devin Booker scored 28 points, Damion Lee made a go-ahead baseline jumper with 9.7 seconds left and the Phoenix Suns rallied from 22 points down in the third quarter to beat the Dallas Mavericks 107-105 on Wednesday in the season opener for both teams.
Doncic, Mavs beat foul-plagued Paul, Suns to even series 2-2
Read full article: Doncic, Mavs beat foul-plagued Paul, Suns to even series 2-2Luka Doncic scored 26 points and the Dallas Mavericks took advantage of foul trouble for Chris Paul to beat the Phoenix Suns 111-101 on Sunday, evening the Western Conference semifinal series at 2-2.
Paul has another stellar fourth, Suns blow past Mavs 129-109
Read full article: Paul has another stellar fourth, Suns blow past Mavs 129-109Chris Paul scored 28 points, including 14 in another spectacular fourth quarter, to lead the Phoenix Suns over the Dallas Mavericks 129-109 for a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.
Doncic scores 41 points, Mavs beat Warriors again, 122-113
Read full article: Doncic scores 41 points, Mavs beat Warriors again, 122-113Luka Doncic scored 41 points and the Dallas Mavericks beat Golden State for the second time in five days, holding off the Warriors 122-113 on Thursday night after a huge fourth-quarter rally for the victory in California.
Embiid leaves with sore knee, 76ers lose to Wizards 122-114
Read full article: Embiid leaves with sore knee, 76ers lose to Wizards 122-114Philadelphia center Joel Embiid left in the first quarter with a sore right knee and the 76ers lost Game 4 of their playoff series against the Washington Wizards 122-114.
Beal, Westbrook lead Wiz past Pacers 142-115 for East 8 seed
Read full article: Beal, Westbrook lead Wiz past Pacers 142-115 for East 8 seedRussell Westbrook nearly had a triple-double and Bradley Beal scored 25 points in just 29 minutes to help the Washington Wizards reach the NBA playoffs as the Eastern Conference’s No. 8 seed by overwhelming the Indiana Pacers 142-115 in the play-in round.
Wizards beat Cavaliers 120-105, clinch East play-in spot
Read full article: Wizards beat Cavaliers 120-105, clinch East play-in spotRussell Westbrook got his first triple-double since passing Oscar Robertson and becoming the NBA's career leader earlier in the week and Washington beat Cleveland 120-105 to clinch a spot in the East play-in tournament.
Spurs outlast Wizards in OT, end Washington’s streak at 8
Read full article: Spurs outlast Wizards in OT, end Washington’s streak at 8DeMar DeRozan had 37 points and 10 assists, and the San Antonio Spurs outlasted the Wizards 146-143 in overtime, ending Washington’s season-best eight-game winning streak.
Curry finally goes cold, Beal rallies Wizards past Warriors
Read full article: Curry finally goes cold, Beal rallies Wizards past WarriorsStephen Curry had his first rough night in a month, and Bradley Beal rallied Washington in the fourth quarter for its season-best sixth straight victory, 118-114 over the Golden State Warriors.
Westbrook, Beal hit late 3s, Wizards stun Nets 149-146
Read full article: Westbrook, Beal hit late 3s, Wizards stun Nets 149-146(AP Photo/Nick Wass)WASHINGTON – Wizards coach Scott Brooks envisioned something like this when Washington acquired Russell Westbrook from Houston for John Wall and a draft pick. Bradley Beal and Westbrook hit 3-pointers in a wild 3.8-second sequence in the final seconds to help the Wizards stun Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets 149-146 on Sunday night. Westbrook had 41 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, and NBA scoring leader Beal had 37 points. In the fourth quarter, Beal had 22 points and Westbrook had 15. “Russell willed this game,” Brooks said about Westbrook, who has only played in 10 of 16 games due to a quad injury.
Spurs drop Wizards 121-101 in Washington’s return from COVID-19 layoff
Read full article: Spurs drop Wizards 121-101 in Washington’s return from COVID-19 layoffThe Wizards had their previous six games postponed because they did not have enough eligible players due to the league’s COVID-19 protocols. LaMarcus Aldridge added 15 points, Devin Vassell had 14 points and Keldon Johnson had 13 for San Antonio. Washington was 14 for 42 overall on 3-pointers, helping it stay with San Antonio through three quarters. San Antonio finished 15 for 31 on 3-pointers in securing its largest margin of victory this season. Spurs: Vassell is the first Spurs rookie with four or more 3-pointers in a game since Gary Neal in 2011.
Another 3 NBA games called off amid virus, 16 test positive
Read full article: Another 3 NBA games called off amid virus, 16 test positive(AP Photo/Nick Wass)Contact tracing issues involving the Phoenix Suns and Washington Wizards forced the NBA to postpone three more games Wednesday, raising the leaguewide total from this week alone to eight. With 497 players tested, that reflects a positivity rate of 3.2%. Phoenix's home game Wednesday against Atlanta was called off, as was the Suns' home game with Golden State on Friday. In the previous five weeks combined, only 15 players tested positive. But even the current week's rate is well below what the league dealt with going into training camps, when 48 players tested positive in the week before practices could formally begin leaguewide.
The Latest: Celtics list 7 players unavailable vs Heat
Read full article: The Latest: Celtics list 7 players unavailable vs HeatBoston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives against Washington Wizards' Davis Bertans and center Moritz Wagner (21) in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___The Boston Celtics listed seven players as unavailable for Sunday’s game against the Miami Heat in accordance with the NBA’s health and safety protocols that were installed to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. The Celtics ruled out Jaylen Brown, Javonte Green, Semi Ojeleye, Jayson Tatum, Tristan Thompson, Grant Williams and Robert Williams. A pair of other Celtics are injured, which leaves Boston with the minimum eight players available on Sunday. Players having to miss multiple days is a very real possibility even if they were exposed to someone with the virus.
Celtics would be without Tatum, Brown for coronavirus rules
Read full article: Celtics would be without Tatum, Brown for coronavirus rulesBoston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives against Washington Wizards' Davis Bertans and center Moritz Wagner (21) in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)BOSTON – The Boston Celtics could be without stars Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and a number of other players because of coronavirus safety protocols when they face Miami on Sunday. The Celtics are listing Tatum as doubtful and Brown as questionable for the rematch of the Eastern Conference finals. With Kemba Walker and Romeo Langford unavailable because of injuries, the Celtics could have the minimum eight players required to start a game. Beset by its own coronavirus problems, Philadelphia dressed an injured player Saturday so it could field a team to play against Denver.
Magic beat Wizards130-120 despite Westbrook's historic night
Read full article: Magic beat Wizards130-120 despite Westbrook's historic nightOrlando Magic guard Markelle Fultz (20) shoots as Washington Wizards forward Isaac Bonga (17) and forward Deni Avdija (9) defend in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Washington. (Geoff Burke/Pool Photo via AP)WASHINGTON – The Orlando Magic beat Washington 130-120 on Saturday night, overcoming another triple-double by Russell Westbrook in his home debut for the Wizards. Nikola Vucevic had 22 points and 17 rebounds, and Markelle Fultz added 21 points to help the Magic win its second straight to start the season. ... Two-way rookie guard Cassius Winston (hamstring strain) was inactive but has returned to practice…UP NEXTThe Magic and Wizards will complete their back-to-back in Washington on Sunday. It is the only meeting between the two Southeast division foes in the first half of the NBA schedule release.
Caris LeVert's 34 lead Nets past Wizards, 118-110
Read full article: Caris LeVert's 34 lead Nets past Wizards, 118-110The Nets moved seven games ahead of ninth-place Washington in the Eastern Conference standings, and now the Wizards hopes of forcing a play-in series are fading. Thomas Bryant had a career-high 30 points and 13 rebounds, and Troy Brown Jr. added 22 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Wizards. The Nets are without DeAndre Jordan, Spencer Dinwiddie and Taurean Prince because of positive coronavirus tests before the restart. His 170 jams last season tied Kenyon Martin (2002-03) for the most in a season since the stat first was kept during the 1997-98 season. He is in his first season with the Nets after signing a two-way contract with the team in January.
Booker scores 27 points, Suns beat Wizards 125-112 in return
Read full article: Booker scores 27 points, Suns beat Wizards 125-112 in returnPhoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives to the basket against Washington Wizards guard Jerome Robinson (12) in the first half an NBA basketball game in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Friday, July 31, 2020. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. Devin Booker scored 27 points, Deandre Ayton added 24 points and 12 rebounds and the Phoenix Suns beat the Washington Wizards 125-112 on Friday in their first game of the restart. Booker made all nine of his free throws and Phoenix hit 30 of 32 from the line. Dario Saric added 16 points for the Suns, who shot 52% from the field. Rui Hachimura had 21 points and eight rebounds and Jerome Robinson added 20 points for the Wizards on coach Scott Brooks' 55th birthday.
Down in Disney, Bucks hope to finish the job this season
Read full article: Down in Disney, Bucks hope to finish the job this seasonFILE - In this a Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo reacts to his shot the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers in Milwaukee. If Antetokounmpo can shoot like that in real games, maybe the Milwaukee Bucks can finish the job and win the title this season. The Bucks are too, bringing the NBAs best record into the resumption of the season next week at Walt Disney World. The Toronto Raptors exploited that last season, with versatile, big defenders such as Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam and Serge Ibaka who could keep Antetokounmpo from the rim and make him shoot outside. The Bucks believe this season they have enough to go all the way, even without getting to use the home-court advantage they likely would have earned.
Wizards' Beal not playing rest of NBA season due to injury
Read full article: Wizards' Beal not playing rest of NBA season due to injuryWASHINGTON Wizards leading scorer Bradley Beal wont take part in the restart of the NBA season because of a right rotator cuff injury. The team ruled out Wall traveling to Orlando at the start of team workouts. Beal averaged 30.5 points a game this season, almost twice as much as Bertans, the Wizards' No. That team said that was shoulder discomfort Beal experienced early in the season that worsened over time. This was a difficult decision and one that I did not take lightly as the leader of this team, Beal said in a statement.
AP source: Wizards' Bertans sits out NBA restart to season
Read full article: AP source: Wizards' Bertans sits out NBA restart to seasonWashington Wizards forward Davis Bertans (42) reacts after shooting a 3-point basket against the Golden State Warriors during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)WASHINGTON Washington Wizards forward Davis Bertans will skip the Disney-based resumption of the NBA season, making him the first known example of a healthy, eligible player sitting out. If the Wizards were to reach the playoffs, the total lost salary could rise to as much as approximately $900,000, depending on how many games Washington plays. The Wizards, according to a rules memo distributed to teams and obtained by the AP, will be allowed to sign a replacement player for Bertans as early as Tuesday. -More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Spurs drop 7th in row, longest skid since Pop’s 1st season
Read full article: Spurs drop 7th in row, longest skid since Pop’s 1st seasonSan Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills, left, tries to get past Washington Wizards forward Davis Bertans (42) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)WASHINGTON, DC – Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs are in the midst of a seven-game losing streak, their longest skid since he took over as the team’s coach more than 20 years ago. “All in all, if you score 132 points, you should probably have a pretty good chance to win a game. In the ensuing draft, the Spurs took Tim Duncan, who starred for the team and now is an assistant to Popovich. San Antonio has made the playoffs in each of the past 22 seasons, claiming five NBA championships in that time.