Things to know about the NBA season: Lots of money, lots of talent, lots of stats
NBA teams currently have about $4.8 billion in salary committed to players for this season, meaning the average per team is around $160 million.
Butler scores 47 points, Heat beat Celtics to force Game 7
Jimmy Butler had 47 points, nine rebounds and eight assists and the Miami Heat forced the Eastern Conference finals to a decisive seventh game by beating the Boston Celtics 111-103 on Friday night.
![Leonard, George each score 31, Clippers tie series with Jazz](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/qIycq0t5ADYgEmqMGT8EAJINRQU=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ETD65NKFBVHLVLSZEBXH2SMMSY.jpg)
Leonard, George each score 31, Clippers tie series with Jazz
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George each scored 31 points โ the second straight game they have both had over 30 points โ and the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Utah Jazz 118-104 in Game 4 Monday night to even their Western Conference second-round series at two games apiece.
![DeMar DeRozan scores 32 points, Spurs beat Pelicans 110-108](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/DDFN-jE-j7Xls9qGjTrdidCBmeQ=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/MFA7UKUS6ZDIBOWUEABSI6LHTQ.jpg)
DeMar DeRozan scores 32 points, Spurs beat Pelicans 110-108
DeMar DeRozan scored 11 of his team-high 32 points in the final 7:40 and made all 12 of his free throws in the San Antonio Spursโ 110-108 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night.
![Tobias Harris comes up big late as Sixers hold off Warriors](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/7PkSdEwaTWCE796XyP2reNKE914=/2048x1365/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/Z2WG6MKPDFG5JCKXWACPIOBHPU.jpg)
Tobias Harris comes up big late as Sixers hold off Warriors
Golden State Warriors guard Damion Lee reacts after making a 3-point basket against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. Tobias Harris hit a go-ahead jumper with 3:44 to play, scored another basket on the next possession and finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds to help the Sixers hold off the Golden State Warriors 108-98 on Tuesday night. AdOne member of the family delivered with a big night: Their brother-in-law, Damion Lee, scored 16 points for Golden State in 24 minutes off the bench. He will miss at least the next two games for Golden State before being re-evaluated in a week. Golden State beat the Kings 137-106 at home on Jan. 4.
![Elgin Baylor, Lakers great and aerialist pioneer, dies at 86](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/AUukZWyxZvXkv9PuNdLnx3AWOwI=/2048x1650/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/CEEJ7J4FA5BTPABRT4EYUUDBL4.jpg)
Elgin Baylor, Lakers great and aerialist pioneer, dies at 86
FILE - Elgin Baylor stands next to a statue, just unveiled, honoring the Minneapolis and Los Angeles Lakers great, outside Staples Center in Los Angeles, in this Friday, April 6, 2018, file photo. Elgin Baylor, the Lakers 11-time NBA All-Star, died Monday, March 22, 2021, of natural causes. The Lakers announced that Baylor died in Los Angeles with his wife, Elaine, and daughter Krystal by his side. When the Lakers moved to Los Angeles in 1960, Baylor became the centerpiece of their Hollywood revival. A Los Angeles County jury unanimously ruled in the Clippersโ favor in March 2011, refusing to award any damages.
![Agent: LeBron inks 2-year, $85 million extension with Lakers](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/LUkp76k-4wmxjxLh9WmxyX8lRe4=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/4VFM6EELEBHPFHOMQDVW4NZGXQ.jpg)
Agent: LeBron inks 2-year, $85 million extension with Lakers
LOS ANGELES โ LeBron James has agreed to a two-year, $85 million contract extension through the 2022-23 season with the Los Angeles Lakers. Davis and James teamed up last season and won the Lakers' 17th championship in the bubble in central Florida. Instead, James has committed to play through his 20th NBA season with the Lakers, where he moved in 2018 after title-winning tenures in Cleveland and Miami. Los Angeles famously gave a two-year, $48.5 million extension to Bryant when he was 35 years old in November 2013. For instance, Davis could structure his deal to allow Los Angeles to pursue a third superstar in free agency next summer.
![AP source: Antetokounmpo wins 2nd straight NBA MVP award](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/56CTbnWO1JWZ5C7ETO6qDCQKdb4=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/OLGVXOWXFZCBVP7NIJRWPRNTJM.jpg)
AP source: Antetokounmpo wins 2nd straight NBA MVP award
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo shouts from the bench in the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Miami Heat Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
![Historic year: Antetokounmpo wins 2nd straight NBA MVP award](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/5EahZM2W8ggizP1o5_FdTeAg6AQ=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/OLGVXOWXFZCBVP7NIJRWPRNTJM.jpg)
Historic year: Antetokounmpo wins 2nd straight NBA MVP award
He got the Defensive Player of the Year award earlier in these NBA playoffs. Jordan won both the MVP and Defensive Player in 1987-88 and Olajuwon won both in 1993-94. Antetokounmpo came close to joining the club last season by winning MVP and finishing second in the Defensive Player balloting. James won MVP and was second in Defensive Player voting in 2008-09 and 2012-13, and Shaquille OโNeal did so in 1999-2000. โI'm happy for this, I'm happy for this award," Antetokounmpo said.