NBA

2:54 PM ET The NBA is pursuing the implementation of an upper spending limit in its negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement with the National Basketball Players Association, a systemic change that has been met with significant union resistance, sources told ESPN. In the wake of large-market contenders Golden State, Brooklyn and the LA

12:43 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN NEW YORK — As the final seconds of regulation ticked down Thursday night with the score tied between the Dallas Mavericks and Brooklyn Nets, the entire Brooklyn defense converged on Mavericks star Luka Doncic, clearly convinced he’d try to win the game himself. But with two guys on him, and

5:25 PM ET ESPN News Services Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard has a Grade 1 strain of his right calf and will be reevaluated in 1-2 weeks, the team announced Thursday. An MRI taken Thursday confirmed the strain. Lillard suffered the injury with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter of Wednesday’s loss

8:00 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN For a generation, being a quality Eastern Conference team has meant guaranteed passage into the NBA postseason. Unlike its Western counterpart, where good teams routinely have been left out of the playoff picture, the East — since the Charlotte Hornets reentered the league in 2004, bringing the NBA to its

8:00 AM ET HIGH ABOVE THE Bay of Naples, Paul George stood in his white paisley tuxedo jacket and black pants with the breathtaking Amalfi Coast behind him. As Daniela Rajic, George’s bride, walked down the aisle past a star-studded NBA guest list that included Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac, Karl-Anthony Towns, Patrick Beverley and Lou

12:15 AM ET ESPN News Services PORTLAND, Ore. — Damian Lillard left the Portland Trail Blazers‘ 119-98 loss to the Miami Heat on Wednesday night because of a strained right calf. Lillard, a six-time All-Star, came up limping with just over five minutes to go in the third quarter and headed straight for the locker

3:03 PM ET Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. will miss Wednesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers because of lumbar management, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. There is optimism he could be back for Friday’s game against the Utah Jazz. A back injury limited Porter to nine games in 2021-22, and he underwent

8:00 AM ET The 2022-23 NBA hierarchy already saw a few shake-ups in its first week. The Portland Trail Blazers have taken an early lead on the title for biggest surprise of the season with a 4-0 start. Damian Lillard & Co. have not only won but have notched meaningful victories over Western Conference rivals

8:10 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown and Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald both announced Tuesday night that they are leaving Donda Sports, the agency founded by the artist formerly known as Kanye West, due to antisemitic comments he recently made. The announcements came hours after Adidas terminated its relationship

4:46 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN In an interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews on “NBA Today,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said that he believes the changes the league has made to its system in recent seasons, from flattening the lottery odds to adding the play-in tournament, have greatly reduced the incentives for teams to tank for

8:00 AM ET Brian Windhorst and a team of ESPN’s Insiders sort out life and the news from in and around the NBA world. The Los Angeles Lakers are 0-3, have roster construction issues and eventually will have to make a trade — probably, but not certainly, involving Russell Westbrook. For now, let’s focus on

1:40 AM ET MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Brooklyn Nets swingman Ben Simmons called several of the whistles he received “bulls—” following a 134-124 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night, noting that “refs make mistakes too.” While Simmons, who fouled out for the second time in three regular-season games, was frustrated with many calls, the

7:00 AM ET Kade Krichko PAOLO BANCHERO TWISTS his 6-foot-10 frame into a kids’ chair surrounded by atilt Lego towers. “Don’t Touch” signs adorn computer desks, child-scrawled warnings amid a makeshift cityscape of plastic. It’s hardly a scene where you’d expect to see the $50.16 million-deal-wielding budding star of the Orlando Magic. Banchero isn’t rocking

8:00 AM ET NBA Insiders The first week of the 2022-23 NBA season did not disappoint, delivering big-time performances, upsets and playoff-caliber matchups. Ja Morant and Paolo Banchero got off to strong starts as the Memphis Grizzlies star scored 49 points against the Houston Rockets on Friday night and the Orlando Magic player on Wednesday

8:32 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Pelicans lost both Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson to injuries on Sunday in a 122-121 overtime loss to the Utah Jazz. Williamson took a hard fall with 8:07 left in the fourth quarter when his dunk attempt was blocked by Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson.

10:31 PM ET ESPN News Services MIAMI — Toronto’s Christian Koloko and Miami’s Caleb Martin were both ejected in the third quarter of the Raptors-Heat game on Saturday night after they scuffled and ended up in the first row of baseline seats. It all started with 7:46 left in the third quarter, when Martin and

3:10 AM ET SACRAMENTO — LA Clippers star guard Paul George was in the middle of a big second quarter when he said a technical foul “turned my aggression up.” He proceeded to take his anger out on the Sacramento Kings. George exploded for 40 points to go with six rebounds and six assists to

9:39 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN MIAMI — Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes, the NBA’s reigning Rookie of the Year, was ruled out of Saturday night’s 112-109 loss to the Heat after suffering a sprained right ankle midway through the second quarter. Barnes had X-rays on his ankle, the Raptors said, which came back negative. Raptors