NBA

8:25 AM ET Which NBA contenders will join the Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors in the conference finals? Sunday’s Game 7s feature two series that could not be more different. The Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC) have each bruised their way into their finale, each winning classics on the opponent’s

9:17 PM ET PHOENIX — On the plane ride back home after losing in blowout fashion to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals, Suns star Devin Booker joined a card game with teammates Chris Paul and Jae Crowder and discussed their Game 7 challenge ahead. Paul has played in seven

5:00 PM ET ESPN News Services MILWAUKEE — The Bucks have canceled a watch party for Sunday’s Game 7 against the Boston Celtics after 21 people were injured in three separate shootings near an entertainment district in downtown Milwaukee at the end of the team’s Game 6 Eastern Conference semifinals loss Friday night. A spokesman

2:05 AM ET MILWAUKEE — The Giannis Antetokounmpo–Jayson Tatum rivalry is here. It is defining the present of the Eastern Conference and may extend well into the future. Antetokounmpo is putting up Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O’Neal numbers. Tatum is breaking the records of all those retired jerseys for his 75-year-old storied franchise that has

12:44 AM ET Jamal CollierESPN MILWAUKEE — Three people were shot near Deer District outside Fiserv Forum near the conclusion of Friday night’s Game 6 between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics, sending fans there fleeing through the streets. The Milwaukee Fire Department said one man and one woman shot were transported to the

5:20 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN CAMDEN, N.J. — Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said coach Doc Rivers will return next season for a third year with the franchise. “I just think he’s a great coach,” Morey said during Friday’s exit interviews after the Sixers were eliminated the previous night on their home

11:10 AM ET Adrian Wojnarowski Close Senior NBA Insider Host of The Woj Pod Joined ESPN in 2017 Ramona Shelburne Close ESPN Senior Writer Senior writer for ESPN.com Spent seven years at the Los Angeles Daily News Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving has long had one of Nike’s most popular and profitable signature basketball shoes,

9:34 PM ET PHILADELPHIA — The Miami Heat are headed to the Eastern Conference finals for the second time in three years after closing out the Philadelphia 76ers 99-90 in Game 6 of their second-round series on Thursday night. As has been the case throughout the series, it was Jimmy Butler who led the way

8:00 AM ET Maya A. Jones It’s a Monday afternoon at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, and Suns center Deandre Ayton is locked in. He’s not focused on his team’s upcoming game against the Los Angeles Lakers the next day, thinking ahead to a playoff run, or worrying about his contract negotiations with the Suns.

8:00 AM ET It’s no coincidence that in the same year the NBA is celebrating its 75th anniversary, the league is unveiling an ensemble of trophies and awards that will feature new designs and will honor iconic players such as Larry Bird, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Bob Cousy and Oscar Robertson. During the conference finals, which

1:32 AM ET BOSTON — The relationship between Giannis Antetokounmpo and teammate Khris Middleton, now nine years in, is well known for its depth and trust. But about that Jrue Holiday relationship … “It’s blooming, it’s blooming!” Antetokounmpo said after the Milwaukee Bucks finished off a jaw-dropping display of clutch play in stealing a 110-107

1:51 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Kyrie Irving might have to show the Brooklyn Nets he’s more than a great basketball player if he wants a future with the team. General manager Sean Marks made clear Wednesday that Irving will have to prove a commitment to being available to his team, a commitment

12:59 AM ET ESPN News Services Bob Lanier, the left-handed big man who muscled up beside the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as one of the NBA’s top players of the 1970s, died Tuesday. He was 73. The NBA said in a statement that the legendary center died after a short illness. The Hall of Famer

1:09 AM ET When the definitive history of the Process-Era Philadelphia 76ers is written someday, there will be many moments and decisions to revisit. Without the benefit of hindsight yet, it’s impossible to know which were the most consequential. But it’s impossible to watch what Jimmy Butler did to the Sixers Tuesday night in the

8:00 AM ET What’s next in four thrilling NBA conference semifinal series? After Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III was a late scratch Monday night, Al Horford picked up the slack with a playoff career-high 30 points in a series-tying Game 4 win over Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. Despite shooting 9-for-37 from 3-point

11:32 PM ET MILWAUKEE — There was a point this season when the Boston Celtics were 16-19 overall. There was a point last season when Al Horford was shut down by the Oklahoma City Thunder with 28 games left, unsure of where the twilight of his pro career was headed. There was a point late

12:23 AM ET Andrew LopezESPN MILWAUKEE — Al Horford knew he’d get his revenge. After Giannis Antetokounmpo dunked on him early in the third quarter Monday night, the Milwaukee Bucks superstar received a technical foul for saying something in Horford’s direction. As Horford walked back up the court, he just nodded his head and said

8:00 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN When the Boston Celtics arrived at Washington’s Capital One Arena to take on the Wizards for a matinee on Jan. 23, there was no indication it would serve as the turning point of Boston’s tumultuous season. The Celtics had been coming off one of their most dispiriting losses of the