NBA

7:50 PM ET Eric WoodyardESPN The “diverse experience” of newly hired Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch is what intrigued president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas to make the move. During Monday’s introductory news conference, Rosas welcomed the former Toronto Raptors assistant to try to turn things around after firing Ryan Saunders following Sunday’s loss in

7:04 AM ET Though the Western Conference standings look like a three-team race between the Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers, the rising Phoenix Suns aren’t far behind. Chris Paul, Devin Booker & Co. have won 11 of their past 13 games. In the Eastern Conference, the Brooklyn Nets just keep winning. After

9:24 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN When he was coaching the New England Patriots, Bill Parcells uttered what has become a famous maxim in sports: “You are what your record says you are.” After the Boston Celtics, dropped to 15-15 thanks to a horrific collapse in the Big Easy Sunday afternoon, losing 120-115 to the New

9:06 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN NEW ORLEANS — Coming off the heels of a historic collapse on Friday night, things once again looked like they were trending in the wrong direction for the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday afternoon. The Pelicans watched as the Boston Celtics stretched their lead out to 24 points midway through

2:56 AM ET LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers have hit their first true challenge of their title defense, with Saturday’s 96-94 loss to the Miami Heat marking the third defeat in their past four games since Anthony Davis aggravated his Achilles tendinosis and suffered a calf strain in his right leg. A question

2:56 AM ET In the Washington Wizards locker room, coach Scott Brooks stood at the front of the room, acknowledging players for their impact on a big win in Portland. He started with Isaac Bonga, who played only five minutes, but was a plus-five in the box score. “Those five minutes were huge,” Brooks said.

8:36 PM ET Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry will not play in Saturday night’s game against the Charlotte Hornets because he is “not feeling well,” the team announced just after the start of the game. Curry, who went through pregame warm-ups, was scratched just prior to tipoff and replaced in the starting lineup by

10:25 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN In a season full of dominant performances for Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, none have been more dominant than the display he put forth Friday night against the Chicago Bulls. Embiid finished with a career-high 50 points to go along with 17 rebounds, five assists, two steals, four blocks and

11:02 PM ET Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray dropped 50, and so did Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid. Both were career highs in scoring. Murray accomplished his in a 120-103 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, while Embiid did it in a win over the Chicago Bulls. 1 Related This is the second time this month

8:37 PM ET The LA Clippers will have their superstar duo available when they face the league-leading Utah Jazz on Friday night, with both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George set to return from injuries. George hasn’t played since Feb. 3 due to a swollen right toe while Leonard has missed the last three games with

1:19 AM ET Los Angeles Lakers star forward Anthony Davis had his injuries reevaluated by team doctors Thursday night and will be out four weeks, head coach Frank Vogel said. Sources had told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski earlier this week that Davis would be reevaluated in two to three weeks after suffering a calf strain and

1:10 AM ET ESPN NBA reporters The Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers entered Thursday’s game with plenty of star power even with the Nets missing Kevin Durant and the Lakers without Anthony Davis. Besides Davis, LeBron James and the Lakers were also without starting point guard Dennis Schroder Thursday night. James faced Kyrie Irving,

7:27 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant were named the captains for next month’s NBA All-Star Game on Thursday night. James and Durant will pick their respective teams from the remaining 22 All-Stars between now and the All-Star Game, which the NBA officially announced earlier

1:18 AM ET Andrew LopezESPN NEW ORLEANS — Another night, another clutch performance from Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard. Sure, this one featured another game-sealing bucket from Lillard — his 25th game-tying or go-ahead field goal in the final 20 seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime, most in the NBA since he entered

3:13 AM ET SAN FRANCISCO — Stephen Curry couldn’t buy a basket. After spending the first half of the season full of knocking down shots from all over the floor, while re-inserting himself into the MVP conversation, Curry came into the fourth quarter of Wednesday night’s 120-112 overtime win over the Miami Heat having already

5:09 PM ET ESPN News Services As the decision to bench center Andre Drummond while the team pursues a trade has drawn criticism — most notably from Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green — Cleveland Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said “nobody’s decision should be muted.” Bickerstaff said Drummond was not with the team Wednesday, and

1:06 AM ET The Brooklyn Nets are the NBA’s latest superteam, an offensive juggernaut featuring two former MVPs in Kevin Durant and James Harden and the owner of one of the biggest shots in NBA Finals history in Kyrie Irving, who also is widely considered to have the best handles the sport has seen. But

12:53 AM ET OKLAHOMA CITY – With 5:28 remaining in the fourth quarter, Damian Lillard hit two hard dribbles with his left hand, putting his man on his hip and squaring up the help defender, Al Horford. It was a one-point game, the Oklahoma City Thunder leading, and as Lillard does, he hit the eject