Celtics suspend coach Ime Udoka for 2022-23 season
The Boston Celtics have suspended Ime Udoka for a full year, banning the coach who led them to the NBA Finals last spring for the entire 2022-23 season over what two people with knowledge of the matter said was an improper relationship with a member of the organization.
Kawhi and Popovich reunited? Leonard wants to go to Olympics
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots against Washington Wizards center Moritz Wagner, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 4, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)Kawhi Leonard is planning to play for Gregg Popovich again and chase a gold medal. Leonard said Sunday at the All-Star Game in Atlanta that he is planning to compete with USA Basketball this summer at the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics โ which would reunite him with Popovich. Popovich will serve as head coach at the Olympics for the first time. โIf I feel up to it and feel ready to go around that time, then I'm going to play," Leonard said.
Harden debuts with triple-double, Durant scores 42, Nets win
He had no practice time with the Nets and sure didn't need it, becoming the first player in franchise history to have a triple-double in his debut. Durant made five 3-pointers in his 10th game back following an 18-month layoff after rupturing his Achilles tendon in the 2019 NBA Finals. The Nets might still be even better when they get back Kyrie Irving, who missed his sixth straight game after leaving the team last week for personal reasons. Nikola Vucevic had 34 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for the short-handed Magic, who lost their fifth straight. Nets: Durant has scored 25 or points in nine straight games, setting a new franchise record.
Stands were empty, but trophy cases werenโt: Can you ace this 2020 sports quiz?
The Los Angeles Lakers celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2020 NBA Championship Final over the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals. As was the case with just about every facet of life in 2020, sports experienced a year like no other due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And defeating a COVID test instead of an opponent was the most important victory for athletes. So, what do you remember about what sports produced for the country in 2020? Test your knowledge, and reflect on 2020 in the world of sports by taking the quiz below.
Popovich knows filling US Olympic roster may be a challenge
And when presented with this potential scheduling conundrum, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich โ who will coach USA Basketball menโs national team at the next Olympics โ came up with a very quick, very lighthearted solution. โI donโt think weโre going to let the finals go seven games,โ Popovich said. Popovich will be head coach of the Olympic team for the first time, succeeding Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski. โThe Olympics is always on my mind, just as Coach K told me it would be,โ Popovich said Tuesday. The 2016 Olympic team was picked about six weeks before the start of the Rio Games, allowing time for a training camp and exhibitions before heading to Brazil.
Play-in tourney on, Olympics likely out for NBA in 2020-21
FILE - In this Aug. 15, 2020, file photo, Portland Trail Blazers' Jusuf Nurkic (27) and Memphis Grizzlies' Jonas Valanciunas (17) reach for the opening tip in an NBA basketball play-in game in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The 2020-21 NBA schedule will feature a play-in tournament and an NBA Finals that could run all the way until July 22 keeping some players from competing in the Olympics. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP, File)NEW YORK โ The 2020-21 NBA schedule will feature a play-in tournament and an NBA Finals that could run all the way until July 22 โ keeping some players from competing in the Olympics. The league debuted the play-in tournament this year at Walt Disney World, though it only featured the Nos. The second half is March 11 to May 16, with the play-in tournament May 18-21.
New 76ers president Morey: Embiid, Simmons can work together
Pressed on Embiid and Simmons, Morey quipped he was low on the tenure board. โI think they absolutely can work together,โ Morey said, โbut Docโs been here a little longer than me. โWhatever my role needs to be, I accept that role,โ Brand said. โThe goal is not to shoot 3-pointers, the goal is to win,โ Morey said. Or Morey and Rivers, who bring decades of sustained winning to Philly and will demand players do it their way?
AP source: NBA targeting Dec. 22 as start to coming season
A person with knowledge of the situation says the NBAโs board of governors is considering a December start to the 2020-21 season, with Dec. 22 being the initial target for opening night and the season being trimmed to about 70 games. Those talks, especially on the money issue, would have to be concluded before any real decisions about next season are made. This seasonโs NBA Finals ended on Oct. 11. Typically, a mid-June end to the finals is followed by about a 3 1/2-month break before the following training camp. ___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
The 9@9: Amy Barrett confirmation hearings; hurricane Delta aftermath; Lakers win NBA Finals
The 9@9: Amy Barrett confirmation hearings; hurricane Delta aftermath; Lakers win NBA FinalsPublished: October 12, 2020, 9:36 amThe 9@9 features some of the biggest stories making headlines at home, around the country and across the globe. Hereโs whatโs trending.
76 arrests as fans, some rowdy, cheer Lakers win in LA
Los Angeles Lakers fans celebrate outside of Staples Center, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Los Angeles, after the Lakers defeated the Miami Heat in Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals to win the championship. The sounds of fireworks immediately reverberated across Los Angeles and fans headed to Staples Center, the Lakers' home court, to celebrate โ despite admonitions to stay away. Witnesses told the Los Angeles Times that officers fired โbeanbag roundsโ at one point, which sent some people running. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti had discouraged public gatherings to celebrate the win, instead urging fans to cheer on the team from home. โAs we cheer our @Lakers' 17th championship, please remember itโs still not safe to gather in groups,โ the mayor tweeted, in reference to the coronavirus pandemic.
NBA Finals get intense, and Game 6 of Lakers-Heat looms
The Heat have talked since the NBA Finals started about a need to play almost perfect basketball against the Lakers. โOne thing about this team that we are playing, they make you pay for every mistake,โ James said after Game 5. So, we have to understand that.โJames is about to set the record for NBA playoff game appearances. Nobody has had more 40-point NBA Finals games in a loss than he has โ the record-setting fifth entry on that list coming Friday in Miamiโs 111-108 win. โWeโre motivated to win Game 6 and they are motivated to win Game 6,โ Davis said.
King James scores 40, but his Lakers coronation has to wait
The Lakers took their final timeout after Jimmy Butler's free throws gave the Heat a 107-106 lead with 16 seconds to play. โWe got a hell of a look to win the game, to win the series,โ James said. James had never missed a chance to close out an NBA Finals series after getting to three wins. There's been only one 3-1 lead overcome in the NBA Finals, and James was the catalyst that time with Cleveland in 2016. โWe've just got to be better in Game 6 and close the series,โ James said.
Heat force Game 6, top Lakers to stave off elimination
โThatโs Jimmy Butler," Heat center Bam Adebayo said. Butler got fouled with 46.7 seconds left, then slumped over the baseline video boards, clearly exhausted. He made both foul shots for a one-point lead; Davisโ putback with 21.8 seconds left got the Lakers back on top. Butler drove the lane, drew contact and made both with 16.8 seconds left for a 109-108 lead. Lakers: James and Davis were a combined 24 for 36.
Finals notebook: Around the world, fans are watching
Theyโre huge LeBron James fans there as well, as evidenced by where the clicks are coming from. When James turned 35 this past December, the NBA did a video of the top 35 plays of his career. Thatโs the first time since 2014 that there were no sweeps in the conference semifinals, conference finals or NBA Finals. JAMESโ NUMBERSLeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers entered Game 5 of the NBA Finals just 25 points away from matching Karl Malone for No. GAME 5 REFSMarc Davis, Kane Fitzgerald and Eric Lewis got the officiating assignment for Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
NBA returning to Chinese state television after 1-year ban
Employees watch a live broadcast of Game 5 of the NBA Finals at an NBA store in Beijing, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. The NBA is returning to Chinese state television after a one-year absence. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. โ The NBA is returning to Chinese state television after a one-year absence. โIn the Chinese National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival that just passed, the NBA expressed holiday blessings to Chinese fans," the China Media Group, essentially the operator of CCTV, said in a statement. NBA games have been available to Chinese fans on the streaming service Tencent, another of the leagueโs broadcast partners.
As election draws closer, the NBA continues calls to vote
The groupโs primary mission right now: defeat what it calls โsystemic, targeted voter suppressionโ and protect Black voters. โMore than a vote, itโs about protecting Black voters and voter suppression that goes on in our communities. And the More Than A Vote group has already recruited 20,000 poll workers for election day around the country. Golden State, Atlanta and Detroit are squaring off in a voting registration contest โ seeing who can get the most fans to register to vote. The Hawks are among the teams that will pay employees for time spent voting and serving at the polls on Election Day, Nov. 3.
A moment of rest finally arrives at the NBA Finals
Like it or not, the NBA Finals are on hiatus until Friday โ the first two-day break in this series between the Lakers and Miami Heat. When Game 5 happens, the Lakers will enter with a 3-1 series lead and on the brink of their 17th NBA championship. โFor me, I mean, at this point in the season, I donโt care about rest,โ James said. Jamesโ teams โ two in Miami, one in Cleveland โ are 3-0 in finals games when they stand a win away from a championship. โI know Spo going into Game 5,โ James said.
Lakers top Heat 102-96, take 3-1 lead in NBA Finals
James and the Lakers are back in control of these NBA Finals, one win away from the franchise's 17th championship. James finished with 28 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, Anthony Davis' 3-pointer with 39.5 seconds left finally settled matters and the Lakers beat the Miami Heat 102-96 in Game 4. The Lakers lead 3-1 and can win the title when the series resumes Friday. 3-1 LEADSThis is the 36th time that a team has held a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals. It was just the third time in the last 26 NBA Finals games that neither team reached 50 points in the first 24 minutes.
Butler's big night helps Heat cut Lakers' Finals lead to 2-1
With a triple-double, he joined NBA Finals lore โ and the short-handed Miami Heat might have made this title matchup a series after all. Miami's starters outscored the Lakers' starting five 89-51, and the Heat held the Lakers to a 14-for-42 night from 3-point land. Itโs going to be a tough game, Game 4," Herro said. ... Nick Aquilino, the son of Heat neuromuscular therapist Vinny Aquilino, performed the anthem -- a recording from a Heat game with fans in Miami. BUTLERโS TRIPLE-DOUBLEButler became the 21st player to have a triple-double in the NBA Finals โ and four of the 21 were part of Sundayโs game.
Heat rule Dragic, Adebayo out of Game 3 of NBA Finals
Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo, watches play against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of Game 2 of basketball's NBA Finals, Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. โ Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic have been ruled out of Game 3 of the NBA Finals, meaning the Miami Heat will be depleted once again Sunday night. Adebayo was ruled out with a neck injury. Both were injured in Game 1, and neither played in Miami's Game 2 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. The decision on Adebayo and Dragic was made about two hours before game time. Both arrived at the arena with their teammates, and Adebayo has been lobbying the team with hopes of letting him play.
Comforts of NBA bubble not lost on Lakers' Danny Green
Thatโs just fine with Los Angeles Lakers guard Danny Green. Sunday would be his 257th career postseason appearance, two shy of matching Derek Fisher for the most in NBA history. He entered Game 3 of the NBA Finals seven free-throw attempts shy of matching Shaquille OโNeal (2,317) for another postseason record. Itโs the 20th NBA Finals game for Foster, the 10th for Brothers and the first for Fraher. Itโll be the eighth finals game for Zarba, the fifth for Goble and the first for Brown.
Halfway home: Lakers top Heat 124-114 for 2-0 Finals lead
The NBA Finals are halfway to a coronation. And the last time the Lakersโ franchise has wasted a 2-0 lead was in the 1969 finals against Boston. The Heat have rallied from a 2-0 series hole only once in eight previous tries, that one being the 2006 NBA Finals. ... James, in his 10th NBA Finals, has a 2-0 lead in the title series for the first time. YOUNGEST STARTERHerro, at 20 years, 256 days, became the youngest player to start an NBA Finals game.
Heat rule Adebayo, Dragic out for Game 2 of NBA Finals
Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23), left, takes the ball as Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo (13) winces during Game 1 of basketball's NBA Finals Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Adebayo had to leave the game with a left shoulder strain. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. โ Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic were both ruled out of Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Friday with injury, leaving the Miami Heat down two starters for their matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers. Adebayo is dealing with issues with his left shoulder and the left side of his neck. Dragic tore his left plantar fascia in Game 1. There has been no final determination for the availability of Adebayo and Dragic for Game 3 of the series on Sunday night.
Heat are ailing, but insist NBA Finals vs Lakers aren't over
His teamโs starting point guard and center are both doubtful to play in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. And his Miami Heat are coming off a one-sided loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. That, combined with Miamiโs injury problems, sure seems to indicate that the Lakers have full control of this matchup. Lakers coach Frank Vogel said heโll plan for Dragic and Adebayo to play. All three of Miamiโs NBA titles came after Game 1 losses in the finals.
Adebayo, Dragic leave with injuries as Heat routed in Game 1
Bam Adebayo (left shoulder strain) and Goran Dragic (left foot) departed with injuries and Jimmy Butler played through one in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. In case things weren't bad enough by then, Butler appeared to be hobbling again after going back into the game in the fourth quarter. Dragic averaged 22.8 points to lead the Heat in their first-round sweep of Indiana in the first round. 5 Heat to the finals as the lowest-seeded team since that year, when the Spurs beat the No. The Heat then jumped on LeBron James and the Lakers with a quick 13-0 run โ all but three points coming from Adebayo, Butler and Dragic โ to open a 23-10 lead.
Lakers, LeBron roll in Game 1 of finals, top Heat 116-98
Anthony Davis scored 34 points in his finals debut, James had 25 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists and the Los Angeles Lakers rolled past the Miami Heat 116-98 on Wednesday night. The Heat left beaten and battered. Jamesโ teams had been 1-8 in Game 1 of past finals, with losses in each of the last seven openers. The Heat scored on six consecutive possessions in what became a 13-0 run to take a 23-10 lead midway through the opening period. JAMESโ RECORDSThe NBA Finals record book is basically a James scrapbook of career achievements, and he raised his spot on some of those lists Wednesday.
Lakers, Heat start their preparations for NBA Finals
What was once a 22-team bubble at Walt Disney World is down to the final two, with Adebayo and the Miami Heat set to take on LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals that start on Wednesday night. Itโs the first finals matchup between the clubs, with the Lakers looking for a record-tying 17th title and the Heat seeking their fourth in the last 15 seasons. โBut we know that the job isnโt done yet.โThe Heat were spending much of Monday resting up before an evening team meeting would officially start their finals preparation process. Much like the Heat, the Lakers took a moment to enjoy winning the conference title. By Game 4 or so of this series, the Lakers and Heat will have been at Disney for three months.
James, Lakers beat Nuggets in Game 5 to reach NBA Finals
Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) talks with players as confetti falls after the Lakers beat the Denver Nuggets in an NBA conference final playoff basketball game Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. James finished with 38 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists to become the fourth player to reach 10 NBA Finals. So, this is what I came here for.โThe Lakers will face either Miami or Boston in their 32nd NBA Finals appearance, most in league history. Anthony Davis added 27 points and will end his first season with Los Angeles by playing in his first NBA Finals. SEASONS CHANGENBA teams usually start training camp near the end of September and Vogel said it was strange to be playing conference finals games, which usually happen near the end of May.
NBA will allow team staff to bring guests to Disney bubble
Those guests could then enter the so-called bubble at Walt Disney World on Sept. 21, about a week before the scheduled start of the NBA Finals. Some players were able to bring family into the bubble following quarantines and other health certifications starting on Aug. 31. Other coaches, such as Denvers Michael Malone and Miamis Erik Spoelstra, have spoken out publicly about their hope that the league would allow team staff to have the opportunity to bring family into the bubble. The cost, $550 each day for each guest, would have to be covered by the team or individual staff member. And as is the case with player guests, including children, none of the staff guests will be able to leave the NBAs bubble.
Raptors arrive in Florida, set to start prepping for restart
MIAMI The Toronto Raptors arrived in southwest Florida on Monday, set to begin their preparations for next months restart of the NBA season. If the Raptors return to the NBA Finals, they could be in Florida for nearly four full months. Toronto's arrival comes as Florida is dealing with a significant spike in positive coronavirus test results over the past week. All group workouts and the official start of training camp for the resumed season will occur at Disney. The Raptors were 46-18 when the season was halted on March 11 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Latest: Beyonc single benefits Black-owned businesses
The singer's website says the song released late Friday, June 19, 2020, will benefit black-owned small businesses. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)TOP OF THE HOUR: Beyonc releases new single to benefit Black-owned small businesses. Nevada officials renew proposal to remove statue of McCarran. ___LOS ANGELES Beyonc did not let Juneteenth pass without dropping one of her signature surprises in the form a new single called Black Parade.The singers website says the song released late Friday will benefit Black-owned small businesses. Make America great again give me the date that America was great for everybody, Sharpton said.
Spurs host outdoor watch party Friday to relive 2005 NBA championship
SAN ANTONIO The AT&T Center may have sat empty for weeks, but around this time in 2005, it was rumbling with excitement as the San Antonio Spurs approached the NBA Finals, ultimately winning a third title. To celebrate the 2005 NBA Finals, the Spurs will host an outdoor watch party in the Bud Light Courtyard on Friday and will reshow Game 7, in which the Spurs beat the Detroit Pistons 81-74. Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased in groups of two to six through the Official Spurs Mobile App. Each party will be seated inside an assigned area, so attendees are asked to bring their own collapsable chairs. Free parking will be available in Lot 2 of the AT&T Center.