NBA

11:17 PM ET After dropping 44 points in a win over the Pistons on Friday night in Detroit, James Harden said that he doesn’t simply believe he belongs in the Most Valuable Player award conversation — he should sit atop the list. “Do I feel like I belong in it? I feel like I am

10:57 PM ET Team doctors cleared Anthony Davis to begin advancing his on-court work after an evaluation on Friday, nearly six weeks after Davis last played in a game because of a calf strain and tendinosis in his right leg, the Los Angeles Lakers announced. This advancement will include “increased volume and intensity in shooting,

5:29 PM ET SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors GM Bob Myers is hopeful Kelly Oubre Jr. will decide to re-sign with the organization this summer after deciding against dealing the 25-year-old swingman prior to Thursday’s trade deadline, despite “high level” interest. “Kelly’s done a great job,” Myers said during a video conference call with

11:32 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri said he wasn’t sure what would happen with Kyle Lowry when he woke up Thursday morning, but that he and the rest of Toronto’s front office would be comfortable either way. “Honestly, we didn’t know which way it was going to go,” Ujiri

12:28 AM ET LOS ANGELES — Dwight Howard flashed a wide smile across his face before the Philadelphia 76ers faced the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, receiving his 2020 Lakers championship ring with fellow former Laker Danny Green. It didn’t take long for Howard’s expression to change from cheer to chagrin. Howard, making his return

3:16 PM ET The Houston Rockets are trading guard Victor Oladipo to the Miami Heat at the trade deadline, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Thursday. Oladipo, 28, is in the final season of a four-year, $85 million contract and can become a free agent this summer. He suffered a ruptured quad injury in

12:31 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry repeatedly insisted Wednesday night that he doesn’t know what will happen between now and Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline. But that didn’t stop an air of finality from hanging over the proceedings following a 135-111 victory over the Denver Nuggets, as the greatest player in

12:34 AM ET The Detroit Pistons are trading guard Delon Wright to the Sacramento Kings for guard Cory Joseph and two second-round picks, sources told ESPN on Wednesday night. The picks going to Detroit will be a 2021 second-rounder via the Los Angeles Lakers and the Kings’ own 2024 second-rounder, sources told ESPN. The deal

1:13 AM ET The Toronto Raptors are hurtling toward a roster transformation at Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, engaging in talks on multiple fronts centered on separate deals for six-time All-Star guard Kyle Lowry and Norman Powell, sources told ESPN. In the final year of his contract, Lowry’s chances of leaving Toronto in a trade are

7:51 PM ET Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone broke down in tears during his pregame media session Tuesday after reading the names of the 10 victims of Monday’s shooting massacre in Boulder, Colorado. Malone, speaking before the Nuggets played the Orlando Magic, opened his session by shifting the focus off basketball and toward the

9:54 PM ET SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors star guard Stephen Curry will miss at least another week as he continues to recover from a bruised tailbone. Warriors coach Steve Kerr said that Curry underwent an MRI on Tuesday morning that showed inflammation and led to the organization’s decision to keep him out for

2:53 PM ET The Houston Rockets are progressing on several fronts in talks to trade guard Victor Oladipo, and there’s strong confidence they’ll execute a deal ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, sources tell ESPN. The Rockets are increasingly comfortable with the offers on Oladipo in the marketplace, which include young players and first-round pick

7:00 AM ET NBA Insiders The 2021 NBA trade deadline is just two days away, and teams at the top and bottom of the standings are lining up to make their moves. While there isn’t a superstar on the market who’ll redefine the race for the championship — not after James Harden was already traded

7:47 PM ET Eric WoodyardESPN The Milwaukee Bucks will be without Giannis Antetokounmpo against the Indiana Pacers on Monday night, after the back-to-back league MVP was ruled out with a left knee sprain. Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said he is “hopeful” Antetokounmpo’s absence will be short. “We’ll see how he does this next day or

2:40 PM ET Hall of Fame forward Elgin Baylor, who followed his illustrious playing career with a decades-long tenure as LA Clippers general manager, has died at the age of 86. Baylor died of natural causes Monday and was surrounded by his wife, Elaine, and his daughter, Krystal, the Los Angeles Lakers said in a

7:29 AM ET LeBron James‘ high ankle sprain — combined with Anthony Davis‘ continued right leg issues — has a massive impact on the Western Conference playoff picture. What does it mean for our NBA Power Rankings moving forward? Add the fact that the NBA-best Utah Jazz are showing signs of a mid-season funk, the

8:59 PM ET Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball is expected to miss the rest of the season with a fracture to his right wrist, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Ball, considered a frontrunner for NBA rookie of the year, is seeking a second opinion to confirm the diagnosis, the source said. Ball, 19, appeared

2:31 PM ET Blake Griffin will make his debut with the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday against the Washington Wizards. Griffin said that he will be on a minutes restriction. Griffin last played on Feb. 12 against the Boston Celtics when he was still a member of the Detroit Pistons. After agreeing to a buyout with