Reporting Articles - Page 226

CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers are kicking off a long road trip by taking on the Miami Heat on Christmas Day. While Joel Embiid’s status has not yet been announced, he is coming into the prime-time game with an ankle issue to keep an eye on. Nick Nurse said that Embiid did not participate […]

The Portland Trail Blazers continue to work on their identity and connectedness in a season that is widely understood to be more about player development than wins and losses. As they take on the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night, the Blazers will be focused on an additional area of focus – getting out to […]

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal is out until January. The team is not looking good without its third star on the floor. Beal, who was expected to be a missing piece for the Suns to win a title, has only played six games. He suffered a right ankle sprain Dec. 15 against the New York […]

The Phoenix Suns in December are 14-14, good for 10th place in the Western Conference, and have had their Big 3 of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal on the floor for just four quarters. Frustrations are beginning to mount. In a story by Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes, Suns guard Eric Gordon, who took […]

In an era of basketball where most players seem to be friends with one another, one rivalry stands out. Luka Doncic versus Devin Booker has drawn plenty of headlines over the past few years. And the Doncic-Booker beef has emerged as the most compelling rivalry in the NBA. Let’s take a deep dive into the […]

It might be getting snowier on the shores of Lake Erie but within the confines of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the Cleveland Cavaliers are making it rain. Since returning home from a three-game losing road trip losing streak, on top of losing Evan Mobley and Darius Garland until early 2024, the Cavs have been letting it […]

After missing out when the Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the Utah Jazz and the New Orleans Pelicans, Donovan Mitchell will be unavailable when the team takes to the Windy City to face the Chicago Bulls due to an illness. The illness Mitchell is dealing with is thankfully not COVID-related. But this still will be the tenth […]

The Golden State Warriors pulled away from the Washington Wizards in Jordan Poole’s return to Chase Center on Friday night, winning 129-118. Let’s dive into three in-depth Warriors reactions from their fourth straight win of 2023-24.` Trayce Jackson-Davis dominates Washington isn’t exactly loaded with top-tier talent or intimidating size up front. But the extent to […]

The Miami Heat beat the Atlanta Hawks Friday night in what makes it their second straight win and also five victories in their last seven contests as they try to end 2023 on a good note. Stars Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Bam Adebayo, and head coach Erik Spoelstra spoke after the game to talk about […]

The worst losing streak in San Antonio Spurs history has now matched the worst stretch the franchise has ever endured. In losing 21 of their last 22 games, the Spurs have equaled last year’s team as the only versions in the proud history of the organization to lose 21 of 22 contests. With a loss […]

The Miami Heat are now on a two-game winning streak as they beat the Atlanta Hawks, 122, 113. Before the New Year, the Heat would like to end it off on a good note. So far, so good. Tyler Herro once again was a shining star on the court as he scored 30 points to go […]

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Toronto Raptors thanks to a flurry of buckets from three main sources. Joel Embiid had 31 points? Makes sense. Tyrese Maxey had 33? Yeah, that tracks. Tobias Harris also had 33? That is what makes this Sixers’ win stand out. A combined 97 points from three players helped […]

Before embarking on a holiday road trip, the Philadelphia 76ers (20-8) squared off against the Toronto Raptors (11-17). The Sixers got crucial games from Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey AND Tobias Harris and, despite a rough start, won by a final score of 121-111. Let’s break down the Sixers’ win. Sixers player notes: Joel Embiid: 31 […]

Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons spoke to the media Friday for the first time since being sidelined by a nerve impingement in his surgically repaired back. The three-time All-Star has missed the last six weeks due to the injury. The Nets released a statement Wednesday saying Simmons has “displayed consistent strength improvement” and “further […]

The Los Angeles Clippers saw two streaks end in their last game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Not only was their nine-game win streak snapped, but Kawhi Leonard’s run of 27 consecutive games played to start the season also game to an end. Now, Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics come to town. Ahead of […]

The holidays have a way of bringing out unwelcome guests and unfortunate reminders. Well, NBA trade rumors and award talk are ramping up so it’s time for the yearly mention: New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum wears the unfortunate moniker of being perhaps the best active NBA player who has never been selected for an […]

It was announced Friday that the Miami Heat will retire Udonis Haslem’s jersey up to the rafters of the Kaseya Center on Jan. 19 when the team faces the Atlanta Hawks. Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra spoke before tonight’s game against, funny enough, the Hawks where he spoke about Haslem, what he meant to the […]

The Phoenix Suns have players and coaches who have the same mission to win games and ultimately a championship. Right now, it appears there is a Suns disconnect that is preventing them from reaching their destiny. Phoenix, which has lost seven of 10 games and completed a home stand recently in which it went 3-4, […]

Victor Wembanyama didn’t play much in his return from a sore right ankle in Thursday night’s loss to the Chicago Bulls. The star rookie played in only 22 minutes, scoring a career-low seven points and grabbing five rebounds at the United Center. “No, he’s fine. He’s fine. He has a minute limitation so we have […]

The Detroit Pistons are on the verge of making NBA history. However, they are on the wrong side of history with what could wind up being the longest losing streak this league has ever seen. The Utah Jazz came into Little Caesars Arena on Thursday night extremely short-handed. Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson, Talen Horton-Tucker, and […]

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has been nominated for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. On Thursday, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the list of eligible candidates for the Class of 2024, highlighted by first-time nominees Vince Carter, Bill Laimbeer, and the 2008 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team “Redeem Team.” Among […]

Phoenix Suns forward Yuta Watanabe reunited with Kevin Durant in free agency this offseason. Watanabe, who is shooting 31.3 percent from 3-point range this month, is struggling to fill his role. Suns coach Frank Vogel was asked about Watanabe’s confidence level since he is not playing after he started the season as a regular contributor. […]

The Portland Trail Blazers fell 118-117 to the Washington Wizards on Thursday night in another game that saw the Blazers furiously claw their way back after a slow start. But unlike Tuesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns, the Blazers fell just short against Washington. Portland had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but […]

Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic is not playing the team’s game on the road against the Sacramento Kings Friday night due to personal reasons. Nurkic is the only Suns player to appear in all 26 games to this point. Nurkic, who was traded to Phoenix in September in a three-team deal that saw him swapped […]

The NBA’s age-old adage goes, “It’s a make-or-miss league.” Mikal Bridges has been on the wrong end of that saying of late, and the result has been a 1-5 stretch for the Brooklyn Nets. Bridges is averaging 16.3 points per game on 31.9 percent shooting during that span. After a disappointing five-game West Coast trip, […]

PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid’s MVP award from last season was not received well by a big portion of NBA fans. Now, the Philadelphia 76ers center has substantially improved his level of play. The Sixers are winning more than most people thought they would and Embiid — again — has gotten better. Embiid’s per-game averages of […]

The Los Angeles Lakers need more from D’Angelo Russell. Especially right now. Russell entered the month of December averaging 17.6 points and 6.6 assists. He was shooting 49.1% from the field and 41.8% from 3. All things considered, he had been one of the Lakers’ most consistent players through 20 games. In nine December games? […]

You know things aren’t going to plan when the ‘must-win’ chatter starts up in December, but that’s where Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers (15-14) find themselves following a fourth straight defeat — this one a 118-111 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night at the Target Center. Without LeBron James (and Gabe […]

Claire Thompson could be the best of PWHL New York’s standout group of defensemen this season. But there’s a chance Thompson may never play a single shift in the inaugural season of the new Professional Women’s Hockey League. A 2022 Olympic gold medalist with Canada, Thompson is a full-time student at NYU School of Medicine. […]

NEW YORK — Micah Zandee-Hart was named the first captain in PWHL New York history Thursday. But that didn’t stop her teammates from playing a public joke on her in midtown Manhattan. Looking to gain publicity ahead of the inaugural Professional Women’s Hockey League season that begins Jan. 1, the New York team was introduced […]

HOUSTON – It’s been a rough three game stretch for the Houston Rockets, especially their defense. Losing winnable games against on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers sits a poor Houston road record of 2-10. At home, the Rockets snapped their 11-game winning streak against the Atlanta Hawks. At 13-12 in the […]

While Victor Wembanyama will likely play in the San Antonio Spurs only visit to Chicago, the team’s second leading scorer might not. And like Wemby, the Spurs third leading scorer will also probably suit up. The Silver and Black enter Thursday night’s game with a 4-22 record. The Chicago Bulls are 12-17, though they’ve won […]

The slumping Brooklyn Nets are expected to receive much-needed reinforcements ahead of Friday’s matchup with the Denver Nuggets. The Nets listed guard Dennis Smith Jr. as probable vs. Denver after he missed the team’s last seven games due to an upper back sprain. After missing six games from Nov. 19-30 due to a lower back […]

CAMDEN, N.J. — Joel Embiid is scoring the ball at historic, unprecedented levels. The Philadelphia 76ers’ center is once again the NBA’s scoring leader, though he has upped his average in points per game while playing fewer minutes per game. Through 24 games, the Sixers superstar has recorded more points than minutes, a feat that […]

Fresh off their win over the Dallas Mavericks, the Los Angeles Clippers may be without Kawhi Leonard and Paul George when they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night. Both Leonard (hip contusion) and George (illness) were listed on the Clippers’ injury report and have been listed as questionable to play. Kawhi Leonard […]

Arizona basketball went north to the Phoenix Suns’ home arena, Footprint Center, to defeat Alabama Wednesday night, 87-74. Tommy Lloyd and the Wildcats improved to 9-1. The Wildcats fell last Saturday to then-No. 3 Purdue, 92-84, but looked like the dominant team they have been against the Crimson Tide. “There’s no shame in losing to […]

When Malik Cunningham signed with the Baltimore Ravens off of the New England Patriots’ practice squad last week, Trent Brown left a peculiar message on Instagram that left many scratching their heads. The Patriots offensive tackle is standing by it. Speaking to A to Z Sports’ Sophie Weller, Brown double-downed on the sentiment that Cunningham […]

Saved by the grace of Jalen Hurts’ game-sealing pick on Monday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks, the Dallas Cowboys will take on the Miami Dolphins in Week 16 while clinging to the top spot in the NFC East. Much like the Cowboys, the Dolphins also face fraudulence allegations due to their uninspiring record against […]

The Boston Celtics bolstered their lineup this past offseason by trading for former All-Stars in Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, and they already have players fresh off All-Star appearances in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. But, is it possible that the C’s have another All-Star in their mix in Derrick White? White put on a […]