8:00 AM ET Klay Thompson returned after 941 days away from the court. The Golden State Warriors Splash Brother, who hadn’t played in an NBA game since the 2019 Finals due to ACL and Achilles injuries, made his much-anticipated season debut with 17 points in 20 minutes during the Warriors’ win over the Cleveland Cavaliers

Jan 8, 2022 Tim BontempsESPN BOSTON — After Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown produced the first triple-double of his career in Boston’s 99-75 victory over the New York Knicks here at TD Garden on Saturday night, he shot down the idea that he and Jayson Tatum can’t have an effective long-term partnership. “I think we

Jan 7, 2022 Tim BontempsESPN NEW YORK — Julius Randle apologized in a statement on his Instagram account on Friday, saying that his thumbs-down gesture to Knicks fans during Thursday’s win over the Boston Celtics as well as his postgame remarks were “an example of how sometimes you say things you regret to people you

Jan 7, 2022 Associated Press PHOENIX — Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns have turned into some of the league’s best closers. It’s a big reason they’ve reached 30 wins before any other team in the NBA this season. Paul had a triple-double with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, and the Suns improved

2:14 PM ET ESPN News Services The Memphis Grizzlies placed coach Taylor Jenkins in the NBA’s health and safety protocols Saturday, according to the team. Nearly half the league’s head coaches have now entered the protocols at some point this season, with Jenkins becoming the 14th. The Grizzlies play at the LA Clippers on Saturday

6:21 PM ET About 70% of eligible NBA players have now received COVID-19 booster shots, sources told ESPN, a number that comprises about 350 total players — more than half of a league that has a total player count typically hovering around 500. The NBA has encouraged and incentivized receiving booster shots and, in a

5:16 PM ET Associated Press WASHINGTON — Washington Wizards announcer Glenn Consor apologized Thursday for a reference to Houston player Kevin Porter Jr.’s father on Wednesday night’s broadcast. Porter made a 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left to beat the Wizards 114-111. Consor said: “You’ve got to give credit. Kevin Porter Jr., like his dad, pulled

8:59 PM ET Brianna Williams Everything is bigger in Texas, including, apparently, the food at Houston Rockets‘ home games. Ahead of Friday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks, the Rockets announced that the Toyota Center, their home arena, would be selling a hot dog garnished with unconventional toppings at select concession areas. And this is far

12:54 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN NEW YORK — After the Boston Celtics blew their latest lead of the season in a heartbreaking 108-105 defeat at the hands of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, coach Ime Udoka repeatedly called out his team for a lack of mental toughness. “I think it’s a lack

8:55 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — The NBA fined Sacramento Kings assistant general manager Wes Wilcox $15,000 and the team $50,000 on Thursday for violating league rules prohibiting team owners and executives from interacting with scorer’s table personnel during game play. The NBA said Wilcox left his seat to confront operations personnel at