7:03 PM ET After one game with the Dallas Mavericks, former All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols on Thursday. Thomas was signed to a 10-day hardship deal on Wednesday to replace Brandon Knight, another hardship-deal addition who entered the league’s protocols after testing positive for COVID-19. Thomas, whose 10-day deal

1:05 AM ET The Los Angeles Lakers were seemingly in control, up by 13 late in the third quarter, before Ja Morant nearly outproduced them on his own down the stretch in the Memphis Grizzlies‘ 104-99 home win Wednesday. Morant scored 16 of his 41 points from the 3-minute, 38-second mark in the third through

11:52 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN BOSTON — The old adage about the NBA is that it is, at its core, a make-or-miss league. If there was ever a game that proved that to be true, the LA Clippers‘ 91-82 victory over the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on Wednesday night was it. Boston (16-19), which

4:25 PM ET ESPN News Services MIAMI — The NBA postponed Wednesday’s game between Miami and San Antonio after a combination of injuries and positive COVID-19 tests left the Heat unable to meet the league’s requirement of eight available players. It was the 10th game postponed in the NBA this season because of virus-related issues.

5:41 PM ET ESPN News Services Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio will miss the rest of the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee, the team announced Wednesday. Rubio, who is under contract through this season, had an MRI on the knee at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health on Wednesday after sustaining the injury

Dec 28, 2021 Nick DePaulaESPN After first signing with Puma in 2018 to help relaunch its basketball category, Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton has landed a multiyear footwear and apparel endorsement deal to continue his partnership with the brand. “It’s pretty lit. It’s truly a blessing as well,” Ayton said. “The reason I signed with

Dec 28, 2021 ESPN News Services Veteran center Greg Monroe made history by becoming the NBA-record 541st player used in the league this season when he checked in off the bench for the Minnesota Timberwolves in their 108-103 home win over the Boston Celtics on Monday night. Signed to a 10-day contract earlier in the

11:46 PM ET SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green will not play Tuesday against the Denver Nuggets and is expected to miss several games after entering health and safety protocols. The Warriors made that official Monday in an injury report that includes three other players who remain in the protocols. Green’s absence

5:10 PM ET Nearing the halfway mark of his inaugural season with his hometown Los Angeles Lakers and recognizing that his play is under constant scrutiny as the team struggles, Russell Westbrook said he’s done taking direction on what he should be doing differently. “Everybody wants me to do this but then they don’t want

8:00 AM ET Health and safety protocols continue to be a concern around the league. Several stars sat out their teams’ Christmas Day matchups, including Trae Young, Luka Doncic and Kevin Durant, though James Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to action for Saturday’s slate of games. Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks past the Boston Celtics,