1:57 PM ET ESPN Facebook Twitter Facebook Messenger Pinterest Email print Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups has entered the league’s health and safety protocols. Assistant coach Scott Brooks will serve as the acting head coach in Billups’ absence. Billups is one of four NBA head coaches in protocols, including the Los Angeles Lakers‘ Frank

Dec 26, 2021 When the NBA schedule makers locked in the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets to play on Christmas Day, the vision was to pit L.A.’s Big Three of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook against Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden in a star-studded affair. Thanks to a left

Dec 25, 2021 LA Clippers All-Star Paul George suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and will rest the injury for the next three to four weeks prior to a re-evaluation, the team announced Saturday. There’s no clear timetable on a return to play, but the hope is that resting the injury

Dec 25, 2021 Jamal Collier MILWAUKEE — Although Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo would never prefer to sit out for an extended stretch of games, he acknowledged after Milwaukee’s 117-113 victory over the Boston Celtics on Christmas Day that his stint in the NBA’s health and safety protocols gave him an opportunity for a much-needed mental

3:48 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN NEW YORK — Kemba Walker‘s Christmas began with him being officially given back his starting point guard spot. He then delivered New York Knicks fans a 101-87 victory over the Trae Young-less Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden, and did so in style: by recording the third triple-double of his

1:46 AM ET LeBron James passed Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer on Christmas Day. James’ 13th point of the first half, coming on a free throw with 3 minutes, 52 seconds remaining in the second quarter, gave him 396 career points on the holiday, eclipsing Bryant’s 395. James

1:20 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN The Boston Celtics saw their 13th player enter the NBA’s health and safety protocols in a little more than a week when guard Dennis Schroder entered Saturday, a couple of hours before the team is set to play the Bucks in a Christmas Day matinee in Milwaukee. Schroder is one

12:51 PM ET The Brooklyn Nets will have James Harden on Christmas but Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving remain in health and safety protocols and have been ruled out for Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Nets coach Steve Nash said Harden will play against the Lakers and the Nets will also have forward

3:00 AM ET SAN FRANCISCO — As the Golden State Warriors roll into a Christmas Day showdown with the Phoenix Suns on Saturday, they do so with a little frustration. It’ll mark their second straight year being on the road during the NBA’s biggest regular-season showcase day. “Generally I like playing on Christmas,” Warriors coach

6:16 PM ET Associated Press MIAMI — The Miami Heat announced Friday that center Dewayne Dedmon is expected to miss no more than two weeks with a sprained MCL in his left knee. Dedmon suffered the injury Thursday in Miami’s win over Detroit. It’s another blow, albeit perhaps a short-term one, to Miami’s frontcourt depth,