7:00 AM ET After a thrilling play-in tournament and opening-round action that saw the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers get bounced by the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks sweep the reigning Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat, we’ve reached the conference semifinals. What will the Suns do for an encore against the Denver Nuggets? Can

5:10 PM ET Associated Press PHILADELPHIA — Joel Embiid‘s status for Game 1 of Philadelphia’s playoff series is still unknown because of a cartilage tear in his knee. The 76ers center remained day to day, and coach Doc Rivers said no decision has been made on the All-Star’s availability for Game 1 against Atlanta. The

12:35 AM ET Nick DePaulaESPN Earlier this week, Vanessa Bryant revealed in a series of social media posts that she was blindsided upon seeing an image of a shoe she helped design, a black and white “Mamba Forever” special edition of the Nike Kobe 6 Protro, from her late husband Kobe Bryant’s signature series with

5:12 PM ET Associated Press WASHINGTON — Katherine Evans is joining the Wizards as the first woman to head the research or analytics department of an NBA franchise. Monumental Basketball announced the hire Friday, saying Evans would oversee its research department, supporting the Wizards, the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, the G League’s Capital City Go-Go and

7:00 AM ET NBA Insiders One season after dropping a 3-1 lead to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals, the LA Clippers once again find themselves facing elimination, this time in Round 1 against the Dallas Mavericks in a pivotal Game 6 on Saturday. Luka Doncic, who delivered one of the league’s most

6:48 PM ET Associated Press MIAMI — Pat Riley has identified an immediate priority for the Miami Heat: Do absolutely nothing. After a nonstop year, that’s his requirement. There will be more than enough time for roster decisions, offseason workouts, preparing for the combine and draft even though Miami doesn’t currently have a pick, piecing

10:32 AM ET The Boston Celtics announced Wednesday that Danny Ainge is retiring and coach Brad Stevens is being promoted to president of basketball operations. The Celtics will start a search to hire a head coach to replace Stevens. Ainge will work with the team on the transition through the offseason. Celtics staff were informed

2:17 AM ET LOS ANGELES — From the moment Luka Doncic declared for the NBA draft in 2018, this game was coming. The game when it became clear he wasn’t just a great talent, but one who was ready to lead a team to a win against any opponent, in any playoff series, in any

5:07 PM ET Associated Press DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons hired John Beilein as a senior adviser for player development Wednesday, saying the hope is that the former NBA and Michigan coach can help the young team “maximize its potential.” Owner Tom Gores credited coach Dwane Casey for the decision to add the 68-year-old Beilein.

1:31 AM ET PHOENIX — The Los Angeles Lakers‘ repeat title hopes are on life support after Tuesday’s 115-85 shellacking by the Phoenix Suns in Game 5 of their Western Conference first-round series, putting L.A. one loss away from elimination. “We’ll find out what we’re made of, and we’ll find out how bad we want