12:42 PM ET Rockets star guard Russell Westbrook is expected to miss at least the start of Houston’s first-round playoff series because of a strained right quad muscle, sources confirmed to ESPN. Westbrook’s return will depend on how he responds to treatment, sources told ESPN. The news on Westbrook’s status was first reported Thursday by

11:00 AM ET All the scenarios, all the magic numbers, all the scoreboard watching — it’s all going to be settled and easy to understand by close of business on Thursday night. But here’s where it’s at before we get there: Portland Trail Blazers: win and they’re in (as the 8-seed). Memphis Grizzlies: win and

8:12 PM ET Indiana Pacers forward T.J. Warren, one of the stars of the seeding schedule in the NBA’s restart, sat out Wednesday’s 108-104 win over the Houston Rockets because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot. A source told ESPN that the plantar fasciitis is “not serious” and will not prevent Warren from being

5:28 PM ET ESPN News Services LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Giannis Antetokounmpo has been suspended for Milwaukee‘s final game of the regular season, handed a one-game penalty Wednesday for headbutting Washington‘s Moe Wagner. It’s unknown whether Antetokounmpo would have played in Thursday’s game against Memphis anyway, given that the Bucks have already secured the

12:00 AM ET LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Damian Lillard launched from 33 feet and could only watch and wait as the ball caromed off the back of the rim and shot straight up into the air, with the fate of the game — and his Portland Trail Blazers‘ frantic playoff push — hanging in

10:19 PM ET The final spot in the Western Conference playoffs will come down to a weekend play-in, where the No. 9 seed will have to win two games against the No. 8 seed — Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET on ABC and, if necessary, Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET on ABC — to make

12:00 PM ET Four days of seeding games remain, and the West’s play-in race is reaching its breaking point. The seeding games run through Friday, but all relevant play-in games will be settled by Thursday, when the Portland Trail Blazers play the Brooklyn Nets. There are many scenarios still in play, but the picture will

12:11 AM ET Miami Heat All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler loves being the man who sets the tone for his team. He enjoys the challenge that comes with bringing the high-level intensity each and every day for a team that believes it can contend in the Eastern Conference. That’s why Monday’s 114-92 win over T.J. Warren

3:33 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams said Deandre Ayton missing the first quarter of Monday’s win over the Oklahoma City Thunder was just a “blip on the screen” and not a distraction. Ayton missed his mandatory COVID-19 test on Sunday morning and wasn’t cleared to play on Monday until his second

5:45 PM ET The NBA’s hottest team did it again. Despite not having center Deandre Ayton to start the game, the Phoenix Suns improved to 6-0 in the NBA restart, moving within a game of the Memphis Grizzlies for the 8-seed in the Western Conference. As incredible as the Suns have been, they still don’t