12:39 AM ET Andrew LopezESPN NEW ORLEANS — A little over a week after an Instagram post by Los Angeles Lakers small forward LeBron James made Josh Hart go viral in the wrong way, the New Orleans Pelicans‘ guard decided to have some fun on Friday night — his 25th birthday. On Feb. 26, James

5:01 PM ET Free-agent center Joakim Noah has agreed to a deal with the LA Clippers, league sources tell ESPN. Noah, 35, will join the Clippers on a 10-day contract next week, but there’s optimism that he would finish the season with the team barring any setbacks, league sources said. Noah will fill the franchise’s

1:21 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Spike Lee isn’t the only fan who has decided to be a no-show at New York Knicks games. The Knicks drew their smallest home crowd in nearly 13½ years Wednesday night, falling more than 3,200 below capacity in a 112-104 loss to the Utah Jazz. The announced

11:14 PM ET SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry took the 14 steps from his team’s locker room up to the tunnel that leads to the floor at Chase Center on Thursday night and couldn’t wait to see what was in front of him. He started running as soon as he got

2:46 PM ET Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry said he will be on a minutes restriction — likely 24-28 minutes — when he makes his return to game action on Thursday against the Toronto Raptors. Curry said he is excited to play after four months of rehab while recovering from a broken left hand.

2:18 AM ET Andrew LopezESPN DALLAS — Alvin Gentry isn’t worried about Zion Williamson‘s conditioning. Following a frustrating 127-123 overtime loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night, the New Orleans Pelicans coach was asked how he thought Williamson looked conditioning-wise as he played his first back-to-back of the season. “I think he’s fine,” Gentry

12:18 AM ET Eric WoodyardESPN MILWAUKEE — Although they’re fierce competitors on the court, both being All-Star Game captains, Giannis Antetokounmpo says he’s inspired by LeBron James‘ ability to perform at an elite level at age 35. Antetokounmpo even referred to James as an “alien” to be playing so well before they previously tipped off,

9:33 AM ET The Basketball Tournament, the 64-team, $2 million winner-take-all summer tournament entering its seventh season, will change the rules to reduce the chances of a game ending on free throws, tournament officials told ESPN. If a team commits a foul while in the bonus during the Elam Ending — which has teams play

2:59 AM ET LOS ANGELES — In an intimate gathering of season-ticket holders Monday, Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss shared how excited she feels to have her team break its six-year postseason dry spell next month, thanks in large part to their offseason trade with New Orleans for the next great Lakers big man.

12:05 AM ET Andrew LopezESPN NEW ORLEANS — For the first time since Zion Williamson debuted on Jan. 22, the Pelicans are facing back-to-back games. And, despite initially saying he wouldn’t play on back-to-back nights, the Pelicans will let their star rookie play on Wednesday against the Dallas Mavericks, just one night after he put