6:22 PM ET HOUSTON — James Harden isn’t just playing around in pickup games when he launches the one-legged, stepback 3-pointers seen in viral videos shot during open runs this summer. Harden, the Houston Rockets‘ superstar who led the NBA in scoring the last two seasons, is searching for ways he can continue to improve

10:41 AM ET Kyle Kuzma of the Los Angeles Lakers will not play for Team USA in the upcoming FIBA World Cup after it was determined that his left ankle injury would prevent him from participating, USA Basketball announced Saturday. With the loss of Kuzma, the USA Basketball roster is now finalized with 12 players.

2:47 AM ET Associated Press MELBOURNE, Australia — The U.S. men’s basketball team lost for the first time in nearly 13 years, falling to Australia 98-94 in a pre-World Cup exhibition game Saturday. Patty Mills scored 30 points for Australia, which rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half. It was the first loss

7:48 PM ET Dwight Howard is on his way back to the Los Angeles Lakers, after agreeing to a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies. While the move wasn’t a surprise given recent developments — specifically the Lakers losing DeMarcus Cousins to a torn ACL and the Grizzlies having little interest in keeping Howard on the

5:21 PM ET After completing a contract buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies, Dwight Howard will sign a non-guaranteed contract with the Los Angeles Lakers that comes with a clear message, league sources told ESPN: Disrupt this team — and you’ll be gone. In meetings with Lakers management, coaches and teammates — including Anthony Davis —

2:45 PM ET Investigators for the Sacramento Kings and NBA determined that, based on available evidence, there was “not a sufficient basis to support” the sexual assault allegations made against Kings head coach Luke Walton. According to a Friday statement from the Kings and NBA, Kelli Tennant, who alleged that Walton sexually assaulted her in

4:33 AM ET ESPN.com Facebook Twitter Facebook Messenger Pinterest Email print The 2019-20 edition of ESPN’s NBA summer forecast is here. Which will be the best and worst teams this season? Which superstar players will win the major awards? What surprises are on the way? We polled ESPN’s panel of basketball experts for their predictions

10:27 PM ET Associated Press CLEVELAND — Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert has been home for nearly a week in Detroit as he continues to recover from a stroke suffered in May. Gilbert, 57, had spent the past two months in a rehabilitation center in Chicago. On Thursday, Quicken Loans CEO Jay Farner provided a brief

6:35 PM ET Associated Press OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wants to temper expectations. Maybe that is understandable. He is preparing to step into the point guard position Russell Westbrook held for 11 years for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 10.8 points and 3.3 assists as a rookie for the Los Angeles Clippers last

7:32 AM ET MELBOURNE, Australia — You could just about hear the collective groan reverberating around Melbourne as one by one, they started falling like dominoes. When Team USA’s superstars began withdrawing from the FIBA World Cup squad, it meant they would no longer be taking part in the two highly anticipated friendlies against the