7:18 AM ET Kyrie Irving does not lack confidence. It’s his defining characteristic. It’s also the reason that, after losing four straight, the Brooklyn Nets have stopped sliding in the Eastern Conference standings in Kevin Durant‘s absence. It was Irving who repeatedly set the tone for the rest of the group publicly in the aftermath

10:25 PM ET The Miami Heat managed to get in a good social media dig at the Boston Celtics — and, incredibly, the Dallas Cowboys. On Tuesday night, the Heat beat the Celtics 98-95, evening their season series against Boston 2-2. The Celtics had difficulty keeping the ball secure, recording 17 turnovers to the Heat’s

6:09 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, who has been out since Jan. 2 with a right hamstring strain, is progressing with his rehabilitation and will be re-evaluated again in two weeks, the team said Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Pelicans could also get Brandon Ingram, their other All-Star forward who hasn’t played

10:11 PM ET Associated Press DETROIT — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 20 of his 29 points in the first quarter, returning to the lineup after a five-game absence to lead the Milwaukee Bucks in a 150-130 win over the Detroit Pistons on Monday night. The two-time MVP had been out with a sore left knee and

Jan 23, 2023 Somewhere along his path toward becoming the NBA’s all-time scoring leader, LeBron James reached the ultimate state of being as an offensive force: unguardable. “Early on, it was a lot of just speed and jumping and then figuring it out,” James said in January, looking back at his career the day after

3:56 PM ET Washington Wizards star Kristaps Porzingis has been sidelined with a sprained left ankle, but there’s optimism he can return to the court within two weeks, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Monday. Porzingis suffered the injury in the third quarter of Saturday’s win over the Orlando Magic. The Wizards on Monday officially

8:08 PM ET Coban Porter, a sophomore guard at the University of Denver and brother of Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., was arrested early Sunday in connection with a fatal crash in Denver, according to police there. Coban Porter, 21, was arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide and reckless driving after he ran a red

Jan 21, 2023 ESPN News Services TORONTO — Boston guard Marcus Smart and center Robert Williams both missed the second half of the Celtics’ 106-104 win at Toronto on Saturday because of injuries. Smart injured his right ankle in the final minute of the first half and had to be helped to the locker room.

Jan 21, 2023 Associated Press WASHINGTON — Rui Hachimura doesn’t seem too disturbed by the idea he could be traded. “I just want to be somewhere that wants me as a basketball player, and I want to be somewhere that likes my game,” the Washington Wizards forward said Saturday night. When asked if Washington is

Jan 21, 2023 Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. — Bill Schonely, the longtime Portland Trail Blazers broadcaster with a distinctive baritone who coined the phrase “Rip City,” died on Saturday. He was 93. Affectionately known as The Schonz, Schonely was the team’s broadcaster for its inaugural season in 1970 and held the job for some 28