NBA

1:28 AM ET NEW YORK — Giannis Antetokounmpo became the Milwaukee Bucks‘ all-time leading scorer on Thursday night by delivering the type of unbelievable performance that has defined his star-studded career. Antetokounmpo broke Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar‘s franchise mark of 14,211 points, scoring 44 points on Thursday to move his total to 14,216. As

4:34 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN When asked directly within the past 24 hours if their teams are fully vaccinated, both the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers declined to comment to ESPN — opening the possibility that both teams could potentially be missing players in road games of a first-round playoff series against the Toronto Raptors.

8:00 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart, the leading defender on the NBA’s leading defense, believes he is the Defensive Player of the Year. So, too, does Mikal Bridges, the Phoenix Suns‘ fourth-year wing and the franchise’s top NBA All-Defensive candidate. But, based on the award’s history, it’s unlikely either of the

12:07 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN The top of the NBA’s Eastern Conference couldn’t be much more compact. Entering Tuesday’s action, four teams — the Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers — were within a single loss of one another. And, in serendipitous timing, all four were set to face off, with the

5:02 PM ET ESPN Facebook Twitter Facebook Messenger Pinterest Email print The Los Angeles Lakers have listed LeBron James as out and Anthony Davis as doubtful for Thursday’s game at the Utah Jazz. Both didn’t play in Tuesday’s 128-110 blowout loss to the Dallas Mavericks. James has been dealing with a left ankle sprain since

8:27 AM ET After undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee Wednesday morning, Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III is expected to return within four to six weeks — a timetable that could land him back in the lineup as soon as the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, sources told

12:33 AM ET DALLAS — For the first time since the first week of the regular season, the Los Angeles Lakers find themselves on the outside of the play-in tournament looking in after Tuesday night’s 128-110 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Playing without LeBron James (left ankle sprain) and Anthony Davis (right mid-foot sprain), the

6:01 PM ET After missing three months with an elbow injury, LA Clippers All-Star guard Paul George is expected to return to the lineup against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night, sources told ESPN. George, who hasn’t played since Dec. 22, completed rehab on a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, was upgraded

8:00 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN Last season, the Denver Nuggets‘ Nikola Jokic surpassed Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid in the closing weeks of the NBA’s regular season to win the Most Valuable Player award, as injuries to Embiid and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James cleared the path for Jokic to become the first

4:42 PM ET LeBron James and Anthony Davis will both be listed as doubtful for Tuesday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel said after practice Monday. Davis went through a full, live practice for the first time since suffering a mid-foot sprain on Feb. 16 against the Utah Jazz. James

12:01 PM ET Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III — an anchor of the league’s best defense — suffered a meniscus tear in his left knee, the team announced Monday. He will miss several weeks, minimally, sources told ESPN on Monday. An MRI on Monday revealed the tear, and further evaluation Monday will help provide

8:00 AM ET As the Brooklyn Nets continue to fight for playoff seeding, Kyrie Irving is now able to play in home games. New York City Mayor Eric Adams lifted the mandate for unvaccinated players and performers on Thursday, clearing the way for Irving to play in home games at Barclays Center. He made his

1:38 AM ET NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving made his home debut Sunday night during a 119-110 loss to the Charlotte Hornets — making it clear that he believes his presence on the floor represents something much larger than a basketball player. “I was just trying to ground myself as much as

2:35 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN The New Orleans Pelicans have listed Brandon Ingram as probable for Sunday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers, setting up the forward to end a 10-game absence by returning against his former team. Ingram has been out since March 8 with a strained right hamstring. After missing the Pelicans’ most

6:21 AM ET ESPN News Services Portland Trail Blazers forward Trendon Watford will be sidelined at least a week with a hyperextended knee and bone bruise suffered in Saturday’s loss to the Houston Rockets. Watford led the Blazers with 15 points and 10 rebounds before suffering the injury with 3:01 remaining in the 115-98 loss.

9:16 PM ET Associated Press TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors‘ game against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night restarted at 9:30 p.m., about 70 minutes after it was suspended in the second quarter and the arena evacuated because of a fire in a speaker hanging over the stands. Players headed to their locker rooms with

1:04 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN MIAMI — When news first broke on Wednesday that the New York City mandate that prevented unvaccinated athletes from playing in home games has been lifted, Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving said he had to keep pinching himself to make sure it was real. On Thursday, New York City mayor

4:40 PM ET MIAMI — Kyrie Irving is finally allowed to play at home games inside Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Nets couldn’t be happier about it. New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday that the mandate for unvaccinated athletes and performers has been lifted, clearing the way for Irving, who hasn’t been able