NBA

Pascal Siakam (left) and Precious Achiuwa are 2 of the NBA-leading 8 international players on the Raptors' roster. NEW YORK — The National Basketball ...

Canada 19 and Friday, March 31 in Philadelphia. 25 in Milwaukee and on Saturday, March 25 in Denver. • Two international players have won the last four Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Awards: reigning back-to-back MVP Jokić (2021-22 and 2020-21) and Antetokounmpo (2019-20 and 2018-19). Among the American players with ties to other countries are [Deandre Ayton](https://www.nba.com/player/1629028/deandre-ayton) (Suns; Bahamas; BWB Global 2016), [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://www.nba.com/player/1628983/shai-gilgeous-alexander) (Thunder; Canada; BWB Global 2016), [Joel Embiid](https://www.nba.com/player/203954/joel-embiid) (76ers; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2011), [Rui Hachimura](https://www.nba.com/player/1629060/rui-hachimura) (Washington Wizards; Japan; BWB Global 2016), [Jamal Murray](https://www.nba.com/player/1627750/jamal-murray) (Nuggets; Canada; BWB Global 2015), [Pascal Siakam](https://www.nba.com/player/1627783/pascal-siakam) (Raptors; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2012) and [Jonas Valančiūnas](https://www.nba.com/player/202685/jonas-valanciunas) (New Orleans Pelicans; Lithuania; BWB Europe 2008). The Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz each have six. There is a total of 58 European players on opening-night rosters, including three members of the 2021-22 Kia All-NBA First Team: ET](https://www.nba.com/game/lal-vs-gsw-0022200002)). ET](https://www.nba.com/game/phi-vs-bos-0022200001)). The 2022-23 season tips off tonight with a doubleheader on TNT. All 30 NBA teams feature at least one international player.

Of the 17 NBA franchises featuring a Wildcat, eight have multiple Kentucky players. Detroit and Sacramento each have a trio of Wildcats on their roster while ...

1 overall (Derrick Rose – 2008, Wall – 2010, Davis – 2012, Towns – 2015). In the 2022-23 season alone, former UK players are slated to make nearly $330 million. Booker and Towns each earned their third NBA All-Star selection. – Los Angeles Clippers Of the 17 NBA franchises featuring a Wildcat, eight have multiple Kentucky players. Duke, with 24, is the only other school with more than 20 players in the NBA.

On a recent Sunday afternoon, a basketball fan in a Cleveland Cavaliers jersey took his seat for a preseason NBA game in a sold-out arena.

The crowd went nuts anytime Hachimura touched the ball. Scores of people packed in to watch a pair of preseason games between the Washington Wizards — featuring This would have been unremarkable if not for the fact the game was taking place 5,000 miles away from US shores and the Cavaliers weren't even part of it.

The NBA Japan Games 2022 have come and gone, but Japanese fans are eager for more live viewing opportunities and the growth of the league in their country.

“Just to play in front of Japanese fans, it was a very special moment for me and the team and the country,” he said. “It was one of the great memories in my life,” he added. “I attended Game 1 and Saturday Night of the NBA Japan Games, Kokushi said. “This whole trip was special and different.” “It was a special moment for me, and this team, this country,” he said. “That’s what the game is about,” he said. While many Japanese kids play basketball in junior high and high school, its popularity as a spectator sport remains limited, so reaching adolescents at the age when basketball is a bigger part of their lives makes sense. “The best way to enjoy sports, not only the NBA, is to watch them live in an arena,” said Makoto Kokushi, a Los Angeles Lakers fan from Tokyo who works in the printing and publishing industry. Tanaka, for one, became an NBA fan in 2007 as a junior high school student when the league was still on TV, a fandom which has now persisted 15 years and counting. “Trying to build inspiration, confidence, fun for the next generation of kids that look up to us and love basketball, love sports.” “This showed us tons of Japanese guys love NBA Games.” And those experiences imprint, and make a level of difference.”

Who will win each conference and the NBA Finals? When will LeBron surpass Kareem as the all-time scoring champ? Our experts are making their predictions.

Tim MacMahon: Bucks over Warriors in 6 Tim Legler: Warriors over Bucks in 6 [What to know for '22-23](/nba/story/_/id/34795174/nba-season-preview-2022-23-contenders-stars-big-questions) James is 1,325 points behind [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4145/kareem-abdul-jabbar)'s mark, so we should expect the record to be broken some time near the 2022-23 season's second half. And while our expert panel places the defending champs among the contenders to reach the Finals again in 2023, we weren't as kind to the Celtics. [LA Clippers](/nba/team/_/name/lac/la-clippers) were a trendy pick among our panel, and rightfully so.

The Golden State Warriors won last season's NBA Finals after opening up with +1200 odds. Nothing wrong with that payout. This season the Warriors are the ...

Click here to find out more about our partners. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. You can select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices.

NEW YORK – Two teams who appear to have realistic expectations to win the 2022-23 National Basketball Association (NBA) championship will tip off the new ...

Before the game, the Celtics will pay tribute to the late Bill Russell. And his ability to organise and understand all that comes with running a team during a season.” 4 seed in the East and fell in the second round to the Miami Heat. The Celtics won last season’s Eastern Conference championship before falling to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. The Hall of Fame centre, who died on July 31, helped Boston win 11 titles during his 13-year career. Brogdon, who turns 30 in December, has been plagued by injuries during his six-year career.

(Reuters) - Opening-night rosters for the National Basketball Association's 2022-23 season, which tips off later on Tuesday, will feature 120 international ...

Australia (10), France (9) and Germany (6) were next on the list followed by Nigeria, Serbia and Spain who each have five players on opening-night rosters. The record for international players (121) and record for countries and territories represented (43) were set at the start of the 2021-22 and 2017-18 seasons, respectively. (Reuters) - Opening-night rosters for the National Basketball Association's 2022-23 season, which tips off later on Tuesday, will feature 120 international players from 40 countries, according to the league.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each scored 35 points and the Celtics beat the 76ers 126-117 on Tuesday night in the NBA season opener.

The 10-time All-Star frustrated the Celtics, displaying the mobility he was missing a year ago. He was able to get to the free throw line often. The 76ers are looking to contend with the top teams in the Eastern Conference with Harden embarking on his first full season in Philadelphia after being swapped for Ben Simmons late last season in a trade with Brooklyn.

Everything you need to know about 76ers-Celtics and Lakers-Warriors as the 2022-23 season tips off.

Harden then allowed [Jayson Tatum](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum) to coast by him for a layup on the following possession, and Embiid then committed his third foul at the other end. [Marcus Smart](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2990992/marcus-smart) gets tangled up with Philly's [Joel Embiid](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3059318/joel-embiid), who hooked his arm and drew a foul. While [Marcus Smart](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2990992/marcus-smart) was the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year last season, it was Horford (third in NBA) and [Robert Williams III](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4066211/robert-williams-iii) (11th) who had the highest Defensive Real Plus Minus (DRPM) scores on the team. For all of the understandable focus on [Stephen Curry](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3975/stephen-curry)'s heroics in that series, Boston lost because its offense couldn't get it done against Golden State's defense. [LeBron James](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/1966/lebron-james) at power forward. He has already drawn three 3-point shooting fouls, including a completed four-point play, and also became the first player in the NBA to shoot the free throw for the new take-foul rule at the 6:13 mark of the first quarter. [Steph Curry](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3975/stephen-curry) era, but the franchise has leaned into their total titles in new signage around the Chase Center. [Jaylen Brown](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3917376/jaylen-brown) then came over and got in Embiid's face. [What to know about all 30 teams](/nba/story/_/id/34795174/nba-season-preview-2022-23-contenders-stars-big-questions) [Al Horford](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3213/al-horford) is plus-12 in 18 minutes played even though he's only 1-for-4 from the field for 3 points. [Golden State Warriors](/nba/team/_/name/gs/golden-state-warriors) received their rings after winning their fourth title in the past eight seasons. "We don't want to be one of those teams -- and you very rarely see that in the NBA -- where teams are swaying according to who their opponent is starting," Ham said during his pregame remarks.

Who will win each conference and the NBA Finals? When will LeBron surpass Kareem as the all-time scoring champ? Our experts are making their predictions.

Tim MacMahon: Bucks over Warriors in 6 Tim Legler: Warriors over Bucks in 6 [What to know for '22-23](/nba/story/_/id/34795174/nba-season-preview-2022-23-contenders-stars-big-questions) James is 1,325 points behind [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4145/kareem-abdul-jabbar)'s mark, so we should expect the record to be broken some time near the 2022-23 season's second half. And while our expert panel places the defending champs among the contenders to reach the Finals again in 2023, we weren't as kind to the Celtics. [LA Clippers](/nba/team/_/name/lac/la-clippers) were a trendy pick among our panel, and rightfully so.

The 2022-23 NBA season tips off & last year's finalists Boston Celtics & Golden State Warriors are leading NBA title contenders again along with the LA ...

“FanDuel TV was designed for viewers to watch and wager and Run it Back will bring a 360° view of the NBA including wagering trends to our audience,” said FanDuel’s Chief Commercial Officer Mike Raffensperger. Curry earns the highest figure playing basketball and on the court this season at $48.1 million. 18 nightcap, and the Warriors are leading contenders again and co-favorites to win the Western Conference with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Forbes list of The defending champion Golden State Warriors battle the Los Angeles Lakers in the Oct. The Celtics are a leading favorite to return to the NBA finals for the second straight season, but a slight second choice behind the Eastern Conference favorite Milwaukee Bucks.

Coach of the Year? Sixth Man? Best rookie? All-NBA? Sam predicts the future of the 2022-23 NBA season.

But he’s a remarkable competitor, and one of the smartest players in the league, like the quarterback who knows where the receiver will be. I’m going with my heart again with Lauri Markkanen second since with the tanking Jazz he’s going to get a lot of shots. If he survives the season and the nor’easters he gets in the top three along with Patrick Williams. I like the share these kinds of awards, but Smart would be in there again and may be better than everyone. The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Chicago Bulls. It’s too automatic and unimaginative to give the award to the No. This is the award I like the least because of its arbitrary nature and varying definitions and standards. I watched him occasionally with LeBron’s asterisk bubble title a few years back, and he seemed something of a mini Scalabrine with the head band and standing ovations in garbage time. But nobody in the NBA today—sorry, LeBron—makes a difference in games and winning like Curry does, and that’s what the award is about. The rest my my ballot would be Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, whom I think now is the best in game coach in the league, but I guess I’m just as guilty for again denying him the award he’s never won and probably should have three times. The complication, of course, in all of this is the Victor Wembanyana race to the bottom. Nobody still impacts the league more than Curry, and that’s what the award is about.

The 2022-23 NBA season returns Tuesday. Here are our predictions on who will win the NBA Finals and additional award winners.

Two teams out West that could be in for something special if the stars align are the Pelicans with a healthy Zion Williamson and the Kings with their depth-filled roster. The Atlanta Hawks could jump back into the top tier of teams after landing Dejounte Murray while the Pacers and Detroit Pistons should both be fun to watch but not at serious playoff levels just yet. [Rookie of the Year](https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/here-are-nba-rookie-year-favorites-2022-23), it’s fair to say [Sacramento Kings](https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/kings) forward Keegan Murray is the rookie who will contribute the most out of the gate and claim the award. Based on my NBA Finals predictions, it would be safe to presume that Jokić and Antetokounmpo are once again in the conversation, along with Ja Morant, Curry and Tatum. New Orleans could be in for a 2021-22 Grizzlies jump in the standings while Sacramento could have a 2020-21 Grizzlies mini-breakout year. Rudy Gobert is probably in line for his record-tying fourth Defensive Player of the Year award now that he’s tasked with cleaning up alongside Karl-Anthony Towns in Minnesota. An underrated name here could be Cleveland Cavaliers second-year center Evan Mobley, who came on strong as a rookie and has more potential in him. 8 overall pick to the New Orleans Pelicans. Generally, teams that thrive in the postseason atmosphere possess superstars who defy the opposition’s tactics offensively and deploy a foundation of switchable defenders who are disciplined and can handle multiple positions. He brings both of those factors and raises the level of quality on the court. Another one is Dyson Daniels, the No. Most teams have a clean slate right now, especially with Kawhi Leonard returning to the

First, former Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers will return to Boston's TD Garden as Joel Embiid, James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers take on Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the defending Eastern Conference champions. 2022-23 NBA Schedule. • Rivalries on ...

[Boston Celtics](/nba/team/_/name/bos/boston-celtics) [#DubNation] [pic.twitter.com/8kiHmWOUlQ] [October 18, 2022] [Philadelphia 76ers](/nba/team/_/name/phi/philadelphia-76ers) vs. Davison rocked a Vols jersey pregame days after Tennessee's football team [defeated Alabama's](/college-football/story/_/id/34817965/nick-saban-wants-alabama-focused-loose-loss-tennessee) in Knoxville. [@sixers]debut tonight on TNT [pic.twitter.com/VZlyhjjhQL] [October 18, 2022] [P.J. [Los Angeles Lakers](/nba/team/_/name/lal/los-angeles-lakers) vs. [Read more: Must-see moments from NBA Opening Night](/nba/story/_/id/34823535/nba-opening-night-76ers-celtics-lakers-warriors-live-highlights-reactions-takeaways) [Blake Griffin](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3989/blake-griffin). [JD Davison](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4576085/jd-davison) lost a bet to teammate [Grant Williams](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4066218/grant-williams), a Tennessee alum. At the 2003 NBA draft, James turned heads with his memorable white suit. [https://t.co/gqPVz7vQ9i] [pic.twitter.com/8CsSvv31FJ] [October 18, 2022] [Al Horford](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3213/al-horford) and [Malcolm Brogdon](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2566769/malcolm-brogdon) all stepped out in fashionable attire for the season opener. [Golden State Warriors](/nba/team/_/name/gs/golden-state-warriors)

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry shoots during the NBA Japan Games against the Washington Wizards at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on Oct 2, 2022.

“Warriors are the biggest team in the country and Rakuten gets credit for that. The 2019 Japan Games featured the Toronto Raptors and Houston Rockets. The company’s regional headquarters is in Silicon Valley and executives say investing in the Warriors has been a big plus for recruitment and employee satisfaction. Scores of people packed in to watch a pair of pre-season games between the Washington Wizards – featuring Rui Hachimura, one of two Japanese players in the NBA – and the reigning champions Golden State Warriors. Africa and India are also international priorities, deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said at the CAA World Congress of Sports in October. Rakuten and the Warriors renewed and expanded their pact in May – excellent timing because the team won the championship a month later.

On a recent Sunday afternoon, a basketball fan in a Cleveland Cavaliers jersey took his seat for a preseason NBA game in a sold-out arena.

On a recent Sunday afternoon, a basketball fan in a Cleveland Cavaliers jersey took his seat for a preseason NBA game in a sold-out arena. Scores of people packed in to watch a pair of preseason games between the Washington Wizards — featuring Rui Hachimura, one of two Japanese players in the league — and the reigning champion Golden State Warriors. This year’s NBA Japan Games were a marketing executive’s dream, mobilizing fans and wallets and further marrying the league’s brand with the sport’s growing popularity internationally.

NBC Sports Washington's Bijan Todd, Chase Hughes, Tyler Byrum and Mike DePrisco make their preseason selections for each of the NBA's annual awards.

For a decade-and-a-half, this organization has tried and failed to plug in a coach, star player or new regime to be the difference. Usually, coach of the year very simply goes to a guy who wins a ton of games. A new, well-respected coach would get a lot of attention if he can do the impossible and put this team in the playoffs. Despite Ime Udoka's one-year suspension and the fact Boston will be without Robert Williams III for 2-3 months to start the year, the Celtics are still likely to win a lot of games this year. Not only is Murray projected to be a starter for the Kings, but he'll be a notable contributor on a team with the talent to make the postseason. He's incredibly gifted on both ends of the floor, but particularly as a defender because of his unique versatility to guard all types of players. He fit in well with the Mavs last season, helping them reach the conference finals, and now will have an opportunity to be a primary scoring option when Doncic is off the floor. But he seems to have found a good situation to shine early, as Houston is likely to be very bad and allow him to take a lot of shots and score a lot of points. But Banchero is in a great spot to put up numbers in Orlando and contribute to winning basketball. was the best prospect in the draft and, like many, was surprised he fell to three. So, I'll go with Luka Doncic, who is one of the very best players in the league and is likely to put up monster numbers on a good team without a true second star. He's easily a better defensive player than Jokic, and when you have a big man who can put up 30+ points a game and dominate on both ends of the floor, while also leading his team deep into the playoffs, it'd be hard to box him out (pun intended) from the MVP race again.

Jayson Tatum has confidence-booster game, James Harden shows lethal touch and 76ers' new faces have rough debuts.

None of the three were major factors in the loss to the Celtics. A fair number of players who played at the same level of Griffin wouldn’t stick around for this. They’ll need to be at their best when the Sixers are matched against the East powers. It’s an inconvenience at best, and a big loss at worst, for Boston as the Celtics make do until then. But Horford is 36 and the Celtics are rather thin at the power positions. It made for an interesting test case against Embiid, who led the league in scoring last season and, for the second time, was runner-up in the Kia MVP voting. He reset over the summer, reduced weight, signed a team-friendly contract extension that allowed the Sixers to add other players and came to camp feeling determined. Also, he was guarded Tuesday by Marcus Smart, the reigning Kia Defensive Player of the Year. He arrived in midseason from Brooklyn and the initial expectations were just too steep and maybe unrealistic. By the way, Brown and Tatum have each had 30-plus points in the same regular season game 13 times in their careers together. Tatum had some terrific transitional moments against Philly where he made defensive stops and followed up with jumpers and layups, especially in the game-changing third quarter when the balance flipped to Boston. Last we saw Tatum, he was tossing bricks in the 2022 NBA Finals and coming up short in performance and energy against the Warriors.

Boston's Joe Mazzulla was elevated to interim head coach in September after Ime Udoka was suspended for the campaign. Read more at straitstimes.com.

“It was just unique and special,” Brown said of the occasion. Boston outscored Philadelphia 35-25 in the third quarter and led 98-88 entering the final 12 minutes. The Celtics wore “City Edition” alternate uniforms as a tribute to Hall of Fame centre Bill Russell, who died in July at age 88. Brown tossed in 18 and Tatum had 16 before the break. James Harden led Philadelphia with 35 points, while Joel Embiid added 26 points and a game-high 15 rebounds - Embiid won the NBA scoring title last season by averaging 30.6 points per game. “I think at the end of the game, the ‘Let’s go Celtics!’ chant - we picked up right where we left off.

'Tanking already?': Lakers 'stink' in opener as great 'p***ed' at Westbrook saga.

You know in our league there’s teams that can do that,” James added. “It’s time for the Lakers to move him ... I think the wear and tear mentally last year and starting this year, playing with Patrick Beverley ... I hate the fact that they made him and (former coach Frank Vogel) scapegoats. “This guy (Westbrook) used to be so exuberant, playing with great energy and great emotion. James, Davis and Westbrook -- supposed to form a “Big Three” capable of challenging for the title last year -- ended up playing only 21 games together. We’ve been through an awful lot together. “He broke our trust with this incident, but I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt because I think he has earned that and I think our team feels the same way. A roster rebuild that saw the arrival of Westbrook and the departure of several players involved in the 2020 title run was seen by many as the main reason behind the Lakers defensive demise. The Warriors coach says he expects Green -- one of his most trusted on-court lieutenants during a run that has included six trips to the NBA Finals since 2015 -- to rebuild “trust” with teammates and coaches. For most of the past decade, the Warriors have been a model of consistency on and off the court, a well-coached, well-run organisation that has set a standard for the rest of the league. LA was well beaten 32-19 in the third term to trail by as much as 27 points as it was left with no answers on the defensive end to Golden State’s barrage of shooting.

SAN FRANCISCO - Stephen Curry scored 33 points as the Golden State Warriors launched the defence of their National Basketball Association (NBA) crown with a ...

“Once we start getting on the same page, it will get better with time. “That comes from a team coming together for the first time. Now we can look forward to the rest of the year.” They were never seriously threatened after a trademark third-quarter eruption, outscoring the Lakers 32-19 to race to a 27-point lead at one stage “I’m thrilled with the win,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr said. “Ring night is never an easy game and the first game of the season is usually filled with some nerves early on.”

SAN FRANCISCO – The Golden State Warriors received their 2021-22 NBA championship rings during a special pregame ceremony Tuesday during Champions Ring ...

Next month, the Warriors Community Foundation and Chase will launch a Championship Ring Sweepstakes, offering Warriors fans a chance to win an authentic 2021-22 NBA championship ring. Additional features on the sides of the ring include seven championship trophies to represent the franchise’s seven NBA championships, the team’s “Just Us” mantra, and more. [approximately 16 carats](https://www.nba.com/warriors/photos/warriors-2022-championship-rings) of yellow and white diamonds set into yellow gold to represent the team’s 16 wins during the 2022 NBA playoffs, marking the first time a championship ring has been made up primarily of yellow diamonds.

The Warriors received their 2022 NBA championship rings on Tuesday night and they certainly did not disappoint.

Additional features on the sides of the ring include seven Championship trophies to represent the franchise’s seven NBA Championships, the team’s “Just Us” mantra, and more." "The rings feature approximately 16 carats of yellow and white diamonds set into yellow gold to represent the team’s 16 wins during the 2022 NBA Playoffs, marking the first time a Championship ring has been made up primarily of yellow diamonds," the Warriors wrote in a statement. "Seven carats of yellow cushion cut diamonds on the bezel represent the team’s seven championships, while 43 baguettes in the bridge represent Stephen Curry’s 43-point performance in Game 4 of the NBA Finals."

Stephen Curry began the season with 33 points, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Los Angeles Lakers 123-109 on Tuesday night after receiving their ...

"During the peak of racial tension in our society, he represented a type of nobility and honour that transcended sports", the Celtics Guard concluded. In Boston, the Celtics paid tribute to the mythical N6 of the franchise Bill Russell, who died in July. "Bill Russell was a great man for what and who he stood for", Jaylen Brown noted.

Klay Thompson has cited Barcelona's tiki-taka as inspiration for the Golden State Warriors tactics at the start of the new NBA season.

[It involves a series of short sharp passing, keeping the ball moving constantly. The tactic was also used to great effect by the Spain national team, who clinched back-to-back European Championships either side of a World Cup triumph in 2010. [TNT](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfSfdWqwbNQ&t=361s), saying: "You guys are the best without the ball that I have seen without the ball in a long time."

Here's how NBA Twitter reacted to the Warriors blowing out the Lakers on opening night, plus James Harden's viral moment.

Click here to find out more about our partners. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. You can select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices.

NEW YORK – On a recent Sunday afternoon, a basketball fan in a Cleveland Cavaliers jersey took his seat for a pre-season National Basketball Association ...

That deal featured a logo patch on players’ jerseys and a partnership around merchandising. The crowd went nuts anytime Hachimura touched the ball. All of it was organised by the NBA and Rakuten Group Inc., a Japanese e-commerce giant that has been leveraging its sponsorship of the Warriors to build name recognition in the US.

The Warriors open their NBA title defense Tuesday against the Lakers, but first, there's a celebration: Golden State players will receive their championship ...

They, of course, did not win the title the previous season, but that game had a similar “ring night” feel to it.) The third point guard is normally a floor-general type and contrast to the scoring guards ahead of him. Still, NBA players are creatures of habit, and a prolonged ceremony before a regular-season game the team badly wants to win also represents a sharp break from that routine. Sometimes, I have to remember to score the ball.” The Warriors also dumped one of their two-ways and snatched up Ty Jerome on their quest for a point guard. A questioned, motivated Green is typically a great Green for the Warriors. The motivation for him to have a super charged, high impact regular season and playoffs is obvious. Jordan Poole is moving back to the bench with Klay Thompson in the lineup, but doesn’t need to obsess over how his minute and point totals will impact his market. Juan Toscano-Anderson, who knows the Warriors as well as anyone outside of the organization, said the key to defeating his former team is disrupting their offensive flow and taking away their preferred reads. The Lakers are going to have to scrap their base schemes and adjust to Golden State’s defense-bending shooting. Locking up Davis to start the year would be the kind of opening statement Green wants to start his Defensive Player of the Year campaign. Ham said he plans on sticking with one lineup for a while, and not changing his starters game to game, so this is a grouping that the Lakers will likely try for at least a few games until re-evaluating.

No player goes 1-on-1 more than Luka Doncic. There are plenty of impressive reasons why.

"When he plays, the only thing he hears is like the music that's playing in his head," Shammgod says. "And all of a sudden he finds a way to spin out and somehow shoots left-handed over his head -- and he makes those shots." During timeouts, Doncic will sometimes juggle the basketball with his foot, a flashback to his childhood playing soccer in Slovenia. "If you use the contact correctly, it's a big advantage, for sure." He often initiates contact, off the dribble or as he's going up to finish, using his strength to create pockets of space. "It's a fadeaway, so it's tough to block, tough to defend. The one-legged fadeaway has become such a respected part of Doncic's repertoire that he occasionally embarrasses defenders determined to contest it. It's a move that Doncic mastered between his rookie and sophomore seasons, essentially adding a midrange escape clause to his isolation game. "You want to have it where every dribbling move he does is a part of that [step-back] package, because that's his favorite shot," Shammgod says. "That's part of the fabric of who he is, because it can set up so many other things." "Sometimes as a coach you want to run all these plays," says Kidd, who has frequently surrounded Doncic with 3-point threats, employing five-out offenses to open the floor for him to operate. In these moments, the court feels like a canvas for Doncic, who Mavs coach Jason Kidd compared to a young Picasso at the start of last season.

No player goes 1-on-1 more than Luka Doncic. There are plenty of impressive reasons why.

"When he plays, the only thing he hears is like the music that's playing in his head," Shammgod says. "And all of a sudden he finds a way to spin out and somehow shoots left-handed over his head -- and he makes those shots." During timeouts, Doncic will sometimes juggle the basketball with his foot, a flashback to his childhood playing soccer in Slovenia. "If you use the contact correctly, it's a big advantage, for sure." He often initiates contact, off the dribble or as he's going up to finish, using his strength to create pockets of space. "It's a fadeaway, so it's tough to block, tough to defend. The one-legged fadeaway has become such a respected part of Doncic's repertoire that he occasionally embarrasses defenders determined to contest it. It's a move that Doncic mastered between his rookie and sophomore seasons, essentially adding a midrange escape clause to his isolation game. "You want to have it where every dribbling move he does is a part of that [step-back] package, because that's his favorite shot," Shammgod says. "That's part of the fabric of who he is, because it can set up so many other things." "Sometimes as a coach you want to run all these plays," says Kidd, who has frequently surrounded Doncic with 3-point threats, employing five-out offenses to open the floor for him to operate. In these moments, the court feels like a canvas for Doncic, who Mavs coach Jason Kidd compared to a young Picasso at the start of last season.

No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero leads an intriguing group of newcomers in 2022-23.

He played well with the Cavs in Las Vegas (15 ppg, 4.8 rpg) but now might get more reps with the rebuilding Jazz. He hit 61% of his shots while averaging 14.4 points in five games and he led all rookies with 26 total assists (5.2 per game). With Holmgren out, Dieng has the distinction of being the Thunder rookie not named (Jaylin or Jalen) Williams. The Pistons envision a backcourt duo with last year’s No. One role model who’s been mentioned: Draymond Green, right down to the “triple-single” offensive results. As eager as Thunder fans were to see Holmgren play before the August foot injury that wiped out his season, they might get even more excited if the setback shifts OKC into an unabashed “2023 Draft” strategy. No. The only exceptions: New York’s Mark Jackson in 1988, the No. That happened in 2003 with Phoenix’s Amar’e Stoudemire (9th overall in 2002) and again in 2014 with Michael Carter-Williams (11th overall). 18 pick overall in the previous spring’s draft; and Milwaukee’s Malcolm Brogdon in 2017, rising up from No. For one of the newcomers, there will be a special prize in about eight months: the Kia Rookie of the Year Award. Shaking commissioner Adam Silver’s hand on draft night was one thing; suiting up and playing in actual NBA regular-season competition is a whole other level.

French sensation Victor Wembanyama, projected to be the top pick in next year's draft, dazzled. The only other event Sheppard can remember that sent the ...

“There’s no real way to say we’re out of the cycle, but I think there’s a different feel. “I can’t speak for the 11 years I wasn’t here, but it’s our willingness to buy in and have consistency on our roster. There is on-court work to be done to break the cycle, most of it on the defensive end. “That is a tough thing to juggle, being able to find that consistent balance and that guy who you know night in and night out is right there with you,” Beal said. That no one has been able to stick begets a wider issue — the Wizards haven’t had continuity in years. In addition to Hachimura becoming a free agent, Kristaps Porzingis will be able to opt out of his deal at the end of this season, as will Kyle Kuzma. “Because until we change it,” Sheppard said, “the scouting reports are still going to say: ‘Don’t give up. Playing well enough to be of value in a trade down the line is one. “The way I distill it in my mind is [the roster] is still cooking, you know what I mean?” Sheppard said. He grew more confident when the Wizards played a pair of games in Saitama, Japan, in front of a supportive home crowd. It’s a query for the organization’s three cornerstones, finally in place with Beal committed, Wes Unseld Jr. It has cycled through supporting cast members, changed head coaches and locked in the person the front office and team ownership determined was crucial to success, [signing Beal to a five-year, $251 million maximum contract](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/06/30/bradley-beal-wizards-free-agency/?itid=lk_inline_manual_11) this summer.

Buzzer, a mobile platform for live sports aimed at young people, has renewed its deals with the NBA and WNBA. The platform allows fans to watch games via ...

“We look at our partnership with FanDuel as one of a user engagement tool for NBA and WNBA games,” Han said. FanDuel’s odds are integrated into the Buzzer app, and ads for Buzzer appear in FanDuel’s app. In a lot of ways, it’s optimized for a device that the next generation engages with and uses.” With the FanDuel partnership, fans who bet on NBA or WNBA games through FanDuel are alerted to watch them via Buzzer. It involves Buzzer distributing live moments from boxing matches DAZN airs with the goal of people watching the clips and signing up for DAZN. In addition, young fans also are typically glued to their mobile phones searching social media and the internet, so Buzzer was created as a mobile platform that those fans could easily access. “The goal here is how do we become a bridge to the next generation and how do we address an audience that is not addressed by television,” Han said. “For a two-year-old startup, it’s incredible affirmation and I’m looking forward to seeing how Buzzer will continue to innovate and roll out features that bring mobile-first basketball fans back to the live window.” They can also purchase full access to NBA League Pass, which costs $99.99 for the entire season without commercials, and the WNBA League Pass, which cost $24.99 for the 2022 season that ended last month. The company, which now has 42 full-time employees according to Han, raised a $4 million seed round in March 2020 and a $20 million Series A round in March 2021, which was led by Sapphire Sport and Canaan Partners. Before founding Buzzer, Han was the director of live content at Twitter, where he negotiated deals with professional sports leagues to stream their games on the platform. “The market dynamics have shifted quite a bit as everyone has seen and experienced,” Han said.

(Bloomberg) -- On a recent Sunday afternoon, a basketball fan in a Cleveland Cavaliers jersey took his seat for a preseason NBA game in a sold-out arena.

Click here to find out more about our partners. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. You can select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices.

Is Joel Embiid going to win MVP? Is Jordan Poole the runaway favorite for Sixth Man? We talk NBA awards and how to bet them in this PBT Podcast.

Officer Craig Warren said in the report that Bouknight had glassy eyes and a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath. “Cliff has been there for me every step of the way since he got here,” Bouknight said. Police said that once Bouknight was awake, he refused to comply with commands and appeared confused for several minutes. He had the handgun in his hands. Bouknight was placed under arrest for DWI since he was in a public area and behind the wheel of a running vehicle, in drive, in the traffic way while intoxicated. According to the police report, officers saw Bouknight unconscious inside the vehicle with the vehicle running and in drive.

Oh, yeah, and we have another excuse to talk NBA trades again—not that we needed it. While teams have spent the past several months fine-tuning their roster, ...

Since the 7'4" center has this hoops world in a frenzy, San Antonio has no reason to roster Poeltl and risk him raising the floor just enough to spoil its 14 percent chance at the No. He has been a part of this rotation for three seasons, but every year, his role gets reduced in the postseason. Lewis tore his ACL last December, and the backcourt changes made since—namely, trading for CJ McCollum and making Jose Alvarado a rotation regular—could block Lewis' path to the hardwood. The temptation to put D'Angelo Russell in this spot is real, since he's unsigned beyond this season and arguably overpaid as it is ($31.4 million). If he isn't moving the needle much by then—his shooting regressed in a bad way last season—maybe the team would poke around to see what he could fetch. The Pacers pivoted toward a rebuild with last season's trade of Domantas Sabonis, but they still have some veterans to ship out for rebuilding tools. Martin is, obviously, still on the roster, and it surely isn't for a lack of trade interest. Maybe the Warriors can get away with using his roster spot for developmental purposes, but if cracks form in their rotation, they might have to part with his ceiling to find someone with a much higher floor. Teams who envision even more elements of his game surfacing sooner than later could be willing to part with quite a lot to get their hands on him ahead of his trek to the open market. Sharpe saw limited action as a rookie (391 minutes over 32 games), and if he's fighting for floor time again, the championship-focused Nets could decide they aren't willing to wait for him to realize his potential. The Celtics owe a top-12 protected pick to the Pacers in 2023 and only have top-one protection on a 2028 swap with the San Antonio Spurs, but otherwise, all of their first-round picks are in their possession. If Murray makes a smooth transition to Atlanta, and this roster looks ready for anything close to championship contention, the front office might be willing to sacrifice another draft pick in pursuit of a title.

From NBA League Pass to streaming discounts, here are ways to watch NBA games without cable.

Meanwhile, Sling TV’s streaming packages are half off (regularly $35/month) and Hulu + Live TV is $69.99 a month for 75+ channels, plus you’ll get access to [ESPN+](https://go.web.plus.espn.com/9WWGEQ) and [Hulu](https://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=JRLLPXArni8&offerid=852731.18&type=3&subid=0). [NBA League Pass](https://amzn.to/3MM6i37?asc_source=web&asc_campaign=web&asc_refurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.billboard.com%2Fculture%2Fproduct-recommendations%2Fnba-schedule-how-to-watch-games-without-cable-1235158064%2F)? Some of the NBA League Pass games scheduled for Wednesday include the Orlando Magic vs. It’s $14.99 a month after a free trail, but Direct TV Stream and Sling TV subscribers can enjoy a free preview of NBA League Pass until Oct. For example, Direct TV Stream is $69.99 a month for its cheapest streaming package (75+ channels, unlimited DVR storage, etc.). Right now, Direct TV Stream’s more expensive packages are discounted $10 for the first five months, which means that you can upgrade to the Choice package (105+ channels, unlimited DVR, regional sports networks included) for just $79.99 a month. To make things easier, we’ve collected a short list of some of the more affordable streaming options and what they offer. The NBA season is held from Oct. See the full schedule of NBA games What’s on the NBA scheduled this week? 18) with the Golden State Warriors beating the Los Angeles Lakers 123-109, and the Boston Celtics beating the Philadelphia 76ers 126-117. The New York Knicks and Memphis Grizzlies game will air on Wednesday (Oct.

Looking spry and explosive, Zion Williamson returned from an 18-month absence with 25 points and 9 rebounds.

Unrestricted free agency awaits Kyrie next summer; in the meantime, Irving has that much time to put opening night in the rearview and prove that it was a fluke. And while Durant, Irving and Simmons are all in uniform, the Nets can’t be accurately judged one way or another until Seth Curry and Joe Harris return to the rotation. Therefore, he comes into 2022-23 with plenty of incentive to (a) put aside his quirks, especially if they interfere with his play or threaten the team’s success, and (b) deliver a star-quality season. Question: When was the last time the Nets were at full strength since Durant and Irving teamed up in the summer of 2019? It’s the first of 82, and the Nets have clearly stated a desire to remain patient with Simmons … Kyrie shot just 6-for-19, missed all six of his 3-pointers, and when the Nets needed a second option, he couldn’t fulfill the role. The good news for the Nets is Kyrie is actually eligible to play at home, which wasn’t always the case last season because of his vaccination status. The success and failure of the Pelicans this season, therefore, will rest with what they can muster defensively. The force and rim-attacking and gentle touch around the basket all resurfaced and rekindled the image of Zion as a dominant player, which he was during most of the 85 games played in his short and injury-interrupted career. That said, the level of disappointment needs to be placed in the proper context: It wasn’t anything like his playoff game finish in Philly two years ago when he bypassed a layup over the Hawks’ Trae Young, and there won’t be any dreadful fallout from this game. He also showed a very solid cohesion with Brandon Ingram and the two Pelicans had a 1-2 inside-outside punch all night, with Ingram dropping 28 points. And yet, Simmons in Brooklyn looked suspiciously like the last time we saw Simmons in Philly.

DeMar DeRozan joins Michael Jordan in Bulls history, Rudy Gobert saves Wolves, and Atlanta's new backcourt goes off.

He made five of his nine 3-pointers and was a perfect 12 for 12 from the free-throw line (he was as annoying as ever with the bogus fall-down/landing-space fouls on 3-pointers, drawing a total of three of them with a four-point play). With a little over a minute to play and the Kings up one, Fox tried to force his way to the rim against a retreating Jerami Grant, but Grant never lost radar lock on Fox and took the hit right in the chest for a charge. Toronto was the only team in the league last season to boast five players who averaged at least 15 points per game, and all five of those guys put up at least 15 again in an opening-night victory over the Cavaliers. Curry's 3-point shot (4 for 13) was off for the most part on ring night for the Warriors, but it doesn't matter. Grant Williams, who was perfect from the field, including 3 of 3 from deep, and Malcolm Brogdon combined for 31 points off the bench. Morant finished with 34 points and nine assists, knocking down three of his six 3-pointers to get the Grizzlies off on the right foot. Devin Booker had 28 points, but it was Damion Lee, who scored all 11 of his points in the fourth quarter, who hit the game-winner with under 10 seconds to play. Throw in De'Andre Hunter, fresh off his $95 million extension, and John Collins combining for 46 points on a blistering 19-for-27 shooting, and the Hawks are off and running. Oh by the way, DeRozan joined Michael Jordan (who did it three times) as the only players in Bulls history to record at least 30 points, five assists and five rebounds in a season opener. He operated mostly as a screener in the half-court and made a few nice interior passes, but for the most part he was just another body running around out there. Here are some of the biggest opening-night(s) headlines with just two teams (Clippers and Bucks) yet to play a game. He made no real impact on the game, bricking his only two free throws and getting repeatedly bull-rushed by Williamson in the paint.

Ben Simmons is back, Zion Williamson is ready to be unleashed and first-round draft pick Dyson Daniels is ready to make his NBA debut.

He has earned some minutes during the preseason.” “He is competing, he’s mature for 19. He works extremely hard. “That’s the message,” Nash said on encouraging Simmons to be aggressive with the ball. “The goal and the vision is for him to be the engine of this team [on] both sides of the ball,” Nash said. If Simmons is good to go though, Nash said the Nets have a clear idea on what sort of role the two-time All-Star will play in Brooklyn.

Visit ESPN for the game recap of the New Orleans Pelicans vs. Brooklyn Nets NBA basketball game on October 19, 2022.

[Joe Harris](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2528794/joe-harris) (sore left foot) and [Seth Curry](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2326307/seth-curry) (left ankle) not ready for the start of the season. [Jonas Valanciunas](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/6477/jonas-valanciunas) had 15 points and 13 rebounds and New Orleans outrebounded Brooklyn 61-39. [Patty Mills](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4004/patty-mills) had 16 points and Irving managed 15 on 6-for-19 shooting, going 0 for 6 from 3-point range. ... Irving addressed the crowd before the start of the game and made a plea for the return of WNBA star Brittney Griner from a Russian prison. Pelicans: Green said he could tell during the Pelicans' playoff run last season that Williamson had moved beyond the disappointment of injury rehab to excitement for playing again. “It’s very difficult going through injuries, especially when you’re really young and you’ve been working your tail off to try and be prepared to come in and help your team and you suffer a setback,” Green said. “So he had to navigate through all of those things. His basket-shaking dunk with about 8 1/2 minutes remaining brought some of the few cheers from a dejected crowd who watched the home team never lead and trail by as many as 26. A first-round exit — when Simmons never played because of back problems after being acquired for He fouled out early in the fourth quarter with four points, five rebounds and five assists, taking three shots. “It takes time," Simmons said. The No.

Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans opened their NBA season with a punishing 130-108 victory over the star-studded Nets in Brooklyn on Wednesday.

In Memphis the Grizzlies thwarted the New York Knicks' comeback bid for a 115-112 overtime victory. we're a resilient team and it showed." "It's crazy," said Williamson, the 2019 top draft pick who at 22 has already battled a raft of injuries. 1 draft pick Paolo Banchero. I'm just excited to go." "I'm still learning my teammates...

Visit ESPN for the game recap of the New Orleans Pelicans vs. Brooklyn Nets NBA basketball game on October 19, 2022.

[Joe Harris](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2528794/joe-harris) (sore left foot) and [Seth Curry](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2326307/seth-curry) (left ankle) not ready for the start of the season. [Jonas Valanciunas](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/6477/jonas-valanciunas) had 15 points and 13 rebounds and New Orleans outrebounded Brooklyn 61-39. [Patty Mills](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4004/patty-mills) had 16 points and Irving managed 15 on 6-for-19 shooting, going 0 for 6 from 3-point range. ... Irving addressed the crowd before the start of the game and made a plea for the return of WNBA star Brittney Griner from a Russian prison. Pelicans: Green said he could tell during the Pelicans' playoff run last season that Williamson had moved beyond the disappointment of injury rehab to excitement for playing again. “It’s very difficult going through injuries, especially when you’re really young and you’ve been working your tail off to try and be prepared to come in and help your team and you suffer a setback,” Green said. “So he had to navigate through all of those things. His basket-shaking dunk with about 8 1/2 minutes remaining brought some of the few cheers from a dejected crowd who watched the home team never lead and trail by as many as 26. A first-round exit — when Simmons never played because of back problems after being acquired for He fouled out early in the fourth quarter with four points, five rebounds and five assists, taking three shots. “It takes time," Simmons said. The No.

The Brooklyn Nets' offseason struggles continued in the regular season as they were run off the court by the New Orleans Pelicans, whose Big Three of Zion ...

Click here to find out more about our partners. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. You can select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices.

Here are the results and highlights from the NBA 2022-23 matches that took place on Wednesday - October 20, 2022.

Washington had 17 points and Gordon Hayward added 15 as all five Hornets starters scored in double figures. Rudy Gay scored 16 points, Malik Beasley had 15 and Mike Conley, the lone returning starter, had 13 as Utah had seven players in double-figure scoring. Julius Randle led the Knicks with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while reserve Cam Reddish added 22 points, making 9 of 15 shots from the field. Cavaliers All-Star guard Darius Garland left the game in the second quarter after injuring his left eye in a collision with Raptors guard Gary Trent. Bickerstaff said Garland was bleeding from a cut inside the left eyelid after being poked in the eye by Trent with 3:51 to play in the first half. Jaylen Nowell, who had 13 points, put the Timberwolves ahead for good with his layup with 10:47 remaining. The Mavericks led 67-45 early in the third quarter and 93-80 with eight minutes left, but the Suns kept pushing. LaVine played in three of Chicago’s preseason games and experienced discomfort in recent days — which Bulls coach Billy Donovan said is to be expected, given that LaVine was limited for much of the summer. Jonas Valanciunas had 15 points and 13 rebounds. That knee had him in and out of the lineup last season and required surgery in May. He fouled out early in the fourth quarter with four points, five rebounds and five assists, taking three shots. Patty Mills had 16 points and Kyrie Irving managed 15 on 6-for-19 shooting, going 0 for 6 from 3-point range.

Not only did all three of New Orleans' stars shine brightly, so too did other Pels who stepped out onto the floor.

As a team, the Pelicans grabbed 12 more offensive rebounds in leading to a lopsided 61-39 overall advantage on the glass. Irving was off, hitting only six of 19 shot attempts, and the Net’s defense was just porous throughout. We can all still vividly remember his performances in the play-in games and playoffs from last spring, but he legitimately looked to be an improved player over that version of himself. You know, points in the paint, getting to the free throw line, we shot the ball well, and we took care of the basketball. He also added nine rebounds and dropped a couple of dimes. He really controlled the game well, and it appeared playing most of his minutes alongside Williamson greatly aided the generational talent to enjoy a fantastic debut after his long layoff. “I told our guys in the locker room that’s what our team is about. In 24 minutes, the second-year man hit four of six 3s to finish with 16 points. [New Orleans Pelicans](https://www.thebirdwrites.com) arrived in Brooklyn in hopes of finding a way to claw out a victory against, at worst, a near championship contender. Glancing at his box score, like tonight’s six-point, four-rebound, three-assist line, will never reveal the whole story, but just ask Durant about consistently being hounded by Jones. It’s fun to watch.” “Wire-to-wire, I thought it was a pretty dominant performance.