The Phoenix Suns beat the Brooklyn Nets 132-127 in overtime in a sold-out pre-season game in Macau on Friday as fans cheered the NBA's return to China after a six-year absence sparked by a pro-democracy tweet. The first of two matches in Macau capped the NBA's bid to mend fences with China, a lucrative market where an estimated 125 million people play basketball."The atmosphere is amazing. I've been a Suns fan for a long time," said David Jin, 26, who took a day trip from the nearby Chinese tech hub of Shenzhen.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/carl-lewis-if-life-was-easy-everybody-would-be-good-at-it-legendary-american-track-and-field-athlete-says-i-am-a-homebody-1760112358001">Carl Lewis: If life was easy, everybody would be good at it</a>"The NBA should come to mainland China more often. If it's on my doorstep I'll show up to give my support," Jin said, adding that he spent about 5,000 yuan ($700) for tickets and travel.Fans in the packed Venetian Arena gave four-time NBA All-Star Devin Booker a roaring reception, while China's 22-year-old Nets forward Zeng Fanbo made his NBA debut.NBA commissioner Adam Silver told AFP on Thursday that "there's tremendous interest in the NBA throughout China".Building on the charm offensive, Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez said the China trip was in part an opportunity to visit and learn about a new culture."We are told that we get support from China, a lot of fans watching our games. But the reality is you don't know until you come here, and it's been an amazing experience," he said.Also speaking before the game, Suns head coach Jordan Ott said many of his players were travelling to China for the first time."Just that excitement when they walk out tonight -- we know it's a packed house -- would be really cool experience for all of us to remember," Ott said.The Chinese Basketball Association announced a strategic partnership with the NBA on Friday which includes providing opportunities for Chinese teams to take part in the NBA Summer League and WNBA preseason games in the United States, according to state media.<h2>Rush for tickets</h2>The NBA's popularity in China took off during the 2000s with the Yao Ming craze, with 28 pre-season games played in the country between 2004 and 2019.The relationship soured in 2019 after NBA executives stood behind a team official who tweeted his support for pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.Qin Junhong, a 19-year-old studying in Macau, said he remembered little about the row and was just "excited" to attend the game with his friends."There were so many people rushing for tickets," Qin told AFP.Friday's game is part of a multimillion-dollar deal to stage NBA pre-season matches at the Venetian Arena, part of the Las Vegas Sands conglomerate controlled by the Adelson family, who are the majority ownership group in the Dallas Mavericks.Macau, the only place in China where casino gambling is legal, is a special administrative region of China close to Hong Kong.Ahead of the game, crowds took selfies at NBA-themed booths and shops in a convention hall, with large signs showing the logos of the league's Chinese brand partners.The Venetian Arena is part of Macau's upscale hotel-casinos district known as the Cotai Strip, home to a replica Big Ben and Eiffel Tower.

Fans in the packed Venetian Arena gave four-time NBA All-Star Devin Booker a roaring reception, while China's 22-year-old Nets forward Zeng Fanbo made his NBA debut.

The Phoenix Suns beat the Brooklyn Nets 132-127 in overtime in a sold-out pre-season game in Macau on Friday as fans cheered the NBA's return to China after a six-year absence sparked by a pro-democracy tweet. The first of two matches in Macau capped the NBA's bid to mend fences with China, a lucrative market where an estimated 125 million people play basketball. "The atmosphere is amazing. I've been a Suns fan for a long time," said David Jin, 26, who took a day trip from the nearby Chinese tech hub of Shenzhen. Also Read - Carl Lewis: If life was easy, everybody would be good at it "The NBA should come to mainland China more often. If it's on my doorstep I'll show up to give my support," Jin said, adding that he spent about 5,000 yuan ($700) for tickets and travel. Fans in the packed Venetian Arena gave four-time NBA All-Star Devin Booker a roaring reception, while China's 22-year-old Nets forward Zeng Fanbo made his NBA debut. NBA commissioner Adam Silver told AFP on Thursday that "there's tremendous interest in the NBA throughout China". Building on the charm offensive, Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez said the China trip was in part an opportunity to visit and learn about a new culture. "We are told that we get support from China, a lot of fans watching our games. But the reality is you don't know until you come here, and it's been an amazing experience," he said. Also speaking before the game, Suns head coach Jordan Ott said many of his players were travelling to China for the first time. "Just that excitement when they walk out tonight -- we know it's a packed house -- would be really cool experience for all of us to remember," Ott said. The Chinese Basketball Association announced a strategic partnership with the NBA on Friday which includes providing opportunities for Chinese teams to take part in the NBA Summer League and WNBA preseason games in the United States, according to state media. Rush for tickets The NBA's popularity in China took off during the 2000s with the Yao Ming craze, with 28 pre-season games played in the country between 2004 and 2019. The relationship soured in 2019 after NBA executives stood behind a team official who tweeted his support for pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Qin Junhong, a 19-year-old studying in Macau, said he remembered little about the row and was just "excited" to attend the game with his friends. "There were so many people rushing for tickets," Qin told AFP. Friday's game is part of a multimillion-dollar deal to stage NBA pre-season matches at the Venetian Arena, part of the Las Vegas Sands conglomerate controlled by the Adelson family, who are the majority ownership group in the Dallas Mavericks. Macau, the only place in China where casino gambling is legal, is a special administrative region of China close to Hong Kong. Ahead of the game, crowds took selfies at NBA-themed booths and shops in a convention hall, with large signs showing the logos of the league's Chinese brand partners. The Venetian Arena is part of Macau's upscale hotel-casinos district known as the Cotai Strip, home to a replica Big Ben and Eiffel Tower.

Fans in the packed Venetian Arena gave four-time NBA All-Star Devin Booker a roaring reception, while China's 22-year-old Nets forward Zeng Fanbo made his NBA debut.

Suns beat Nets in pre-season as NBA returns to China after six-year hiatus

The NBA is back in China for the first time since 2019, after being frozen out over a team official’s pro-Hong Kong tweet. The Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets will play two preseason games in Macau, marking a cautious reconciliation between the league and Beijing amid growing basketball fandom across the country.

NBA Returns To China After 6 Years | Macao To Host 2 Games

LeBron James has announced his 'decision of all decisions.' While the internet went crazy whether the NBA superstar is retiring but it turns out it was an advertisement for a brand. The announcement was expected to come out at 12 pm EST on Tuesday (Oct 7) but the update was dropped 90 minutes before time. The change was necessitated by LeBron's change of practice plan. What prompted the fans to reach the retirement conjecture was how James had teased the 'decision' on social media and eerie similarity of it when he had parted ways with the Cleveland Cavaliers.What is LeBron James' big announcement?In a post released on social media platform X on Tuesday (Oct 7), LeBron revealed his partnership with Hennessy in what he had touted as 'decision of all decisions' a day prior. Hennessey is a cognac brand which will be releasing a special edition orange bottle as part of the partnership.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/former-nfl-qb-mark-sanchez-was-stabbed-during-altercation-with-69-year-old-truck-driver-and-is-now-facing-prison-time-1759836333674">Ex-NFL QB Sanchez looking at prison time after being stabbed by a truck driver</a>"This fall, I’m going to be taking my talents to Hennessy V.S.O.P," James said in the new clip which announced his partnership with the brand. The line is inspired from what he had said 15 years ago while joining Miami Heat &nbsp;when he announced that he's going to &nbsp;“take my talents to South Beach.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">😉😜👑 <a href="https://t.co/NGqV2C0dSy">https://t.co/NGqV2C0dSy</a>&mdash; LeBron James (@KingJames) <a href="https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/1975576075561541637?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

So what is unique about this new partnership?Under the partnership agreement between LeBron James, Hennessy - a cognac brand - will be launching a special edition orange bottle. It will have LeBron's name on the label along with his signature crowning gesture which pertains to his King James moniker.“Where the first moment marked a pivotal career move, this second decision celebrates a creative reunion and shared cultural legacy,” Hennessy said in a release about the partnership.

In a post released on social media platform X on Tuesday (Oct 7), LeBron revealed his partnership with Hennessy in what he had touted as 'decision of all decisions' a day prior. Hennessey is a cognac brand which will be releasing a special edition orange bottle as part of the partnership.

LeBron James has announced his 'decision of all decisions.' While the internet went crazy whether the NBA superstar is retiring but it turns out it was an advertisement for a brand. The announcement was expected to come out at 12 pm EST on Tuesday (Oct 7) but the update was dropped 90 minutes before time. The change was necessitated by LeBron's change of practice plan. What prompted the fans to reach the retirement conjecture was how James had teased the 'decision' on social media and eerie similarity of it when he had parted ways with the Cleveland Cavaliers. What is LeBron James' big announcement? In a post released on social media platform X on Tuesday (Oct 7), LeBron revealed his partnership with Hennessy in what he had touted as 'decision of all decisions' a day prior. Hennessey is a cognac brand which will be releasing a special edition orange bottle as part of the partnership. Also Read - Ex-NFL QB Sanchez looking at prison time after being stabbed by a truck driver "This fall, I’m going to be taking my talents to Hennessy V.S.O.P," James said in the new clip which announced his partnership with the brand. The line is inspired from what he had said 15 years ago while joining Miami Heat when he announced that he's going to “take my talents to South Beach.”

In a post released on social media platform X on Tuesday (Oct 7), LeBron revealed his partnership with Hennessy in what he had touted as 'decision of all decisions' a day prior. Hennessey is a cognac brand which will be releasing a special edition orange bottle as part of the partnership.

WATCH | LeBron James announces 'Second Decision.' Is he retiring? Here's what NBA superstar said

The NBA on Wednesday (Aug 13) approved the sale of the Boston Celtics to an investment group led by Bill Chisholm, five months after the deal worth a then-record $6.1 billion was agreed.&nbsp;"The NBA Board of Governors has unanimously approved the sale of the controlling interests in the Boston Celtics to an investor group led by Bill Chisholm," the league said in a brief statement. “The transaction is expected to close shortly.”&nbsp;Chisholm is the managing director and co-founder of Symphony Technology Group. When he and his co-investors agreed to purchase the storied Celtics franchise "at an initial valuation of $6.1 billion," that was the highest ever offered for a North American sports team. It has since been surpassed by the $10 billion sale, in June, of the Los Angeles Lakers by the Buss family to billionaire Mark Walter.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-defending-champions-jannik-sinner-aryna-sabalenka-in-cincinnati-open-quarters-1755139806229">Tennis: Defending champions Sinner, Sabalenka in Cincinnati Open quarters</a>&nbsp;When the Celtics sale was announced, it was stated that Wyc Grousbeck would continue in his roles of chief executive officer and governor, overseeing team operations through the 2027-28 season.&nbsp;The Grousbeck family and Steve Pagliuca purchased the Celtics for $360 million in 2002.&nbsp;But US media reported this week that Chisholm -- a Massachusetts native who calls himself a "die-hard Celtics fan" -- will assume the role of governor because under the terms of the deal, Grousbeck will no longer have the required 15% ownership stake the league requires to hold that role.&nbsp;Nevertheless, ESPN reported that Chisholm and Grousbeck "plan to run the team together as originally planned."The Celtics are one of the most storied in the NBA's history, with a record 18 championships, the most recent in 2024.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The Grousbeck family and Steve Pagliuca purchased the Celtics for $360 million in 2002.

The NBA on Wednesday (Aug 13) approved the sale of the Boston Celtics to an investment group led by Bill Chisholm, five months after the deal worth a then-record $6.1 billion was agreed. "The NBA Board of Governors has unanimously approved the sale of the controlling interests in the Boston Celtics to an investor group led by Bill Chisholm," the league said in a brief statement. “The transaction is expected to close shortly.” Chisholm is the managing director and co-founder of Symphony Technology Group. When he and his co-investors agreed to purchase the storied Celtics franchise "at an initial valuation of $6.1 billion," that was the highest ever offered for a North American sports team. It has since been surpassed by the $10 billion sale, in June, of the Los Angeles Lakers by the Buss family to billionaire Mark Walter. Also read | Tennis: Defending champions Sinner, Sabalenka in Cincinnati Open quarters When the Celtics sale was announced, it was stated that Wyc Grousbeck would continue in his roles of chief executive officer and governor, overseeing team operations through the 2027-28 season. The Grousbeck family and Steve Pagliuca purchased the Celtics for $360 million in 2002. But US media reported this week that Chisholm -- a Massachusetts native who calls himself a "die-hard Celtics fan" -- will assume the role of governor because under the terms of the deal, Grousbeck will no longer have the required 15% ownership stake the league requires to hold that role. Nevertheless, ESPN reported that Chisholm and Grousbeck "plan to run the team together as originally planned." The Celtics are one of the most storied in the NBA's history, with a record 18 championships, the most recent in 2024. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The Grousbeck family and Steve Pagliuca purchased the Celtics for $360 million in 2002.

NBA approves sale of Boston Celtics to a Bill Chisholm-led investment group

NBA All-Star guard De'Aaron Fox has agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension with the San Antonio Spurs worth $229 million, according to multiple reports on Monday.Fox, who would have become a free agent next year but is now set through the 2029-30 campaign according to ESPN and The Athletic, was obtained in a trade with Sacramento last February.&nbsp;The 2023 NBA All-Star and 2024 league leader in steals averaged 19.7 points, 6.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals a game in 17 appearances for the Spurs last season before season-ending surgery on his left pinkie finger last March.&nbsp;Fox spent more than seven seasons in Sacramento and has career averages of 21.5 points, 6.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals a game.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-virat-kohli-here-is-a-look-at-five-indian-batters-with-most-runs-in-asia-cup-odis-t20is-sachin-tendulkar-ms-dhoni-dhawan-1754123070628">From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is)</a>&nbsp;The 27-year-old American becomes a key player in the Spurs future plans alongside 21-year-old French star big man Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-3 (2.21m) All-Star who averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals and a league-high 3.8 blocked shots a game last season after being the NBA Rookie of the Year two seasons ago.&nbsp;San Antonio, which boasts last season's NBA Rookie of the Year in guard Stephon Castle, also selected guard Dylan Harper with with second pick in June's NBA Draft.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The 2023 NBA All-Star and 2024 league leader, De'Aaron Fox, in steals averaged 19.7 points, 6.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals a game in 17 appearances for the Spurs last season before season-ending surgery on his left pinkie finger last March.

NBA All-Star guard De'Aaron Fox has agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension with the San Antonio Spurs worth $229 million, according to multiple reports on Monday. Fox, who would have become a free agent next year but is now set through the 2029-30 campaign according to ESPN and The Athletic, was obtained in a trade with Sacramento last February. The 2023 NBA All-Star and 2024 league leader in steals averaged 19.7 points, 6.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals a game in 17 appearances for the Spurs last season before season-ending surgery on his left pinkie finger last March. Fox spent more than seven seasons in Sacramento and has career averages of 21.5 points, 6.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals a game. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) The 27-year-old American becomes a key player in the Spurs future plans alongside 21-year-old French star big man Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-3 (2.21m) All-Star who averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals and a league-high 3.8 blocked shots a game last season after being the NBA Rookie of the Year two seasons ago. San Antonio, which boasts last season's NBA Rookie of the Year in guard Stephon Castle, also selected guard Dylan Harper with with second pick in June's NBA Draft. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The 2023 NBA All-Star and 2024 league leader, De'Aaron Fox, in steals averaged 19.7 points, 6.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals a game in 17 appearances for the Spurs last season before season-ending surgery on his left pinkie finger last March.

NBA: San Antonio Spurs agree to four-year extension with De'Aaron Fox worth $229 million - Reports

The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced on Wednesday that the Memphis Grizzlies and the Orlando Magic will play regular-season games in Berlin on Thursday, January 15, 2026, and in London on Sunday, January 18, 2026. The league also announced that it will play regular-season games in Manchester and Paris in 2027 and in Berlin and Paris in 2028.&nbsp;The games will be held at Uber Arena (Berlin), The O2 (London), Co-op Live (Manchester), and the Accor Arena (Paris). The dates and participating teams for the games in 2027 and 2028 will be announced before the 2026-27 and 2027-28 NBA seasons, respectively. The NBA Berlin Game 2026 will mark the 14th game featuring an NBA team in Germany since 1984 and the league’s first regular-season game in the country. The NBA London Game 2026 will be the 19th game featuring an NBA team in the UK since 1993 and the league’s 10th regular-season game in London.&nbsp;The game in Manchester in 2027 will mark the second game featuring an NBA team in Manchester (2013) and the league’s first regular-season game in the city. The game in Paris in 2027 will mark the 16th game featuring an NBA team in France since 1991 and the league’s sixth regular-season game in Paris.&nbsp;The Grizzlies, who will be playing their fifth and sixth games in Europe and first in Berlin and London, feature two-time NBA All-Star Ja Morant, two-time NBA All-Star and 2022-23 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr., two-time NBA champion Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, 2024-25 NBA All-Rookie First Team members Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells, and 2025 No. 11 overall pick Cedric Coward.&nbsp;The Magic, who will be playing its fourth and fifth games in Europe, first in Berlin, third in London 1993 and 2016) and 14th and 15th games outside of the U.S. and Canada, currently features 2024 NBA All-Star Paolo Banchero, German brothers Franz and Moritz Wagner, second-year German forward Tristan da Silva, 2023-24 Kia All-Defensive Second Team member Jalen Suggs, and 2020-21 Kia All-Rookie Second Team member Desmond Bane.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

NBA regular-season games set for Berlin, London, Manchester and Paris as part of 3-year slate in Europe

The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced on Wednesday that the Memphis Grizzlies and the Orlando Magic will play regular-season games in Berlin on Thursday, January 15, 2026, and in London on Sunday, January 18, 2026. The league also announced that it will play regular-season games in Manchester and Paris in 2027 and in Berlin and Paris in 2028. The games will be held at Uber Arena (Berlin), The O2 (London), Co-op Live (Manchester), and the Accor Arena (Paris). The dates and participating teams for the games in 2027 and 2028 will be announced before the 2026-27 and 2027-28 NBA seasons, respectively. The NBA Berlin Game 2026 will mark the 14th game featuring an NBA team in Germany since 1984 and the league’s first regular-season game in the country. The NBA London Game 2026 will be the 19th game featuring an NBA team in the UK since 1993 and the league’s 10th regular-season game in London. The game in Manchester in 2027 will mark the second game featuring an NBA team in Manchester (2013) and the league’s first regular-season game in the city. The game in Paris in 2027 will mark the 16th game featuring an NBA team in France since 1991 and the league’s sixth regular-season game in Paris. The Grizzlies, who will be playing their fifth and sixth games in Europe and first in Berlin and London, feature two-time NBA All-Star Ja Morant, two-time NBA All-Star and 2022-23 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr., two-time NBA champion Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, 2024-25 NBA All-Rookie First Team members Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells, and 2025 No. 11 overall pick Cedric Coward. The Magic, who will be playing its fourth and fifth games in Europe, first in Berlin, third in London 1993 and 2016) and 14th and 15th games outside of the U.S. and Canada, currently features 2024 NBA All-Star Paolo Banchero, German brothers Franz and Moritz Wagner, second-year German forward Tristan da Silva, 2023-24 Kia All-Defensive Second Team member Jalen Suggs, and 2020-21 Kia All-Rookie Second Team member Desmond Bane. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The league also announced that it will play regular-season games in Manchester and Paris in 2027 and in Berlin and Paris in 2028

Portland Fire has been lit again - the 15th franchise has officially revealed the name and logo ahead of the 2026 debut and it is the same as the previous WNBA franchise from the city - Fire. The logo has has all the flame-leaning colours in it - red, blue and pink. The logo also, very cleverly, hides a picture in itself of a rose - as a mark to Portland which is known as Rose City too - smart, right? The rose logo also hints at subtle link with the organization's sister franchise Portland Thorns in NWSL - owned by same group.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-won-hr-derby-2025-mariners-cal-raleigh-first-catcher-to-win-after-surviving-round-1-by-0-08-feet-1752578273022">Home Run Derby: Mariners' Cal Raleigh first catcher to win after surviving Round 1 by 0.08 feet</a>The last time Portland Fire played in WNBA was in 2000 but it only lasted for about three seasons before it flamed out. Now that the Fire has been lit again - let's hope it lasts more than the previous one. The franchise makes its debut at Moda Center in 2026 but the fans are already excited for the jerseys and why shouldn't they be - it promised to have a fiery rose in red, blue and pink - I mean, wow! Have a look at the official posts from WNBA, the franchise itself and some fan reactions as well.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Welcome the Portland Fire Tip-off in 2026. <a href="https://t.co/GFpaZg8pvU">pic.twitter.com/GFpaZg8pvU</a>&mdash; WNBA (@WNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1945106142696181843?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Flame rose? I have HIGH hopes for these jerseys and this court. <a href="https://t.co/P6TD9CG7nx">https://t.co/P6TD9CG7nx</a>&mdash; Rory. (@RawrEWreckz) <a href="https://twitter.com/RawrEWreckz/status/1945107856803438933?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Okay I dont think im bugging but Im absolutely loving the Rose in the fire. The logo connects not only the Trail Blazers but also the Portland Thorns who are connected to the Portland Timbers. <a href="https://t.co/CGyl7iHObv">https://t.co/CGyl7iHObv</a>&mdash; Mi-ha The Great Fossil (@Waitin4theBeast) <a href="https://twitter.com/Waitin4theBeast/status/1945119302358601965?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Portland Fire last played in WNBA back in 2000 but it only lasted for about three seasons before fading out. The new franchise makes its debut in 2026 at Moda Center.

Portland Fire has been lit again - the 15th franchise has officially revealed the name and logo ahead of the 2026 debut and it is the same as the previous WNBA franchise from the city - Fire. The logo has has all the flame-leaning colours in it - red, blue and pink. The logo also, very cleverly, hides a picture in itself of a rose - as a mark to Portland which is known as Rose City too - smart, right? The rose logo also hints at subtle link with the organization's sister franchise Portland Thorns in NWSL - owned by same group. Also Read - Home Run Derby: Mariners' Cal Raleigh first catcher to win after surviving Round 1 by 0.08 feet The last time Portland Fire played in WNBA was in 2000 but it only lasted for about three seasons before it flamed out. Now that the Fire has been lit again - let's hope it lasts more than the previous one. The franchise makes its debut at Moda Center in 2026 but the fans are already excited for the jerseys and why shouldn't they be - it promised to have a fiery rose in red, blue and pink - I mean, wow! Have a look at the official posts from WNBA, the franchise itself and some fan reactions as well.

Portland Fire last played in WNBA back in 2000 but it only lasted for about three seasons before fading out. The new franchise makes its debut in 2026 at Moda Center.

Portland Fire lit again - WNBA's newest franchise reveals name and logo ahead of 2026 debut

Superstar <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/basketball-phoenix-suns-trade-kevin-durant-to-houston-rockets-in-blockbuster-nba-deal-1750663117065">Kevin Durant is headed from the Phoenix Suns to Houston as part of an NBA-record seven-team deal</a>, the Rockets confirmed on Sunday. The Rockets will also welcome back Clint Capela in a sign-and-trade deal with Atlanta, Houston said in a statement posted on the team website. Also involved in the blockbuster transfer were the Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers.&nbsp;Durant, in a Sunday post on X, sent a farewell message to fans in Phoenix while making it clear he is excited to be heading for Houston, his fifth career NBA club.&nbsp;"My time in Phoenix has come to an end," Durant posted. "All these stops along the journey have really impacted me in a positive way. Remember it's a world behind the scenes, and those who make things work in that space, work tirelessly to make our lives easier as players.&nbsp;“I truly believe this nba is a one big community. Much love to Arizona. Houston, Can’t Wait!”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My time in Phoenix has come to an end. All these stops along the journey have really impacted me in a positive way. Remeber it’s a world behind the scenes, and those who make things work in that space, work tirelessly to make our lives easier as players. I appreciate all the…&mdash; Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) <a href="https://twitter.com/KDTrey5/status/1941943631390425105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Durant, a 15-time NBA All-Star forward, turns 37 in September. The 2014 NBA Most Valuable Player won NBA titles with Golden State in 2017 and 2018.&nbsp;"Kevin impacts the game on both ends of the court and is one of the most efficient scorers in the history of basketball," Rockets general manager Rafael Stone said in a statement. "We liked the growth our team showed last season and believe Kevin's skill set will integrate seamlessly."&nbsp;Capela, a 31-year-old Swiss center, played his first six NBA seasons in Houston and the past five for the Hawks. He averaged 8.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.0 blocks a game and joins New Zealand's Steven Adams as a big-man backup to Turkey's Alperen Sengun.&nbsp;The Suns' haul after losing Durant included 18-year-old South Sudanese 7-foot-2 (2.18m) center Khaman Maluach, the 10th overall pick in June's NBA draft, plus Houston forward Dillon Brooks of Canada and guard Jalen Green, Atlanta wing Daeqwon Plowden, Minnesota forward Rasheer Fleming and Golden State guard Koby Brea of the Dominican Republic.&nbsp;The Hawks got cash and a 2031 draft pick swap from Houston while Brooklyn obtained two future second-round selections and sent the rights to incoming US rookie forward Adou Thiero to the Lakers.&nbsp;The Warriors obtained the rights to Australian forward Alex Toohey, the 52nd pick in last month's draft, and US guard Jahmai Mashack, the last pick in the draft.&nbsp;Minnesota landed two future draft picks from the Suns and 18-year-old Australian 7-foot-3 center Rocco Zikarsky, the 45th pick in the draft, from the Lakers.&nbsp;Durant had confirmed last month he was "looking forward" to joining the Rockets after reports he was headed to Houston surfaced on the day of game seven of the NBA Finals.&nbsp;However, the deal could not be finalized until the league's yearly moratorium on signing ended on Sunday.<h3>No. 2 pick in 2007</h3>"Having played against Kevin and coached him before, I know he's the type of competitor who fits with what we’ve been building here in Houston," said Rockets coach Ime Udoka, who worked with Durant at the Brooklyn Nets and on the US Olympic squad.&nbsp;Durant joined Phoenix in February 2023 in a trade with Brooklyn that cost the Suns three players and four first-round draft picks.&nbsp;With Durant, the Suns won only one playoff series in three seasons before the swap with the Rockets, who missed the playoffs four years in a row before falling to Golden State in this year's first round.&nbsp;Durant began his NBA journey as the second selection in the 2007 draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, who moved to Oklahoma City in 2008.&nbsp;Durant, a four-time NBA scoring champion with the Thunder, sparked his team to the NBA Finals in 2012, when Oklahoma City lost to the LeBron James-led Miami Heat.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Durant, in a Sunday post on X, sent a farewell message to fans in Phoenix while making it clear he is excited to be heading for Houston, his fifth career NBA club.

Superstar Kevin Durant is headed from the Phoenix Suns to Houston as part of an NBA-record seven-team deal, the Rockets confirmed on Sunday. The Rockets will also welcome back Clint Capela in a sign-and-trade deal with Atlanta, Houston said in a statement posted on the team website. Also involved in the blockbuster transfer were the Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers. Durant, in a Sunday post on X, sent a farewell message to fans in Phoenix while making it clear he is excited to be heading for Houston, his fifth career NBA club. "My time in Phoenix has come to an end," Durant posted. "All these stops along the journey have really impacted me in a positive way. Remember it's a world behind the scenes, and those who make things work in that space, work tirelessly to make our lives easier as players. “I truly believe this nba is a one big community. Much love to Arizona. Houston, Can’t Wait!”

Durant, in a Sunday post on X, sent a farewell message to fans in Phoenix while making it clear he is excited to be heading for Houston, his fifth career NBA club.

Rockets confirm Kevin Durant’s arrival in unprecedented NBA seven-team trade

Two-time NBA champion forward Kevin Durant has been traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets for eight players in a blockbuster deal he confirmed on Sunday.&nbsp;The swap, which can be completed when the league begins the 2025-26 year in two weeks, would send the 36-year-old American to Houston in exchange for guard Jalen Green and swingman Dillon Brooks as well as the 10th pick in Wednesday's NBA Draft and five future second-round picks, according to the report, citing unnamed sources.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba-shai-gilgeous-alexander-named-nba-finals-mvp-after-oklahoma-city-thunder-clinch-maiden-title-1750654636836">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named NBA 2024-25 MVP after Oklahoma City Thunder clinch maiden title</a>&nbsp;The move unites Durant, a four-time Olympic champion with the US squad and the 2014 NBA MVP, with a rising young Houston squad guided by coach Ime Udoka that finished 52-30, second in the Western Conference behind overall NBA leader Oklahoma City.&nbsp;Durant was appearing on a panel at Fanatics Fest in New York when the news broke and told reporter Kay Adams he was happy with the move.&nbsp;"Being part of the Houston Rockets, I'm looking forward to it," Durant said. "Crazy, crazy last couple weeks, but I'm glad it's over with."&nbsp;The Suns had the highest payroll in NBA history but stumbled to a 36-46 season, finishing 11th in the West, with Durant averaging 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.2 blocked shots a game.&nbsp;Terms can be agreed for NBA moves, but cannot be finalised until the moratorium ahead of the new league season ends in July.&nbsp;Durant has an expiring $54.7 million contract but would be eligible for a two-year extension after a trade, which narrowed likely suitors to the teams where he would sign a longer-term deal.&nbsp;Durant had sought a trade to Miami, Houston or San Antonio and got a club on his wish list.&nbsp;The second-round picks in the deal coming to Phoenix include Wednesday's 59th overall selection, two choices in 2026, a 2030 pick and a 2032 selection, ESPN reported.&nbsp;Durant will fit into a Rockets lineup boasting Turkish big man Alperen Sengun and guard Fred VanVleet.&nbsp;Durant has a good relationship with Udoka, who signed a long-term deal last week to remain as Houston's coach. Durant and Udoka worked together with the Brooklyn Nets and on the US Olympic squad.&nbsp;"They had a great season last year," Durant said. "Love their leadership. I felt like I would be a good addition."&nbsp;The Suns will add Green, who averaged 21.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists this season, to their backcourt alongside NBA All-Star Devin Booker, who had 25.6 points, 7.1 assists and 4.1 rebounds a game for Phoenix.&nbsp;Brooks was one of the NBA's top defenders last season.&nbsp;Durant joined Phoenix in February 2023 in a trade with Brooklyn that cost the Suns three players and four first-round draft picks.&nbsp;"Always remember my time there, but we're on to something else," Durant said.&nbsp;With Durant, the Suns won only one playoff series in three seasons before the swap with the Rockets, who missed the playoffs four years in a row before falling to Golden State in this year's first round.&nbsp;"Being able to kind of dictate what you want to do and being with a team that values you, I'm looking forward to it," Durant said.<h2>No. 2 pick in 2007</h2>&nbsp;Durant began his NBA journey as the second selection in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, who moved to Oklahoma City in 2008.&nbsp;Durant, a four-time NBA scoring champion with the Thunder, sparked his team to the NBA Finals in 2012, when Oklahoma City lost to the LeBron James-led Miami Heat. Durant was the 2014 NBA MVP, but the Thunder lost to San Antonio in that year's Western Conference finals.&nbsp;In 2016, the Thunder blew a 3-1 series lead and lost to Golden State in the West finals.&nbsp;After the Warriors lost to Cleveland in the NBA Finals, several players asked Durant, a free agent, to sign with them. Durant inked a two-year deal with the Warriors, and they beat Cleveland in the 2017 and 2018 finals.&nbsp;Durant suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the 2019 NBA Finals against Toronto, and he left for Brooklyn the following month. The Nets with Durant never got past the second playoff round.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Phoenix Suns trade Kevin Durant to Houston Rockets in blockbuster NBA deal

Two-time NBA champion forward Kevin Durant has been traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets for eight players in a blockbuster deal he confirmed on Sunday. The swap, which can be completed when the league begins the 2025-26 year in two weeks, would send the 36-year-old American to Houston in exchange for guard Jalen Green and swingman Dillon Brooks as well as the 10th pick in Wednesday's NBA Draft and five future second-round picks, according to the report, citing unnamed sources. Also read | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named NBA 2024-25 MVP after Oklahoma City Thunder clinch maiden title The move unites Durant, a four-time Olympic champion with the US squad and the 2014 NBA MVP, with a rising young Houston squad guided by coach Ime Udoka that finished 52-30, second in the Western Conference behind overall NBA leader Oklahoma City. Durant was appearing on a panel at Fanatics Fest in New York when the news broke and told reporter Kay Adams he was happy with the move. "Being part of the Houston Rockets, I'm looking forward to it," Durant said. "Crazy, crazy last couple weeks, but I'm glad it's over with." The Suns had the highest payroll in NBA history but stumbled to a 36-46 season, finishing 11th in the West, with Durant averaging 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.2 blocked shots a game. Terms can be agreed for NBA moves, but cannot be finalised until the moratorium ahead of the new league season ends in July. Durant has an expiring $54.7 million contract but would be eligible for a two-year extension after a trade, which narrowed likely suitors to the teams where he would sign a longer-term deal. Durant had sought a trade to Miami, Houston or San Antonio and got a club on his wish list. The second-round picks in the deal coming to Phoenix include Wednesday's 59th overall selection, two choices in 2026, a 2030 pick and a 2032 selection, ESPN reported. Durant will fit into a Rockets lineup boasting Turkish big man Alperen Sengun and guard Fred VanVleet. Durant has a good relationship with Udoka, who signed a long-term deal last week to remain as Houston's coach. Durant and Udoka worked together with the Brooklyn Nets and on the US Olympic squad. "They had a great season last year," Durant said. "Love their leadership. I felt like I would be a good addition." The Suns will add Green, who averaged 21.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists this season, to their backcourt alongside NBA All-Star Devin Booker, who had 25.6 points, 7.1 assists and 4.1 rebounds a game for Phoenix. Brooks was one of the NBA's top defenders last season. Durant joined Phoenix in February 2023 in a trade with Brooklyn that cost the Suns three players and four first-round draft picks. "Always remember my time there, but we're on to something else," Durant said. With Durant, the Suns won only one playoff series in three seasons before the swap with the Rockets, who missed the playoffs four years in a row before falling to Golden State in this year's first round. "Being able to kind of dictate what you want to do and being with a team that values you, I'm looking forward to it," Durant said. No. 2 pick in 2007 Durant began his NBA journey as the second selection in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, who moved to Oklahoma City in 2008. Durant, a four-time NBA scoring champion with the Thunder, sparked his team to the NBA Finals in 2012, when Oklahoma City lost to the LeBron James-led Miami Heat. Durant was the 2014 NBA MVP, but the Thunder lost to San Antonio in that year's Western Conference finals. In 2016, the Thunder blew a 3-1 series lead and lost to Golden State in the West finals. After the Warriors lost to Cleveland in the NBA Finals, several players asked Durant, a free agent, to sign with them. Durant inked a two-year deal with the Warriors, and they beat Cleveland in the 2017 and 2018 finals. Durant suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the 2019 NBA Finals against Toronto, and he left for Brooklyn the following month. The Nets with Durant never got past the second playoff round. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

The move unites Durant, a four-time Olympic champion with the US squad and the 2014 NBA MVP, with a rising young Houston squad guided by coach Ime Udoka that finished 52-30, second in the Western Conference behind overall NBA leader Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rounded off the 2024-25 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/NBA">NBA</a> season with the fitting crown after he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP). Gilgeous-Alexander, who played a key role in the Thunder winning their maiden NBA title on Sunday (June 22, on Monday in India) became just the second Canadian player to win the prestigious Michael Jordan Trophy after Steve Nash (2004-05 and 2005-06). Thunder beat Indiana Pacer 4-3 in the best-of-seven finals, edging the latter 103-91 in the final game at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.&nbsp;<h2>Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rounds of 2024-25 with NBA MVP crown</h2>After finishing second in the 2023-24 season, it was a matter of time before the 26-year-old had his hands on the prestigious trophy. Gilgeous-Alexander amassed an impressive tally in the regular season as he averaged 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.72 steals and 1.01 blocks in 34.2 minutes in 76 games, setting career highs in points, assists and blocks per game.&nbsp;After the Thunder won their maiden title, it was a matter of time before Gilgeous-Alexander was named the MVP for the 2024-25 season.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-ind-vs-eng-1st-test-jasprit-bumrah-hopeful-of-more-playing-time-during-england-tour-1750658188733">IND vs ENG, 1st Test: Jasprit Bumrah 'hopeful' of more playing time during England tour</a>&nbsp;The forward is also the third player to win the award with the Thunder, joining Kevin Durant (2013-14) and Russell Westbrook (2016-17). He had earlier finished fifth in the MVP standings of the 2022-23 season.&nbsp;He became the first player to lead the league in games with at least 20 points (75), 30 points (49), 40 points (13) and 50 points (four) in a season since James Harden in 2018-19.&nbsp;Gilgeous-Alexander’s only regular-season game with fewer than 20 points was an 18-point performance against the San Antonio Spurs on Oct. 30, 2024. He scored at least 20 points in each of his final 72 games, the longest streak at any point in a single season since 1963-64 (when Wilt Chamberlain recorded an 80-game streak and Oscar Robertson had a 76-game streak).

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rounded off the 2024-25 NBA season with the fitting crown after he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rounded off the 2024-25 NBA season with the fitting crown after he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP). Gilgeous-Alexander, who played a key role in the Thunder winning their maiden NBA title on Sunday (June 22, on Monday in India) became just the second Canadian player to win the prestigious Michael Jordan Trophy after Steve Nash (2004-05 and 2005-06). Thunder beat Indiana Pacer 4-3 in the best-of-seven finals, edging the latter 103-91 in the final game at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rounds of 2024-25 with NBA MVP crown After finishing second in the 2023-24 season, it was a matter of time before the 26-year-old had his hands on the prestigious trophy. Gilgeous-Alexander amassed an impressive tally in the regular season as he averaged 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.72 steals and 1.01 blocks in 34.2 minutes in 76 games, setting career highs in points, assists and blocks per game. After the Thunder won their maiden title, it was a matter of time before Gilgeous-Alexander was named the MVP for the 2024-25 season. ALSO READ | IND vs ENG, 1st Test: Jasprit Bumrah 'hopeful' of more playing time during England tour The forward is also the third player to win the award with the Thunder, joining Kevin Durant (2013-14) and Russell Westbrook (2016-17). He had earlier finished fifth in the MVP standings of the 2022-23 season. He became the first player to lead the league in games with at least 20 points (75), 30 points (49), 40 points (13) and 50 points (four) in a season since James Harden in 2018-19. Gilgeous-Alexander’s only regular-season game with fewer than 20 points was an 18-point performance against the San Antonio Spurs on Oct. 30, 2024. He scored at least 20 points in each of his final 72 games, the longest streak at any point in a single season since 1963-64 (when Wilt Chamberlain recorded an 80-game streak and Oscar Robertson had a 76-game streak).

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rounded off the 2024-25 NBA season with the fitting crown after he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named NBA 2024-25 MVP after Oklahoma City Thunder clinch maiden title

Oklahoma City Thunder clinched their maiden <a href="https://www.wionews.com/NBA">NBA</a> title on Sunday (June 23, Monday in India) as they beat the Indians Pacers in game seven of the best-of-seven series final, thereby winning the series 4-3. Contesting its first NBA game seven of the final series since 2016, the Thunder beat the Pacers 103-91 to write their name in the history books. The defeat for the Pacers also meant their hunt for maiden NBA title continues despite leading the series 2-1 at one stage.&nbsp;<h2>Thunder-Pacers make tight start</h2>Playing at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, it was a tight start to the final as the home side led by just three points after the first quarter. The Pacers did have a huge concern with Tyrese Haliburton sustaining an Achilles injury on his right leg. He was ruled out for the rest of the final and had to warm the bench as the scorecard read 25-22 in favour of the Thunder.&nbsp;The Pacers then turned the tables, netting 26 points and gaining the upper hand as the halftime approached. Heading into the halftime break, the Pacers led 48-47, meaning the final was well in balance with a sole point separating the two sides.<h2>Thunder down Pacers in second half&nbsp;</h2>Having contested the opening two quarters tightly, it was the third one that made the difference as Thunder opened a 13-point lead. Chet Holmgren scored a three-pointer midway through the third quarter, which laid the foundation for the decisive lead. The Pacers would then play catchup for the rest of the final, but could not edge Thunder to regain the upper hand. Ultimately, Thunder won the final 103-91, conversing their lead in the final quarter of the final.&nbsp;&nbsp;The win also means the Thunder have now won their first title since rebranding from Seattle SuperSonics in 2008. They had first reached the final of the 2011-12 season but failed at the final hurdle to Miami Heat. The win also means, the Western Conference once again has the NBA title having surrendered it to the Boston Celtics of the Eastern Conference in 2024. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder was named the MVP of the final for his excellent showing.

Oklahoma City Thunder clinched their maiden NBA title on Sunday (June 23, Monday in India) as they beat the Indians Pacers in game seven of the best-of-seven series final, thereby winning the series 4-3. 

Oklahoma City Thunder clinched their maiden NBA title on Sunday (June 23, Monday in India) as they beat the Indians Pacers in game seven of the best-of-seven series final, thereby winning the series 4-3. Contesting its first NBA game seven of the final series since 2016, the Thunder beat the Pacers 103-91 to write their name in the history books. The defeat for the Pacers also meant their hunt for maiden NBA title continues despite leading the series 2-1 at one stage. Thunder-Pacers make tight start Playing at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, it was a tight start to the final as the home side led by just three points after the first quarter. The Pacers did have a huge concern with Tyrese Haliburton sustaining an Achilles injury on his right leg. He was ruled out for the rest of the final and had to warm the bench as the scorecard read 25-22 in favour of the Thunder. The Pacers then turned the tables, netting 26 points and gaining the upper hand as the halftime approached. Heading into the halftime break, the Pacers led 48-47, meaning the final was well in balance with a sole point separating the two sides. Thunder down Pacers in second half Having contested the opening two quarters tightly, it was the third one that made the difference as Thunder opened a 13-point lead. Chet Holmgren scored a three-pointer midway through the third quarter, which laid the foundation for the decisive lead. The Pacers would then play catchup for the rest of the final, but could not edge Thunder to regain the upper hand. Ultimately, Thunder won the final 103-91, conversing their lead in the final quarter of the final. The win also means the Thunder have now won their first title since rebranding from Seattle SuperSonics in 2008. They had first reached the final of the 2011-12 season but failed at the final hurdle to Miami Heat. The win also means, the Western Conference once again has the NBA title having surrendered it to the Boston Celtics of the Eastern Conference in 2024. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder was named the MVP of the final for his excellent showing.

Oklahoma City Thunder clinched their maiden NBA title on Sunday (June 23, Monday in India) as they beat the Indians Pacers in game seven of the best-of-seven series final, thereby winning the series 4-3.&nbsp;

Resolute Oklahoma City Thunder clinch maiden NBA title, beat Indiana Pacers in decisive seventh game

In a landmark deal, billionaire Mark Walter is set to become the new majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, a premier team in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/nba">National Basketball Association (NBA)</a>. The record-breaking $10 billion purchase marks the most expensive sale in the U.S. professional sports history and ends the Buss family's 45-year-long ownership of the iconic NBA franchise.Walter is a prominent figure in the sports investment space. He is the CEO and chairman of TWG Global, a company that holds stakes in several sports ventures. His portfolio comprises ownership in the Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB), Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA), the Professional Women’s Hockey League, the Billie Jean King Cup, and the Cadillac Formula 1 team.&nbsp;Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/carlos-alcaraz-to-win-wimbledon-2025-history-is-on-his-side-and-so-is-form-1750330888011">Carlos Alcaraz to win Wimbledon 2025? History is on his side and so is form</a>Despite the change in ownership, Jeanie Buss will stay on as the Lakers' governor. The Buss family has controlled the Lakers since 1979, when the late Dr. Jerry Buss purchased the team for just $67.5 million. Under their leadership, the Lakers went on to win 11 NBA championships, more than any other team since 1980.&nbsp;So why did the Buss family decide to sell the iconic team?A major reason is the franchise’s skyrocketing valuation over the years. Earlier in 2025, Forbes valued the Lakers at around $7 billion, but Walter offered $10 billion. The team earns around $400 million annually from television and streaming deals, further boosting the revenue.Family dynamics may also have influenced the decision. Since Jerry Buss died in 2013, Jeanie Buss has had internal conflicts with her siblings, particularly Jim and Johnny, over the team's control. Though she eventually took full charge, the ongoing pressure of family politics may have pushed the family to sell the majority of stakes in Lakers. &nbsp;

The record-breaking $10 billion (Rs 86.73 crore) purchase marks the most expensive sale in U.S. professional sports history and ends the Buss family's 45-year-long ownership of the iconic NBA franchise.

In a landmark deal, billionaire Mark Walter is set to become the new majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, a premier team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The record-breaking $10 billion purchase marks the most expensive sale in the U.S. professional sports history and ends the Buss family's 45-year-long ownership of the iconic NBA franchise. Walter is a prominent figure in the sports investment space. He is the CEO and chairman of TWG Global, a company that holds stakes in several sports ventures. His portfolio comprises ownership in the Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB), Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA), the Professional Women’s Hockey League, the Billie Jean King Cup, and the Cadillac Formula 1 team. Also Read | Carlos Alcaraz to win Wimbledon 2025? History is on his side and so is form Despite the change in ownership, Jeanie Buss will stay on as the Lakers' governor. The Buss family has controlled the Lakers since 1979, when the late Dr. Jerry Buss purchased the team for just $67.5 million. Under their leadership, the Lakers went on to win 11 NBA championships, more than any other team since 1980. So why did the Buss family decide to sell the iconic team? A major reason is the franchise’s skyrocketing valuation over the years. Earlier in 2025, Forbes valued the Lakers at around $7 billion, but Walter offered $10 billion. The team earns around $400 million annually from television and streaming deals, further boosting the revenue. Family dynamics may also have influenced the decision. Since Jerry Buss died in 2013, Jeanie Buss has had internal conflicts with her siblings, particularly Jim and Johnny, over the team's control. Though she eventually took full charge, the ongoing pressure of family politics may have pushed the family to sell the majority of stakes in Lakers.

The record-breaking $10 billion (Rs 80,000 crore approx) purchase marks the most expensive sale in U.S. professional sports history and ends the Buss family's 45-year-long ownership of the iconic NBA franchise.

Mark Walter set to purchase Los Angeles Lakers in record $10 Billion deal

The Los Angeles Lakers are being sold in a record-breaking $10 billion deal that makes the iconic franchise the highest-valued sports team in US history, ESPN reported Wednesday.&nbsp;The report said the Lakers' owners, the Buss family, would sell their controlling interest in the team to billionaire Mark Walter, who already owns a minority stake in the franchise.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-fifa-club-world-cup-real-madrid-held-as-manchester-city-juventus-triumph-in-openers-1750304338171">Club World Cup: Real Madrid held as Manchester City, Juventus triumph in openers</a>&nbsp;While Jeanie Buss would continue as Lakers governor, the deal ends the Buss family's 46-year reign over the NBA giants.&nbsp;Walter is the chief executive of holding company TWG Global, which has built an impressive portfolio of professional sports teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Sparks. He is also part of the ownership group of English Premier League side Chelsea.&nbsp;TWG also owns the Billie Jean King Cup tennis tournament and the Cadillac Formula One team.&nbsp;While further specifics of the deal were not disclosed, Lakers legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson -- a business partner of Walter -- was among the first to react to news of the agreement.&nbsp;"Laker fans should be ecstatic," Johnson wrote on X.&nbsp;&nbsp;“A few things I can tell you about Mark -- he is driven by winning, excellence, and doing everything the right way. And he will put in the resources needed to win! I can understand why Jeanie sold the team to Mark Walter because they are just alike.”<h3>'The best choice'&nbsp;</h3>&nbsp;Johnson cited Walter's ownership of the Dodgers baseball team as a reason for optimism.&nbsp;The Dodgers have won the World Series twice since Walter's ownership group took over the club, and in recent years have adopted an aggressive recruitment strategy that has seen them sign some of the sport's best talent, including Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani on a 10-year, $700 million deal.&nbsp;"Mark is the best choice and will be the best caretaker of the Laker brand," Johnson wrote. "The proof is in the pudding on what he's been able to accomplish with the LA Dodgers. Mark has been nothing short of a winner."&nbsp;The Buss family selling the Lakers marks the end of an era in the NBA, whose modern popularity owes much to the franchise's 1980s heyday.&nbsp;The Lakers were bought in 1979 by charismatic tycoon Jerry Buss, who quickly helped turn the franchise into a sporting powerhouse as well as a globally recognised brand.&nbsp;The Buss era brought the Lakers 11 NBA championships -- more than any other team over the same period -- and encompassed golden ages which included the "Showtime" Lakers of Magic Johnson as well as a hat-trick of championships between 2000 and 2002 when the team was spearheaded by Kobe Bryant.&nbsp;More recently, the team recruited superstar LeBron James, who led the Lakers to a 17th championship in 2020, and stunned the league earlier this after swooping for Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic.&nbsp;Walter has been a minority owner of the Lakers since 2021, when he bought a share in a deal which also gave him first refusal to purchase the club should the Buss family ever decide to sell.&nbsp;The sale of the club smashes the previous highest figure paid for a US sports team, the $6.1 billion paid for the Boston Celtics earlier this year.&nbsp;That Celtics sale eclipsed the $6.05 billion that Josh Harris paid for the Washington Commanders in 2023.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Los Angeles Lakers to be sold in record-breaking $10bn deal - Report

The Los Angeles Lakers are being sold in a record-breaking $10 billion deal that makes the iconic franchise the highest-valued sports team in US history, ESPN reported Wednesday. The report said the Lakers' owners, the Buss family, would sell their controlling interest in the team to billionaire Mark Walter, who already owns a minority stake in the franchise. Also read | Club World Cup: Real Madrid held as Manchester City, Juventus triumph in openers While Jeanie Buss would continue as Lakers governor, the deal ends the Buss family's 46-year reign over the NBA giants. Walter is the chief executive of holding company TWG Global, which has built an impressive portfolio of professional sports teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Sparks. He is also part of the ownership group of English Premier League side Chelsea. TWG also owns the Billie Jean King Cup tennis tournament and the Cadillac Formula One team. While further specifics of the deal were not disclosed, Lakers legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson -- a business partner of Walter -- was among the first to react to news of the agreement. "Laker fans should be ecstatic," Johnson wrote on X. “A few things I can tell you about Mark -- he is driven by winning, excellence, and doing everything the right way. And he will put in the resources needed to win! I can understand why Jeanie sold the team to Mark Walter because they are just alike.” 'The best choice' Johnson cited Walter's ownership of the Dodgers baseball team as a reason for optimism. The Dodgers have won the World Series twice since Walter's ownership group took over the club, and in recent years have adopted an aggressive recruitment strategy that has seen them sign some of the sport's best talent, including Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani on a 10-year, $700 million deal. "Mark is the best choice and will be the best caretaker of the Laker brand," Johnson wrote. "The proof is in the pudding on what he's been able to accomplish with the LA Dodgers. Mark has been nothing short of a winner." The Buss family selling the Lakers marks the end of an era in the NBA, whose modern popularity owes much to the franchise's 1980s heyday. The Lakers were bought in 1979 by charismatic tycoon Jerry Buss, who quickly helped turn the franchise into a sporting powerhouse as well as a globally recognised brand. The Buss era brought the Lakers 11 NBA championships -- more than any other team over the same period -- and encompassed golden ages which included the "Showtime" Lakers of Magic Johnson as well as a hat-trick of championships between 2000 and 2002 when the team was spearheaded by Kobe Bryant. More recently, the team recruited superstar LeBron James, who led the Lakers to a 17th championship in 2020, and stunned the league earlier this after swooping for Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic. Walter has been a minority owner of the Lakers since 2021, when he bought a share in a deal which also gave him first refusal to purchase the club should the Buss family ever decide to sell. The sale of the club smashes the previous highest figure paid for a US sports team, the $6.1 billion paid for the Boston Celtics earlier this year. That Celtics sale eclipsed the $6.05 billion that Josh Harris paid for the Washington Commanders in 2023. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

The Lakers' owners, the Buss family, would sell their controlling interest in the team to billionaire Mark Walter, who already owns a minority stake in the franchise.

Tyrese Haliburton scored 31 points as the Indiana Pacers came from behind to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-105 and send the top seeds tumbling out of the NBA playoffs on Tuesday.
A flurry of six three-pointers from Haliburton helped Indiana wrap up a 4-1 series victory as the Cavaliers' promising season fizzled out in disappointing fashion on their home court.
Haliburton's scoring was backed by 21 points from Pascal Siakam while Aaron Nesmith contributed 13 points with 13 rebounds. Andrew Nembhard scored 18 points.
"We're talking about eight more wins for an NBA championship," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said after guiding his team into the Eastern Conference finals for a second straight year.
"The league is wide open this year. There are a lot of great teams but it's wide open. We've just gotta keep believing. We've got a great group of guys who have committed to one another.
"We have a formula that works for us when we are really steadfast about sticking to it."
Trailing 3-1 heading into Tuesday's game five, Cleveland looked ready to keep the series alive after surging into a 19-point lead midway through the second quarter at the Rocket Arena.
But Haliburton sparked into life to drain five-of-five from three-point range in a 15-point second quarter to flip the script and slash Cleveland's advantage to just four points at 56-52 heading into halftime.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ipl-2025-bcci-scrambles-to-get-foreign-players-as-ipl-sets-for-resumption-who-will-return-and-who-wont-deets-inside-9065463" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">IPL 2025 | BCCI scrambles to get foreign players as IPL sets for resumption: Who will return and who won&rsquo;t? Deets inside</a>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">They deserved it</h2>
The Pacers' scoring onslaught continued into the third quarter with the visitors outscoring Cleveland 33-20 to open up a commanding 85-76 lead as the fourth quarter got under way.
Cleveland threatened to rally in the final frame after 16 points from Donovan Mitchell, who was clearly still troubled by the sore left ankle that had threatened to rule him out of the contest.
Mitchell, who finished with 35 points, six rebounds and eight assists, closed the Indiana lead to one point at 98-97 with just over five minutes remaining after nailing a three-pointer.
But the Cavaliers' failure to threaten from three-point range -- they managed to convert just nine-of-35 attempts from beyond the arc -- continued to be a problem and hopes of a comeback were snuffed out by the Pacers defense.
Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson lamented his team's stalled playoff campaign which followed a dominant 64-win regular season.
"They were the better team, they deserved it and they played great," Atkinson said of Indiana. "But the truth of the matter is we didn't get to the level we wanted to get to.
"We're not pleased with that. We're not celebrating the season. But I do think we made strides. We took a jump -- and now we've got to figure out this last piece, and how to get over this hump.
"We had some misfortune with injuries, but I still felt like we had enough. It's disappointing."
Fourth-seeds Indiana will now meet either the Boston Celtics or arch-rivals the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals, with the winner advancing to next month's NBA Finals.
The Knicks lead the series with Boston 3-1 and can book a showdown with Indiana if they manage a victory over the Celtics on Wednesday.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Tyrese Haliburton scored 31 points as the Indiana Pacers came from behind to defeat Cavaliers 114-105 and send the top seeds tumbling out of the NBA playoffs. Sports

Tyrese Haliburton scored 31 points as the Indiana Pacers came from behind to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-105 and send the top seeds tumbling out of the NBA playoffs on Tuesday. A flurry of six three-pointers from Haliburton helped Indiana wrap up a 4-1 series victory as the Cavaliers' promising season fizzled out in disappointing fashion on their home court. Haliburton's scoring was backed by 21 points from Pascal Siakam while Aaron Nesmith contributed 13 points with 13 rebounds. Andrew Nembhard scored 18 points. "We're talking about eight more wins for an NBA championship," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said after guiding his team into the Eastern Conference finals for a second straight year. "The league is wide open this year. There are a lot of great teams but it's wide open. We've just gotta keep believing. We've got a great group of guys who have committed to one another. "We have a formula that works for us when we are really steadfast about sticking to it." Trailing 3-1 heading into Tuesday's game five, Cleveland looked ready to keep the series alive after surging into a 19-point lead midway through the second quarter at the Rocket Arena. But Haliburton sparked into life to drain five-of-five from three-point range in a 15-point second quarter to flip the script and slash Cleveland's advantage to just four points at 56-52 heading into halftime. ALSO READ | IPL 2025 | BCCI scrambles to get foreign players as IPL sets for resumption: Who will return and who won’t? Deets inside They deserved it The Pacers' scoring onslaught continued into the third quarter with the visitors outscoring Cleveland 33-20 to open up a commanding 85-76 lead as the fourth quarter got under way. Cleveland threatened to rally in the final frame after 16 points from Donovan Mitchell, who was clearly still troubled by the sore left ankle that had threatened to rule him out of the contest. Mitchell, who finished with 35 points, six rebounds and eight assists, closed the Indiana lead to one point at 98-97 with just over five minutes remaining after nailing a three-pointer. But the Cavaliers' failure to threaten from three-point range -- they managed to convert just nine-of-35 attempts from beyond the arc -- continued to be a problem and hopes of a comeback were snuffed out by the Pacers defense. Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson lamented his team's stalled playoff campaign which followed a dominant 64-win regular season. "They were the better team, they deserved it and they played great," Atkinson said of Indiana. "But the truth of the matter is we didn't get to the level we wanted to get to. "We're not pleased with that. We're not celebrating the season. But I do think we made strides. We took a jump -- and now we've got to figure out this last piece, and how to get over this hump. "We had some misfortune with injuries, but I still felt like we had enough. It's disappointing." Fourth-seeds Indiana will now meet either the Boston Celtics or arch-rivals the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals, with the winner advancing to next month's NBA Finals. The Knicks lead the series with Boston 3-1 and can book a showdown with Indiana if they manage a victory over the Celtics on Wednesday. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Tyrese Haliburton shines as Indiana Pacers advance past top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers

The Dallas Mavericks won the top pick in the NBA Draft lottery on Monday, leaving them in pole position to select talented top college prospect Cooper Flagg.
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Mavericks win draft lottery</h2>
The Mavericks -- who had only a 1.8 percent chance of landing the top pick under the NBA's complex lottery rules -- have now been gifted a golden opportunity to rebuild following their shock decision to trade Luka Doncic in February.
"Its been a rough year for us as we all know," said Dallas legend Rolando Blackman, the four-time All-Star who was chosen by the club to represent the Mavs at Monday's draw in Chicago.
"But the important part of the whole thing is that we'll get a chance to move our franchise forward."
The 18-year-old Flagg is the overwhelming favorite to be selected with the No.1 pick at the 2025 Draft, which will be held from June 25-26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The 6ft 9in, 205-pound (2.05 meter, 93 kilogram) forward declared for the draft last month after just a single season in college basketball with Duke University in which he was named as national player of the year.
Many observers see Flagg as a generational talent, citing his rare blend of size, athleticism and skill, which helped him average 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game in college basketball.
"His highlights, his statistics, the ways he impacted the game on both ends of the floor, really in every category, was off the charts," Duke coach Jon Scheyer said last month.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-releases-ipl-2025-revised-schedule-tournament-to-restart-on-may-17-final-in-june-9062057" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">BCCI releases IPL 2025 revised schedule, tournament to restart on May 17, final in June</a>
Asked on Monday what Flagg could bring to the Mavericks, Blackman replied: "Well the main factor is that he can hoop. He can play.
"There are a lot of great players in that draft class, and the important thing is that we'll see how the guys get together and make the team better."
Flagg meanwhile told ESPN he had not given much thought about his likely draft destination.
"I didn't try and think about it too much," Flagg said.&nbsp;
"I feel like it's kind of out of my control. So I'm just going through the process like everybody else and trying to enjoy every single moment."
The 14 teams which didn't make the NBA playoffs entered the draft lottery, although the Houston Rockets, who finished second in the Western Conference, were included due to previous trade deals.
Elsewhere in Monday's lottery, the San Antonio Spurs won the second pick in the draft, with the Philadelphia 76ers third.
The Charlotte Hornets will have the fourth pick while the Utah Jazz -- who had the worst record in the NBA during the regular season, finishing bottom of the Western Conference with a 17-65 record -- will have the fifth pick.&nbsp;
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The Dallas Mavericks won the top pick in the NBA Draft lottery on Monday, leaving them in pole position to select talented top college prospect Cooper Flagg. Sports

The Dallas Mavericks won the top pick in the NBA Draft lottery on Monday, leaving them in pole position to select talented top college prospect Cooper Flagg. Mavericks win draft lottery The Mavericks -- who had only a 1.8 percent chance of landing the top pick under the NBA's complex lottery rules -- have now been gifted a golden opportunity to rebuild following their shock decision to trade Luka Doncic in February. "Its been a rough year for us as we all know," said Dallas legend Rolando Blackman, the four-time All-Star who was chosen by the club to represent the Mavs at Monday's draw in Chicago. "But the important part of the whole thing is that we'll get a chance to move our franchise forward." The 18-year-old Flagg is the overwhelming favorite to be selected with the No.1 pick at the 2025 Draft, which will be held from June 25-26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The 6ft 9in, 205-pound (2.05 meter, 93 kilogram) forward declared for the draft last month after just a single season in college basketball with Duke University in which he was named as national player of the year. Many observers see Flagg as a generational talent, citing his rare blend of size, athleticism and skill, which helped him average 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game in college basketball. "His highlights, his statistics, the ways he impacted the game on both ends of the floor, really in every category, was off the charts," Duke coach Jon Scheyer said last month. ALSO READ | BCCI releases IPL 2025 revised schedule, tournament to restart on May 17, final in June Asked on Monday what Flagg could bring to the Mavericks, Blackman replied: "Well the main factor is that he can hoop. He can play. "There are a lot of great players in that draft class, and the important thing is that we'll see how the guys get together and make the team better." Flagg meanwhile told ESPN he had not given much thought about his likely draft destination. "I didn't try and think about it too much," Flagg said. "I feel like it's kind of out of my control. So I'm just going through the process like everybody else and trying to enjoy every single moment." The 14 teams which didn't make the NBA playoffs entered the draft lottery, although the Houston Rockets, who finished second in the Western Conference, were included due to previous trade deals. Elsewhere in Monday's lottery, the San Antonio Spurs won the second pick in the draft, with the Philadelphia 76ers third. The Charlotte Hornets will have the fourth pick while the Utah Jazz -- who had the worst record in the NBA during the regular season, finishing bottom of the Western Conference with a 17-65 record -- will have the fifth pick. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

NBA Draft 2025: Dallas Mavericks win lottery, eye college star Cooper Flagg

Golden State Warrior star Stephen Curry has been ruled out for at least a week with a hamstring injury, the NBA team said on Wednesday in a blow to the club's playoff hopes.
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Stephen Curry ruled out for a week</h2>
The 11-time All-Star suffered the injury during Golden State's 99-88 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, limping out of action in the second quarter of the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal opener.
The Warriors said in a statement that Curry underwent an MRI on Wednesday morning and the test confirmed the injury as a grade one hamstring strain.
"Curry will be re-evaluated in one week," the team added.
Game two will be held in Minnesota on Thursday with game three on Saturday and game four on Monday both in San Francisco.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rohit-sharma-announces-retirement-from-test-cricket-9045477" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Rohit Sharma announces retirement from Test cricket</a>
"I think we all want (number) 30 back, that is for sure," teammate Jimmy Butler said Tuesday.&nbsp;
"But we want him to do his best for himself, best for our group. Until then, we can hold down the fort. I know we can."
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Golden State Warrior star Stephen Curry has been ruled out for at least a week with a hamstring injury, the NBA team said on Wednesday in a blow. World | Sports

Golden State Warrior star Stephen Curry has been ruled out for at least a week with a hamstring injury, the NBA team said on Wednesday in a blow to the club's playoff hopes. Stephen Curry ruled out for a week The 11-time All-Star suffered the injury during Golden State's 99-88 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, limping out of action in the second quarter of the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal opener. The Warriors said in a statement that Curry underwent an MRI on Wednesday morning and the test confirmed the injury as a grade one hamstring strain. "Curry will be re-evaluated in one week," the team added. Game two will be held in Minnesota on Thursday with game three on Saturday and game four on Monday both in San Francisco. ALSO READ | Rohit Sharma announces retirement from Test cricket "I think we all want (number) 30 back, that is for sure," teammate Jimmy Butler said Tuesday. "But we want him to do his best for himself, best for our group. Until then, we can hold down the fort. I know we can." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Stephen Curry ruled out for a week in NBA playoff blow to Golden State Warriors

Aaron Gordon did it again for the Denver Nuggets and this time it was in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinals in NBA Playoffs against Oklahoma City Thunder on May 5. His go-ahead three-pointer proved to be the game winning one as the Nuggets took a 1-0 lead.&nbsp;
With eight second remaining on the clock, Russell Westbrook passed him the ball just outside the arc and Gordon, cool as a cucumber, dropped a three. The game was over within a second after that and the Nuggets camp was ecstatic. Have a look at the shot below:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
AARON GORDON 3 FOR THE WIN!!!<a href="https://twitter.com/nuggets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nuggets</a> take Game 1 in a THRILLER 🤯 <a href="https://t.co/fxV2ReRPZA">pic.twitter.com/fxV2ReRPZA</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1919610015645659382?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"When I shot it, did I know it was in? I knew it wasn't a miss," he said after the win.
Also Read -&nbsp;<a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iceland-crickets-viral-scammers-xi-dig-targets-pricey-ipl-stars-rishabh-pant-named-captain-9040386" aria-label="Iceland Cricket's viral 'Scammers XI' dig targets pricey IPL stars, Rishabh Pant named captain">Iceland Cricket's viral 'Scammers XI' dig targets pricey IPL stars, Rishabh Pant named captain</a>
This is the second time Gordon has taken his team over the line with a clutch game winning shot. He had done the same against the LA Clippers in Game 4 of the first round playoff series on April 26 with a buzzer-beater dunk.
Scoring 3s was never his strong suit but ever since he has converted his house, which is a warehouse, into half court where he practices these shots day and night, Gordon has become confident with the long-range shots. Nuggets forward Christian Braun corroborated this fact and said: "He lives in a gym, literally."
"When you can roll out of bed and go to your gym shoot, that helps a little bit," Braun added.
"He is the soul of this team," his teammate Nikola Jokic said. "He probably doesn't get as much respect as he deserves. But I think he doesn't need it."
The Nuggets were 10 points behind at the half-time with Thunder having scored 27 and 33 in the first two quarters, respectively against Denver's 26 and 24.&nbsp;
In the third quarter, the Nuggets reduced the deficit to five points as they scored 35 points compared to the Thunder's 30. In the final 12 minutes, Denver outscored Oklahoma City 36-29 and won the game 121-119.

This is the second time Gordon has taken his team over the line with a clutch game winning shot. He had done the same against the LA Clippers in Game 4 of the first round playoff series on April 26 with a buzzer-beater dunk. NBA Sports

Aaron Gordon did it again for the Denver Nuggets and this time it was in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinals in NBA Playoffs against Oklahoma City Thunder on May 5. His go-ahead three-pointer proved to be the game winning one as the Nuggets took a 1-0 lead. With eight second remaining on the clock, Russell Westbrook passed him the ball just outside the arc and Gordon, cool as a cucumber, dropped a three. The game was over within a second after that and the Nuggets camp was ecstatic. Have a look at the shot below: AARON GORDON 3 FOR THE WIN!!!@nuggets take Game 1 in a THRILLER 🤯 pic.twitter.com/fxV2ReRPZA — NBA (@NBA) May 6, 2025 "When I shot it, did I know it was in? I knew it wasn't a miss," he said after the win. Also Read - Iceland Cricket's viral 'Scammers XI' dig targets pricey IPL stars, Rishabh Pant named captain This is the second time Gordon has taken his team over the line with a clutch game winning shot. He had done the same against the LA Clippers in Game 4 of the first round playoff series on April 26 with a buzzer-beater dunk. Scoring 3s was never his strong suit but ever since he has converted his house, which is a warehouse, into half court where he practices these shots day and night, Gordon has become confident with the long-range shots. Nuggets forward Christian Braun corroborated this fact and said: "He lives in a gym, literally." "When you can roll out of bed and go to your gym shoot, that helps a little bit," Braun added. "He is the soul of this team," his teammate Nikola Jokic said. "He probably doesn't get as much respect as he deserves. But I think he doesn't need it." The Nuggets were 10 points behind at the half-time with Thunder having scored 27 and 33 in the first two quarters, respectively against Denver's 26 and 24. In the third quarter, the Nuggets reduced the deficit to five points as they scored 35 points compared to the Thunder's 30. In the final 12 minutes, Denver outscored Oklahoma City 36-29 and won the game 121-119.

Thunder vs Nuggets, Game 1: WATCH | Aaron Gordon clutch three takes Denver past Oklahoma City in conference semis

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is stepping down after 29 seasons, six months after being sidelined by a stroke, the NBA team announced on Friday.
San Antonio said in a statement that Popovich, 76, would transition to a new role as president of basketball operations.
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Gregg Popovich to step down as San Antonio Spurs coach</h2>
"While my love and passion for the game remain, I've decided it's time to step away as head coach," Popovich said in a statement released by San Antonio.
"I'm forever grateful to the wonderful players, coaches, staff and fans who allowed me to serve them as the Spurs head coach and am excited for the opportunity to continue to support the organization, community and city that are so meaningful to me."
Popovich, who amassed a record 1,422 regular season wins during his coaching career and led San Antonio to five NBA championships, is one of the most beloved figures in basketball.
He joined San Antonio as an assistant coach in 1988 and has spent 37 years in the league as a coach and executive. Apart from two seasons as an assistant coach at the Golden State Warriors, the entirety of Popovich's career has been spent in San Antonio.
Popovich also led the United States to a gold medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
"Coach Pop's extraordinary impact on our family, San Antonio, the Spurs and the game of basketball is profound," Spurs managing partner Peter J. Holt said in a statement. "His accolades and awards don't do justice to the impact he has had on so many people.&nbsp;
"He is truly one-of-one as a person, leader and coach. Our entire family, alongside fans from across the globe, are grateful for his remarkable 29-year run as the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs."
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-ind-sai-sudharsan-on-ravi-shastris-list-for-away-england-tour-ex-coach-also-backs-left-arm-quicks-for-selection-arshdeep-singh-khaleel-ahmed-9025650" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Sai Sudharsan on Shastri's preferred list for away England tour; ex-coach also backs left-arm quicks for selection</a>
Speculation about Popovich's ability to continue in his role as Spurs head coach has swirled since he suffered a mild stroke in November which left him unable to coach the team for the rest of the recently concluded regular season.
That sense of uncertainty was heightened last month after he was reportedly hospitalised following a "medical incident" at a restaurant with what was described as a non-life-threatening injury or illness.&nbsp;
Popovich had already announced in February that he would play no part in the remainder of the Spurs' season, saying he planned to concentrate on his health "with the hope that I can return to coaching in the future."
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is stepping down after 29 seasons, six months after being sidelined by a stroke, the NBA team announced on Friday. World | Sports

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is stepping down after 29 seasons, six months after being sidelined by a stroke, the NBA team announced on Friday. San Antonio said in a statement that Popovich, 76, would transition to a new role as president of basketball operations. Gregg Popovich to step down as San Antonio Spurs coach "While my love and passion for the game remain, I've decided it's time to step away as head coach," Popovich said in a statement released by San Antonio. "I'm forever grateful to the wonderful players, coaches, staff and fans who allowed me to serve them as the Spurs head coach and am excited for the opportunity to continue to support the organization, community and city that are so meaningful to me." Popovich, who amassed a record 1,422 regular season wins during his coaching career and led San Antonio to five NBA championships, is one of the most beloved figures in basketball. He joined San Antonio as an assistant coach in 1988 and has spent 37 years in the league as a coach and executive. Apart from two seasons as an assistant coach at the Golden State Warriors, the entirety of Popovich's career has been spent in San Antonio. Popovich also led the United States to a gold medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. "Coach Pop's extraordinary impact on our family, San Antonio, the Spurs and the game of basketball is profound," Spurs managing partner Peter J. Holt said in a statement. "His accolades and awards don't do justice to the impact he has had on so many people. "He is truly one-of-one as a person, leader and coach. Our entire family, alongside fans from across the globe, are grateful for his remarkable 29-year run as the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs." ALSO READ | Sai Sudharsan on Shastri's preferred list for away England tour; ex-coach also backs left-arm quicks for selection Speculation about Popovich's ability to continue in his role as Spurs head coach has swirled since he suffered a mild stroke in November which left him unable to coach the team for the rest of the recently concluded regular season. That sense of uncertainty was heightened last month after he was reportedly hospitalised following a "medical incident" at a restaurant with what was described as a non-life-threatening injury or illness. Popovich had already announced in February that he would play no part in the remainder of the Spurs' season, saying he planned to concentrate on his health "with the hope that I can return to coaching in the future." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Gregg Popovich to step down as San Antonio Spurs coach after 29 seasons

NBA superstar LeBron James says he'll take time to decide whether to return for a 23rd season after his Los Angeles Lakers were dumped out of the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.
"I don't know," James said when asked how many more years he would play. "I don't have the answer to that. (It's) something I sit down with my family, my wife and my support group and kind of just talk through it and see what happens and just have a conversation with myself on how long I want to continue to play."
Also Read -&nbsp;<a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/football-messi-inter-miami-out-of-cocacaf-as-vancouver-whitecaps-reach-final-9021350" aria-label="Messi, Inter Miami out of COCACAF as Vancouver Whitecaps reach final">Messi, Inter Miami out of COCACAF as Vancouver Whitecaps reach final</a>
James, who turned 40 on December 30, averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game in a season that featured a new set of milestones, but not a fifth title go with the two he won with Miami in 2012 and 2013, the one he won with hometown team Cleveland in 2016 and his 2020 crown with the Lakers.
Already the league's all-time leader scorer, in March James became the first player to amass 50,000 career points.
He joined NBA icon Michael Jordan as the only players to score 40 points at the age of 40 wen he poured in 42 in a Lakers win over Golden State in February.
Later that month he and the Lakers were energized by the addition of Luka Doncic, the Slovenian star who led the Dallas Mavericks to the finals last season.
<h2>Father-son first</h2>
But James said the most important first achieved this season was playing alongside son Bronny as the first father-son duo to play together in a regular season NBA game.
It was a moment James had long anticipated, and became possible when the Lakers drafted Bronny James last year.
"Number one, for sure," he said of playing with his son. "That's not even close. To be able to play the game that I love and to be able to be alongside my son, this whole year has been one of the most gratifying, satisfying journeys I've ever been on."
Bronny James played much of the season in the developmental G League, but James said watching him grow from Summer League, through the pre-season and G League competition and in his brief stints with the Lakers made him "super proud".
James also praised the development of first-year coach JJ Redick, noting that rookie coaches in the NBA face a tough road but that it was "a hell of a lot harder being a rookie head coach coaching the Lakers.
"I thought he handled it extremely well," James said.
James said when Doncic arrived in February that he was energized by the arrival of a "generational talent" but as he looked back he wasn't sure there was enough time "to mesh".
"Ultimately having a guy like that is very dynamic for any franchise," James said, but he wasn't ready to be drawn on how the Lakers can improve around Doncic and, perhaps, himself.
"It's a business, so you don't know what the roster will look like next year... I don't know where I stand right now," he said.
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

James, who turned 40 on December 30, averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game in a season that featured a new set of milestones. NBA World Sports

NBA superstar LeBron James says he'll take time to decide whether to return for a 23rd season after his Los Angeles Lakers were dumped out of the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. "I don't know," James said when asked how many more years he would play. "I don't have the answer to that. (It's) something I sit down with my family, my wife and my support group and kind of just talk through it and see what happens and just have a conversation with myself on how long I want to continue to play." Also Read - Messi, Inter Miami out of COCACAF as Vancouver Whitecaps reach final James, who turned 40 on December 30, averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game in a season that featured a new set of milestones, but not a fifth title go with the two he won with Miami in 2012 and 2013, the one he won with hometown team Cleveland in 2016 and his 2020 crown with the Lakers. Already the league's all-time leader scorer, in March James became the first player to amass 50,000 career points. He joined NBA icon Michael Jordan as the only players to score 40 points at the age of 40 wen he poured in 42 in a Lakers win over Golden State in February. Later that month he and the Lakers were energized by the addition of Luka Doncic, the Slovenian star who led the Dallas Mavericks to the finals last season. Father-son first But James said the most important first achieved this season was playing alongside son Bronny as the first father-son duo to play together in a regular season NBA game. It was a moment James had long anticipated, and became possible when the Lakers drafted Bronny James last year. "Number one, for sure," he said of playing with his son. "That's not even close. To be able to play the game that I love and to be able to be alongside my son, this whole year has been one of the most gratifying, satisfying journeys I've ever been on." Bronny James played much of the season in the developmental G League, but James said watching him grow from Summer League, through the pre-season and G League competition and in his brief stints with the Lakers made him "super proud". James also praised the development of first-year coach JJ Redick, noting that rookie coaches in the NBA face a tough road but that it was "a hell of a lot harder being a rookie head coach coaching the Lakers. "I thought he handled it extremely well," James said. James said when Doncic arrived in February that he was energized by the arrival of a "generational talent" but as he looked back he wasn't sure there was enough time "to mesh". "Ultimately having a guy like that is very dynamic for any franchise," James said, but he wasn't ready to be drawn on how the Lakers can improve around Doncic and, perhaps, himself. "It's a business, so you don't know what the roster will look like next year... I don't know where I stand right now," he said. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

'I don't know:' LeBron James on retiring after Lakers out of NBA Playoffs race

The Cleveland Cavaliers crushed the Miami Heat 138-83 to complete a 4-0 series sweep and cruise into the NBA Eastern Conference playoff semi-finals on Monday.&nbsp;A dominant all-round offensive effort from the Cavaliers laid the foundations for a lopsided victory that saw the Heat exit the postseason with a whimper in front of their home crowd.
<h2>Cleveland Cavaliers crush Miami Heat</h2>
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers scoring with 22 points on a night when six Cleveland players finished in double figures.
With Darius Garland (toe) missing from the Cleveland line-up, Mitchell received support from De'Andre Hunter with 19 points, Ty Jerome (18) and Evan Mobley (17).
The Eastern Conference No.1 seeds will face either the Milwaukee Bucks or Indiana Pacers in the next round. Indiana lead that series 3-1.
Mitchell said Cleveland had been determined to wrap up the series swiftly.
"We came out here with a goal in mind," Mitchell told TNT television. "To keep our foot on their throat and on their neck and continue to play 48 minutes of basketball."
That ruthlessness was apparent from the tip-off, with Cleveland rapidly opening up a monster 43-17 lead after the first quarter against a shellshocked Miami line-up.
The Cavs cranked up the pressure in the second quarter, stretching their lead to as many as 45 points before reaching half-time with a whopping 72-33 lead.
The punishment continued after the break, with the Cavaliers keeping the points flowing to build on their advantage, opening up a 48-point lead at 96-48 midway through the third quarter.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sports-underfire-real-madrid-boss-carlo-ancelotti-set-to-become-new-brazil-national-team-manager-report-9012850" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Underfire Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti set to become new Brazil national team manager - Report</a>
That lead had grown to 111-63 heading into the fourth quarter, and the carnage continued in the final frame as Cleveland romped home.
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said Monday's blowout -- which followed a 124-87 pummeling on Saturday -- underscored the gulf between the two teams.
"Damn, it was humbling," Spoelstra said. "This series was humbling. These last two games were embarrassing. But Cleveland is a very good team... we were as irrational as we usually are thinking that we have a chance to win this series, and they showed us why we weren't ready for that."
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The Cleveland Cavaliers crushed the Miami Heat 138-83 to complete a 4-0 series sweep and cruise into the NBA Eastern Conference playoff semis on Monday. World | Sports

The Cleveland Cavaliers crushed the Miami Heat 138-83 to complete a 4-0 series sweep and cruise into the NBA Eastern Conference playoff semi-finals on Monday. A dominant all-round offensive effort from the Cavaliers laid the foundations for a lopsided victory that saw the Heat exit the postseason with a whimper in front of their home crowd. Cleveland Cavaliers crush Miami Heat Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers scoring with 22 points on a night when six Cleveland players finished in double figures. With Darius Garland (toe) missing from the Cleveland line-up, Mitchell received support from De'Andre Hunter with 19 points, Ty Jerome (18) and Evan Mobley (17). The Eastern Conference No.1 seeds will face either the Milwaukee Bucks or Indiana Pacers in the next round. Indiana lead that series 3-1. Mitchell said Cleveland had been determined to wrap up the series swiftly. "We came out here with a goal in mind," Mitchell told TNT television. "To keep our foot on their throat and on their neck and continue to play 48 minutes of basketball." That ruthlessness was apparent from the tip-off, with Cleveland rapidly opening up a monster 43-17 lead after the first quarter against a shellshocked Miami line-up. The Cavs cranked up the pressure in the second quarter, stretching their lead to as many as 45 points before reaching half-time with a whopping 72-33 lead. The punishment continued after the break, with the Cavaliers keeping the points flowing to build on their advantage, opening up a 48-point lead at 96-48 midway through the third quarter. ALSO READ | Underfire Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti set to become new Brazil national team manager - Report That lead had grown to 111-63 heading into the fourth quarter, and the carnage continued in the final frame as Cleveland romped home. Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said Monday's blowout -- which followed a 124-87 pummeling on Saturday -- underscored the gulf between the two teams. "Damn, it was humbling," Spoelstra said. "This series was humbling. These last two games were embarrassing. But Cleveland is a very good team... we were as irrational as we usually are thinking that we have a chance to win this series, and they showed us why we weren't ready for that." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Cleveland Cavaliers crush Miami Heat, seal series with dominant 4-0 win

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/orlando-magic">Orlando Magic</a> held off the defending champion <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/boston-celtics">Boston Celtics</a> 95-93 to cut the deficit in their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series to 2-1 on Friday as the Milwaukee Bucks clawed back a game against the Indiana Pacers.
The Bucks, who like the Magic had dropped the first two games of their series on the road, also turned the tables upon returning home for game three with a 117-101 victory over the Pacers.
The victories were crucial, with the Magic and Bucks both aware that no NBA team has come back from a 3-0 series deficit to win a playoff series.
Germany's Franz Wagner scored 32 points and handed out eight assists and Paolo Banchero added 29 points with six rebounds for the Magic in Orlando -- where the Celtics erased a 12-point fourth quarter deficit but were thwarted in the frantic final minutes.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/aryna-sabalenka-kicks-off-her-third-madrid-open-title-quest-with-straight-set-win-9002295">Sabalenka kicks off her third Madrid Open title quest with straight-set win</a>
Six-time All-Star <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/jayson-tatum">Jayson Tatum</a> scored 36 points for the Celtics, showing no sign of the wrist injury that caused him to miss game two -- his first missed post-season game since he came into the league in 2017.
Boston's Derrick White drove for a finger roll layup to tie it at 91-91 with 2:31 remaining.&nbsp;But Wagner made back-to-back baskets to put Orlando back in front, 95-91 with 1:26 to play.
Boston pulled within two on White's dunk with 28.1 seconds left but Orlando held on, the Celtics unable to score on a final inbounds attempt with three-tenths of a second left.
"High intensity," Banchero said of the final few possessions. "I love moments like these."
With Banchero leading the way, the Magic erased an early eight-point deficit to lead 31-27 after the opening period.&nbsp;But Boston used a 14-0 scoring run in the second quarter to regain the lead, Tatum delivering eight straight points in the spurt and Jaylen Brown capping the first half with a three-pointer that pushed Boston's lead to 59-49 at the break.
The Celtics couldn't press the advantage, however, the Magic producing a run of their own in a third quarter in which they out-scored the Celtics 24-11.
Boston had 21 turnovers leading to 26 Orlando points and they connected on just nine of their 27 three-point attempts.&nbsp;"It was just a great team effort," Banchero said. "We knew it was going to be a hell of a game at home. We wanted to get the win, have a chance to tie it up 2-2. We're excited for the opportunity."
In Milwaukee, two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo and Gary Trent Jr. scored 37 points apiece for the Bucks.
<h2>A needed win</h2>
Trent drilled nine three-pointers on 12 attempts -- equalling the Bucks record for treys in a playoff game set by Ray Allen.&nbsp;"It's a testament to my hard work, a testament to my teammates finding me," Trent said. "It's a blessing -- we needed this win to continue to keep going."
Trent's performance helped the Bucks rally from a 10-point halftime deficit. They out-scored the Pacers 39-18 in the third quarter to take control, leading by as many as 20 in the fourth.
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 28 points while Tyrese Haliburton had 14 points and 10 assists.&nbsp;Both the Bucks and Magic will try to level their series on Sunday.&nbsp;In the day's final game, the Minnesota Timberwolves hosted the Los Angeles Lakers in game three of their Western Conference series, after the teams split the first two games in Los Angeles.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

NBA, Sports: The victories were crucial, with the Magic and Bucks both aware that no NBA team has come back from a 3-0 series deficit to win a playoff series

The Orlando Magic held off the defending champion Boston Celtics 95-93 to cut the deficit in their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series to 2-1 on Friday as the Milwaukee Bucks clawed back a game against the Indiana Pacers. The Bucks, who like the Magic had dropped the first two games of their series on the road, also turned the tables upon returning home for game three with a 117-101 victory over the Pacers. The victories were crucial, with the Magic and Bucks both aware that no NBA team has come back from a 3-0 series deficit to win a playoff series. Germany's Franz Wagner scored 32 points and handed out eight assists and Paolo Banchero added 29 points with six rebounds for the Magic in Orlando -- where the Celtics erased a 12-point fourth quarter deficit but were thwarted in the frantic final minutes. Also Read: Sabalenka kicks off her third Madrid Open title quest with straight-set win Six-time All-Star Jayson Tatum scored 36 points for the Celtics, showing no sign of the wrist injury that caused him to miss game two -- his first missed post-season game since he came into the league in 2017. Boston's Derrick White drove for a finger roll layup to tie it at 91-91 with 2:31 remaining. But Wagner made back-to-back baskets to put Orlando back in front, 95-91 with 1:26 to play. Boston pulled within two on White's dunk with 28.1 seconds left but Orlando held on, the Celtics unable to score on a final inbounds attempt with three-tenths of a second left. "High intensity," Banchero said of the final few possessions. "I love moments like these." With Banchero leading the way, the Magic erased an early eight-point deficit to lead 31-27 after the opening period. But Boston used a 14-0 scoring run in the second quarter to regain the lead, Tatum delivering eight straight points in the spurt and Jaylen Brown capping the first half with a three-pointer that pushed Boston's lead to 59-49 at the break. The Celtics couldn't press the advantage, however, the Magic producing a run of their own in a third quarter in which they out-scored the Celtics 24-11. Boston had 21 turnovers leading to 26 Orlando points and they connected on just nine of their 27 three-point attempts. "It was just a great team effort," Banchero said. "We knew it was going to be a hell of a game at home. We wanted to get the win, have a chance to tie it up 2-2. We're excited for the opportunity." In Milwaukee, two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo and Gary Trent Jr. scored 37 points apiece for the Bucks. A needed win Trent drilled nine three-pointers on 12 attempts -- equalling the Bucks record for treys in a playoff game set by Ray Allen. "It's a testament to my hard work, a testament to my teammates finding me," Trent said. "It's a blessing -- we needed this win to continue to keep going." Trent's performance helped the Bucks rally from a 10-point halftime deficit. They out-scored the Pacers 39-18 in the third quarter to take control, leading by as many as 20 in the fourth. Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 28 points while Tyrese Haliburton had 14 points and 10 assists. Both the Bucks and Magic will try to level their series on Sunday. In the day's final game, the Minnesota Timberwolves hosted the Los Angeles Lakers in game three of their Western Conference series, after the teams split the first two games in Los Angeles. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

NBA: Orlando Magic claw back against Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks down Indiana Pacers in playoffs

Head coaches in the NBA investing in top tier football clubs just gained a new name. Hall of Famer and Dallas Mavericks' head coach Jason Kidd has officially now joined the ownership group of the English Premier League side Everton. Watch in for more details!

Dallas mavericks head coach Jason Kidd joins EPL side Everton

Tyler Herro scored 30 points as the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/miami-heat">Miami&nbsp;Heat</a>&nbsp;reached the NBA playoffs with a thrilling 123-114 overtime defeat of the Atlanta Hawks in their Eastern Conference play-in clash on Friday.
Miami Heat, which recovered from a 10-game losing streak in March to reach the play-in, will now face top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the opening round of the playoffs. Miami Heat become the first tenth-seed to reach the NBA playoffs via the play-in and they did so via two wins on the road, having also won in Chicago on Wednesday.
In Atlanta, Miami dominated the opening half, leading by 17 points before going in 62-53 up at the interval. But the Hawks fought back superbly, taking the lead 91-88 with 7:36 left.&nbsp;Atlanta then opened up a 98-92 advantage before Miami came back again only for Trae Young to level the game with 1.1 seconds remaining after a driving lay-up.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/cricket-major-league-cricket-former-australia-opening-batter-david-warner-joins-seattle-orcas-8979258">Major League Cricket: Former Australia opening batter David Warner joins Seattle Orcas</a>
But the&nbsp;Heat&nbsp;saved their best for last with Davion Mitchell making three three-pointers in overtime and Herro adding two more.
"Two competitive teams, fighting for the last spot in the playoffs. That was exactly what you saw. Both teams were deserving. I loved how my team fought," said Herro.
"Every single run that they made, we answered. And I feel like this entire season has really built us up for this point.
The Cavaliers will start as heavy favourites in the best-of-seven series which gets underway in Cleveland on Sunday.&nbsp;Young top-scored for Atlanta with 29 points while Onyeka Okongwu scored 28 and grabbed 12 rebounds.&nbsp;The final spot in the Western Conference playoffs was secured by the Memphis Grizzlies which beat the Dallas Mavericks 120-106.
<h2>Morant scores 22 points, nine assists</h2>
Despite dealing with an ankle problem, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ja-morant">Ja Morant</a> scored 22 points and made nine assists for the Grizzlies &nbsp;who will face the first seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
For Dallas, the defeat concludes a miserable season which included the departure of star Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.&nbsp;Anthony Davis, who moved to Dallas in that controversial trade, received medical treatment for injury problems throughout the game but led the team with 40 points and nine rebounds.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/memphis-grizzlies">Memphis</a> led by 15 points at the end of the first quarter and although Dallas fought back in the third, they never truly threatened the Grizzlies.&nbsp;Morant indicated that the painkillers had worked for his sprained ankle.
"I couldn't feel it. That's why I was out there," he told ESPN.&nbsp;"(We are) the underdogs. Obviously, we go on to face a tough team in OKC, but we have all the confidence in ourselves and (are) ready to go Sunday.&nbsp;
"It's a big challenge. Obviously, you know, we all have seen them, you know, over this season. Very well-rounded team. We have to be very sound defensively. Very disciplined and just play our type of basketball," he added.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

NBA, Sports: The Heat, which recovered from a 10-game losing streak in March to reach play-in, will now face top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in opening round of playoffs

Tyler Herro scored 30 points as the Miami Heat reached the NBA playoffs with a thrilling 123-114 overtime defeat of the Atlanta Hawks in their Eastern Conference play-in clash on Friday. Miami Heat, which recovered from a 10-game losing streak in March to reach the play-in, will now face top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the opening round of the playoffs. Miami Heat become the first tenth-seed to reach the NBA playoffs via the play-in and they did so via two wins on the road, having also won in Chicago on Wednesday. In Atlanta, Miami dominated the opening half, leading by 17 points before going in 62-53 up at the interval. But the Hawks fought back superbly, taking the lead 91-88 with 7:36 left. Atlanta then opened up a 98-92 advantage before Miami came back again only for Trae Young to level the game with 1.1 seconds remaining after a driving lay-up. Also Read: Major League Cricket: Former Australia opening batter David Warner joins Seattle Orcas But the Heat saved their best for last with Davion Mitchell making three three-pointers in overtime and Herro adding two more. "Two competitive teams, fighting for the last spot in the playoffs. That was exactly what you saw. Both teams were deserving. I loved how my team fought," said Herro. "Every single run that they made, we answered. And I feel like this entire season has really built us up for this point. The Cavaliers will start as heavy favourites in the best-of-seven series which gets underway in Cleveland on Sunday. Young top-scored for Atlanta with 29 points while Onyeka Okongwu scored 28 and grabbed 12 rebounds. The final spot in the Western Conference playoffs was secured by the Memphis Grizzlies which beat the Dallas Mavericks 120-106. Morant scores 22 points, nine assists Despite dealing with an ankle problem, Ja Morant scored 22 points and made nine assists for the Grizzlies who will face the first seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. For Dallas, the defeat concludes a miserable season which included the departure of star Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Anthony Davis, who moved to Dallas in that controversial trade, received medical treatment for injury problems throughout the game but led the team with 40 points and nine rebounds. Memphis led by 15 points at the end of the first quarter and although Dallas fought back in the third, they never truly threatened the Grizzlies. Morant indicated that the painkillers had worked for his sprained ankle. "I couldn't feel it. That's why I was out there," he told ESPN. "(We are) the underdogs. Obviously, we go on to face a tough team in OKC, but we have all the confidence in ourselves and (are) ready to go Sunday. "It's a big challenge. Obviously, you know, we all have seen them, you know, over this season. Very well-rounded team. We have to be very sound defensively. Very disciplined and just play our type of basketball," he added. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

NBA: Miami Heat and Memphis Grizzlies take final spots in playoffs

Tyler Herro scored 38 points as the Miami Heat cruised past the Chicago Bulls 109-90 to keep their NBA playoffs hopes alive on Wednesday.
<h2>Miami stay in hunt for Playoff</h2>
Miami point guard Herro led from the front in a wire-to-wire victory that eliminated Chicago from postseason contention and sends the Heat into a winner-take-all clash against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday.
The winner of Friday's Miami-Atlanta game will advance to the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, where they will face No. 1 seed Cleveland.&nbsp;
"We just came out in attack mode," Herro told ESPN after Wednesday's win. "We had a couple of days off since the last game -- myself, my teammates and the coaching staff put in a lot of work and it paid off.&nbsp;
"We've got one more to go. The job is not done yet, just to get in the playoffs. So we've got a long way to go.
"We have a bunch of guys who come in every day, put their hard hats on and they work. The season hasn't exactly gone how we wanted it to, but we continue to get better. There's a lot to look forward to."
Herro was backed by 20 points from Andrew Wiggins, while Bam Adebayo and Davion Mitchell scored 15 points apiece.
Australian international Josh Giddey led Chicago's scorers with 25 points.
Wednesday's win marked the third season in a row that Chicago have been eliminated from the play-in tournament by Miami.
Miami, who finished 10th in the Eastern Conference regular season standings, were always in control after making a fast start against a surprisingly lackluster Chicago line-up.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-ipl-2025-wish-they-checked-bats-when-i-was-bowling-says-srh-head-coach-daniel-vettori-8969722" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">IPL 2025: 'Wish they checked bats when I was bowling', says SRH head coach Daniel Vettori</a>
Herro did most of the early damage, scoring from his first eight attempts to pour in 16 points in a 39-28 first quarter that left Miami in control at Chicago's United Center.
A dominant second quarter -- Miami outscoring Chicago 32-19 -- left the Heat leading 71-47 with the Bulls seemingly powerless to halt the flow of Heat scoring.
Although Chicago rallied in the third quarter, outscoring Miami 27-17, it was too little too late and the Heat closed out a comfortable win in the fourth.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

World | Sports: Tyler Herro scored 38 points as the Miami Heat cruised past the Chicago Bulls 109-90 to keep their NBA playoff hopes alive on Wednesday.

Tyler Herro scored 38 points as the Miami Heat cruised past the Chicago Bulls 109-90 to keep their NBA playoffs hopes alive on Wednesday. Miami stay in hunt for Playoff Miami point guard Herro led from the front in a wire-to-wire victory that eliminated Chicago from postseason contention and sends the Heat into a winner-take-all clash against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. The winner of Friday's Miami-Atlanta game will advance to the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, where they will face No. 1 seed Cleveland. "We just came out in attack mode," Herro told ESPN after Wednesday's win. "We had a couple of days off since the last game -- myself, my teammates and the coaching staff put in a lot of work and it paid off. "We've got one more to go. The job is not done yet, just to get in the playoffs. So we've got a long way to go. "We have a bunch of guys who come in every day, put their hard hats on and they work. The season hasn't exactly gone how we wanted it to, but we continue to get better. There's a lot to look forward to." Herro was backed by 20 points from Andrew Wiggins, while Bam Adebayo and Davion Mitchell scored 15 points apiece. Australian international Josh Giddey led Chicago's scorers with 25 points. Wednesday's win marked the third season in a row that Chicago have been eliminated from the play-in tournament by Miami. Miami, who finished 10th in the Eastern Conference regular season standings, were always in control after making a fast start against a surprisingly lackluster Chicago line-up. ALSO READ | IPL 2025: 'Wish they checked bats when I was bowling', says SRH head coach Daniel Vettori Herro did most of the early damage, scoring from his first eight attempts to pour in 16 points in a 39-28 first quarter that left Miami in control at Chicago's United Center. A dominant second quarter -- Miami outscoring Chicago 32-19 -- left the Heat leading 71-47 with the Bulls seemingly powerless to halt the flow of Heat scoring. Although Chicago rallied in the third quarter, outscoring Miami 27-17, it was too little too late and the Heat closed out a comfortable win in the fourth. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Miami Heat scorch Chicago Bulls to keep NBA playoff dream alive

Hailey Van Lith was a sure pick ahead of Monday's (Apr 14) WNBA Draft 2025. The TCU guard was the the 11th pick overall by Chicago Sky as she looks forward to begin her journey as a professional. In her last college basketball season, she helped Horned Frogs to their first ever Elite Eight - cementing her status as future star.
Van Lith spent her college years at Louisville, LSU and TCU. She played for Louisville from 2020-23, LSU in 2023-25 and TCU in 2024-25 seasons. Overall, she played 172 college basketball games and averaged 15.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game with a field goal percentage of 42.2.
Also Read - <a aria-label="Champions League: Mbappe to lead charge for Real Madrid vs Arsenal in hunt for glory" class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/football/football-champions-league-mbappe-to-lead-charge-for-real-madrid-vs-arsenal-in-hunt-for-glory-8963183" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Champions League: Mbappe to lead charge for Real Madrid vs Arsenal in hunt for glory</a>
In TCU's historic run this season, Van Lith was a cornerstone as she averaged 17.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game.
It was, however, her appearance on the Orange Carpet of the draft which turned all the head. Dressed in a shimmering, sleek black mini dress which she paired with black heels and a matching clutch. What enhanced her looks for was her side-swept waves along with the confidence she exuberated.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Hailey Van Lith is here on the Orange Carpet ahead of her big night 🔥 Orange Carpet | Presented by <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach</a> <a href="https://t.co/rsPrch7dic">pic.twitter.com/rsPrch7dic</a>
&mdash; WNBA (@WNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1911886322005835974?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Sedona Prince from TCU goes undrafted</h2>
Sedona, 24, was in chatter ahead of the draft which took place on Monday (Apr 14) but her name wasn't even called out for a team to show any interest.
Prince somewhat has been a limelight figure for various reasons including her social media posts about gender equity, alleged physical abuse and a landmark antitrust lawsuit to get money for the college athletes.
Sedona started her career with Texas for her freshman year before transferring to Oregon for 2019-20 season onwards. She graduated from Oregon in 2022 and joined TCU for 2023-2025.
The baller, however, has been involved in some controversies as well. Four women have accused her of misconduct and two out of those allegations are about sexual misconduct.&nbsp;

Van Lith's appearance in WNBA draft turned all the head. Dressed in a shimmering, sleek black mini dress which she paired with black heels and a matching clutch. NBA Sports

Hailey Van Lith was a sure pick ahead of Monday's (Apr 14) WNBA Draft 2025. The TCU guard was the the 11th pick overall by Chicago Sky as she looks forward to begin her journey as a professional. In her last college basketball season, she helped Horned Frogs to their first ever Elite Eight - cementing her status as future star. Van Lith spent her college years at Louisville, LSU and TCU. She played for Louisville from 2020-23, LSU in 2023-25 and TCU in 2024-25 seasons. Overall, she played 172 college basketball games and averaged 15.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game with a field goal percentage of 42.2. Also Read - Champions League: Mbappe to lead charge for Real Madrid vs Arsenal in hunt for glory In TCU's historic run this season, Van Lith was a cornerstone as she averaged 17.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. It was, however, her appearance on the Orange Carpet of the draft which turned all the head. Dressed in a shimmering, sleek black mini dress which she paired with black heels and a matching clutch. What enhanced her looks for was her side-swept waves along with the confidence she exuberated. Hailey Van Lith is here on the Orange Carpet ahead of her big night 🔥 Orange Carpet | Presented by @Coach pic.twitter.com/rsPrch7dic — WNBA (@WNBA) April 14, 2025 Sedona Prince from TCU goes undrafted Sedona, 24, was in chatter ahead of the draft which took place on Monday (Apr 14) but her name wasn't even called out for a team to show any interest. Prince somewhat has been a limelight figure for various reasons including her social media posts about gender equity, alleged physical abuse and a landmark antitrust lawsuit to get money for the college athletes. Sedona started her career with Texas for her freshman year before transferring to Oregon for 2019-20 season onwards. She graduated from Oregon in 2022 and joined TCU for 2023-2025. The baller, however, has been involved in some controversies as well. Four women have accused her of misconduct and two out of those allegations are about sexual misconduct.

WNBA Draft 2025 | Hailey Van Lith stuns with her looks as she gets picked 11th overall by Chicago Sky

Texas Christian University's (TCU) Sedona Price didn't have any takers in Women National Basketball Association (WNBA) Draft of 2025. Her career now looks uncertain, especially with the fact that she is about to be 25 and has played with three team across seven-year college career.
Sedona was in chatter ahead of the draft which took place on Monday (Apr 14) but her name wasn't even called out for a team to show any interest.
Prince somewhat has been a limelight figure for various reasons including her social media posts about gender equity, alleged physical abuse and a landmark antitrust lawsuit to get money for the college athletes.
Also Read - <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/football/football-champions-league-mbappe-to-lead-charge-for-real-madrid-vs-arsenal-in-hunt-for-glory-8963183" aria-label="Champions League: Mbappe to lead charge for Real Madrid vs Arsenal in hunt for glory">Champions League: Mbappe to lead charge for Real Madrid vs Arsenal in hunt for glory</a>
Sedona started her career with Texas for her freshman year before transferring to Oregon for 2019-20 season onwards. She graduated from Oregon in 2022 and joined TCU for 2023-2025.
In the latest college basketball season, she led TCU's Horned Frogs to program's first ever Elite Eight stage.
Sedona, however, was instrumental in getting the women's teams financial rewards for participation in NCAA tournament. Her post on gender equity in 2021 tournament led to NCAA-commissioned report reviewing gender equity which eventually culminated in women&rsquo;s teams in the NCAA tournament getting individual revenue share. She is also the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit which will secure money for the college athletes.
The baller, however, has been involved in some controversies as well. Four women have accused her of misconduct and two out of those allegations are about sexual misconduct. Two of her former partners have also alleged physical abuse charge against the 6-foot-7 player from Texas.
Sedona's age may have also played a role in her going undrafted. In a chat with ESPN, an anonymous GM was reported saying: She's like a 24-year-old playing against, what, sometimes 18-year-olds?" the GM told ESPN. "She's older than some W players. And so it's just hard to tell, 'Are you that good, or are you just dominating people that are, like, literally, four and five years younger than you?'"

Sedona started her career with Texas for her freshman year before transferring to Oregon for 2019-20 season onwards. She graduated from Oregon in 2022 and joined TCU for 2023-2025. NBA Sports

Texas Christian University's (TCU) Sedona Price didn't have any takers in Women National Basketball Association (WNBA) Draft of 2025. Her career now looks uncertain, especially with the fact that she is about to be 25 and has played with three team across seven-year college career. Sedona was in chatter ahead of the draft which took place on Monday (Apr 14) but her name wasn't even called out for a team to show any interest. Prince somewhat has been a limelight figure for various reasons including her social media posts about gender equity, alleged physical abuse and a landmark antitrust lawsuit to get money for the college athletes. Also Read - Champions League: Mbappe to lead charge for Real Madrid vs Arsenal in hunt for glory Sedona started her career with Texas for her freshman year before transferring to Oregon for 2019-20 season onwards. She graduated from Oregon in 2022 and joined TCU for 2023-2025. In the latest college basketball season, she led TCU's Horned Frogs to program's first ever Elite Eight stage. Sedona, however, was instrumental in getting the women's teams financial rewards for participation in NCAA tournament. Her post on gender equity in 2021 tournament led to NCAA-commissioned report reviewing gender equity which eventually culminated in women’s teams in the NCAA tournament getting individual revenue share. She is also the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit which will secure money for the college athletes. The baller, however, has been involved in some controversies as well. Four women have accused her of misconduct and two out of those allegations are about sexual misconduct. Two of her former partners have also alleged physical abuse charge against the 6-foot-7 player from Texas. Sedona's age may have also played a role in her going undrafted. In a chat with ESPN, an anonymous GM was reported saying: She's like a 24-year-old playing against, what, sometimes 18-year-olds?" the GM told ESPN. "She's older than some W players. And so it's just hard to tell, 'Are you that good, or are you just dominating people that are, like, literally, four and five years younger than you?'"

WNBA Draft: Too controversial or too old? 24-year-old Sedona Prince from TCU goes undrafted

Luka Doncic shrugged off the raw emotion of his return to Dallas with a dazzling 45-point display against his former club as the Los Angeles Lakers downed the Mavericks 112-97 to punch their ticket to the NBA playoffs on Wednesday.
Doncic, who joined the Lakers from Dallas in February in one of the most shocking trades in NBA history, was given a rousing reception by Mavs fans packed into the American Airlines Center to pay tribute to their former hero.
Also Read - <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/augusta-masters-scottie-scheffler-rory-mcilroy-chase-history-in-years-first-major-8945983" aria-label="Augusta Masters: Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy chase history in year's first major">Augusta Masters: Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy chase history in year's first major</a>
A pre-game video montage was screened in the arena just before Doncic was introduced to the sellout crowd of 20,841 fans, many wearing t-shirts bearing the words "Thanks for Everything", written in the 26-year-old's native Slovenian.&nbsp;
Doncic visibly teared up as he watched the tribute, and looked distraught as he was comforted by Lakers team-mate LeBron James moments before tip-off.
But after that emotional pre-game ceremony, Doncic quickly snapped into game mode, swiftly getting into his scoring groove to give Mavericks fans a painful reminder of the generational talent that was traded away by the club.
Doncic scored 14 in the first quarter alone, and added a further 17 in the second period to help the Lakers into a 60-57 half-time lead.
Doncic's rate of scoring slowed in the second half, leaving James to produce a trademark fourth quarter burst to close out victory.
But there was still time for Doncic to sign off in style, nailing an imperious three-pointer to push the Lakers into a 108-94 lead shortly before exiting the game to a standing ovation.
The applause swiftly morphed into chants of "Fire Nico" -- a reference to the Dallas general manager Nico Harrison who has been roundly criticised by Mavs for engineering the trade which sent Doncic to Los Angeles in exchange for Anthony Davis.
<h2>'So many emotions'</h2>
Doncic later admitted he had struggled to maintain his composure during the pre-game ceremony.
"I don't know how I did it because when I was watching that video I was like 'There's no way I'm playing this game'," he told ESPN. "But all my teammates had my back and were really supporting me.
"There were so many emotions I can't even explain. It brought tears to my eyes. I came here as a young kid, aged 18, and they made me feel like it was home. Just a lot of great memories.
"I love these fans, I love this city but it's time to move on."
The victory means the Lakers, who improved to 49-31, can clinch third seed in the Western Conference if they win one of their final two regular-season games.
Doncic's 45 points included seven three-pointers from 16-of-28 shooting, while James finished with 27 points, seven rebounds and three assists.&nbsp;
In other games on Wednesday, the battle for playoff places in the Western Conference took an unexpected twist with the already-eliminated San Antonio Spurs scoring an upset 114-111 win over the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco.
Harrison Barnes' 27-foot buzzer-beating three-pointer snatched victory for San Antonio, who had trailed by 12 points at the start of the fourth quarter.
The defeat leaves Golden State's hopes of grabbing one of the three remaining playoff spots in the Western Conference in a precarious position. The Warriors dropped out of the top six with the loss.
Elsewhere, the Denver Nuggets' first game since the shock firing of coach Michael Malone on Tuesday saw the team halt their four-game losing streak with a 124-116 defeat of the Sacramento Kings. Denver are fourth in the standings with a 48-32 record.
The red-hot Los Angeles Clippers continued their march up the table after extending their winning streak to six games with a 134-117 win over the Houston Rockets, who have already clinched second place in the West. The Clippers (47-32) are fifth, with Memphis sixth.
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Luka Doncic shrugged off the raw emotion of his return to Dallas with a dazzling 45-point display against his former club as Lakers down Mavs for a playoff spot. NBA Sports

Luka Doncic shrugged off the raw emotion of his return to Dallas with a dazzling 45-point display against his former club as the Los Angeles Lakers downed the Mavericks 112-97 to punch their ticket to the NBA playoffs on Wednesday. Doncic, who joined the Lakers from Dallas in February in one of the most shocking trades in NBA history, was given a rousing reception by Mavs fans packed into the American Airlines Center to pay tribute to their former hero. Also Read - Augusta Masters: Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy chase history in year's first major A pre-game video montage was screened in the arena just before Doncic was introduced to the sellout crowd of 20,841 fans, many wearing t-shirts bearing the words "Thanks for Everything", written in the 26-year-old's native Slovenian. Doncic visibly teared up as he watched the tribute, and looked distraught as he was comforted by Lakers team-mate LeBron James moments before tip-off. But after that emotional pre-game ceremony, Doncic quickly snapped into game mode, swiftly getting into his scoring groove to give Mavericks fans a painful reminder of the generational talent that was traded away by the club. Doncic scored 14 in the first quarter alone, and added a further 17 in the second period to help the Lakers into a 60-57 half-time lead. Doncic's rate of scoring slowed in the second half, leaving James to produce a trademark fourth quarter burst to close out victory. But there was still time for Doncic to sign off in style, nailing an imperious three-pointer to push the Lakers into a 108-94 lead shortly before exiting the game to a standing ovation. The applause swiftly morphed into chants of "Fire Nico" -- a reference to the Dallas general manager Nico Harrison who has been roundly criticised by Mavs for engineering the trade which sent Doncic to Los Angeles in exchange for Anthony Davis. 'So many emotions' Doncic later admitted he had struggled to maintain his composure during the pre-game ceremony. "I don't know how I did it because when I was watching that video I was like 'There's no way I'm playing this game'," he told ESPN. "But all my teammates had my back and were really supporting me. "There were so many emotions I can't even explain. It brought tears to my eyes. I came here as a young kid, aged 18, and they made me feel like it was home. Just a lot of great memories. "I love these fans, I love this city but it's time to move on." The victory means the Lakers, who improved to 49-31, can clinch third seed in the Western Conference if they win one of their final two regular-season games. Doncic's 45 points included seven three-pointers from 16-of-28 shooting, while James finished with 27 points, seven rebounds and three assists. In other games on Wednesday, the battle for playoff places in the Western Conference took an unexpected twist with the already-eliminated San Antonio Spurs scoring an upset 114-111 win over the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco. Harrison Barnes' 27-foot buzzer-beating three-pointer snatched victory for San Antonio, who had trailed by 12 points at the start of the fourth quarter. The defeat leaves Golden State's hopes of grabbing one of the three remaining playoff spots in the Western Conference in a precarious position. The Warriors dropped out of the top six with the loss. Elsewhere, the Denver Nuggets' first game since the shock firing of coach Michael Malone on Tuesday saw the team halt their four-game losing streak with a 124-116 defeat of the Sacramento Kings. Denver are fourth in the standings with a 48-32 record. The red-hot Los Angeles Clippers continued their march up the table after extending their winning streak to six games with a 134-117 win over the Houston Rockets, who have already clinched second place in the West. The Clippers (47-32) are fifth, with Memphis sixth. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Luka Doncic fights through emotions in Dallas as LA Lakers beat Mavs for playoff spot

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 42 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 136-120 on Tuesday in a hard-fought battle that saw Luka Doncic controversially ejected in the fourth quarter.
Two days after suffering a 27-point defeat to the Lakers, the No.1-ranked Thunder avenged that loss thanks to Gilgeous-Alexander's 13th 40-point game of the season, with Jalen Williams adding 26 and Lugentz Dort 17.
Also Read - <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/football/champions-league-qf-declan-rice-conjures-free-kick-magic-as-arsenal-stun-title-holders-real-madrid-8941438" aria-label="Champions League QF: Declan Rice conjures free-kick magic as Arsenal stun title-holders Real Madrid">Champions League QF: Declan Rice conjures free-kick magic as Arsenal stun title-holders Real Madrid</a>
The contest pivoted on the fourth quarter incident that led to the Lakers' Slovenian star Doncic picking up a second technical foul and being tossed from the game.
Doncic was ejected following a one-handed jump shot which put the Lakers 108-107 up with 7min 40sec remaining after officiating crew member J.T. Orr judged he had been verbally abused by the player following the bucket.
Doncic protested, arguing he had merely been responding to a fan at courtside who had heckled him, but the decision stood and clearly rattled the Lakers, allowing the Thunder to seize the initiative and pull away for victory.
"It was a great game that unfortunately didn't get the finish that I think every basketball fan would want because of some decision making on some individuals' parts," Lakers coach J.J. Redick said.
LeBron James, who finished with 28 points, was at a loss to explain Doncic's ejection.
"I don't know why the ref was taking it personal," James told reporters. "The ref took it upon himself to think it was versus him. The game was just weird as hell after that."
Doncic insisted he had not been trash-talking Orr. "It was nothing to do with the ref, so I didn't really understand it," Doncic said. "It was tough, but you know that's on me too. I can't let my team down like that."
The Lakers remain in third place with a 48-31 record and need to win two of their remaining three regular-season fixtures to lock in third seeding in the Western Conference.
<h2>Cavs clinch no.1 seeding</h2>
The Cleveland Cavaliers clinched No.1 seeding in the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs after cruising past the Chicago Bulls 135-113.
Darius Garland led the scoring with 28 points in a balanced offensive performance from the Cavs, who improved to 63-16 to ensure they will finish the regular season on top of the East.
The victory ensures Cleveland will have home advantage when the playoffs get under way next week following the completion of the regular season on Sunday.
Garland was one of five Cleveland players to post double figures, with Evan Mobley adding 21 points with 12 rebounds and seven assists and Ty Jerome chipping in with 18 off the bench.
"You celebrate these moments," Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. "I think the guys are super happy in that locker room. We've had some ups and downs this past month, but I'm really proud of the guys.
"It's hard to win 63 games in this league, and it's hard to be the first seed. So great accomplishment. We're hungry for more."&nbsp;
Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, the second-seeded Boston Celtics edged the third placed New York Knicks in a thriller at Madison Square Garden, with Jayson Tatum's 32-point performance guiding the NBA champions to a 119-117 overtime victory.
Back in the Western Conference playoff race, where six teams are vying for the remaining four automatic playoff berths, the Minnesota Timberwolves suffered a potentially costly 110-103 defeat on the road to the Milwaukee Bucks.&nbsp;
The result leave Minnesota on 46-33 and outside the top six places in the West.
The Memphis Grizzlies boosted their chances of playoff qualification with a 124-100 win over the Charlotte Hornets on the road.&nbsp;
The win lifted Memphis into fifth place in the table with a 47-32 record.
The game was overshadowed by a scary injury to Grizzlies rookie Jaylen Wells, who was stretchered off the court after landing heavily following a foul by K.J. Simpson.&nbsp;
US media reported Wells was awake and alert and nursing a broken wrist following the incident.&nbsp;
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Two days after suffering a 27-point defeat to the Lakers, the No.1-ranked Thunder avenged that loss thanks to Gilgeous-Alexander's 13th 40-point game of the season. NBA Sports

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 42 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 136-120 on Tuesday in a hard-fought battle that saw Luka Doncic controversially ejected in the fourth quarter. Two days after suffering a 27-point defeat to the Lakers, the No.1-ranked Thunder avenged that loss thanks to Gilgeous-Alexander's 13th 40-point game of the season, with Jalen Williams adding 26 and Lugentz Dort 17. Also Read - Champions League QF: Declan Rice conjures free-kick magic as Arsenal stun title-holders Real Madrid The contest pivoted on the fourth quarter incident that led to the Lakers' Slovenian star Doncic picking up a second technical foul and being tossed from the game. Doncic was ejected following a one-handed jump shot which put the Lakers 108-107 up with 7min 40sec remaining after officiating crew member J.T. Orr judged he had been verbally abused by the player following the bucket. Doncic protested, arguing he had merely been responding to a fan at courtside who had heckled him, but the decision stood and clearly rattled the Lakers, allowing the Thunder to seize the initiative and pull away for victory. "It was a great game that unfortunately didn't get the finish that I think every basketball fan would want because of some decision making on some individuals' parts," Lakers coach J.J. Redick said. LeBron James, who finished with 28 points, was at a loss to explain Doncic's ejection. "I don't know why the ref was taking it personal," James told reporters. "The ref took it upon himself to think it was versus him. The game was just weird as hell after that." Doncic insisted he had not been trash-talking Orr. "It was nothing to do with the ref, so I didn't really understand it," Doncic said. "It was tough, but you know that's on me too. I can't let my team down like that." The Lakers remain in third place with a 48-31 record and need to win two of their remaining three regular-season fixtures to lock in third seeding in the Western Conference. Cavs clinch no.1 seeding The Cleveland Cavaliers clinched No.1 seeding in the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs after cruising past the Chicago Bulls 135-113. Darius Garland led the scoring with 28 points in a balanced offensive performance from the Cavs, who improved to 63-16 to ensure they will finish the regular season on top of the East. The victory ensures Cleveland will have home advantage when the playoffs get under way next week following the completion of the regular season on Sunday. Garland was one of five Cleveland players to post double figures, with Evan Mobley adding 21 points with 12 rebounds and seven assists and Ty Jerome chipping in with 18 off the bench. "You celebrate these moments," Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. "I think the guys are super happy in that locker room. We've had some ups and downs this past month, but I'm really proud of the guys. "It's hard to win 63 games in this league, and it's hard to be the first seed. So great accomplishment. We're hungry for more." Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, the second-seeded Boston Celtics edged the third placed New York Knicks in a thriller at Madison Square Garden, with Jayson Tatum's 32-point performance guiding the NBA champions to a 119-117 overtime victory. Back in the Western Conference playoff race, where six teams are vying for the remaining four automatic playoff berths, the Minnesota Timberwolves suffered a potentially costly 110-103 defeat on the road to the Milwaukee Bucks. The result leave Minnesota on 46-33 and outside the top six places in the West. The Memphis Grizzlies boosted their chances of playoff qualification with a 124-100 win over the Charlotte Hornets on the road. The win lifted Memphis into fifth place in the table with a 47-32 record. The game was overshadowed by a scary injury to Grizzlies rookie Jaylen Wells, who was stretchered off the court after landing heavily following a foul by K.J. Simpson. US media reported Wells was awake and alert and nursing a broken wrist following the incident. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Shai drops 42 as OKC Thunder avenge loss against LA Lakers

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue:&nbsp;Oklahoma City Thunder will look to get back to winning ways as they host Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA on Sunday (April 6) at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma. After losing to Houston Rockets on Friday, Thunders will have the task to stop LeBron James and his army as the race for playoff sportts intensifies. Ahead of the clash between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers, here are all the details, including live streaming and others.&nbsp;
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">How to Watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers Live Broadcast TV Channel in India?</h2>
The Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA contest will not be telecast on TV in India.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">How to Watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers Live on App in India?</h2>
The Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA contest will be live-streamed on the NBA App and website on paid subscription in India.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">How to Watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers Live Broadcast TV Channel in USA?</h2>
The Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA contest will be telecasted on NBC Sports Network in USA.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">How to Watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers Live on App in USA?</h2>
The Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA contest will be live-streamed on the NBC Sports app and website in USA.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers Live Streaming Platform Online in India?</h2>
The Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA contest will be live-streamed on the NBA's official app and website in India.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers Free LIVE Streaming Options:</h2>
Currently no free live streaming is available for Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA match in India.&nbsp;
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers Free LIVE Streaming Options:</h2>
Currently Fubo app gives free live streaming during trial period for Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA match in USA.&nbsp;
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-updated-points-table-indian-premier-league-rankings-standings-net-run-rate-8888780" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">[Updated] IPL 2025 Points Table: Check points table, match results, NRR with wins, loss and other key details</a>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA Game Today Date and Time:</h2>
<h3 data-start="890" data-end="910">Game Details</h3>
<ul data-start="912" data-end="1031">
<li data-start="912" data-end="940">Date: Sunday, April 6</li>
<li data-start="941" data-end="985">Time: 3:30 PM ET (1:00 AM IST)</li>
<li data-start="986" data-end="1031">Venue: Paycom Center in Oklahoma</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers Team Insights:</h2>
The LA Lakers have been inconsistent recently as the Western Conference playoff race tightens, sitting at No. 3 with a 47-30 record heading into tonight&rsquo;s game. They&rsquo;ve lost five of their last nine, and this game will be a major test as they face the league-leading OKC Thunder for the first time this calendar year.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Conclusion:</h2>
We expect a tight contest on Sunday (April 28), but predict Oklahoma City Thunder to beat Los Angeles Lakers.&nbsp;

Sports, NBA: Oklahoma City Thunder will look to get back to winning ways as they host Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA on Sunday (April 6) at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA Live Streaming, Date-Time, Venue: Oklahoma City Thunder will look to get back to winning ways as they host Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA on Sunday (April 6) at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma. After losing to Houston Rockets on Friday, Thunders will have the task to stop LeBron James and his army as the race for playoff sportts intensifies. Ahead of the clash between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers, here are all the details, including live streaming and others. How to Watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers Live Broadcast TV Channel in India? The Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA contest will not be telecast on TV in India. How to Watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers Live on App in India? The Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA contest will be live-streamed on the NBA App and website on paid subscription in India. How to Watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers Live Broadcast TV Channel in USA? The Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA contest will be telecasted on NBC Sports Network in USA. How to Watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers Live on App in USA? The Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA contest will be live-streamed on the NBC Sports app and website in USA. Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers Live Streaming Platform Online in India? The Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA contest will be live-streamed on the NBA's official app and website in India. Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers Free LIVE Streaming Options: Currently no free live streaming is available for Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA match in India. Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers Free LIVE Streaming Options: Currently Fubo app gives free live streaming during trial period for Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA match in USA. ALSO READ | [Updated] IPL 2025 Points Table: Check points table, match results, NRR with wins, loss and other key details Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA Game Today Date and Time: Game Details Date: Sunday, April 6 Time: 3:30 PM ET (1:00 AM IST) Venue: Paycom Center in Oklahoma Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers Team Insights: The LA Lakers have been inconsistent recently as the Western Conference playoff race tightens, sitting at No. 3 with a 47-30 record heading into tonight’s game. They’ve lost five of their last nine, and this game will be a major test as they face the league-leading OKC Thunder for the first time this calendar year. Conclusion: We expect a tight contest on Sunday (April 28), but predict Oklahoma City Thunder to beat Los Angeles Lakers.

How to Watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers Live Streaming: Time, Channel & Free Streaming Options

The NBA fined Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant $75,000 on Friday for making an imaginary gun gesture to celebrate a basket—his second time doing so within a week. NBA executive vice president Joe Dumars stated that Morant had previously been warned after the first incident, as the gesture could be seen negatively. Dumars labeled the act as "inappropriate," especially considering Morant’s past suspensions in 2023 related to real firearm incidents.

NBA fines Grizzlies' Morant for inappropriate gun gesture

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/nba">NBA</a>&nbsp;took aim at Memphis Grizzlies star <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ja-morant">Ja Morant</a>'s imaginary gun gesture on Friday, fining him $75,000 after he used it to celebrate a basket for the second time in a week.
NBA&nbsp;executive vice president Joe Dumars said in a statement that Morant -- who was suspended twice in 2023 for incidents with real firearms -- had been warned by the league after the first celebration "that this gesture could be interpreted in a negative light."
Dumars called the gesture "inappropriate".Morant was first warned after he and Golden State's Buddy Hield made the gesture, mimicking aiming a gun, at each other during a Grizzli s-Warriors game on Tuesday.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/premier-league-aston-villas-manager-unai-emery-glad-to-see-marcus-rashford-make-landmark-appearance-8927693">Premier League: Aston Villa's manager Unai Emery glad to see Marcus Rashford make landmark appearance</a>
Morant then made similar gestures in a game against the Miami Heat on Thursday, when the gesture was directed at other <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/memphis-grizzlies">Memphis Grizzlies</a> players.
<h2>Morant suspended twice in 2023</h2>
Morant scored 30 points and drilled the game-winner in the Grizzlies' 110-108 victory at Miami.&nbsp;Morant was suspended twice in 2023 for a total of 33 games after videos of him displaying firearms were live streamed on social media.
In March of 2023 he was banned eight games for live streaming a video in which he displayed a gun while at a Denver nightclub.&nbsp;He was banned for 25 games to pen the 2023-24 season after another video of him displaying a gun inside a car surfaced, the league saying his decision to "once again wield a firearm on social media is alarming and disconcerting".
The National Basketball Players Association called the 25-game suspension "excessive".
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

NBA, Sports: Morant was suspended twice in 2023 for a total of 33 games after videos of him displaying firearms were live streamed on social media

The NBA took aim at Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant's imaginary gun gesture on Friday, fining him $75,000 after he used it to celebrate a basket for the second time in a week. NBA executive vice president Joe Dumars said in a statement that Morant -- who was suspended twice in 2023 for incidents with real firearms -- had been warned by the league after the first celebration "that this gesture could be interpreted in a negative light." Dumars called the gesture "inappropriate".Morant was first warned after he and Golden State's Buddy Hield made the gesture, mimicking aiming a gun, at each other during a Grizzli s-Warriors game on Tuesday. Also Read: Premier League: Aston Villa's manager Unai Emery glad to see Marcus Rashford make landmark appearance Morant then made similar gestures in a game against the Miami Heat on Thursday, when the gesture was directed at other Memphis Grizzlies players. Morant suspended twice in 2023 Morant scored 30 points and drilled the game-winner in the Grizzlies' 110-108 victory at Miami. Morant was suspended twice in 2023 for a total of 33 games after videos of him displaying firearms were live streamed on social media. In March of 2023 he was banned eight games for live streaming a video in which he displayed a gun while at a Denver nightclub. He was banned for 25 games to pen the 2023-24 season after another video of him displaying a gun inside a car surfaced, the league saying his decision to "once again wield a firearm on social media is alarming and disconcerting". The National Basketball Players Association called the 25-game suspension "excessive". Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

NBA fines Memphis Grizzlies' Ja Morant for imaginary gun gesture

Nba, News on Nba, stories on Nba, articles on Nba, Nba stories at Wion, Nba news, Nba latest news

nba