Eastern Conference leaders the Cleveland Cavaliers suffered their first home loss of the season with a surprise 135-124 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. Cleveland's second loss of the season came afer a strong second half display from Atlanta with De'Andre Hunter scoring 26 points off the bench, Jalen Johnson adding 22 points and Trae Young contributing 20 with a career-high 22 assists.

Young put the game beyond the Cavs with a 39-foot three pointer to make it 129-122 with 1:43 remaining just moments after he had turned the ball over. Johnson said Young's assists had been crucial to the victory and that he deserved more credit for his role on the team. "He was really getting off the ball and finding everyone... a lot of people don't necessarily talk about him even though he's leading the league in assists, but they don't talk about him as the playmaker," Johnson said.

The win moves the Hawks to 8-11 on the season and Young said the team had shown what they were capable of. "They are a really good team who have been playing well all year and I feel we have been a little inconsistent but the times that we have played well, we've played really well," he said.

Donovan Mitchell scored 30 for Cleveland and Evan Mobley put up 22 points and 12 rebounds, but the Cavs missed out on a chance to become the first team to start with an 18-1 record. Serbian Nikola Jokic led the Denver Nuggets to a convincing 122-103 win at the Utah Jazz with 30 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

Denver had come back from an early 12-point deficit with a 21-4 run midway through the game turning the contest in their direction. The Houston Rockets needed overtime to beat the 3-14 Philadelphia 76ers, with Alperen Sengun scoring 22 points and claiming 14 rebounds and seven assists.

Half of Turkish center Sengun's points came in overtime where the Rockets made sure of moving to 14-6. "My teammates trusted me in overtime and I didn't want to fail them," Sengun said. "It was ugly but a win is a win in the NBA."

James Harden scored 43 points for the Los Angeles Clippers as they beat the struggling Washington Wizards 121-96. Harden scored 23 of his points in the first quarter and left the game late in the third quarter with the Wizards already condemned to their 13th straight defeat.

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"We have to continue to find ways to win," said Harden of the 12-8 Clippers. "Defensively we need to do a lot better, sometimes we get a little too comfortable... we just need to continue to get better as a unit."

The Miami Heat defeated the Charlotte Hornets 98-94, with Tyler Herro scoring 27 points and Duncan Robinson draining six 3-pointers in the win. "He's a shot-maker, he's not afraid of the moment," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Herro.

Bam Adebayo claimed 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Heat while LaMelo Ball had 32 points and 10 rebounds for Charlotte.

Miami's star Jimmy Butler left the game in the third quarter with a tight back and did not return. The Hornets were closing in on the lead but Herro made a 29-foot 3-pointer and then grabbed Ball's attempted pass to Brandon Miller for the crucial turnover.

Led by Anthony Davis with 19 points and 14 rebounds, the Los Angeles Lakers ended the San Antonio Spurs four-game winning streak with a 119-101 victory. LeBron James helped with 16 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds while France's Victor Wembanyama top scored for the Spurs with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Despite being without injured Slovenian star Luka Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks had a comfortable 129-114 win over the New York Knicks with Kyrie Irving scoring 23 points.

Dennis Schroder top scored with 29 points as the Brooklyn Nets defeated the Phoenix Suns 127-117. Kevin Durant put up 30 points and 8 rebounds for the Arizona team.

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.

Eastern Conference leaders the Cleveland Cavaliers suffered their first home loss of the season with a surprise 135-124 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.

Eastern Conference leaders the Cleveland Cavaliers suffered their first home loss of the season with a surprise 135-124 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. Cleveland's second loss of the season came afer a strong second half display from Atlanta with De'Andre Hunter scoring 26 points off the bench, Jalen Johnson adding 22 points and Trae Young contributing 20 with a career-high 22 assists. Young put the game beyond the Cavs with a 39-foot three pointer to make it 129-122 with 1:43 remaining just moments after he had turned the ball over. Johnson said Young's assists had been crucial to the victory and that he deserved more credit for his role on the team. "He was really getting off the ball and finding everyone... a lot of people don't necessarily talk about him even though he's leading the league in assists, but they don't talk about him as the playmaker," Johnson said. The win moves the Hawks to 8-11 on the season and Young said the team had shown what they were capable of. "They are a really good team who have been playing well all year and I feel we have been a little inconsistent but the times that we have played well, we've played really well," he said. Donovan Mitchell scored 30 for Cleveland and Evan Mobley put up 22 points and 12 rebounds, but the Cavs missed out on a chance to become the first team to start with an 18-1 record. Serbian Nikola Jokic led the Denver Nuggets to a convincing 122-103 win at the Utah Jazz with 30 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Denver had come back from an early 12-point deficit with a 21-4 run midway through the game turning the contest in their direction. The Houston Rockets needed overtime to beat the 3-14 Philadelphia 76ers, with Alperen Sengun scoring 22 points and claiming 14 rebounds and seven assists. Half of Turkish center Sengun's points came in overtime where the Rockets made sure of moving to 14-6. "My teammates trusted me in overtime and I didn't want to fail them," Sengun said. "It was ugly but a win is a win in the NBA." James Harden scored 43 points for the Los Angeles Clippers as they beat the struggling Washington Wizards 121-96. Harden scored 23 of his points in the first quarter and left the game late in the third quarter with the Wizards already condemned to their 13th straight defeat. Also read: Perfect Liverpool on top of Champions League with win over Real Madrid, Dortmund also among winners "We have to continue to find ways to win," said Harden of the 12-8 Clippers. "Defensively we need to do a lot better, sometimes we get a little too comfortable... we just need to continue to get better as a unit." The Miami Heat defeated the Charlotte Hornets 98-94, with Tyler Herro scoring 27 points and Duncan Robinson draining six 3-pointers in the win. "He's a shot-maker, he's not afraid of the moment," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Herro. Bam Adebayo claimed 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Heat while LaMelo Ball had 32 points and 10 rebounds for Charlotte. Miami's star Jimmy Butler left the game in the third quarter with a tight back and did not return. The Hornets were closing in on the lead but Herro made a 29-foot 3-pointer and then grabbed Ball's attempted pass to Brandon Miller for the crucial turnover. Led by Anthony Davis with 19 points and 14 rebounds, the Los Angeles Lakers ended the San Antonio Spurs four-game winning streak with a 119-101 victory. LeBron James helped with 16 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds while France's Victor Wembanyama top scored for the Spurs with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Despite being without injured Slovenian star Luka Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks had a comfortable 129-114 win over the New York Knicks with Kyrie Irving scoring 23 points. Dennis Schroder top scored with 29 points as the Brooklyn Nets defeated the Phoenix Suns 127-117. Kevin Durant put up 30 points and 8 rebounds for the Arizona team. 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.

Trae Young inspires Atlanta Hawks to 135-124 win over Cleveland Cavaliers

Damian Lillard scored 37 points to lead Milwaukee to victory at Miami 106-103 in the NBA Cup on Tuesday despite playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo due to a knee injury. Lillard hit 10-of-17 from the floor and 8-of-13 from 3-point range while passing off 12 assists as the Bucks improved to 3-0 in group play while the Heat slid to 1-2 and never led. "It's a game of runs. I got off to a hot start," Lillard said. "I didn't try to force the issue. I didn't want to be passive. I tried to stay aggressive. I was getting the ball out. We just made good plays."

All 30 league clubs play for the NBA Cup in an in-season tournament with teams divided into six groups of five for round-robin play in hopes of advancing to December knockout rounds with games also counting in the regular-season standings.

The Houston Rockets qualified for the quarter-finals but the surprise was in Miami, where Greek star Antetokounmpo was a late scratch with a left knee injury, leaving Lillard to take the scoring load. A 26-9 Heat run to end the third quarter cut a 22-point Milwaukee lead to 85-80 entering the fourth and a 16-7 Miami run lifted the hosts level at 96-96 with 4:02 to play.

Milwaukee's A.J. Green and Miami's Terry Rozier traded 3-pointers late, the last by Rozier lifting the Heat within 104-103 with 30 seconds remaining. Green sank another 3-pointer but it was launched just after a shot-clock violation and wiped out, giving Miami the ball with five seconds to play.

Miami's Tyler Herro missed a 3-point shot and Milwaukee's Taurean Prince sank two free throws with 1.2 seconds left, setting the stage for a Rozier 3-point miss at the buzzer. "Guys made shots, played aggressive, we got some stops when we needed it, we made some free throws and that's what it takes to win close games," Lillard said. "We've just had a lot of experience in these games where we have lulls in the second half and get into a dogfight. We let a few go early in the season... everybody wants to improve. We want to get right from the jump and I think we're starting to show that down the stretch in these games."

Jimmy Butler led Miami with 23 points. Houston became the second team to clinch an NBA Cup quarter-final berth, winning 115-111 in overtime at Minnesota to seal the West Group A crown. Golden State has already sealed the West Group C title.

Turkish center Alperen Sengun had a triple double with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists to spark Houston, which got 27 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds from Fred VanVleet and 22 points from Dillon Brooks.

Reserve Amen Thompson's basket with 38 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter lifted Houston level at 102-102. Thompson sank a 3-pointer to ignite an 11-0 Houston overtime run as baskets by Jabari Smith, Brooks and two from Sengun brought the Rockets a 113-105 lead with 54 seconds remaining.

The Timberwolves, led by 29 points from Anthony Edwards, never got within four after that. French star Victor Wembanyama scored 24 of his game-high 34 points in the first half to spark the San Antonio Spurs to a 128-115 victory at Utah, eliminating the Jazz's title hopes.

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<h2>- Suns beat Lakers -</h2>

Phoenix stars Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal returned from calf strains to spark the Suns over the defending NBA Cup champion Los Angeles Lakers 127-100. Devin Booker had 26 points and 10 assists to lead the Suns while Beal and Durant each added 23 points in their comeback contests.

"Felt great," Durant said. "We needed this win. Long as we continue to be healthy we'll be fine."

Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 25 points and 15 rebounds while LeBron James had 18 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in the first Cup loss ever for the Lakers.

A 22-6 run gave the Suns a 98-78 lead entering the fourth quarter and the Lakers never threatened again.

Chicago's Coby White scored 21 points and Nikola Vucevic added 19 points and 12 rebounds to power the Bulls over host Washington 127-108.

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.

Damian Lillard scored 37 points to lead Milwaukee to victory at Miami 106-103 in the NBA Cup on Tuesday despite playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo due to a knee injury.

Damian Lillard scored 37 points to lead Milwaukee to victory at Miami 106-103 in the NBA Cup on Tuesday despite playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo due to a knee injury. Lillard hit 10-of-17 from the floor and 8-of-13 from 3-point range while passing off 12 assists as the Bucks improved to 3-0 in group play while the Heat slid to 1-2 and never led. "It's a game of runs. I got off to a hot start," Lillard said. "I didn't try to force the issue. I didn't want to be passive. I tried to stay aggressive. I was getting the ball out. We just made good plays." All 30 league clubs play for the NBA Cup in an in-season tournament with teams divided into six groups of five for round-robin play in hopes of advancing to December knockout rounds with games also counting in the regular-season standings. The Houston Rockets qualified for the quarter-finals but the surprise was in Miami, where Greek star Antetokounmpo was a late scratch with a left knee injury, leaving Lillard to take the scoring load. A 26-9 Heat run to end the third quarter cut a 22-point Milwaukee lead to 85-80 entering the fourth and a 16-7 Miami run lifted the hosts level at 96-96 with 4:02 to play. Milwaukee's A.J. Green and Miami's Terry Rozier traded 3-pointers late, the last by Rozier lifting the Heat within 104-103 with 30 seconds remaining. Green sank another 3-pointer but it was launched just after a shot-clock violation and wiped out, giving Miami the ball with five seconds to play. Miami's Tyler Herro missed a 3-point shot and Milwaukee's Taurean Prince sank two free throws with 1.2 seconds left, setting the stage for a Rozier 3-point miss at the buzzer. "Guys made shots, played aggressive, we got some stops when we needed it, we made some free throws and that's what it takes to win close games," Lillard said. "We've just had a lot of experience in these games where we have lulls in the second half and get into a dogfight. We let a few go early in the season... everybody wants to improve. We want to get right from the jump and I think we're starting to show that down the stretch in these games." Jimmy Butler led Miami with 23 points. Houston became the second team to clinch an NBA Cup quarter-final berth, winning 115-111 in overtime at Minnesota to seal the West Group A crown. Golden State has already sealed the West Group C title. Turkish center Alperen Sengun had a triple double with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists to spark Houston, which got 27 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds from Fred VanVleet and 22 points from Dillon Brooks. Reserve Amen Thompson's basket with 38 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter lifted Houston level at 102-102. Thompson sank a 3-pointer to ignite an 11-0 Houston overtime run as baskets by Jabari Smith, Brooks and two from Sengun brought the Rockets a 113-105 lead with 54 seconds remaining. The Timberwolves, led by 29 points from Anthony Edwards, never got within four after that. French star Victor Wembanyama scored 24 of his game-high 34 points in the first half to spark the San Antonio Spurs to a 128-115 victory at Utah, eliminating the Jazz's title hopes. Also read: Javier Mascherano re-unites with Lionel Messi as new coach of Inter Miami - Suns beat Lakers - Phoenix stars Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal returned from calf strains to spark the Suns over the defending NBA Cup champion Los Angeles Lakers 127-100. Devin Booker had 26 points and 10 assists to lead the Suns while Beal and Durant each added 23 points in their comeback contests. "Felt great," Durant said. "We needed this win. Long as we continue to be healthy we'll be fine." Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 25 points and 15 rebounds while LeBron James had 18 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in the first Cup loss ever for the Lakers. A 22-6 run gave the Suns a 98-78 lead entering the fourth quarter and the Lakers never threatened again. Chicago's Coby White scored 21 points and Nikola Vucevic added 19 points and 12 rebounds to power the Bulls over host Washington 127-108. 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.

Milwaukee Bucks edge past Miami Heat, Houston Rockets advance in NBA Cup

Jayson Tatum scored 33 points as the Boston Celtics ended the Cleveland Cavaliers' 15-game unbeaten start to the season with a hard-fought 120-117 victory in the NBA Cup on Tuesday. The Celtics unleashed a barrage of 22 three-pointers to overwhelm Cleveland, who clawed their way back to within two points of the lead late in the game after trailing by 21 early in the second half. But despite the Cleveland fightback, reigning NBA champions Boston held their nerve and kept the scoreboard ticking over to close out a deserved win.

Tatum's 33 points included six three-pointers while the Boston star added 12 rebounds and seven assists in an all-round Celtics effort that saw six players finish in double figures. Tatum said Boston's championship pedigree had helped the Celtics over the line as Cleveland threatened late in the game.

"We've played a lot of basketball, we've played in the biggest games," Tatum said. "NBA is a bunch of talented teams -- guys are gonna make plays, they're gonna make shots.&nbsp; "I say it all the time -- how you respond shows your growth and how special your team is."

Tatum admitted that ending Cleveland's unbeaten record, which has left them sitting on top of the Eastern Conference, had motivated the Celtics. "They came in 15-0 feeling like they were the best team; we felt like we were the best team -- it's all competition. We were ready to play today," Tatum said.

Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said his team had been caught off-guard by Boston's superior intensity. "The they had playoff force and physicality -- we had regular season force and physicality," Atkinson said. "That's why we were down by whatever we were down. Second half we turned it up, but it was kind of too late. We're just going to have to put it in the bank and make adjustments."

Boston were quickly into their stride, rattling in five early three-pointers to sprint into an 18-8 in the opening minutes of the first quarter. Cleveland rallied to reduce the deficit to 26-20 at the end of the first quarter, but the Celtics kept up the pressure in the second.

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Tatum drained a superb three-pointer in the final seconds of the first half to give Boston a commanding 65-48 lead at the break. The Celtics stretched into a 21-point lead early in the second half, but the Cavaliers clicked into gear and came roaring back to close the gap to two points at 88-86.&nbsp;

Tatum though had the last word, nailing an imperious three-pointer to give Boston a five-point lead heading into the final quarter. A nip-and-tuck final period saw Cleveland repeatedly close to two points but Boston pulled clear in the final minutes to seal victory.

Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland's scoring with 35 points while Evan Mobley added 22 with 11 rebounds and six assists. In other early games on Tuesday, the Brooklyn Nets defeated the Charlotte Hornets 116-115 thanks to a 34-point display from Cameron Johnson.

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.

Jayson Tatum scored 33 points as the Boston Celtics ended the Cleveland Cavaliers' 15-game unbeaten start to the season with a hard-fought 120-117 victory in the NBA Cup on Tuesday.

Jayson Tatum scored 33 points as the Boston Celtics ended the Cleveland Cavaliers' 15-game unbeaten start to the season with a hard-fought 120-117 victory in the NBA Cup on Tuesday. The Celtics unleashed a barrage of 22 three-pointers to overwhelm Cleveland, who clawed their way back to within two points of the lead late in the game after trailing by 21 early in the second half. But despite the Cleveland fightback, reigning NBA champions Boston held their nerve and kept the scoreboard ticking over to close out a deserved win. Tatum's 33 points included six three-pointers while the Boston star added 12 rebounds and seven assists in an all-round Celtics effort that saw six players finish in double figures. Tatum said Boston's championship pedigree had helped the Celtics over the line as Cleveland threatened late in the game. "We've played a lot of basketball, we've played in the biggest games," Tatum said. "NBA is a bunch of talented teams -- guys are gonna make plays, they're gonna make shots. "I say it all the time -- how you respond shows your growth and how special your team is." Tatum admitted that ending Cleveland's unbeaten record, which has left them sitting on top of the Eastern Conference, had motivated the Celtics. "They came in 15-0 feeling like they were the best team; we felt like we were the best team -- it's all competition. We were ready to play today," Tatum said. Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said his team had been caught off-guard by Boston's superior intensity. "The they had playoff force and physicality -- we had regular season force and physicality," Atkinson said. "That's why we were down by whatever we were down. Second half we turned it up, but it was kind of too late. We're just going to have to put it in the bank and make adjustments." Boston were quickly into their stride, rattling in five early three-pointers to sprint into an 18-8 in the opening minutes of the first quarter. Cleveland rallied to reduce the deficit to 26-20 at the end of the first quarter, but the Celtics kept up the pressure in the second. Also read: Nations League: Germany, Netherlands conclude group stage with draws; Wales win group B4 Tatum drained a superb three-pointer in the final seconds of the first half to give Boston a commanding 65-48 lead at the break. The Celtics stretched into a 21-point lead early in the second half, but the Cavaliers clicked into gear and came roaring back to close the gap to two points at 88-86. Tatum though had the last word, nailing an imperious three-pointer to give Boston a five-point lead heading into the final quarter. A nip-and-tuck final period saw Cleveland repeatedly close to two points but Boston pulled clear in the final minutes to seal victory. Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland's scoring with 35 points while Evan Mobley added 22 with 11 rebounds and six assists. In other early games on Tuesday, the Brooklyn Nets defeated the Charlotte Hornets 116-115 thanks to a 34-point display from Cameron Johnson. 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 Cup: Jayson Tatum stars as Boston Celtics ends Cleveland Cavaliers' 15-match unbeaten start

The Cleveland Cavaliers, playing without top scorer Donovan Mitchell, matched the second-best start to a season in NBA history on Sunday, reaching 15-0 with a 128-114 victory over Charlotte. Mitchell took the night off to rest after averaging 24.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Cavs during their perfect run.

The host Cavaliers, however, made up for his absence with a balanced attack as Darius Garland had 25 points and 12 assists, Ty Jerome added 24 points, Evan Mobley scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Jarrett Allen contributed 21 points and 15 rebounds.

"We've always got some fight in us no matter what," Garland said. "Everybody is ready to play. It doesn't matter, one through 15.

"Everybody contributed. Everybody had a huge part in this win. That's just us. Just as a team effort."

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Under new coach Kenny Atkinson, the Cavaliers had become the sixth team in NBA history to start 14-0.

Beating the Hornets made them only the fourth team in NBA history to open 15-0, matching the 1948-49 Washington Capitols and 1993-94 Houston Rockets for the second-best start.

They now trail only the record 24-0 start by the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors.

The win streak is already the longest in the Cavaliers' 55-year history, eclipsing three 13-win runs when LeBron James was with Cleveland.

Charlotte's LaMelo Ball had 31 points and 12 assists in a losing cause.

At Oklahoma City, Dallas forward P.J. Washington scored 27 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to lead the Mavericks, playing without injured guard Luka Doncic, over the host Thunder 121-119.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 36 points. He made a 3-pointer, stole the ball from Kyrie Irving late and hit a free throw but missed another and Luguentz Dort missed a 3-point shot for the win at the buzzer.

<h2>Randle hits late winner</h2>

Minnesota's Julius Randle sank a 25-foot 3-pointer at the final buzzer to give the host Timberwolves a 120-117 victory over Phoenix.

Anthony Edwards sank two game-tying free throws with 46 seconds remaining to set the stage for Randle's dramatic deciding shot, which produced the last of his 35 points while Edwards finished with 24.

Devin Booker led the Suns with a game-high 44 points.

Detroit's Cade Cunningham had a triple double with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists to spark the Pistons over host Washington 124-104. Jaden Ivey had 28 points and Mailk Beasley 26 for Detroit.

Denver's Nikola Jokic, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, was out again for personal reasons in the Nuggets' 105-90 loss at Memphis. Jaren Jackson led the Grizzlies with 20 points. Reserve Julian Strawther led Denver with 19.

At Indianapolis, Myles Turner scored a season-high 34 points to lead the Indiana Pacers over Miami 119-110. Tyler Herro scored 28 to lead the Heat.

Portland's Shaedon Sharpe stole the ball from Atlanta's Trae Young and sank two clinching free throws, the last of his game-high 32 points, with one second remaining to seal the host Trail Blazers' 114-109 triumph. Young led the Hawks with 29 points.

Turkish center Alperen Sengun had a triple double with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists and Fred VanVleet scored 28 points to lead Houston's 143-107 victory at Chicago.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 26 points and 15 rebounds to lead the New York Knicks over visiting Brooklyn 114-104.

The Los Angeles Clippers defeated visiting Utah 116-105 as James Harden rose to second on the all-time NBA 3-pointer list by hitting his 2,974th in the first quarter. Ivica Zubac had 22 points to lead the Clippers while Harden added 20 points and 11 assists.

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, playing without top scorer Donovan Mitchell, matched the second-best start to a season in NBA history on Sunday, reaching 15-0 with a 128-114 victory over Charlotte.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, playing without top scorer Donovan Mitchell, matched the second-best start to a season in NBA history on Sunday, reaching 15-0 with a 128-114 victory over Charlotte. Mitchell took the night off to rest after averaging 24.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Cavs during their perfect run. The host Cavaliers, however, made up for his absence with a balanced attack as Darius Garland had 25 points and 12 assists, Ty Jerome added 24 points, Evan Mobley scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Jarrett Allen contributed 21 points and 15 rebounds. "We've always got some fight in us no matter what," Garland said. "Everybody is ready to play. It doesn't matter, one through 15. "Everybody contributed. Everybody had a huge part in this win. That's just us. Just as a team effort." ALSO READ: Golf: Rory McIlroy wins sixth Race to Dubai title with DP World Tour Championship win Under new coach Kenny Atkinson, the Cavaliers had become the sixth team in NBA history to start 14-0. Beating the Hornets made them only the fourth team in NBA history to open 15-0, matching the 1948-49 Washington Capitols and 1993-94 Houston Rockets for the second-best start. They now trail only the record 24-0 start by the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors. The win streak is already the longest in the Cavaliers' 55-year history, eclipsing three 13-win runs when LeBron James was with Cleveland. Charlotte's LaMelo Ball had 31 points and 12 assists in a losing cause. At Oklahoma City, Dallas forward P.J. Washington scored 27 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to lead the Mavericks, playing without injured guard Luka Doncic, over the host Thunder 121-119. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 36 points. He made a 3-pointer, stole the ball from Kyrie Irving late and hit a free throw but missed another and Luguentz Dort missed a 3-point shot for the win at the buzzer. Randle hits late winner Minnesota's Julius Randle sank a 25-foot 3-pointer at the final buzzer to give the host Timberwolves a 120-117 victory over Phoenix. Anthony Edwards sank two game-tying free throws with 46 seconds remaining to set the stage for Randle's dramatic deciding shot, which produced the last of his 35 points while Edwards finished with 24. Devin Booker led the Suns with a game-high 44 points. Detroit's Cade Cunningham had a triple double with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists to spark the Pistons over host Washington 124-104. Jaden Ivey had 28 points and Mailk Beasley 26 for Detroit. Denver's Nikola Jokic, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, was out again for personal reasons in the Nuggets' 105-90 loss at Memphis. Jaren Jackson led the Grizzlies with 20 points. Reserve Julian Strawther led Denver with 19. At Indianapolis, Myles Turner scored a season-high 34 points to lead the Indiana Pacers over Miami 119-110. Tyler Herro scored 28 to lead the Heat. Portland's Shaedon Sharpe stole the ball from Atlanta's Trae Young and sank two clinching free throws, the last of his game-high 32 points, with one second remaining to seal the host Trail Blazers' 114-109 triumph. Young led the Hawks with 29 points. Turkish center Alperen Sengun had a triple double with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists and Fred VanVleet scored 28 points to lead Houston's 143-107 victory at Chicago. Karl-Anthony Towns had 26 points and 15 rebounds to lead the New York Knicks over visiting Brooklyn 114-104. The Los Angeles Clippers defeated visiting Utah 116-105 as James Harden rose to second on the all-time NBA 3-pointer list by hitting his 2,974th in the first quarter. Ivica Zubac had 22 points to lead the Clippers while Harden added 20 points and 11 assists. 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 rocks Charlotte to match second-best start in NBA history

Victor Wembanyama became the fourth-youngest player to score 50 points in an NBA game when the 20-year-old Frenchman led the San Antonio Spurs to a 139-130 win over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.

The first overall pick in last year's draft rattled up his career-high 50 points in just 26 minutes and ended the game with 18-29 shooting with eight three-pointers -- also a career high.

The Spurs center, whose previous highest-scoring game was 40, was at a loss to explain his incredible performance.

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"I'd love to tell you that you wake up a certain way or you feel really smooth during warm-ups, but at the end of the day, in NBA games we got one game every other day," he said. "So, every time we struggle to warm up, we have pain, you know, we sweat, we bleed on the court, so it's really a minute-to-minute thing, it comes to 48 minutes every game," he added.

It was the third straight game in which Wembanyama had hit six-plus three-pointers.

The three players who scored 50 points at a younger age than the Frenchman were Brandon Jennings, LeBron James and Devin Booker, all of whom were also aged 20.

The Spurs again won the game without head coach Gregg Popovich. The team said on Wednesday that he had suffered a mild stroke earlier this month but is expected to make a full recovery.

Wembanyama wasn't the only player to break the 50-point mark on Wednesday. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 59 as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Detroit Pistons 127-120 in overtime.

The Greek star shot 21 of 34 and had 14 rebounds and seven assists in what was the highest point performance by a player so far this season.

"As a leader I keep reminding guys, don't take moments for granted. No matter who plays we don't give up and always have to find ways to win the game," said Antetokounmpo.

<h2>Cavs roll on</h2>

The unbeaten Cleveland Cavaliers made it 13 straight wins in the NBA with a 114-106 victory at the Philadelphia 76ers.

With the win the Cavs became just the sixth team to start a season with a 13-0 record and the first since the Golden State Warriors in the 2015-16 season.

Darius Garland top-scored for Cleveland with 25 points while Donovan Mitchell put up 23 points along with nine assists and 13 rebounds.

Mitchell ended the game on fire, scoring 11 points in a 1:35 spell in the fourth quarter.

Cleveland trailed 54-48 at the half but turned it on in the third quarter. Yet it was a tight game until Mitchell made a 29-foot three-pointer with 2:52 remaining to open up a seven-point lead.

Mitchell conceded that the 13th game in 22 days had been a battle.

"We all fought. Biggest thing is, obviously, we played a lot of games and it's going to test you.

"The streak is going to test you. These games are going to test you.

"We kept pushing, just continued to fight, continued to battle and we all did a great job," he said.

Philadelphia's injury-plagued star center Joel Embiid, who made his first appearance of the season on Tuesday after nine games out with a knee issue, sat out the game and the 76ers were also without Paul George.

Rookie Jared McCain stepped up with 34 points for Philadelphia, who are 2-9 on the season.

The Boston Celtics continued their strong start to the season. Their 139-114 win at the Brooklyn Nets extended their record to 10-3.

Jayson Tatum put up 36 points, made 10 assists and grabbed eight rebounds as the reigning champion Celtics enjoyed a convincing victory.

After a defeat to Atlanta in the NBA Cup on Tuesday, the Celtics trailed by two after the first quarter but grabbed a five-point lead by the half and dominated from then on.

It was a strong all-round display from Boston with Jaylen Brown producing 24 points and 12 rebounds while Payton Pritchard claimed 23 points and had eight assists and six rebounds.

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.

Victor Wembanyama became the fourth-youngest player to score 50 points in an NBA game when the 20-year-old Frenchman led the San Antonio Spurs to a 139-130 win over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.

Victor Wembanyama became the fourth-youngest player to score 50 points in an NBA game when the 20-year-old Frenchman led the San Antonio Spurs to a 139-130 win over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday. The first overall pick in last year's draft rattled up his career-high 50 points in just 26 minutes and ended the game with 18-29 shooting with eight three-pointers -- also a career high. The Spurs center, whose previous highest-scoring game was 40, was at a loss to explain his incredible performance. ALSO READ: Carlos Alcaraz beats Andrey Rublev to open account at ATP Finals, Casper Ruud misses last four chance "I'd love to tell you that you wake up a certain way or you feel really smooth during warm-ups, but at the end of the day, in NBA games we got one game every other day," he said. "So, every time we struggle to warm up, we have pain, you know, we sweat, we bleed on the court, so it's really a minute-to-minute thing, it comes to 48 minutes every game," he added. It was the third straight game in which Wembanyama had hit six-plus three-pointers. The three players who scored 50 points at a younger age than the Frenchman were Brandon Jennings, LeBron James and Devin Booker, all of whom were also aged 20. The Spurs again won the game without head coach Gregg Popovich. The team said on Wednesday that he had suffered a mild stroke earlier this month but is expected to make a full recovery. Wembanyama wasn't the only player to break the 50-point mark on Wednesday. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 59 as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Detroit Pistons 127-120 in overtime. The Greek star shot 21 of 34 and had 14 rebounds and seven assists in what was the highest point performance by a player so far this season. "As a leader I keep reminding guys, don't take moments for granted. No matter who plays we don't give up and always have to find ways to win the game," said Antetokounmpo. Cavs roll on The unbeaten Cleveland Cavaliers made it 13 straight wins in the NBA with a 114-106 victory at the Philadelphia 76ers. With the win the Cavs became just the sixth team to start a season with a 13-0 record and the first since the Golden State Warriors in the 2015-16 season. Darius Garland top-scored for Cleveland with 25 points while Donovan Mitchell put up 23 points along with nine assists and 13 rebounds. Mitchell ended the game on fire, scoring 11 points in a 1:35 spell in the fourth quarter. Cleveland trailed 54-48 at the half but turned it on in the third quarter. Yet it was a tight game until Mitchell made a 29-foot three-pointer with 2:52 remaining to open up a seven-point lead. Mitchell conceded that the 13th game in 22 days had been a battle. "We all fought. Biggest thing is, obviously, we played a lot of games and it's going to test you. "The streak is going to test you. These games are going to test you. "We kept pushing, just continued to fight, continued to battle and we all did a great job," he said. Philadelphia's injury-plagued star center Joel Embiid, who made his first appearance of the season on Tuesday after nine games out with a knee issue, sat out the game and the 76ers were also without Paul George. Rookie Jared McCain stepped up with 34 points for Philadelphia, who are 2-9 on the season. The Boston Celtics continued their strong start to the season. Their 139-114 win at the Brooklyn Nets extended their record to 10-3. Jayson Tatum put up 36 points, made 10 assists and grabbed eight rebounds as the reigning champion Celtics enjoyed a convincing victory. After a defeat to Atlanta in the NBA Cup on Tuesday, the Celtics trailed by two after the first quarter but grabbed a five-point lead by the half and dominated from then on. It was a strong all-round display from Boston with Jaylen Brown producing 24 points and 12 rebounds while Payton Pritchard claimed 23 points and had eight assists and six rebounds. 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: Victor Wembanyama becomes fourth-youngest to score 50 points in Spurs' win over Washington

Stephen Curry scored 37 points as the Golden State Warriors spoiled Klay Thompson's return to the Bay Area with a thrilling 120-117 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the opening round of the NBA Cup on Tuesday. Thompson -- a beloved member of four NBA championship-winning Golden State teams before joining Dallas in July -- received a rapturous welcome in his first game back in San Francisco since his departure.

The 34-year-old was given a guard of honor by cheering Golden State staff upon his arrival at the Chase Center before fans wearing nautical caps roared their appreciation for the player who famously used to commute to work in his fishing boat. But despite delighting the home crowd with six three-pointers in a 22-point haul, Thompson was upstaged by former team-mate Curry who produced a stunning fourth-quarter performance to drag the Warriors over the line.

The Mavericks looked poised to snatch victory after battling into a six-point lead at 114-108 with just over three minutes remaining. But Curry then took over with 10 unanswered points -- including one sensational step-back three from 28 feet -- to put Golden State into a 118-114 lead, before adding two late free throws to seal the win.

"There was a lot of emotion but both teams wanted to win," Curry told TNT television. "It was a playoff-like atmosphere, with great players making great plays. That's why we love the competition."

Thompson meanwhile said it had felt "surreal" lining up against his former team-mate. "We've guarded each other plenty of times in practice for Team USA or All-Star Games, but a competitive NBA game -- it was pretty surreal," Thompson said.&nbsp; "It hurts to be on the other side of one of his flurries. Guy got hot at the end and made some ridiculous shots. It sucks."

<h2>- Embiid back but Sixers beaten -</h2>

In other games, Joel Embiid made his long-awaited first appearance of the season but was unable to prevent the Philadelphia 76ers from sliding to a 111-99 defeat to the New York Knicks. Embiid missed the first six games of the season as the team managed his rehabilitation from a left knee injury, and was suspended for three games after a locker room altercation with a journalist.

Embiid's lack of game time was apparent in a sluggish performance that saw him finish with 13 points, five assists and three rebounds.

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With Embiid not firing on all cylinders, the Knicks dominated for long periods, leading for almost the entirety of the game before pulling away in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Sixers 33-24.

Karl-Anthony Towns impressed with 21 points, 13 rebounds and six assists while O.G. Anunoby led the scoring with 24 points. In Boston the Atlanta Hawks pulled off the shock of the opening round, defeating the in-form Celtics 117-116 despite missing injured talisman Trae Young.

A game which saw the lead change hands 14 times looked to have swung decisively in favor of the home side midway through the third quarter as the Celtics raced into a 15-point lead.

But Dyson Daniels led a late rally which included 11 points in the fourth quarter, and Onyeka Okongwu tipped in the winning basket with 6.1sec left on the clock to snatch victory. Daniels led Atlanta's scorers with 28 points while Larry Nance Jr. added 19 with Jalen Johnson and Clint Capela chipping in with 18 points each.

The victory was sweet for Atlanta, who had suffered a 123-93 mauling by the Celtics at home on Nov&nbsp;4. Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said Atlanta "outplayed us in every facet of the game."&nbsp;"They beat us on all the margins and they deserved to win," Mazzulla said.

Elsewhere, the Phoenix Suns downed the Utah Jazz 120-112 while the Milwaukee Bucks beat Toronto 99-85. The NBA Cup was introduced last season as a way of providing a knockout competition in the early months of the league season.

All 30 league teams are drawn into six groups of five, with eight teams advancing to single-elimination knockout rounds, with the semi-finals and final taking place in Las Vegas on Dec&nbsp;14-17.

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.

Stephen Curry scored 37 points as the Golden State Warriors spoiled Klay Thompson's return to the Bay Area with a thrilling 120-117 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the opening round of the NBA Cup on Tuesday.

Stephen Curry scored 37 points as the Golden State Warriors spoiled Klay Thompson's return to the Bay Area with a thrilling 120-117 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the opening round of the NBA Cup on Tuesday. Thompson -- a beloved member of four NBA championship-winning Golden State teams before joining Dallas in July -- received a rapturous welcome in his first game back in San Francisco since his departure. The 34-year-old was given a guard of honor by cheering Golden State staff upon his arrival at the Chase Center before fans wearing nautical caps roared their appreciation for the player who famously used to commute to work in his fishing boat. But despite delighting the home crowd with six three-pointers in a 22-point haul, Thompson was upstaged by former team-mate Curry who produced a stunning fourth-quarter performance to drag the Warriors over the line. The Mavericks looked poised to snatch victory after battling into a six-point lead at 114-108 with just over three minutes remaining. But Curry then took over with 10 unanswered points -- including one sensational step-back three from 28 feet -- to put Golden State into a 118-114 lead, before adding two late free throws to seal the win. "There was a lot of emotion but both teams wanted to win," Curry told TNT television. "It was a playoff-like atmosphere, with great players making great plays. That's why we love the competition." Thompson meanwhile said it had felt "surreal" lining up against his former team-mate. "We've guarded each other plenty of times in practice for Team USA or All-Star Games, but a competitive NBA game -- it was pretty surreal," Thompson said. "It hurts to be on the other side of one of his flurries. Guy got hot at the end and made some ridiculous shots. It sucks." - Embiid back but Sixers beaten - In other games, Joel Embiid made his long-awaited first appearance of the season but was unable to prevent the Philadelphia 76ers from sliding to a 111-99 defeat to the New York Knicks. Embiid missed the first six games of the season as the team managed his rehabilitation from a left knee injury, and was suspended for three games after a locker room altercation with a journalist. Embiid's lack of game time was apparent in a sluggish performance that saw him finish with 13 points, five assists and three rebounds. Also read: Formula One: Rui Marques succeeds Niels Wittich as new race director With Embiid not firing on all cylinders, the Knicks dominated for long periods, leading for almost the entirety of the game before pulling away in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Sixers 33-24. Karl-Anthony Towns impressed with 21 points, 13 rebounds and six assists while O.G. Anunoby led the scoring with 24 points. In Boston the Atlanta Hawks pulled off the shock of the opening round, defeating the in-form Celtics 117-116 despite missing injured talisman Trae Young. A game which saw the lead change hands 14 times looked to have swung decisively in favor of the home side midway through the third quarter as the Celtics raced into a 15-point lead. But Dyson Daniels led a late rally which included 11 points in the fourth quarter, and Onyeka Okongwu tipped in the winning basket with 6.1sec left on the clock to snatch victory. Daniels led Atlanta's scorers with 28 points while Larry Nance Jr. added 19 with Jalen Johnson and Clint Capela chipping in with 18 points each. The victory was sweet for Atlanta, who had suffered a 123-93 mauling by the Celtics at home on Nov 4. Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said Atlanta "outplayed us in every facet of the game." "They beat us on all the margins and they deserved to win," Mazzulla said. Elsewhere, the Phoenix Suns downed the Utah Jazz 120-112 while the Milwaukee Bucks beat Toronto 99-85. The NBA Cup was introduced last season as a way of providing a knockout competition in the early months of the league season. All 30 league teams are drawn into six groups of five, with eight teams advancing to single-elimination knockout rounds, with the semi-finals and final taking place in Las Vegas on Dec 14-17. 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 dazzles on Klay Thompson's return as Golden State Warriors beat Dallas Mavericks

Jayson Tatum delivered 31 points and 12 rebounds to spark the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics over Milwaukee 113-107 on Sunday despite Giannis Antetokounmpo's 43-point performance for the Bucks.

The Celtics improved to 9-2, two games behind unbeaten Cleveland in the Eastern Conference, while the host Bucks slid to 2-8.

Payton Pritchard scored 18 points off the Boston bench while Derrick White and former Buck Jrue Holiday each scored 15 points and Jaylen Brown added 14 for the Celtics.

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"Team effort," Holiday said. "It's not easy doing it by yourself. We did it collectively."

It eased the memory of two lopsided Boston losses in Milwaukee last season.

"It's nice," Holiday said. "We got blown out twice last year so getting this win here with my family in the building is awesome."

Greek star Antetokounmpo also grabbed 13 rebounds and elbowed Brown to the floor at one point, then offered a hand to help him up only to pull it away when Brown reached for it.

The Bucks led 69-58 at half-time but the Celtics grabbed a 87-84 edge entering the fourth quarter and closed with a 9-5 run to seal the triumph, Tatum scoring seven in the crucial stretch.

"We just picked up the intensity," Holiday said of the third-quarter rally. "We came out, hit shots, not getting too ahead of ourselves and getting back to Celtics basketball."

At Indianapolis, Bennedict Mathurin scored 38 points and Tyrese Haliburton added 35 points and 14 assists to lead the Indiana Pacers over New York 132-121.

Jalen Brunson had 33 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who also got 30 points and nine rebounds from Karl-Anthony Towns.

In a showdown of Western Conference contenders, Golden State's Stephen Curry scored 36 points, hitting 7-of-13 3-point shots, to lead the Warriors in a 127-116 victory at Oklahoma City that left both clubs 8-2.

The Thunder, led by 24 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, lost star big man Chet Holmgren in the first quarter with a right hip injury after a fall and being helped off the court.

At Minneapolis, Tyler Herro scored 26 points and reserve Nikola Jovic made a game-winning 3-point play with 7.1 seconds remaining to give Miami a 95-94 victory at Minnesota.

Jaden McDaniels tipped in a 3-point miss by Mike Conley with nine seconds remaining to give the Timberwolves a 94-92 lead, but Jovic answered with a layup and free throw for the deciding points.

Conley missed a final 3-point shot to seal Miami's triumph, which snapped a three-game Heat losing skid and three-game T-Wolves win streak.

<h2>Lowly Sixers win in OT</h2>

The NBA-worst Philadelphia 76ers outlasted visiting Charlotte for a 107-105 overtime victory, improving to 2-7 on the season.

LaMelo Ball's 3-pointer with eight seconds remaining lifted Charlotte level at 97-97 to force overtime.

Kelly Oubre's two free throws gave the 76ers a 105-104 lead with 58 seconds remaining in overtime and Caleb Martin added two free throws for the Sixers with two seconds to play.

Charlotte's Grant Williams made a free throw with 0.1 of a second remaining and missed the next in hopes of a game-tying tip-in, but the 76ers grabbed the rebound to win.

Orlando, meanwhile, had 23 points from Franz Wagner in a 121-94 home rout of Washington, which had a game-high 24 points from Jordan Poole.

Detroit's Jaden Ivey missed a go-ahead 3-point shot with 1.2 seconds remaining and Houston held on for a 101-99 road victory.

Alperen Sengun's 27 points and 10 rebounds led the Rockets (6-4) while the Pistons had 26 points, nine assists and eight rebounds from Cade Cunningham in a losing cause.

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.

Jayson Tatum delivered 31 points and 12 rebounds to spark the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics over Milwaukee 113-107 on Sunday despite Giannis Antetokounmpo's 43-point performance for the Bucks.

Jayson Tatum delivered 31 points and 12 rebounds to spark the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics over Milwaukee 113-107 on Sunday despite Giannis Antetokounmpo's 43-point performance for the Bucks. The Celtics improved to 9-2, two games behind unbeaten Cleveland in the Eastern Conference, while the host Bucks slid to 2-8. Payton Pritchard scored 18 points off the Boston bench while Derrick White and former Buck Jrue Holiday each scored 15 points and Jaylen Brown added 14 for the Celtics. Also Read: PL: Manchester United beat Leicester City in Ruud van Nistelrooy’s last game as interim manager "Team effort," Holiday said. "It's not easy doing it by yourself. We did it collectively." It eased the memory of two lopsided Boston losses in Milwaukee last season. "It's nice," Holiday said. "We got blown out twice last year so getting this win here with my family in the building is awesome." Greek star Antetokounmpo also grabbed 13 rebounds and elbowed Brown to the floor at one point, then offered a hand to help him up only to pull it away when Brown reached for it. The Bucks led 69-58 at half-time but the Celtics grabbed a 87-84 edge entering the fourth quarter and closed with a 9-5 run to seal the triumph, Tatum scoring seven in the crucial stretch. "We just picked up the intensity," Holiday said of the third-quarter rally. "We came out, hit shots, not getting too ahead of ourselves and getting back to Celtics basketball." At Indianapolis, Bennedict Mathurin scored 38 points and Tyrese Haliburton added 35 points and 14 assists to lead the Indiana Pacers over New York 132-121. Jalen Brunson had 33 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who also got 30 points and nine rebounds from Karl-Anthony Towns. In a showdown of Western Conference contenders, Golden State's Stephen Curry scored 36 points, hitting 7-of-13 3-point shots, to lead the Warriors in a 127-116 victory at Oklahoma City that left both clubs 8-2. The Thunder, led by 24 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, lost star big man Chet Holmgren in the first quarter with a right hip injury after a fall and being helped off the court. At Minneapolis, Tyler Herro scored 26 points and reserve Nikola Jovic made a game-winning 3-point play with 7.1 seconds remaining to give Miami a 95-94 victory at Minnesota. Jaden McDaniels tipped in a 3-point miss by Mike Conley with nine seconds remaining to give the Timberwolves a 94-92 lead, but Jovic answered with a layup and free throw for the deciding points. Conley missed a final 3-point shot to seal Miami's triumph, which snapped a three-game Heat losing skid and three-game T-Wolves win streak. Lowly Sixers win in OT The NBA-worst Philadelphia 76ers outlasted visiting Charlotte for a 107-105 overtime victory, improving to 2-7 on the season. LaMelo Ball's 3-pointer with eight seconds remaining lifted Charlotte level at 97-97 to force overtime. Kelly Oubre's two free throws gave the 76ers a 105-104 lead with 58 seconds remaining in overtime and Caleb Martin added two free throws for the Sixers with two seconds to play. Charlotte's Grant Williams made a free throw with 0.1 of a second remaining and missed the next in hopes of a game-tying tip-in, but the 76ers grabbed the rebound to win. Orlando, meanwhile, had 23 points from Franz Wagner in a 121-94 home rout of Washington, which had a game-high 24 points from Jordan Poole. Detroit's Jaden Ivey missed a go-ahead 3-point shot with 1.2 seconds remaining and Houston held on for a 101-99 road victory. Alperen Sengun's 27 points and 10 rebounds led the Rockets (6-4) while the Pistons had 26 points, nine assists and eight rebounds from Cade Cunningham in a losing cause. 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.

Jason Tatum leads defending champions Boston Celtics to win over Milwaukee Bucks

The Cleveland Cavaliers continued their perfect start to the NBA season in sensational style on Friday, seizing a 41-point halftime lead on the way to a 136-117 rout of the Golden State Warriors.

The Cavs improved to 10-0, ending the Warriors' five-game winning streak and handing them their first road defeat of the season.

The damage was done early, with the Cavs' 83 first-half points tying a franchise record for most scored in any half and their 41-point halftime lead the biggest in team history.

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Against the Warriors' second-ranked defense, the Cavs posted their fifth game of the young season with at least 130 points.

That ties a team record for the most 130-plus point games for an entire season.

"Ten-0 is a magic number," Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said. "We're playing really good basketball and I'm just really pleased where the group is.

"I was worried about tonight -- they're 7-1 and rolling and they're coming in here, they're champions and they're going to try and knock our block off."

Darius Garland scored 27 points, Evan Mobley added 23 and Ty Jerome chipped in 20 off the bench as six Cavs players scored in double figures against a Warriors defense that came in ranked second in the league.

Meanwhile, they kept the potentially explosive Warriors offense in check, opening the game on a 20-2 scoring run.

"The way we came out tonight -- that surprised me, how ready we were, how hungry we were," Atkinson said.

Andrew Wiggins with nine points and Stephen Curry with seven were the only Warriors starters to score before the break.

Golden State were able to adjust after the break, out-scoring the Cavs 41-29 in the third quarter.

"First half, can't play much better than that," Atkinson said. "But second half, way we came out, they scored 13 points in the first three minutes. It was a little frustrating."

The Warriors, however, were in too deep a hole.

Jonathan Kuminga led Golden State with 21 points off the bench, and Curry finished with 12 on five-of-10 shooting, making just one from three-point range.

"We've got to execute better," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "Thirteen turnovers in the first half -- we were completely disorganized."

<h2>Celtics edge Nets</h2>

In Boston, Jayson Tatum scored 33 points to lead the Celtics in a 108-104 overtime victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who led by as many as 14 in the first half and didn't surrender the lead until the fourth quarter.

In Detroit, Cade Cunningham drove for the go-ahead basket with 8.5 seconds left to play in the Pistons' 122-121 victory over Atlanta, then sealed the victory with a block on a driving Onyeka Okongwu.

Cunningham finished with a triple-double of 22 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists with a steal and the game-saving block.

Jusuf Nurkic's free throw with eight-tenths of a second remaining lifted the Phoenix Suns to a 114-113 victory over the Mavericks in Dallas.

Kevin Durant scored 26 points and Nurkic added 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Suns, who notched a seventh-straight victory to improve to 8-1.

"It's been fun," Durant said of the Suns start. "(It has) definitely been nerve-wracking with the tight games we've been in, but I think that's great for our team to understand what it's like in crunch time."

Luka Doncic scored 30 points and Kyrie Irving added 29 for Dallas, who have now lost twice this season to Phoenix.

Elsewhere Friday, the Los Angeles Lakers got back to winning ways with a 116-106 defeat of the Philadelphia 76ers at home.

The Lakers had lost four of their five previous games but overpowered the Sixers thanks to 31 points from Anthony Davis and 21 from LeBron James with Austin Reaves adding 20.

In New York, Karl-Anthony Towns scored 32 points for the Knicks, who led by as many as 30 in a 116-94 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for Milwaukee, who trailed all the way.

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.

The Cleveland Cavaliers continued their perfect start to the NBA season in sensational style on Friday, seizing a 41-point halftime lead on the way to a 136-117 rout of the Golden State Warriors.

The Cleveland Cavaliers continued their perfect start to the NBA season in sensational style on Friday, seizing a 41-point halftime lead on the way to a 136-117 rout of the Golden State Warriors. The Cavs improved to 10-0, ending the Warriors' five-game winning streak and handing them their first road defeat of the season. The damage was done early, with the Cavs' 83 first-half points tying a franchise record for most scored in any half and their 41-point halftime lead the biggest in team history. Also Read: ‘I knew the quality of our team’ – Arne Slot unsurprised by Liverpool’s superb start to season Against the Warriors' second-ranked defense, the Cavs posted their fifth game of the young season with at least 130 points. That ties a team record for the most 130-plus point games for an entire season. "Ten-0 is a magic number," Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said. "We're playing really good basketball and I'm just really pleased where the group is. "I was worried about tonight -- they're 7-1 and rolling and they're coming in here, they're champions and they're going to try and knock our block off." Darius Garland scored 27 points, Evan Mobley added 23 and Ty Jerome chipped in 20 off the bench as six Cavs players scored in double figures against a Warriors defense that came in ranked second in the league. Meanwhile, they kept the potentially explosive Warriors offense in check, opening the game on a 20-2 scoring run. "The way we came out tonight -- that surprised me, how ready we were, how hungry we were," Atkinson said. Andrew Wiggins with nine points and Stephen Curry with seven were the only Warriors starters to score before the break. Golden State were able to adjust after the break, out-scoring the Cavs 41-29 in the third quarter. "First half, can't play much better than that," Atkinson said. "But second half, way we came out, they scored 13 points in the first three minutes. It was a little frustrating." The Warriors, however, were in too deep a hole. Jonathan Kuminga led Golden State with 21 points off the bench, and Curry finished with 12 on five-of-10 shooting, making just one from three-point range. "We've got to execute better," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "Thirteen turnovers in the first half -- we were completely disorganized." Celtics edge Nets In Boston, Jayson Tatum scored 33 points to lead the Celtics in a 108-104 overtime victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who led by as many as 14 in the first half and didn't surrender the lead until the fourth quarter. In Detroit, Cade Cunningham drove for the go-ahead basket with 8.5 seconds left to play in the Pistons' 122-121 victory over Atlanta, then sealed the victory with a block on a driving Onyeka Okongwu. Cunningham finished with a triple-double of 22 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists with a steal and the game-saving block. Jusuf Nurkic's free throw with eight-tenths of a second remaining lifted the Phoenix Suns to a 114-113 victory over the Mavericks in Dallas. Kevin Durant scored 26 points and Nurkic added 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Suns, who notched a seventh-straight victory to improve to 8-1. "It's been fun," Durant said of the Suns start. "(It has) definitely been nerve-wracking with the tight games we've been in, but I think that's great for our team to understand what it's like in crunch time." Luka Doncic scored 30 points and Kyrie Irving added 29 for Dallas, who have now lost twice this season to Phoenix. Elsewhere Friday, the Los Angeles Lakers got back to winning ways with a 116-106 defeat of the Philadelphia 76ers at home. The Lakers had lost four of their five previous games but overpowered the Sixers thanks to 31 points from Anthony Davis and 21 from LeBron James with Austin Reaves adding 20. In New York, Karl-Anthony Towns scored 32 points for the Knicks, who led by as many as 30 in a 116-94 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for Milwaukee, who trailed all the way. 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 extend unbeaten run with crushing win over Golden State Warriors

Four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors will miss at least the next two games with a left ankle injury, the team announced on Monday.

The four-time NBA champion was injured with 7:55 remaining in the fourth quarter of Golden State's 112-104 home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.

Curry underwent an MRI exam late Sunday that showed no structural damage, the Warriors said, and also confirmed he suffered a peroneal strain in the area where tendons connect the fibula and ankle.

Curry, a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, is averaging 18.3 points, 6.7 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals for the Warriors (2-1).

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/real-madrid-and-barcelona-pm-narendra-modi-talks-el-clasico-craze-in-india-during-roadshow-with-spain-pm-771440">'Real Madrid and Barcelona...,' PM Modi acclaims El Clasico craze in India during roadshow</a>

The 36-year-old superstar, who helped the United States team of NBA stars capture Olympic gold in Paris in August, will miss home games on Tuesday and Wednesday against New Orleans before being re-evaluated on Friday, the team said.

The Warriors also said guard De'Anthony Melton, who left the game Sunday in the fourth quarter with a lower back strain, underwent an MRI that showed no structural damage. He also will be re-evaluated on Friday.

Melton, who missed more than half of last season for Philadelphia with back issues, has averaged 6.3 points and 2.7 assists a game.

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Four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors will miss at least the next two games with a left ankle injury, the team announced on Monday. The four-time NBA champion was injured with 7:55 remaining in the fourth quarter of Golden State's 112-104 home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.

Four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors will miss at least the next two games with a left ankle injury, the team announced on Monday. The four-time NBA champion was injured with 7:55 remaining in the fourth quarter of Golden State's 112-104 home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. Curry underwent an MRI exam late Sunday that showed no structural damage, the Warriors said, and also confirmed he suffered a peroneal strain in the area where tendons connect the fibula and ankle. Curry, a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, is averaging 18.3 points, 6.7 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals for the Warriors (2-1). ALSO READ | 'Real Madrid and Barcelona...,' PM Modi acclaims El Clasico craze in India during roadshow The 36-year-old superstar, who helped the United States team of NBA stars capture Olympic gold in Paris in August, will miss home games on Tuesday and Wednesday against New Orleans before being re-evaluated on Friday, the team said. The Warriors also said guard De'Anthony Melton, who left the game Sunday in the fourth quarter with a lower back strain, underwent an MRI that showed no structural damage. He also will be re-evaluated on Friday. Melton, who missed more than half of last season for Philadelphia with back issues, has averaged 6.3 points and 2.7 assists a game. 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 to miss at least two games with left ankle injury for Golden State Warriors

Chicago's Coby White scored 35 points as the Bulls spoiled Milwaukee's first home game of the NBA season on Friday with a 133-122 victory over the Bucks.

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COBY WHITE TOOK OVER IN MILWAUKEE. 
 
35 points. 
7 threes. 
6 boards. 
5 assists. 
4 steals. 
 
The <a href="https://twitter.com/chicagobulls?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chicagobulls</a> get the road W 😤 <a href="https://t.co/btqdEvWjBf">pic.twitter.com/btqdEvWjBf</a>
— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1850008032039547103?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The Bulls withstood a 38-point, 11-rebound double-double from Milwaukee's two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose big night included a monster dunk over Nikola Vucevic.

Damian Lillard added 28 points and eight assists for the Bucks, but it wasn't enough in the end.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/luis-suarez-and-jordi-alba-on-scoresheet-for-inter-miami-in-win-over-atlanta-united-in-mls-cup-playoffs-770821">Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba on scoresheet for Inter Miami in win over Atlanta United in MLS Cup playoffs</a>

In a back-and-forth battle featuring 14 lead changes, Chicago seized the lead for good with 8:52 left in the third quarter when White banked in a shot for a 74-72 lead.

The Bulls were up by seven going into the fourth. Milwaukee cut the lead to just one point on a pair of three-pointers from A.J. Green in the first minute of the period.

But Chicago forward Patrick Williams drained a three-pointer to ignite a 13-1 Bulls run and Chicago closed it out comfortably.

Elsewhere, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges looked right at home at Madison Square Garden, scoring 21 points apiece to help the New York Knicks to a 123-98 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

Towns, acquired in a three-team trade from Minnesota days before training camp, added 15 rebounds and two blocked shots.

"It definitely hits different to be home," Towns said of playing his first game at the Garden as a Knick.

Bridges, who arrived in July in a cross-town trade with the Brooklyn Nets, made eight of 12 shot attempts as the Knicks shook off a blowout season-opening loss to the reigning champion Boston Celtics.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks scoring with 26 points and Josh Hart added 20 as the Knicks gained a small measure of revenge against a Pacers team that ousted them in seven games in the second round of last season's playoffs.

Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 20 points off the bench while star guard Tyrese Haliburton -- the cornerstone of Indiana's potent offense -- missed all eight of his shot attempts to finish with zero points.

In Orlando, Franz Wagner scored 29 points with six rebounds and five assists as the Magic pulled away late for a 116-101 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

Cam Thomas drilled a three-pointer to put the Nets up 63-61 with 5:47 left in the third quarter.

But Wagner made a pair of free throws, and after Paolo Banchero hauled in the rebound of a Thomas miss, Wagner made a three-pointer that put the Magic up for good.

Moritz Wagner added 18 points of the bench and Banchero scored 15 for the Magic, who pushed their lead to as many as 18 points in the fourth quarter.

Four Nets starters scored in double-figures, but the Magic out-scored them 67-55 in the second half.

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Chicago's Coby White scored 35 points as the Bulls spoiled Milwaukee's first home game of the NBA season on Friday with a 133-122 victory over the Bucks. COBY WHITE TOOK OVER IN MILWAUKEE.

Chicago's Coby White scored 35 points as the Bulls spoiled Milwaukee's first home game of the NBA season on Friday with a 133-122 victory over the Bucks. COBY WHITE TOOK OVER IN MILWAUKEE. 35 points. 7 threes. 6 boards. 5 assists. 4 steals. The @chicagobulls get the road W 😤 pic.twitter.com/btqdEvWjBf — NBA (@NBA) October 26, 2024 × The Bulls withstood a 38-point, 11-rebound double-double from Milwaukee's two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose big night included a monster dunk over Nikola Vucevic. Damian Lillard added 28 points and eight assists for the Bucks, but it wasn't enough in the end. ALSO READ: Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba on scoresheet for Inter Miami in win over Atlanta United in MLS Cup playoffs In a back-and-forth battle featuring 14 lead changes, Chicago seized the lead for good with 8:52 left in the third quarter when White banked in a shot for a 74-72 lead. The Bulls were up by seven going into the fourth. Milwaukee cut the lead to just one point on a pair of three-pointers from A.J. Green in the first minute of the period. But Chicago forward Patrick Williams drained a three-pointer to ignite a 13-1 Bulls run and Chicago closed it out comfortably. Elsewhere, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges looked right at home at Madison Square Garden, scoring 21 points apiece to help the New York Knicks to a 123-98 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Towns, acquired in a three-team trade from Minnesota days before training camp, added 15 rebounds and two blocked shots. "It definitely hits different to be home," Towns said of playing his first game at the Garden as a Knick. Bridges, who arrived in July in a cross-town trade with the Brooklyn Nets, made eight of 12 shot attempts as the Knicks shook off a blowout season-opening loss to the reigning champion Boston Celtics. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks scoring with 26 points and Josh Hart added 20 as the Knicks gained a small measure of revenge against a Pacers team that ousted them in seven games in the second round of last season's playoffs. Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 20 points off the bench while star guard Tyrese Haliburton -- the cornerstone of Indiana's potent offense -- missed all eight of his shot attempts to finish with zero points. In Orlando, Franz Wagner scored 29 points with six rebounds and five assists as the Magic pulled away late for a 116-101 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Cam Thomas drilled a three-pointer to put the Nets up 63-61 with 5:47 left in the third quarter. But Wagner made a pair of free throws, and after Paolo Banchero hauled in the rebound of a Thomas miss, Wagner made a three-pointer that put the Magic up for good. Moritz Wagner added 18 points of the bench and Banchero scored 15 for the Magic, who pushed their lead to as many as 18 points in the fourth quarter. Four Nets starters scored in double-figures, but the Magic out-scored them 67-55 in the second half. 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: Coby White stars scores 35 points as Chicago Bulls beat Milwaukee Bucks

Four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson scored 22 points in his Dallas debut on Thursday, giving a lift to Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic in a 120-109 NBA victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

Slovenian star Doncic scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Mavs, who fell to the Boston Celtics in last season's NBA Finals and acquired Thompson in a free agent deal in the off-season with the hope of going even further this season.

Thompson, who won four titles in 13 seasons with the Golden State Warriors, was delighted with his first outing for the Mavs.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tottenham-teen-mikey-moore-compared-to-neymar-after-impressive-europa-league-outing-770530">Tottenham teen Mikey Moore compared to Neymar after impressive Europa League outing</a>

"Blue is my favorite color," he told broadcaster TNT. "And Mavs blue looks good on me."

Kyrie Irving scored 15 points for Dallas and the Mavericks harried the Spurs defensively.

San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama, aiming to build on last season's Rookie of the Year campaign, connected on just five of 18 shots from the field on the way to 17 points and the Spurs coughed up 19 turnovers leading to 17 Mavericks points.

Chris Paul, an 11-time All-Star point guard brought in to lend veteran experience to the young San Antonio squad trying to get the Spurs back in the playoffs after a five-season absence, scored all of his points on a lone three-pointer, finishing one-of-six from the field with eight assists.

"Couldn't ask for a better start," Thompson said. "Just sharing the flow with (Irving), Luka and the rest of the guys -- very special after a hard month of really good work.

"But it's just a small step for where we want to go," Thompson added.

The reigning champion Boston Celtics, coming off a season-opening rout of the New York Knicks, got off to a slow start against last season's second-worst team Washington, who led by as many as eight points in the early going.

It was tied at 51-51 with five minutes left in the second quarter, but Boston closed the first half on a 13-3 run and dominated the second half on the way to a 122-102 victory.

Jaylen Brown celebrated his 28th birthday by scoring 27 points and Jayson Tatum added 25 with 11 rebounds for Boston, who had 19 points from Derrick White.

"We just had to carry over from the first game," Brown said. "This was our first road game ... we started off a little slow but we stayed the course and we were able to get the win."

Jordan Poole led the Wizards' scoring with 26 points -- 20 in the first half as he kept Washington in touch early. But the Celtics out-scored the Wizards 34-19 in the third quarter and the rout was on.

With the game in hand, Tatum sat out the entire fourth quarter while Brown departed with just over eight minutes to play.

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Four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson scored 22 points in his Dallas debut on Thursday, giving a lift to Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic in a 120-109 NBA victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

Four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson scored 22 points in his Dallas debut on Thursday, giving a lift to Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic in a 120-109 NBA victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Slovenian star Doncic scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Mavs, who fell to the Boston Celtics in last season's NBA Finals and acquired Thompson in a free agent deal in the off-season with the hope of going even further this season. Thompson, who won four titles in 13 seasons with the Golden State Warriors, was delighted with his first outing for the Mavs. ALSO READ: Tottenham teen Mikey Moore compared to Neymar after impressive Europa League outing "Blue is my favorite color," he told broadcaster TNT. "And Mavs blue looks good on me." Kyrie Irving scored 15 points for Dallas and the Mavericks harried the Spurs defensively. San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama, aiming to build on last season's Rookie of the Year campaign, connected on just five of 18 shots from the field on the way to 17 points and the Spurs coughed up 19 turnovers leading to 17 Mavericks points. Chris Paul, an 11-time All-Star point guard brought in to lend veteran experience to the young San Antonio squad trying to get the Spurs back in the playoffs after a five-season absence, scored all of his points on a lone three-pointer, finishing one-of-six from the field with eight assists. "Couldn't ask for a better start," Thompson said. "Just sharing the flow with (Irving), Luka and the rest of the guys -- very special after a hard month of really good work. "But it's just a small step for where we want to go," Thompson added. The reigning champion Boston Celtics, coming off a season-opening rout of the New York Knicks, got off to a slow start against last season's second-worst team Washington, who led by as many as eight points in the early going. It was tied at 51-51 with five minutes left in the second quarter, but Boston closed the first half on a 13-3 run and dominated the second half on the way to a 122-102 victory. Jaylen Brown celebrated his 28th birthday by scoring 27 points and Jayson Tatum added 25 with 11 rebounds for Boston, who had 19 points from Derrick White. "We just had to carry over from the first game," Brown said. "This was our first road game ... we started off a little slow but we stayed the course and we were able to get the win." Jordan Poole led the Wizards' scoring with 26 points -- 20 in the first half as he kept Washington in touch early. But the Celtics out-scored the Wizards 34-19 in the third quarter and the rout was on. With the game in hand, Tatum sat out the entire fourth quarter while Brown departed with just over eight minutes to play. 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.

Multi-time NBA champion Klay Thompson stars in Dallas debut as Mavericks beat San Antonio Spurs

LeBron and Bronny James made NBA history on Tuesday, becoming the first father-and-son duo to play alongside each other in a regular season fixture as the Los Angeles Lakers opened their campaign against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The duo, who played together briefly in a pre-season game earlier this month, took to the court together late in the second quarter at the Crypto.com Arena with the Lakers leading 51-35.

An enormous roar went up from the home crowd as the James duo were brought onto the court by coach J.J. Redick after the Lakers had surged into a double-digit lead. In a perfectly scripted moment that was pure Hollywood, the James' double-act was watched at courtside by Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr, who made baseball history playing for the Seattle Mariners as father and son in 1990-1991.

"We made history; now we get to watch history," said Griffey Jr., who joined his father to pose for photos with LeBron and Bronny James shortly before Tuesday's tip-off.

Lakers officials had been coy before Tuesday's season-opener about where and when LeBron James and Bronny would play their first regular season fixture together.

However NBA superstar LeBron James, who turns 40 in December, admitted in pre-game remarks that he could scarcely contain his excitement at the prospect of realising his long-cherished dream of sharing a court with his son.

"Just to run out the tunnel knowing that he'll be in uniform, run out the tunnel with him, see him warm up, and be out there with the rest of my teammates," James told reporters during a morning shoot-around on Tuesday. "This is my 22nd time running out on opening night so I don't know how many times I'll have an opportunity, how many times I've got left to run out. I won't take it for granted."

Anticipation about the James double-act has dominated the Lakers' preparations for the new season since Bronny James was selected by the franchise with the 55th pick in the draft in June.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba/news-boston-celtics-beat-new-york-knicks-132-109-to-launch-nba-title-defense-769884">Boston Celtics beat New York Knicks 132-109 to launch NBA title defense</a>

- 'It's been a treat' -

Bronny James, 20, is expected to spend most of his rookie season in the developmental G-League rather than the Lakers senior squad. LeBron James however said Tuesday that he had relished being able to accompany his son on his first steps into professional basketball.

"It's been a treat and just in preseason, the practices, just every day," James said. "The plane rides, the bus rides of being with him and showing him the ropes, along with his teammates and coaches. Just what this professional life is all about and how to prepare every day ... super-duper cool."

Bronny James' ascent to the ranks of the NBA has been made all the more remarkable given that just over a year ago he suffered a cardiac arrest during a workout with his University of Southern California college team-mates.

James Sr. said his son's swift recovery from that life-threatening episode had convinced him that he would one day play in the NBA. "To see him play in a college Division I game the same year he had heart surgery ... I knew that at that moment that there really was going to be nothing to stop him from anything that he wants to do," James said.

Bronny said at the Lakers recent media day he was fuelled by the words of critics who have suggested he owes his place on the Lakers roster entirely to his superstar father. "I'm just taking all that stuff, that criticism and backlash that people have given me and turning it into something that can fuel me," 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.

LeBron and Bronny James made NBA history on Tuesday, becoming the first father-and-son duo to play alongside each other in a regular season fixture as the Los Angeles Lakers opened their campaign against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

LeBron and Bronny James made NBA history on Tuesday, becoming the first father-and-son duo to play alongside each other in a regular season fixture as the Los Angeles Lakers opened their campaign against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The duo, who played together briefly in a pre-season game earlier this month, took to the court together late in the second quarter at the Crypto.com Arena with the Lakers leading 51-35. An enormous roar went up from the home crowd as the James duo were brought onto the court by coach J.J. Redick after the Lakers had surged into a double-digit lead. In a perfectly scripted moment that was pure Hollywood, the James' double-act was watched at courtside by Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr, who made baseball history playing for the Seattle Mariners as father and son in 1990-1991. "We made history; now we get to watch history," said Griffey Jr., who joined his father to pose for photos with LeBron and Bronny James shortly before Tuesday's tip-off. Lakers officials had been coy before Tuesday's season-opener about where and when LeBron James and Bronny would play their first regular season fixture together. However NBA superstar LeBron James, who turns 40 in December, admitted in pre-game remarks that he could scarcely contain his excitement at the prospect of realising his long-cherished dream of sharing a court with his son. "Just to run out the tunnel knowing that he'll be in uniform, run out the tunnel with him, see him warm up, and be out there with the rest of my teammates," James told reporters during a morning shoot-around on Tuesday. "This is my 22nd time running out on opening night so I don't know how many times I'll have an opportunity, how many times I've got left to run out. I won't take it for granted." Anticipation about the James double-act has dominated the Lakers' preparations for the new season since Bronny James was selected by the franchise with the 55th pick in the draft in June. Also read: Boston Celtics beat New York Knicks 132-109 to launch NBA title defense - 'It's been a treat' - Bronny James, 20, is expected to spend most of his rookie season in the developmental G-League rather than the Lakers senior squad. LeBron James however said Tuesday that he had relished being able to accompany his son on his first steps into professional basketball. "It's been a treat and just in preseason, the practices, just every day," James said. "The plane rides, the bus rides of being with him and showing him the ropes, along with his teammates and coaches. Just what this professional life is all about and how to prepare every day ... super-duper cool." Bronny James' ascent to the ranks of the NBA has been made all the more remarkable given that just over a year ago he suffered a cardiac arrest during a workout with his University of Southern California college team-mates. James Sr. said his son's swift recovery from that life-threatening episode had convinced him that he would one day play in the NBA. "To see him play in a college Division I game the same year he had heart surgery ... I knew that at that moment that there really was going to be nothing to stop him from anything that he wants to do," James said. Bronny said at the Lakers recent media day he was fuelled by the words of critics who have suggested he owes his place on the Lakers roster entirely to his superstar father. "I'm just taking all that stuff, that criticism and backlash that people have given me and turning it into something that can fuel me," 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.

LeBron, Bronny James make NBA history with father-son appearance during Lakers' win vs Timberwolves

Jayson Tatum scored 37 points as the Boston Celtics launched the defense of their NBA crown with an emphatic 132-109 defeat of the New York Knicks on Tuesday. After a triumphant pre-game ceremony that saw Boston celebrate raising their record-breaking 18th championship banner, the Celtics delivered a performance that suggested they could well be the team to beat once more.

A devastating 43-point first quarter put Boston in complete control during the first half, with Tatum producing an electric shooting performance to pour in 18 points from three-point range over the two quarters. Tatum had brought the house down in a pre-game address to a packed TD Garden, signalling the Celtics' determination to win back-to-back championships.

"This is special. On behalf of me, my teammates, the organization, we couldn't have done it without you last year," Tatum told the crowd. "Let's enjoy this moment together. I can honestly say, to the best fans in the world -- let's do it again."

Boston powered to last season's NBA championship after winning 64 games in the regular season before dropping just three games in the playoffs, sealing victory with a 4-1 rout of the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals.

That win came after years of frustrating postseason disappointments, which included a 4-2 defeat to Golden State in the 2022 NBA Finals and an agonizing 4-3 loss to Miami in the 2023 Western Conference finals.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/ucl-vinicius-junior-hat-trick-saves-real-madrid-vs-borussia-dortmund-aston-villa-go-top-769879">UCL: Vinicius Junior hat-trick saves Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund, Aston Villa go top</a>

The Celtics have retained the core of the team from last season's roster and look well-positioned to mount a serious defense of their title.

Against New York on Tuesday, Joe Mazzulla's team picked up where they had left off in June, with all of their heavy-hitters coming up big to leave the Knicks chasing the game for long periods.

Four of the their five starters -- Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Jrue Holiday -- posted double-digit points tallies before half-time, helping the team take a commanding 74-55 lead into the break.

Although the Knicks had enjoyed parity in a 31-31 second quarter, Boston were in no mood to let their advantage slip after the break, coasting home to close out the win.

Tatum finished with 10 assists and four rebounds in addition to his 37 points, with White adding 24 points and Brown 23. Holiday added 18 while Al Horford chipped in with 11.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks scoring with 22 points, alongside Miles McBride with 22 from the bench.

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.

Jayson Tatum scored 37 points as the Boston Celtics launched the defense of their NBA crown with an emphatic 132-109 defeat of the New York Knicks on Tuesday. After a triumphant pre-game ceremony that saw Boston celebrate raising their record-breaking 18th championship banner, the Celtics delivered a performance that suggested they could well be the team to beat once more.

Jayson Tatum scored 37 points as the Boston Celtics launched the defense of their NBA crown with an emphatic 132-109 defeat of the New York Knicks on Tuesday. After a triumphant pre-game ceremony that saw Boston celebrate raising their record-breaking 18th championship banner, the Celtics delivered a performance that suggested they could well be the team to beat once more. A devastating 43-point first quarter put Boston in complete control during the first half, with Tatum producing an electric shooting performance to pour in 18 points from three-point range over the two quarters. Tatum had brought the house down in a pre-game address to a packed TD Garden, signalling the Celtics' determination to win back-to-back championships. "This is special. On behalf of me, my teammates, the organization, we couldn't have done it without you last year," Tatum told the crowd. "Let's enjoy this moment together. I can honestly say, to the best fans in the world -- let's do it again." Boston powered to last season's NBA championship after winning 64 games in the regular season before dropping just three games in the playoffs, sealing victory with a 4-1 rout of the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. That win came after years of frustrating postseason disappointments, which included a 4-2 defeat to Golden State in the 2022 NBA Finals and an agonizing 4-3 loss to Miami in the 2023 Western Conference finals. Also read: UCL: Vinicius Junior hat-trick saves Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund, Aston Villa go top The Celtics have retained the core of the team from last season's roster and look well-positioned to mount a serious defense of their title. Against New York on Tuesday, Joe Mazzulla's team picked up where they had left off in June, with all of their heavy-hitters coming up big to leave the Knicks chasing the game for long periods. Four of the their five starters -- Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Jrue Holiday -- posted double-digit points tallies before half-time, helping the team take a commanding 74-55 lead into the break. Although the Knicks had enjoyed parity in a 31-31 second quarter, Boston were in no mood to let their advantage slip after the break, coasting home to close out the win. Tatum finished with 10 assists and four rebounds in addition to his 37 points, with White adding 24 points and Brown 23. Holiday added 18 while Al Horford chipped in with 11. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks scoring with 22 points, alongside Miles McBride with 22 from the bench. 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.

Boston Celtics beat New York Knicks 132-109 to launch NBA title defense

The NBA and Women's NBA announced a 12-year contract extension with global partner Nike Inc. through 2037 to provide uniforms, apparel, merchandising, marketing and content for the leagues. The exclusive apparel extension comes on the eve of the start of the NBA's 79th season and a day after the New York Liberty won the WNBA crown and also covers the developmental G-League.

"Nike is inextricably linked to basketball and has helped fuel the growth and innovation around our sport for decades," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said. "With an added focus on youth basketball, our expanded partnership will create even more opportunities for aspiring players to learn and compete at all levels and for fans of all ages to engage with the NBA and WNBA."

The extension's new content provisions include a greater commitment to youth basketball and a deeper investment in the WNBA plus a joint membership to deliver fans of both brands distinctive products, content and experiences.

"Nike has always been more than a league sponsor -- we're a strategic partner with an unwavering commitment to growing the game," said Elliott Hill, Nike Inc. president. "Our collective power, global reach and genuine love for the game will only continue to create new pathways and opportunities for players and fans."

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/premier-league-chris-wood-winner-for-nottingham-forest-adds-more-misery-on-poor-crystal-palace-769627">Premier League: Chris Wood winner for Nottingham Forest adds more misery on poor Crystal Palace</a>

The renewal follows an eight-year deal struck in 2015 that began with the 2017-18 campaign. Nike has been an NBA partner since 1992 and a marketing partner of the WNBA since its 1997 debut.

"Since our league's inception, Nike has committed to a shared vision for girls and women’s basketball," said WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert. "Our continued partnership is an opportunity to fortify avenues for development and enhance touchpoints across our dynamic fan base while globally showcasing the WNBA."

Nike also extended its license agreement as an official partner of the NBA players union, the National Basketball Players Association.

"This partnership highlights the reach, influence and impact of our members, driving basketball fandom and inspiring millions of people around the world," said union executive director Andre Iguodala.

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.

The NBA and Women's NBA announced a 12-year contract extension with global partner Nike Inc. through 2037 to provide uniforms, apparel, merchandising, marketing and content for the leagues.

The NBA and Women's NBA announced a 12-year contract extension with global partner Nike Inc. through 2037 to provide uniforms, apparel, merchandising, marketing and content for the leagues. The exclusive apparel extension comes on the eve of the start of the NBA's 79th season and a day after the New York Liberty won the WNBA crown and also covers the developmental G-League. "Nike is inextricably linked to basketball and has helped fuel the growth and innovation around our sport for decades," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said. "With an added focus on youth basketball, our expanded partnership will create even more opportunities for aspiring players to learn and compete at all levels and for fans of all ages to engage with the NBA and WNBA." The extension's new content provisions include a greater commitment to youth basketball and a deeper investment in the WNBA plus a joint membership to deliver fans of both brands distinctive products, content and experiences. "Nike has always been more than a league sponsor -- we're a strategic partner with an unwavering commitment to growing the game," said Elliott Hill, Nike Inc. president. "Our collective power, global reach and genuine love for the game will only continue to create new pathways and opportunities for players and fans." Also read: Premier League: Chris Wood winner for Nottingham Forest adds more misery on poor Crystal Palace The renewal follows an eight-year deal struck in 2015 that began with the 2017-18 campaign. Nike has been an NBA partner since 1992 and a marketing partner of the WNBA since its 1997 debut. "Since our league's inception, Nike has committed to a shared vision for girls and women’s basketball," said WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert. "Our continued partnership is an opportunity to fortify avenues for development and enhance touchpoints across our dynamic fan base while globally showcasing the WNBA." Nike also extended its license agreement as an official partner of the NBA players union, the National Basketball Players Association. "This partnership highlights the reach, influence and impact of our members, driving basketball fandom and inspiring millions of people around the world," said union executive director Andre Iguodala. 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 and Nike announce 12-year contract extension

Paul George, the nine-time NBA All-Star who joined Philadelphia as a free-agent in the off-season, hyper-extended his left knee in a pre-season victory over the Atlanta Hawks, the team said Monday. George was guarding Atlanta's Jalen Johnson in the first half when he appeared to plant his leg awkwardly.&nbsp; He played no further part after having scored eight points on three-of-five shooting with two rebounds, one assist and one steal in just over 12 minutes on court.

George told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he felt the hyper-extension and knew he needed to have the knee examined but added "I'm not too concerned about it." Sixers coach Nick Nurse said he was hopeful George would be back in action "right away".

George's injury comes a day after Philadelphia announced that star big man Joel Embiid wouldn't play in any pre-season games as part of the management plan for his surgically repaired left knee. Embiid played in just 39 games last season because of a torn lateral meniscus, returning after surgery with seven games left in the regular season.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis/news-australian-star-nick-kyrgios-vows-to-shut-up-doubters-with-december-comeback-767378">Australian star Nick Kyrgios vows to 'shut up' doubters with December comeback</a>

He was still wearing a knee brace when he helped the United States win gold at the Paris Olympics. Asked Monday if there were concerns about Embiid's availability for the 76ers' season-opener against Milwaukee on October 23, Nurse said he was "not really sure where we're at with that".

"But we are right on course with the plan that we kind of set out," Nurse added.

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.

Paul George, the nine-time NBA All-Star who joined Philadelphia as a free-agent in the off-season, hyper-extended his left knee in a pre-season victory over the Atlanta Hawks, the team said Monday.

Paul George, the nine-time NBA All-Star who joined Philadelphia as a free-agent in the off-season, hyper-extended his left knee in a pre-season victory over the Atlanta Hawks, the team said Monday. George was guarding Atlanta's Jalen Johnson in the first half when he appeared to plant his leg awkwardly. He played no further part after having scored eight points on three-of-five shooting with two rebounds, one assist and one steal in just over 12 minutes on court. George told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he felt the hyper-extension and knew he needed to have the knee examined but added "I'm not too concerned about it." Sixers coach Nick Nurse said he was hopeful George would be back in action "right away". George's injury comes a day after Philadelphia announced that star big man Joel Embiid wouldn't play in any pre-season games as part of the management plan for his surgically repaired left knee. Embiid played in just 39 games last season because of a torn lateral meniscus, returning after surgery with seven games left in the regular season. Also read: Australian star Nick Kyrgios vows to 'shut up' doubters with December comeback He was still wearing a knee brace when he helped the United States win gold at the Paris Olympics. Asked Monday if there were concerns about Embiid's availability for the 76ers' season-opener against Milwaukee on October 23, Nurse said he was "not really sure where we're at with that". "But we are right on course with the plan that we kind of set out," Nurse 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.

Paul George suffers knee injury in second NBA pre-season game with Philadelphia 76ers

LeBron James and eldest son Bronny James claimed a piece of NBA history on Sunday after making their long-awaited first appearance alongside each other for the Los Angeles Lakers.

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LeBron James. Bronny James. 
 
The father-son duo share the court for the first time together! 👏 <a href="https://t.co/93hC7k64gK">pic.twitter.com/93hC7k64gK</a>
— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1843112744511496479?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The duo appeared together at the start of the second quarter in the Lakers' pre-season game against the Phoenix Suns in Palm Desert, east of Los Angeles.

Anticipation about when the James duo would make their first appearance together has built since the Lakers picked Bronny with the 55th pick in the NBA Draft in June.

New Lakers coach J.J. Redick, who said last month that the two would play together "sooner rather than later," said in pre-game remarks on Sunday that the prospect of the James' lining up alongside one another was "surreal."

"I'm excited about it," Redick said. "I am very honored that I get to be a part of history. It's going to happen in the flow of the game."

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In the event, Redick introduced Bronny James to the floor with the Lakers leading 34-25.

LeBron James has said that the prospect of playing with Bronny on the same team had given him a new lease on life as he enters the 22nd season of a glittering career.

"It's a lot of excitement, a pure joy, to be able to come to work every day, put in hard work with your son every day and be able to see him continue to grow," James said. "We push each other. He pushes me. I push him. We push our teammates, and vice versa. So it's just a very joyous moment not only for myself, but for our family. So it's pretty awesome. Gives you a lot of life."

Bronny meanwhile said on Monday he was fueled by the words of critics who have suggested he owes his place on the Lakers roster entirely to his superstar father.

"I'm just taking all that stuff, that criticism and backlash that people have given me and turning it into something that can fuel me," Bronny James said.

Lakers coach Redick has insisted that Bronny James was drafted by the franchise on merit, pushing back at suggestions that the former University of Southern California player had been "given" a roster spot.

"Bronny has earned this through hard work," Redick said earlier this year. "He's going to have a great opportunity to become an excellent NBA player."&nbsp;

Bronny James is expected to spend most of his rookie season in the developmental G-League rather than the Lakers senior squad.

The Lakers open their 2024-2025 regular season campaign with a home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 22.

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.

LeBron James and eldest son Bronny James claimed a piece of NBA history on Sunday after making their long-awaited first appearance alongside each other for the Los Angeles Lakers.

LeBron James and eldest son Bronny James claimed a piece of NBA history on Sunday after making their long-awaited first appearance alongside each other for the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James. Bronny James. The father-son duo share the court for the first time together! 👏 pic.twitter.com/93hC7k64gK — NBA (@NBA) October 7, 2024 × The duo appeared together at the start of the second quarter in the Lakers' pre-season game against the Phoenix Suns in Palm Desert, east of Los Angeles. Anticipation about when the James duo would make their first appearance together has built since the Lakers picked Bronny with the 55th pick in the NBA Draft in June. New Lakers coach J.J. Redick, who said last month that the two would play together "sooner rather than later," said in pre-game remarks on Sunday that the prospect of the James' lining up alongside one another was "surreal." "I'm excited about it," Redick said. "I am very honored that I get to be a part of history. It's going to happen in the flow of the game." ALSO READ: Tennis: USA’S Coco Gauff creates history with China Open title In the event, Redick introduced Bronny James to the floor with the Lakers leading 34-25. LeBron James has said that the prospect of playing with Bronny on the same team had given him a new lease on life as he enters the 22nd season of a glittering career. "It's a lot of excitement, a pure joy, to be able to come to work every day, put in hard work with your son every day and be able to see him continue to grow," James said. "We push each other. He pushes me. I push him. We push our teammates, and vice versa. So it's just a very joyous moment not only for myself, but for our family. So it's pretty awesome. Gives you a lot of life." Bronny meanwhile said on Monday he was fueled by the words of critics who have suggested he owes his place on the Lakers roster entirely to his superstar father. "I'm just taking all that stuff, that criticism and backlash that people have given me and turning it into something that can fuel me," Bronny James said. Lakers coach Redick has insisted that Bronny James was drafted by the franchise on merit, pushing back at suggestions that the former University of Southern California player had been "given" a roster spot. "Bronny has earned this through hard work," Redick said earlier this year. "He's going to have a great opportunity to become an excellent NBA player." Bronny James is expected to spend most of his rookie season in the developmental G-League rather than the Lakers senior squad. The Lakers open their 2024-2025 regular season campaign with a home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 22. 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.

LeBron James and son Bronny make NBA history with first appearance together for LA Lakers

NBA hall of famer Dikembe Mutombo has died at the age of 58 after a battle with brain cancer. The Congolese was regarded as one of the greatest defenders in NBA history.

Basketball Pays Tribute To Dikembe Mutombo

Joel Embiid&nbsp;has signed a contract extension with the Philadelphia 76ers, the team announced on Friday, with the Cameroon-born centre saying he wants to stay a Sixer his NBA entire career.

Multiple reports said the deal was a maximum extension for three years and about $193 million that would keep him with the 76ers through the 2028-29 campaign.

"Philadelphia is home.&nbsp;I want to be here for the rest of my career," Embiid posted on his Instagram account. "I love this community and everything you’ve given me and my family. There is a lot more work to do.&nbsp;You guys deserve a championship and I think we’re just getting started!"

Embiid, the 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player, is a seven-footer (2.13m) and seven-time NBA All-Star who helped the United States win Olympic gold in Paris last month.

The two-time NBA scoring champion, set to begin his ninth NBA campaign next month, said in a statement he wants to bring the 76ers their first NBA crown since 1983.

"I started a Sixer and want to be right here for the rest of my career," Embiid said.  "I had no idea when I was drafted as a 20-year-old kid from Cameroon how lucky I was to be in Philadelphia.

"Through all the ups and downs, this city and the fans have been everything and I am so grateful for how they've embraced me. 

"Philadelphia is home and it's time to bring this community an NBA championship."

Embiid averaged a career-high 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and career-bests of 5.6 assists and 1.2 steals plus 1.7 blocked shots last season and had career-high accuracy from 3-point range and the free throw line.

"Joel has cemented himself as one of the greatest Sixers of all time and is well on his way to being one of the best players to ever play the game," 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2025-ricky-ponting-reveals-why-he-chose-punjab-kings-over-other-teams-details-on-essentials-760482">IPL 2025: Ricky Ponting reveals why he chose Punjab Kings over other teams; details on essentials</a>

"We're ecstatic that this extension keeps him and his family in Philadelphia for years to come.

"He's an elite two-way player with a combination of size, strength, and athleticism that this league has rarely, if ever, seen. He's integral to this franchise's quest for another NBA championship and we're honored that he continues to choose this organization as his NBA home."

Embiid, the third pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, has averaged 27.9 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.7 blocked shots over 433 games with the Sixers.

The 76ers have reached the playoffs in each of the past seven seasons but have not reached the Eastern Conference finals during the run.

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.

Joel Embiid has signed a contract extension with the Philadelphia 76ers, the team announced on Friday, with the Cameroon-born centre saying he wants to stay a Sixer his NBA entire career.

Joel Embiid has signed a contract extension with the Philadelphia 76ers, the team announced on Friday, with the Cameroon-born centre saying he wants to stay a Sixer his NBA entire career. Multiple reports said the deal was a maximum extension for three years and about $193 million that would keep him with the 76ers through the 2028-29 campaign. "Philadelphia is home. I want to be here for the rest of my career," Embiid posted on his Instagram account. "I love this community and everything you’ve given me and my family. There is a lot more work to do. You guys deserve a championship and I think we’re just getting started!" Embiid, the 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player, is a seven-footer (2.13m) and seven-time NBA All-Star who helped the United States win Olympic gold in Paris last month. The two-time NBA scoring champion, set to begin his ninth NBA campaign next month, said in a statement he wants to bring the 76ers their first NBA crown since 1983. "I started a Sixer and want to be right here for the rest of my career," Embiid said.  "I had no idea when I was drafted as a 20-year-old kid from Cameroon how lucky I was to be in Philadelphia. "Through all the ups and downs, this city and the fans have been everything and I am so grateful for how they've embraced me.  "Philadelphia is home and it's time to bring this community an NBA championship." Embiid averaged a career-high 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and career-bests of 5.6 assists and 1.2 steals plus 1.7 blocked shots last season and had career-high accuracy from 3-point range and the free throw line. "Joel has cemented himself as one of the greatest Sixers of all time and is well on his way to being one of the best players to ever play the game," 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said. ALSO READ | IPL 2025: Ricky Ponting reveals why he chose Punjab Kings over other teams; details on essentials "We're ecstatic that this extension keeps him and his family in Philadelphia for years to come. "He's an elite two-way player with a combination of size, strength, and athleticism that this league has rarely, if ever, seen. He's integral to this franchise's quest for another NBA championship and we're honored that he continues to choose this organization as his NBA home." Embiid, the third pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, has averaged 27.9 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.7 blocked shots over 433 games with the Sixers. The 76ers have reached the playoffs in each of the past seven seasons but have not reached the Eastern Conference finals during the run. 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.

Joel Embiid agrees to NBA contract extension with Philadelphia 76ers

The NBA announced 11-year global media rights deals with The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal and Amazon on Wednesday worth a reported $76 billion and running from the 2025-26 through 2035-36 season. In addition to expanding game coverage for US and global telecast audiences as well as streaming viewers, the contracts figure to boost the value of every NBA team in addition to the salaries of basketball's top superstars.

Even though no financial details were officially revealed, ESPN, The Wall Street Journal and Forbes magazine have reported the $76 billion combined figure for the deals.

"Our new global media agreements with Disney, NBCUniversal and Amazon will maximize the reach and accessibility of NBA games for fans in the United States and around the world," National Basketball Association commissioner Adam Silver said. "These partners will distribute our content across a wide range of platforms and help transform the fan experience over the next decade."

The move came after the league announced it had rejected a bid by Warner Brothers Discovery to retain its rights by matching Amazon's deal, saying the terms of the offer to remain on US telecaster Turner Sports were not sufficient.

"Warner Brothers Discovery's most recent proposal did not match the terms of Amazon Prime Video's offer and, therefore, we have entered into a long-term arrangement with Amazon," the NBA said in a statement.

"Our primary objective has been to maximize the reach and accessibility of our games for our fans.&nbsp;Our new arrangement with Amazon supports this goal by complementing the broadcast, cable and streaming packages that are already part of our new Disney and NBCUniversal arrangements. "All three partners have also committed substantial resources to promote the league and enhance the fan experience."

The league's upcoming campaign will be its last for some time with US coverage on long-time partner TNT. "We're grateful to Turner Sports for its award-winning coverage of the NBA and look forward to another season of the NBA on TNT," the league statement said.

The new deals will keep US coverage on Disney-owned ESPN and ABC, NBC and Peacock as well as send a set of games to Amazon's Prime Video streaming service.

ABC and ESPN will remain the television home for US fans of the NBA Finals, Christmas Day games plus Wednesday and weekend contests.

NBC will have opening night plus Sunday and Tuesday game telecasts with Peacock getting Monday games and NBA All-Star coverage.

Amazon Prime Video will have rights to the NBA Cup, the NBA Play-In Tournament to determine April's final playoff qualifiers plus games on Thursday and Friday night as well as be a global destination for NBA League Pass telecasts.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/paris-olympics-2024-kevin-durant-feeling-pretty-good-as-team-usa-aims-basketball-medal-743896">Paris Olympics 2024: Kevin Durant feeling 'pretty good' as Team USA aims basketball medal</a>

<h2>- Turner vows to fight -</h2>

Turner Sports promised to fight the NBA's decision, saying in a statement posted on social media that it will take action after NBC overstepped its power in deciding Turner's terms didn't match Amazon.

"We have matched the Amazon offer, as we have a contractual right to do, and do not believe the NBA can reject it," the statement said. "We think they have grossly misinterpreted our contractual rights with respect to the 2025-26 season and beyond and we will take appropriate action."

The new deals mean more national NBA telecasts on broadcast and streaming platforms, with the NBA App serving as an access point to all. In domestic markets, Disney will broadcast 80 regular season games on ESPN and ABC, NBCUniversal will have up to 100, and Amazon will add 66 regular season contests.

Disney also will distribute games in several international markets, while NBC will distribute games in Europe through Sky Sports as well as in parts of Africa and the Caribbean. Amazon Prime Video will provide global distribution in select areas, including Mexico, Brazil, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

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&nbsp;audience.

The NBA announced 11-year global media rights deals with The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal and Amazon on Wednesday worth a reported $76 billion and running from the 2025-26 through 2035-36 season.

The NBA announced 11-year global media rights deals with The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal and Amazon on Wednesday worth a reported $76 billion and running from the 2025-26 through 2035-36 season. In addition to expanding game coverage for US and global telecast audiences as well as streaming viewers, the contracts figure to boost the value of every NBA team in addition to the salaries of basketball's top superstars. Even though no financial details were officially revealed, ESPN, The Wall Street Journal and Forbes magazine have reported the $76 billion combined figure for the deals. "Our new global media agreements with Disney, NBCUniversal and Amazon will maximize the reach and accessibility of NBA games for fans in the United States and around the world," National Basketball Association commissioner Adam Silver said. "These partners will distribute our content across a wide range of platforms and help transform the fan experience over the next decade." The move came after the league announced it had rejected a bid by Warner Brothers Discovery to retain its rights by matching Amazon's deal, saying the terms of the offer to remain on US telecaster Turner Sports were not sufficient. "Warner Brothers Discovery's most recent proposal did not match the terms of Amazon Prime Video's offer and, therefore, we have entered into a long-term arrangement with Amazon," the NBA said in a statement. "Our primary objective has been to maximize the reach and accessibility of our games for our fans. Our new arrangement with Amazon supports this goal by complementing the broadcast, cable and streaming packages that are already part of our new Disney and NBCUniversal arrangements. "All three partners have also committed substantial resources to promote the league and enhance the fan experience." The league's upcoming campaign will be its last for some time with US coverage on long-time partner TNT. "We're grateful to Turner Sports for its award-winning coverage of the NBA and look forward to another season of the NBA on TNT," the league statement said. The new deals will keep US coverage on Disney-owned ESPN and ABC, NBC and Peacock as well as send a set of games to Amazon's Prime Video streaming service. ABC and ESPN will remain the television home for US fans of the NBA Finals, Christmas Day games plus Wednesday and weekend contests. NBC will have opening night plus Sunday and Tuesday game telecasts with Peacock getting Monday games and NBA All-Star coverage. Amazon Prime Video will have rights to the NBA Cup, the NBA Play-In Tournament to determine April's final playoff qualifiers plus games on Thursday and Friday night as well as be a global destination for NBA League Pass telecasts. Also read: Paris Olympics 2024: Kevin Durant feeling 'pretty good' as Team USA aims basketball medal - Turner vows to fight - Turner Sports promised to fight the NBA's decision, saying in a statement posted on social media that it will take action after NBC overstepped its power in deciding Turner's terms didn't match Amazon. "We have matched the Amazon offer, as we have a contractual right to do, and do not believe the NBA can reject it," the statement said. "We think they have grossly misinterpreted our contractual rights with respect to the 2025-26 season and beyond and we will take appropriate action." The new deals mean more national NBA telecasts on broadcast and streaming platforms, with the NBA App serving as an access point to all. In domestic markets, Disney will broadcast 80 regular season games on ESPN and ABC, NBCUniversal will have up to 100, and Amazon will add 66 regular season contests. Disney also will distribute games in several international markets, while NBC will distribute games in Europe through Sky Sports as well as in parts of Africa and the Caribbean. Amazon Prime Video will provide global distribution in select areas, including Mexico, Brazil, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom and Ireland. 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 signs 11-year media deals worth WHOPPING amount: Reports

NBA Summer League 2024 Full Schedule, Live Streaming: NBA Summer League is also called Las Vegas Summer League, is an off-season basketball tournament organised by the National Basketball Association (NBA).

NBA Summer League 2024 Full Schedule, Live Streaming: NBA Summer League is also called Las Vegas Summer League, is an off-season basketball tournament organised by the National Basketball Association (NBA). NBA teams come along to present their summer rosters which are a mix of rookies, sophomores and G League players. The competition is divided into three different leagues – California Classic Summer League, Salt Lake City Summer League, and NBA 2K25 Summer League. NBA Summer League 2024: Where to watch TV Broadcast? The NBA Summer League is being held in the Cox Pavilion and Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can watch the games live on TV channels of ESPN network including ESPNU, ESPN2, ESPN+, and NBA TV. NBA Summer League 2024 LIVE Streaming: Where to watch? Live stream of the summer league games can also be watched online on Fubo (free trial). You can also subscribe to ESPN Plus to watch the live stream of the NBA Summer League games. NBA Summer League 2024 Full Schedule and Timings of all games (Pacific Time) The NBA Summer League started on July 12, 2024. The schedule for the remaining games is as follows: July 17 Miami Heat vs Dallas Mavericks, 12:00 pm. Sacramento Kings vs New York Knicks, 12:30 pm. Toronto Jazz vs Utah Jazz, 2:00 pm. Boston Celtics vs Charlotte Hornets, 2:30 pm. Memphis Grizzlies vs Orlando Magic, 4:00 pm. Phoenix Suns vs Oklahoma City Thunder, 5:00 pm. Los Angeles Lakers vs Atlanta Hawks, 6:30 pm. Golden State Warriors vs Cleveland Cavaliers, 7:00 pm. Also Read | Paris Olympics 2024: French charity warns athletes of 'air pollution' at Olympic village July 18 Indiana Pacers vs Denver Nuggets, 1:30 pm. Memphis Grizzlies vs New Orleans Pelicans, 3:00 pm. Washington Wizards vs Sacramento Kings, 4:00 pm. Orlando Magic vs Brooklyn Nets, 5:00 pm. Los Angeles Lakers vs Cleveland Cavaliers, 6:00 pm. LA Clippers vs Utah Jazz, 7:00 pm. Minnesota Timberwolves vs Houston Rockets, 8:00 pm. July 19 Milwaukee Bucks vs Phoenix Suns, 1:00 pm. Dallas Mavericks vs Boston Celtics, 1:30 pm. Atlanta Hawks vs Chicago Bulls, 3:00 pm. New York Knicks vs Detroit Pistons, 4:00 pm. Philadelphia 76ers vs San Antonio Spurs, 5:30 pm. Toronto Raptors vs Miami Heat, 6:00 pm. Golden State Warriors vs Oklahoma City Thunder, 7:30 pm. Portland Trail Blazers vs Charlotte Hornets, 8:00 pm. July 20 Seven games TBD July 21 Eight games TBD July 22 One game TBD (With inputs from agencies)

NBA Summer League 2024 LIVE Streaming: Full Schedule, TV Broadcast, Streaming Online | All you need to know

NBA superstar LeBron James has decided to stay on with the Los Angeles Lakers in a two-year, $104 million deal. The deal, reported by news outlet ESPN, also has a player option for 2025-26 season and a no-trade clause as well.

With the deal, LeBron becomes only the second player in the league to have no-trade clause alongside Phoenix Suns' Bradley Beal.

The upcoming season will be 22nd for LeBron in league and the player option gives him flexibility to decided on his future ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/copa-america-2024-brazils-vinicius-jr-out-of-quarterfinal-against-uruguay-know-why-737489">Copa America 2024: Brazil's Vinicius Jr. out of quarterfinal against Uruguay | Know Why</a>

James is considered as one of the greatest players to have played the league. He's the only one to cross 40,000 points and is third all time in free throws, fourth all time in assists and eighth in steals as well as three-points made.

The Lakers superstar also has the most All-NBA (20) and first-team All-NBA (13) selections. It was in last season that he made his record-breaking 20th All-Star team too.

Come postseason, LeBron leads NBA in points scored, fourth in rebounds, first in steals, second in assists, first in free throws made, third in 3-pionters and 10th in blocks.

LeBron's deal, however, puts the Lakers above the second apron salary limit of the league which is 188.931 million. LeBron's agent Rich Paul, who's also the CEO of Klutch Sports, however, is in plan to discuss a possibility of taking a million less to keep the Lakers below the maximum limit of second apron, reported ESPN.

In the upcoming season, LeBron will joining his son Bronny Jr., who was picked at 55th overall in the latest NBA Draft by the Lakers. LeBron and Bronny would be the first father-son duo in the history of the league to play at the same time. Bronny Jr's contract with the Lakers is still in works.

NBA superstar LeBron James has decided to stay on with the Los Angeles Lakers in a two-year, $104 million deal. The deal, reported by news outlet ESPN, also has a player option for 2025-26 season and a no-trade clause as well.

NBA superstar LeBron James has decided to stay on with the Los Angeles Lakers in a two-year, $104 million deal. The deal, reported by news outlet ESPN, also has a player option for 2025-26 season and a no-trade clause as well. With the deal, LeBron becomes only the second player in the league to have no-trade clause alongside Phoenix Suns' Bradley Beal. The upcoming season will be 22nd for LeBron in league and the player option gives him flexibility to decided on his future ahead of the 2025-26 season. Also Read: Copa America 2024: Brazil's Vinicius Jr. out of quarterfinal against Uruguay | Know Why James is considered as one of the greatest players to have played the league. He's the only one to cross 40,000 points and is third all time in free throws, fourth all time in assists and eighth in steals as well as three-points made. The Lakers superstar also has the most All-NBA (20) and first-team All-NBA (13) selections. It was in last season that he made his record-breaking 20th All-Star team too. Come postseason, LeBron leads NBA in points scored, fourth in rebounds, first in steals, second in assists, first in free throws made, third in 3-pionters and 10th in blocks. LeBron's deal, however, puts the Lakers above the second apron salary limit of the league which is 188.931 million. LeBron's agent Rich Paul, who's also the CEO of Klutch Sports, however, is in plan to discuss a possibility of taking a million less to keep the Lakers below the maximum limit of second apron, reported ESPN. In the upcoming season, LeBron will joining his son Bronny Jr., who was picked at 55th overall in the latest NBA Draft by the Lakers. LeBron and Bronny would be the first father-son duo in the history of the league to play at the same time. Bronny Jr's contract with the Lakers is still in works.

LeBron James to stay with Lakers in two-year, $104 million deal: Report

Paul George is joining the Philadelphia 76ers and&nbsp;Klay&nbsp;Thompson&nbsp;is heading to the Dallas Mavericks, multiple US reports said Monday as NBA free-agency got into full swing. Nine-time All-Star George is joining the Sixers on a four-year deal worth $212 million while&nbsp;Thompson, whose exit from the Golden State Warriors was confirmed on Sunday, has agreed terms on a three-year $50 million contract with Dallas, ESPN reported.

The two deals bolster the Sixers' and Mavs' championship aspirations, with George set to form a big three alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, and&nbsp;Thompson&nbsp;linking up with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in Dallas.&nbsp;Thompson&nbsp;is widely regarded as one of the greatest shooters in basketball history, forming a potent back-court partnership alongside Stephen Curry and featuring prominently in the Warriors' NBA championship-winning seasons in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022.&nbsp;

George, 34, has averaged 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals a game over 867 career contests in 14 seasons for Indiana, Oklahoma City and the Los Angeles Clippers, who he left behind last weekend after five seasons.

NBA clubs have a signing moratorium on finalizing all contracts until Saturday, so it's left to media reports to chart the moves that cannot yet become official. George's coming to terms was reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer, The Athletic and ESPN through unnamed sources.

The 76ers have not advanced beyond the Eastern Conference semi-finals since 2001 but might have their best chance with George joining All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey and Cameroonian star center Embiid, the 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player.

Multiple reports on Monday also had Maxey signing a five-year maximum contract extension worth $204 million. Maxey averaged 25.9 points and 6.2 assists for the Sixers last season.

George declined a $48.8 million deal for next season with the Clippers to test his value on the free agency market. The 76ers also reportedly have struck a two-year deal worth just over $10 million with center Andre Drummond, a 12-year NBA veteran and five-seasons league rebounding leader.

Tobias Harris, a forward who played the past six seasons in Philadelphia, is reportedly off to the Detroit Pistons on a two-year deal worth $52 million.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/formula-1/news-austrian-gp-lando-norris-says-he-will-lose-respect-for-max-verstappen-without-apology-736786">Austrian GP: Lando Norris says he will lose respect for Max Verstappen without apology</a>

<h2>- Celtics re-sign Tatum -</h2>

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who sparked the club to the NBA title this season, has agreed to terms on a five-year supermax contract extension worth $315 million, according to TNT and ESPN.

It would be the largest deal in NBA history at an average of $63 million per year. Tatum, who helped the US Olympic team win Tokyo gold and will seek a repeat crown at Paris, averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and a career high 4.9 assists for Boston this season.

The move comes five days after the reigning NBA champions agreed to a deal worth $286.2 million over five years with Jalen Brown. Derrick White has agreed to a four-year deal worth $125.9 million to stay with the Celtics, who extended Jrue Holiday for four years at $135 million three months ago.

Boston has also secured center Kristaps Porzingis, who opted into a $36 million salary for the 2024-25 campaign before a two-year extension worth $60 million begins. The deals mean the Celtics will face limitations on what future deals they can make under tax apron salary limitations.

Center Isaiah Hartenstein, according to multiple reports, will leave New York for a three-year deal worth $87 million with the Oklahoma City Thunder, who also reportedly struck deals with reserves Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe.

Paul George is joining the Philadelphia 76ers and Klay Thompson is heading to the Dallas Mavericks, multiple US reports said Monday as NBA free-agency got into full swing.

Paul George is joining the Philadelphia 76ers and Klay Thompson is heading to the Dallas Mavericks, multiple US reports said Monday as NBA free-agency got into full swing. Nine-time All-Star George is joining the Sixers on a four-year deal worth $212 million while Thompson, whose exit from the Golden State Warriors was confirmed on Sunday, has agreed terms on a three-year $50 million contract with Dallas, ESPN reported. The two deals bolster the Sixers' and Mavs' championship aspirations, with George set to form a big three alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, and Thompson linking up with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in Dallas. Thompson is widely regarded as one of the greatest shooters in basketball history, forming a potent back-court partnership alongside Stephen Curry and featuring prominently in the Warriors' NBA championship-winning seasons in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022. George, 34, has averaged 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals a game over 867 career contests in 14 seasons for Indiana, Oklahoma City and the Los Angeles Clippers, who he left behind last weekend after five seasons. NBA clubs have a signing moratorium on finalizing all contracts until Saturday, so it's left to media reports to chart the moves that cannot yet become official. George's coming to terms was reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer, The Athletic and ESPN through unnamed sources. The 76ers have not advanced beyond the Eastern Conference semi-finals since 2001 but might have their best chance with George joining All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey and Cameroonian star center Embiid, the 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player. Multiple reports on Monday also had Maxey signing a five-year maximum contract extension worth $204 million. Maxey averaged 25.9 points and 6.2 assists for the Sixers last season. George declined a $48.8 million deal for next season with the Clippers to test his value on the free agency market. The 76ers also reportedly have struck a two-year deal worth just over $10 million with center Andre Drummond, a 12-year NBA veteran and five-seasons league rebounding leader. Tobias Harris, a forward who played the past six seasons in Philadelphia, is reportedly off to the Detroit Pistons on a two-year deal worth $52 million. Also read: Austrian GP: Lando Norris says he will lose respect for Max Verstappen without apology - Celtics re-sign Tatum - Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who sparked the club to the NBA title this season, has agreed to terms on a five-year supermax contract extension worth $315 million, according to TNT and ESPN. It would be the largest deal in NBA history at an average of $63 million per year. Tatum, who helped the US Olympic team win Tokyo gold and will seek a repeat crown at Paris, averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and a career high 4.9 assists for Boston this season. The move comes five days after the reigning NBA champions agreed to a deal worth $286.2 million over five years with Jalen Brown. Derrick White has agreed to a four-year deal worth $125.9 million to stay with the Celtics, who extended Jrue Holiday for four years at $135 million three months ago. Boston has also secured center Kristaps Porzingis, who opted into a $36 million salary for the 2024-25 campaign before a two-year extension worth $60 million begins. The deals mean the Celtics will face limitations on what future deals they can make under tax apron salary limitations. Center Isaiah Hartenstein, according to multiple reports, will leave New York for a three-year deal worth $87 million with the Oklahoma City Thunder, who also reportedly struck deals with reserves Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe.

Paul George joining Philadelphia 76ers, Klay Thompson heading to Dallas Mavericks in NBA free agency

Bronny James, the 19-year-old son of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, was selected 55th overall by the Lakers in Thursday's second round of the NBA Draft, setting up the first father-son combination in NBA history.

It's a dream come true for four-time NBA Most Valuable Player James, who said for years he dreamed of playing alongside his son. "In the history of the NBA, there has never been a father and a son that have shared an NBA basketball court," Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said. "That feels like something that could be magical."

LeBron, a 39-year-old Lakers playmaker and four-time NBA champion, will be busy on the US team at the Paris Olympics next month while son Bronny is set to join the Lakers in NBA Summer League games in Las Vegas.

LeBron James posted photos on Instagram with the one-word caption "LEGACY!!!!!!" and images of himself with Bronny as a child, of both of them dunking and another with father and son side-by-side in Lakers jerseys.

Bronny James, a guard for the University of Southern California, averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Trojans last season after a stellar high school career and also impressed scouts at an NBA combine.

At a practice session last July, USC freshman James collapsed after suffering cardiac arrest caused by a congenital heart defect. The teenager was released from the hospital a few days later and doctors approved him playing both in US college basketball and, last month, in the NBA.

"Congratulations to Bronny James on being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers!" Lakers legend Magic Johnson said. "This is a historic moment... Watching Bronny suit up for the @Lakers during Summer League in Vegas will be must-see TV!"

The younger James is seen as a top defensive prospect with elite athletic skills and strong instincts for the game but might need time to develop fully as an NBA player.

"We're excited to see this story unfold," said Pelinka, who said new Lakers coach JJ Redick is already planning how to make Bronny better. "

It's an honor for us to add him to our program," Pelinka said. "Coach Redick is already excited about putting a development plan around him to increase his basketball skills and turn him into a player we think can impact and help this franchise."

LeBron James has until Saturday to opt into the final year of his Lakers contract or become a free agent, which could set up a new Lakers deal. The status gave him options should Bronny have ended up elsewhere in the NBA.

"We know and have to respect that LeBron has a decision about his opt out and I'm sure he and his family will decide what they are going to do there," Pelinka said. "If it worked out that he was on our team next season, history could be made -- and NBA history should be made in a Lakers uniform."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tour-de-france-favourite-tadej-pogacar-fully-recovered-from-covid-735767">Tour de France favourite Tadej Pogacar 'fully recovered' from Covid</a>

<h2>- High character -</h2>

The Lakers owned the fourth-to-last NBA Draft selection and there was concern other clubs might use a higher pick on James, to see if they could swing a trade deal with the Lakers for James or the pick.

ESPN reported agent Rich Paul warned clubs against picking Bronny, saying he would go to Australia before dealing with some teams.

The Phoenix Suns, who didn't own a second-round pick due to a free agency tampering violation, were the only team other than the Lakers to have a workout with Bronny James ahead of the draft.

Pelinka said character and work ethic were more important factors than ancestry for the Lakers. "Bronny is first and foremost a person of high character and second he's a young man that works incredibly hard and those are the qualities we look for in drafting players and adding to our developmental core of the Lakers," Pelinka said.

"In terms of his work ethic, I think we've all seen that lived out too. He's not a person that has ever taken short cuts, or expected or been entitled about basketball opportunities. He has worked for everything he has gotten, including being selected today at 55."

Bronny James, the 19-year-old son of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, was selected 55th overall by the Lakers in Thursday's second round of the NBA Draft, setting up the first father-son combination in NBA history.

Bronny James, the 19-year-old son of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, was selected 55th overall by the Lakers in Thursday's second round of the NBA Draft, setting up the first father-son combination in NBA history. It's a dream come true for four-time NBA Most Valuable Player James, who said for years he dreamed of playing alongside his son. "In the history of the NBA, there has never been a father and a son that have shared an NBA basketball court," Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said. "That feels like something that could be magical." LeBron, a 39-year-old Lakers playmaker and four-time NBA champion, will be busy on the US team at the Paris Olympics next month while son Bronny is set to join the Lakers in NBA Summer League games in Las Vegas. LeBron James posted photos on Instagram with the one-word caption "LEGACY!!!!!!" and images of himself with Bronny as a child, of both of them dunking and another with father and son side-by-side in Lakers jerseys. Bronny James, a guard for the University of Southern California, averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Trojans last season after a stellar high school career and also impressed scouts at an NBA combine. At a practice session last July, USC freshman James collapsed after suffering cardiac arrest caused by a congenital heart defect. The teenager was released from the hospital a few days later and doctors approved him playing both in US college basketball and, last month, in the NBA. "Congratulations to Bronny James on being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers!" Lakers legend Magic Johnson said. "This is a historic moment... Watching Bronny suit up for the @Lakers during Summer League in Vegas will be must-see TV!" The younger James is seen as a top defensive prospect with elite athletic skills and strong instincts for the game but might need time to develop fully as an NBA player. "We're excited to see this story unfold," said Pelinka, who said new Lakers coach JJ Redick is already planning how to make Bronny better. " It's an honor for us to add him to our program," Pelinka said. "Coach Redick is already excited about putting a development plan around him to increase his basketball skills and turn him into a player we think can impact and help this franchise." LeBron James has until Saturday to opt into the final year of his Lakers contract or become a free agent, which could set up a new Lakers deal. The status gave him options should Bronny have ended up elsewhere in the NBA. "We know and have to respect that LeBron has a decision about his opt out and I'm sure he and his family will decide what they are going to do there," Pelinka said. "If it worked out that he was on our team next season, history could be made -- and NBA history should be made in a Lakers uniform." Also read: Tour de France favourite Tadej Pogacar 'fully recovered' from Covid - High character - The Lakers owned the fourth-to-last NBA Draft selection and there was concern other clubs might use a higher pick on James, to see if they could swing a trade deal with the Lakers for James or the pick. ESPN reported agent Rich Paul warned clubs against picking Bronny, saying he would go to Australia before dealing with some teams. The Phoenix Suns, who didn't own a second-round pick due to a free agency tampering violation, were the only team other than the Lakers to have a workout with Bronny James ahead of the draft. Pelinka said character and work ethic were more important factors than ancestry for the Lakers. "Bronny is first and foremost a person of high character and second he's a young man that works incredibly hard and those are the qualities we look for in drafting players and adding to our developmental core of the Lakers," Pelinka said. "In terms of his work ethic, I think we've all seen that lived out too. He's not a person that has ever taken short cuts, or expected or been entitled about basketball opportunities. He has worked for everything he has gotten, including being selected today at 55."

LeBron James' teen son Bronny picked by LA Lakers in NBA Draft

Boston Celtics' Jason Tatum now has most career playoffs points for a player aged 26 or under. Tatum broke former NBA player Kobe Bryant's record to achieve the milestone in Game 5 of 2024 NBA Finals against Dallas Mavericks on Monday (June 17).

Tatum now has 2,711 points in 113 playoff appearances while Kobe had 2,694 points in 119 games before the age of 26. Tatum scored 31 points Boston's record 18th title in Game 5 to go past Bryant.

Third on the list of most career playoff points at 26 or younger is LA Lakers star LeBron James with 2,578 in 92 games.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba/news-_024-nba-finals-payton-pritchard-makes-another-wild-buzzer-beater-in-title-winning-game-5---watch-732863">2024 NBA Finals: Payton Pritchard makes another wild buzzer-beater in title winning Game 5 - WATCH</a>

Tatum, a former Round 1 pick in 2017 NBA Draft, has been in conference finals five times in his seven pro seasons which include two trips to NBA Finals as well.

The Boston forward also holds are record for most points in Game 7 of a series - scoring 51 in last season's Eastern Conference Semifinals against Philadelphia 76ers.

Tatum was on cloud nine after winning the title and said: “It's a surreal feeling. Still has not really kicked in yet. Just trying, I guess, to enjoy the moment. I kept saying, 'Wow.'

“These last seven years have been a roller coaster, up and down. I had to listen to all the s*** that people said about me, and tonight, it was worth it. Oh, my God,” he added.

The game started with Boston scoring 28 points against Dallas' 18. The Celtics upped the ante in the second quarter as they dropped 39 points against the Mavs' 28.&nbsp;

While Mavs outscored Boston 21-19 in 3Q and 21-20 in 4Q, Celtics went on to win the game and the title with a difference of 18 points and a scoreline of 106-88.

Boston were favourites to sweep the series after winning first three games on the trot but the Mavs halt their streak with a win in Game 4 before Boston completed an iconic win in Game 5 at home court.

Boston Celtics' Jason Tatum now has most career playoffs points for a player aged 26 or under. Tatum broke former NBA player Kobe Bryant's record to achieve the milestone in Game 5 of 2024 NBA Finals against Dallas Mavericks on Monday (June 17).

Boston Celtics' Jason Tatum now has most career playoffs points for a player aged 26 or under. Tatum broke former NBA player Kobe Bryant's record to achieve the milestone in Game 5 of 2024 NBA Finals against Dallas Mavericks on Monday (June 17). Tatum now has 2,711 points in 113 playoff appearances while Kobe had 2,694 points in 119 games before the age of 26. Tatum scored 31 points Boston's record 18th title in Game 5 to go past Bryant. Third on the list of most career playoff points at 26 or younger is LA Lakers star LeBron James with 2,578 in 92 games. Also Read: 2024 NBA Finals: Payton Pritchard makes another wild buzzer-beater in title winning Game 5 - WATCH Tatum, a former Round 1 pick in 2017 NBA Draft, has been in conference finals five times in his seven pro seasons which include two trips to NBA Finals as well. The Boston forward also holds are record for most points in Game 7 of a series - scoring 51 in last season's Eastern Conference Semifinals against Philadelphia 76ers. Tatum was on cloud nine after winning the title and said: “It's a surreal feeling. Still has not really kicked in yet. Just trying, I guess, to enjoy the moment. I kept saying, 'Wow.' “These last seven years have been a roller coaster, up and down. I had to listen to all the s*** that people said about me, and tonight, it was worth it. Oh, my God,” he added. The game started with Boston scoring 28 points against Dallas' 18. The Celtics upped the ante in the second quarter as they dropped 39 points against the Mavs' 28. While Mavs outscored Boston 21-19 in 3Q and 21-20 in 4Q, Celtics went on to win the game and the title with a difference of 18 points and a scoreline of 106-88. Boston were favourites to sweep the series after winning first three games on the trot but the Mavs halt their streak with a win in Game 4 before Boston completed an iconic win in Game 5 at home court.

2024 NBA Finals: Jason Tatum breaks Kobe Bryant's playoff record in Boston Celtics' 18th title win

Boston Celtics' Payton Pritchard scored another wild buzzer-beater in the title-winning game 5 of NBA Finals against Dallas Mavericks on Monday (June 17) at TD Garden, Boston (USA).

The shot came with only four second left on the clock for halftime and the Celtics already leading by 18 points. The Mavs star Luka Doncic missed a free throw and Boston's Al Horford grabbed the ball.

Horford then made an outlet pass to Pritchard who had just checked in in the game. He took off with the ball before launching it towards the ring from Boston's side of the half-court. Have a look at the video below:

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PAYTON MF PRITCHARD 🔥 (via <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBA</a>) <a href="https://t.co/3wVCCicEIG">pic.twitter.com/3wVCCicEIG</a>
— Overtime (@overtime) <a href="https://twitter.com/overtime/status/1802879430886568117?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba/news-_024-nba-finals-we-cant-play-together-jaylen-brown-on-jason-tatum-after-celtics-win-record-18th-title-732841">2024 NBA Finals: 'We can't play together...,' Jaylen Brown on Jason Tatum after Celtics win record 18th title</a>

As per ESPN Stats, the shot was the longest in history of NBA Finals in last 25 years as Celtics went into the half-time with a commanding lead of 21 points.

The advantage eventually proved too much for the Mavs to overcome despite outscoring the Celtics in both quarters after the half-time.

The game started with Boston scoring 28 points against Dallas' 18. The Celtics upped the ante in the second quarter as they dropped 39 points against the Mavs' 28.&nbsp;

While Mavs outscored Boston 21-19 in 3Q and 21-20 in 4Q, Celtics went on to win the game and the title with a difference of 18 points and a scoreline of 106-88.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla also credited his players for the dominating title win which saw them go past LA Lakers for most NBA titles in history.

“It really starts with them,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said. “You can't have a philosophy or a way of playing if you don't have a group of guys that are willing to buy into it and be disciplined. Quite honestly, this group of guys has been through so much in the league, they know what it takes.”

Boston Celtics' Payton Pritchard scored another wild buzzer-beater in the title-winning game 5 of NBA Finals against Dallas Mavericks on Monday (June 17) at TD Garden, Boston (USA).

Boston Celtics' Payton Pritchard scored another wild buzzer-beater in the title-winning game 5 of NBA Finals against Dallas Mavericks on Monday (June 17) at TD Garden, Boston (USA). The shot came with only four second left on the clock for halftime and the Celtics already leading by 18 points. The Mavs star Luka Doncic missed a free throw and Boston's Al Horford grabbed the ball. Horford then made an outlet pass to Pritchard who had just checked in in the game. He took off with the ball before launching it towards the ring from Boston's side of the half-court. Have a look at the video below: PAYTON MF PRITCHARD 🔥 (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/3wVCCicEIG — Overtime (@overtime) June 18, 2024 × Also Read: 2024 NBA Finals: 'We can't play together...,' Jaylen Brown on Jason Tatum after Celtics win record 18th title As per ESPN Stats, the shot was the longest in history of NBA Finals in last 25 years as Celtics went into the half-time with a commanding lead of 21 points. The advantage eventually proved too much for the Mavs to overcome despite outscoring the Celtics in both quarters after the half-time. The game started with Boston scoring 28 points against Dallas' 18. The Celtics upped the ante in the second quarter as they dropped 39 points against the Mavs' 28. While Mavs outscored Boston 21-19 in 3Q and 21-20 in 4Q, Celtics went on to win the game and the title with a difference of 18 points and a scoreline of 106-88. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla also credited his players for the dominating title win which saw them go past LA Lakers for most NBA titles in history. “It really starts with them,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said. “You can't have a philosophy or a way of playing if you don't have a group of guys that are willing to buy into it and be disciplined. Quite honestly, this group of guys has been through so much in the league, they know what it takes.”

2024 NBA Finals: Payton Pritchard makes another wild buzzer-beater in title-winning Game 5 - WATCH

The Boston Celtics claimed a record-breaking 18th NBA championship after wrapping up a 4-1 series win over the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA finals. This was Celtics' first win in 16 years and it puts them one clear of the Perennial rivals Los Angeles Lakers for the most titles in NBA history.

NBA Finals: Celtics win record-breaking 18th title

Boston Celtics clinched a record-breaking 18th NBA Championship on Monday (June 17) after they beat the Dallas Mavericks 4-1 in the best-of-seven finals. The win now sees them stand on top with the most titles in the NBA history, having leapfrogged arch-rivals Los Angeles Lakers. Jayson Tatum was the hero of the hour for Celtics having produced a 31-point display in the fifth round of finals to lead his side to the title. The cruising win came just four days after the Mavericks&nbsp;won in a 38-point drubbing in game four.

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BANNER 18 🏆 <a href="https://t.co/cp0FnHez57">pic.twitter.com/cp0FnHez57</a>
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<h2>Celtics clinch record-breaking title</h2>

Having won the opening three games in the final, the Celtics suffered a setback on Friday with the Mavericks winning to set up an improbable comeback. However, those aspirations were quickly put to rest by Tatum and Co. as they won the fifth game with a dominant display. Led by the 26-year-old, the Celtics beat the Mavericks 106-88 to clinch the historic championship. He amassed 31 points in the final and walked away with the MVP of the match at a full-house TD Garden.

<h3>Finals results</h3>

Game 1: Boston Celtics 107-89 Dallas Mavericks

Game 2: Boston Celtics 105-98 Dallas Mavericks

Game 3: Boston Celtics 106-99 Dallas Mavericks

Game 4: Dallas Mavericks 122-84 Boston Celtics

Game 5: Boston Celtics 106-88 Dallas Mavericks

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/euro-2024-axe-wielding-man-ahead-netherlands-vs-poland-game-charged-with-attempted-manslaughter-732623">Euro 2024: Axe-wielding man ahead of Netherlands vs Poland game charged with attempted manslaughter</a>

The win also saw Celtics end their 16-year drought for an NBA title having last won in 2008 when they got the better of arch-rivals Los Angeles Lakers in the final. With the latest triumph, they are on top of the pile with most NBA titles&nbsp;having overtaken the Lakers who have 17 titles. This was the Celtics’ 23rd appearance in the final of the NBA and have lost on just five occasions making them one of the most successful franchises when it comes to the summit clashes.

The Celtics are already the record champions from the Eastern Conference of the NBA, adding to their illustrious history. They won eight consecutive titles from 1959 to 1966 while losing just five finals in the history of the NBA. Their most recent defeat in the finals came in 2022.

Boston Celtics clinched a record-breaking 18th NBA Championship on Monday (June 17) after they beat the Dallas Mavericks 4-1 in the best-of-seven finals. The win now sees them stand on top with the most titles in the NBA history, having leapfrogged arch-rivals Los Angeles Lakers.

Boston Celtics clinched a record-breaking 18th NBA Championship on Monday (June 17) after they beat the Dallas Mavericks 4-1 in the best-of-seven finals. The win now sees them stand on top with the most titles in the NBA history, having leapfrogged arch-rivals Los Angeles Lakers. Jayson Tatum was the hero of the hour for Celtics having produced a 31-point display in the fifth round of finals to lead his side to the title. The cruising win came just four days after the Mavericks won in a 38-point drubbing in game four. BANNER 18 🏆 pic.twitter.com/cp0FnHez57 — Boston Celtics (@celtics) June 18, 2024 × Celtics clinch record-breaking title Having won the opening three games in the final, the Celtics suffered a setback on Friday with the Mavericks winning to set up an improbable comeback. However, those aspirations were quickly put to rest by Tatum and Co. as they won the fifth game with a dominant display. Led by the 26-year-old, the Celtics beat the Mavericks 106-88 to clinch the historic championship. He amassed 31 points in the final and walked away with the MVP of the match at a full-house TD Garden. Finals results Game 1: Boston Celtics 107-89 Dallas Mavericks Game 2: Boston Celtics 105-98 Dallas Mavericks Game 3: Boston Celtics 106-99 Dallas Mavericks Game 4: Dallas Mavericks 122-84 Boston Celtics Game 5: Boston Celtics 106-88 Dallas Mavericks ALSO READ | Euro 2024: Axe-wielding man ahead of Netherlands vs Poland game charged with attempted manslaughter The win also saw Celtics end their 16-year drought for an NBA title having last won in 2008 when they got the better of arch-rivals Los Angeles Lakers in the final. With the latest triumph, they are on top of the pile with most NBA titles having overtaken the Lakers who have 17 titles. This was the Celtics’ 23rd appearance in the final of the NBA and have lost on just five occasions making them one of the most successful franchises when it comes to the summit clashes. The Celtics are already the record champions from the Eastern Conference of the NBA, adding to their illustrious history. They won eight consecutive titles from 1959 to 1966 while losing just five finals in the history of the NBA. Their most recent defeat in the finals came in 2022.

Jayson Tatum leads Boston Celtics to clinch record-breaking 18th NBA title after 4-1 win over Dallas Mavericks

Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis lost his last-minute fitness battle Wednesday and was ruled out for game three of the NBA Finals in Dallas with what the team has called a "rare" lower left leg injury. The Latvian power forward had insisted he would try to play despite being diagnosed with a "torn medial retinaculum allowing dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon in his left leg" after game two on Sunday.

The 28-year-old had returned from a month-long injury layoff with a right calf strain and helped the Celtics seize a 2-0 lead against his former Mavericks team in the best-of-seven championship series. "The medical team and the staff decided it wasn't what's best for him to go tonight," Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said less than two hours before tip-off.

Porzingis's availability for the rest of the series remains in question. "It'll just be a day to day thing," Mazzulla said. "We’ll see how he is tomorrow and the next day."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/basketball-great-jerry-west-who-inspired-nba-logo-dead-at-86-731181">Basketball great Jerry West who inspired NBA logo, dead at 86</a>

His absence will be a blow, but after he was injured in game four of the first-round victory over the Miami Heat the Celtics went on to beat Cleveland in five games and sweep the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals.

"Obviously you saw the first two games, his rim protection, his ability to space the floor," Mazzulla said of the key contributions Porzingis makes. "The guys ready to step in can do different things and have a positive impact," Mazzulla said.

Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis lost his last-minute fitness battle Wednesday and was ruled out for game three of the NBA Finals in Dallas with what the team has called a "rare" lower left leg injury.

Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis lost his last-minute fitness battle Wednesday and was ruled out for game three of the NBA Finals in Dallas with what the team has called a "rare" lower left leg injury. The Latvian power forward had insisted he would try to play despite being diagnosed with a "torn medial retinaculum allowing dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon in his left leg" after game two on Sunday. The 28-year-old had returned from a month-long injury layoff with a right calf strain and helped the Celtics seize a 2-0 lead against his former Mavericks team in the best-of-seven championship series. "The medical team and the staff decided it wasn't what's best for him to go tonight," Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said less than two hours before tip-off. Porzingis's availability for the rest of the series remains in question. "It'll just be a day to day thing," Mazzulla said. "We’ll see how he is tomorrow and the next day." Also read: Basketball great Jerry West who inspired NBA logo, dead at 86 His absence will be a blow, but after he was injured in game four of the first-round victory over the Miami Heat the Celtics went on to beat Cleveland in five games and sweep the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals. "Obviously you saw the first two games, his rim protection, his ability to space the floor," Mazzulla said of the key contributions Porzingis makes. "The guys ready to step in can do different things and have a positive impact," Mazzulla said.

Boston Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis ruled out for NBA Finals game 3

Jerry West, an iconic 1960s star guard for the Los Angeles Lakers who inspired the NBA logo, died Wednesday (Jun 12) at age 86, the Los Angeles Clippers announced.

Jerry West, an iconic 1960s star guard for the Los Angeles Lakers who inspired the NBA logo, died Wednesday (Jun 12) at age 86, the Los Angeles Clippers announced. West played for the Lakers from 1960 through 1974, winning his only NBA title in 1972, and was co-captain on the 1960 Rome Olympic US basketball gold medal squad. In later years, West served as an executive on several NBA clubs, most recently the Clippers, his knowledge and guidance contributing to eight championship runs, six by the Lakers. "Jerry West, the personification of basketball excellence and a friend to all who knew him, passed away peacefully this morning at the age of 86," the Clippers announced. "His wife, Karen, was by his side." The league plans to have a pre-game tribute to West before Wednesday's third game of this year's NBA Finals. With impressive speed and quickness and a deft shooting touch, West was nicknamed "Mr. Clutch" for his skilled shotmaking under pressure. "Jerry West was a basketball genius and a defining figure in our league for more than 60 years," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said. "He distinguished himself not only as an NBA champion and an All-Star in all 14 of his playing seasons but also as a consummate competitor who embraced the biggest moments." In the 1969 NBA Finals against the arch-rival Boston Celtics, he received the Most Valuable Player award even though the Celtics beat the Lakers for the title. West was an NBA All-Star in all 14 of his league seasons and the NBA scoring champion in 1970. His jersey number, 44, was retired by the Lakers. West was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980 and in October he will be enshrined again as a contributor for his work as an executive, becoming the first person ever inducted as both a player and a contributor. Also read | NBA nears historic $76 billion media rights deal 'An indelible figure' In 1969, the NBA created its current logo, which was the silhouette of West dribbling a basketball, an image inspired by a photograph of West taken during a game. "He was the league's first Finals MVP and made rising to the occasion his signature quality," Silver said. "Jerry's four decades with the Lakers also included a successful stint as a head coach and a remarkable run in the front office that cemented his reputation as one of the greatest executives in sports history. "He helped build eight championship teams during his tenure in the NBA, a legacy of achievement that mirrors his on-court excellence." For his career, West averaged 27.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists a game. West, who coached the Lakers from 1976 through 1979, would capture eight titles as an NBA executive, five with the Lakers in the 1980s "Showtime" era with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He also was an executive for NBA champions with the Lakers in 2000 and Golden State in 2015 and 2017, before leaving to join the Clippers. Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers paid tribute to West for his iconic place in LA sports, posting on social media: "The Dodgers mourn the passing of NBA Hall of Famer and Lakers legend Jerry West, an indelible figure on the Los Angeles sports landscape for more than 60 years." In many ways, he was a lasting symbol of the NBA's early days and many of its most glorious memories. "I valued my friendship with Jerry and the knowledge he shared with me over many years about basketball and life," Silver said. "On behalf of the NBA, we send our deepest condolences to Jerry's wife, Karen, his family and his many friends in the NBA community."

Basketball great Jerry West who inspired NBA logo, dead at 86

<h2 class="MsoNormal">Major networks compete for coveted NBA broadcast rights<o:p></o:p></h2>

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is nearing a historic broadcast rights agreement with Comcast-owned NBC, Disney's ESPN, and Amazon.com. The deal, which may produce $76 billion in revenue over 11 years, emphasises the importance of live sports content in an era of diminishing traditional television viewing.<o:p></o:p>

<h2 class="MsoNormal">NBC's return to NBA coverage<o:p></o:p></h2>

Under the proposed agreement, NBC would pay an average of $2.5 billion yearly to broadcast around 100 NBA games each season. Notably, around half of these games would be exclusive to Comcast's Peacock streaming service, signalling NBC's significant return to NBA coverage after a long absence. This decision is consistent with NBC's strategy of expanding its streaming capabilities in response to the continuous trend away from traditional cable TV.<o:p></o:p>

<h2 class="MsoNormal">Amazon's expansion into sports broadcasting<o:p></o:p></h2>

Amazon.com is also planning a significant investment in NBA content, with an annual package worth $1.8 billion. This package would contain regular-season and postseason games, as well as a portion of the conference finals that would be distributed among the network partners. This expansion reflects Amazon's rising ambition in the live sports domain, as it seeks to draw in more Prime Video members.<o:p></o:p>

<h2 class="MsoNormal">Disney's enhanced role with increased payments<o:p></o:p></h2>

Disney's payments through its ESPN network will increase dramatically under the new agreement, from $1.5 billion to an average of $2.6 billion each year. Despite paying more, ESPN will receive fewer games than under the existing contract but will retain exclusive rights to broadcast the NBA Finals. The agreement also allows ESPN to air games on its future direct-to-consumer streaming service, which is expected to start in 2025 and includes WNBA telecast rights.<o:p></o:p>

<h2 class="MsoNormal">Warner Bros Discovery left out of the initial agreement<o:p></o:p></h2>

Warner Bros Discovery, whose Turner Sports network has been broadcasting NBA games for nearly four decades, is noticeably absent from the first conditions. Analysts believe Warner Bros Discovery's large debt may limit its ability to secure a new NBA package. However, the Wall Street Journal reports that the corporation may still match a competing offer or that the NBA may construct a new package specifically for them, but these options appear limited at this time.<o:p></o:p>

<h2 class="MsoNormal">Industry responses and future implications<o:p></o:p></h2>

ESPN and Comcast have declined to comment on the allegations, while other stakeholders, including the NBA, have yet to reply to demands for comment. If completed, the purchase has the potential to change the sports broadcasting market, showing the lasting attractiveness of live sports content in attracting devoted consumers notwithstanding the rise of streaming services and cord-cutting tendencies.<o:p></o:p>

This proposed transaction highlights the fierce battle among major media organisations for premium sports rights, which remain a vital driver of audience engagement and subscription growth in an increasingly fragmented media landscape.<o:p></o:p>

(With inputs from Agencies)<o:p></o:p>

Major networks compete for coveted NBA broadcast rights The National Basketball Association (NBA) is nearing a historic broadcast rights agreement with Comcast-owned NBC, Disney's ESPN, and Amazon.

Major networks compete for coveted NBA broadcast rights The National Basketball Association (NBA) is nearing a historic broadcast rights agreement with Comcast-owned NBC, Disney's ESPN, and Amazon.com. The deal, which may produce $76 billion in revenue over 11 years, emphasises the importance of live sports content in an era of diminishing traditional television viewing. NBC's return to NBA coverage Under the proposed agreement, NBC would pay an average of $2.5 billion yearly to broadcast around 100 NBA games each season. Notably, around half of these games would be exclusive to Comcast's Peacock streaming service, signalling NBC's significant return to NBA coverage after a long absence. This decision is consistent with NBC's strategy of expanding its streaming capabilities in response to the continuous trend away from traditional cable TV. Amazon's expansion into sports broadcasting Amazon.com is also planning a significant investment in NBA content, with an annual package worth $1.8 billion. This package would contain regular-season and postseason games, as well as a portion of the conference finals that would be distributed among the network partners. This expansion reflects Amazon's rising ambition in the live sports domain, as it seeks to draw in more Prime Video members. Disney's enhanced role with increased payments Disney's payments through its ESPN network will increase dramatically under the new agreement, from $1.5 billion to an average of $2.6 billion each year. Despite paying more, ESPN will receive fewer games than under the existing contract but will retain exclusive rights to broadcast the NBA Finals. The agreement also allows ESPN to air games on its future direct-to-consumer streaming service, which is expected to start in 2025 and includes WNBA telecast rights. Warner Bros Discovery left out of the initial agreement Warner Bros Discovery, whose Turner Sports network has been broadcasting NBA games for nearly four decades, is noticeably absent from the first conditions. Analysts believe Warner Bros Discovery's large debt may limit its ability to secure a new NBA package. However, the Wall Street Journal reports that the corporation may still match a competing offer or that the NBA may construct a new package specifically for them, but these options appear limited at this time. Industry responses and future implications ESPN and Comcast have declined to comment on the allegations, while other stakeholders, including the NBA, have yet to reply to demands for comment. If completed, the purchase has the potential to change the sports broadcasting market, showing the lasting attractiveness of live sports content in attracting devoted consumers notwithstanding the rise of streaming services and cord-cutting tendencies. This proposed transaction highlights the fierce battle among major media organisations for premium sports rights, which remain a vital driver of audience engagement and subscription growth in an increasingly fragmented media landscape. (With inputs from Agencies)

NBA nears historic $76 billion media rights deal

Latvian forward Kristaps Porzingis returns from a right calf strain for the Boston Celtics in Thursday's (Jun 6) opening game of the NBA Finals against his former club, the Dallas Mavericks.

Latvian forward Kristaps Porzingis returns from a right calf strain for the Boston Celtics in Thursday's (Jun 6) opening game of the NBA Finals against his former club, the Dallas Mavericks. The 7-foot-2 (2.18m) standout averaged 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds a game for the Celtics this season but has missed 10 games since suffering the injury against Miami on April 29 in the first round of the playoffs. "It was a long road to get to this point for me, but feeling good," Porzingis said. "Burns inside of me, not being able to be out there, but tomorrow finally I'll get the chance and I'm excited. "There's nothing like game minutes and experience that I'm going to get. It'll be tough to jump into the finals like this. I did everything I could to prepare for it. We'll see." With the Celtics ignited by stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown and Dallas sparked by star guard Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, Porzingis could be the x-factor to lifting a championship trophy. "The situation was not ideal, having to miss all this time and now having to jump back in at the most important moment of the season," Porzingis said. "I have to go out there and just be myself, give what I can to the team and expect nothing. We have to go out there and earn it and we will do that individually and as a group. "Going to be special, goosebumps for sure. I don't need to overthink. Just go out there and hoop." Porzingis played for the Mavericks from 2019 to February 2021 before being traded to Washington, ending a stay that never worked for player or team. "Not all of it was not good," said Porzingis. "Overall I think it didn't work for both sides. It wasn't perfect. "There were some rumors there was something in the locker room. It was never like that. It wasn't just perfect for us playing together. It didn't work out. We moved on. "There's no ill will from their side, for sure from my side. I don't think there should be." Doncic said the combination just didn't work with Porzingis in Dallas. "I don't really know why it didn't work out. We were both still really young," he said. "We tried to make it work but it just didn't work so we were done." Mavericks coach Jason Kidd had no ill will for Porzingis. "I thought it was going well in the sense of our defense, his ability to block shots and rebounds, and on offense we looked to post him up a little more. Both worked. He has the skill set to do both," Kidd said. "For the short period I had him, I really enjoyed KP, did everything we asked. In the business of basketball, there was a pivot and things changed." Kidd has watched Porzingis improve since joining the Celtics this season. "When you talk about a big who can put the ball on the floor and score, and look at the defensive end -- he doesn't get recognized for how he can change shots or (be) a shot-blocker -- in Boston, he has done an incredible job of doing both," Kidd said. "He plays his role." Apparent sex noises interrupt Doncic's PC following Mavericks vs Thunder game - Watch 'Super-jumpy' Mavs Porzingis has learned from eight NBA seasons on four clubs, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. "All he cares about is winning and he has used his experiences around the league," Mazzulla said. "He has seen a lot. He has seen tough times. He knows what the league is all about." Over the next two weeks, that will be about winning the best-of-seven series. "Everybody has one goal in mind and everybody is doing their part achieving that goal," Porzingis said. "That's the special part about this group." Porzingis also has insight into the challenge the Mavericks will bring, notably on inside lobs to the hoop. "They are special and we have to be mindful of that," Porzingis said. "Those guys are super-athletic and super-jumpy. We'll have our hands full with them."

NBA Finals: Boost for Celtics as Porzingis returns to action against Mavericks

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