Expert basketball coverage from around the world
Lakers guards Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard were fined following a verbal exchange with referees after Los Angeles' Game 4 loss to Houston. The incident occurred on the court immediately after the Rockets' 115-96 win.
The Thunder enter Game 4 with a chance to complete a series sweep of the Suns. Oklahoma City will look to finish the matchup on the road and advance with another postseason win.
The Magic battled through a poor shooting night to claim Game 4 and move the No. 1 seed Pistons to the edge of elimination. Despite making just 32.6% of their shots, Orlando found a way to grind out a crucial postseason win.
Denver will be without Aaron Gordon for Game 5 as he continues to manage left hamstring tightness. The absence removes a key frontcourt contributor from the Nuggets' rotation in a pivotal playoff matchup.
NCAA president Charlie Baker said he is “pretty optimistic” that a proposed age-based eligibility rule will be approved. He also indicated the expected implementation would not apply retroactively to athletes who graduated or exhausted their eligibility in the 2025-26 season.
Mavericks standout Cooper Flagg has been named Rookie of the Year after a landmark first season. The teenage rookie edged out Kon Knueppel in a tight race for the award.
Pat Riley made clear he has no plans to retire or alter his approach to leading the Miami Heat. His comments come after Miami missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
Dylan Mingo, a five-star senior guard in the 2026 class, has committed to Baylor. The decision comes after Mingo had previously been committed to North Carolina.
Arizona big man Motiejus Krivas will return to the Wildcats for the 2026-27 season after considering the draft. Krivas averaged 10.4 points and 8.2 rebounds during Arizona’s Final Four run last season.
Florida has moved to the top of the men’s way-too-early Top 25 following key roster movement tied to the transfer portal and NBA draft deadlines. Louisville and Indiana have also joined the rankings as the early picture for next season begins to take shape.
Five-star forward Miikka Muurinen has committed to Arkansas, strengthening John Calipari’s incoming group. The addition gives the Razorbacks the No. 1 recruiting class in the country.
The opening round of the 2026 NBA playoffs has offered a range of matchups, storylines and pressure points across the bracket. Beyond the series rankings, key questions remain around team adjustments and the postseason performances of players approaching free agency.
The late-game tactic of fouling while leading by three continues to divide opinions across the NBA. A detailed review of years of film and conversations with league personnel explores whether the strategy truly helps teams close out games.
Houston kept its playoff hopes alive with a 115-96 victory over the Lakers in Game 4 on Sunday night. The Rockets credited Alperen Sengun’s message at morning shootaround with helping fuel their belief that a series comeback was still possible.
LeBron James accepted blame after the Lakers fell 115-96 to the Rockets in Game 4 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series. James finished with 10 points and eight turnovers in the blowout defeat.
The Rockets enter Game 4 against the Lakers needing a win to keep their series hopes alive. The matchup carries major stakes as Houston looks to extend the contest and avoid falling out of the postseason.
Nikola Jokic and Julius Randle were fined for their roles in an altercation at the end of Game 4 between the Nuggets and Timberwolves. Neither player was suspended following the incident.
The Raptors edged the Cavaliers in Game 4 while enduring one of the coldest perimeter shooting performances ever seen in a playoff victory. Toronto shot just 13.3 percent from 3-point range, the lowest mark in NBA postseason history by a winning team.
The Philadelphia 76ers enter Game 4 looking to even their playoff series against the Boston Celtics. With the matchup shifting into a pivotal stage, both teams face another important test in a tightly contested postseason series.
Joel Embiid is back in the Philadelphia 76ers’ lineup for Game 4 against the Boston Celtics. His return comes just two and a half weeks after he underwent an emergency appendectomy.
Victor Wembanyama delivered a dominant all-around performance in his return from a concussion, leading San Antonio past Portland. The Spurs closed strong to take a 3-1 lead in the series.
Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant is expected to miss Game 4 of the Western Conference quarterfinals against the Los Angeles Lakers. Further testing revealed a bone bruise in his sprained left ankle.
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama has cleared the NBA’s concussion protocol and is set to play in Game 4 against the Trail Blazers. His return gives San Antonio its leading young centerpiece back in the lineup for a pivotal postseason matchup.
Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards has been diagnosed with a bone bruise and hyperextension in his left knee. The injury is expected to sideline him for multiple weeks, though he avoided a ligament tear.
Jaden McDaniels’ late layup led to a skirmish with Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets during Minnesota’s 112-96 Game 4 win over Denver. The incident resulted in ejections as the Timberwolves moved ahead 3-1 in the series.
Karl-Anthony Towns delivered his first career playoff triple-double as the Knicks defeated the Hawks 114-98 in Game 4. The win brought the series back level.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a career playoff-high 42 points in Game 3 after drawing criticism from Dillon Brooks following the previous matchup. His performance pushed the Thunder to the brink of a series sweep over the Suns.
Devin Booker briefly exited Saturday’s Game 3 after hurting his left ankle on a play involving Oklahoma City’s Lu Dort. The Suns guard said afterward he was unsure whether Dort intentionally stuck his foot out.
The New York Knicks enter Game 4 looking to level their series against the Atlanta Hawks. With the matchup shifting into a pivotal stage, both teams face an important opportunity to shape the direction of the series.
Desmond Bane scored 25 points and made seven 3-pointers as the Orlando Magic defeated the Detroit Pistons 113-105. Orlando recovered after losing a 17-point fourth-quarter lead to take a 2-1 edge in the first-round series.
