Tag: nytimes.com

MINNEAPOLIS — Referees assigned to a critical game between the Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves missed six calls in the final two minutes and overtime, the NBA announced Thursday as part of its Last Two Minute report. According to the report, which the league releases the day after close games to promote transparency about officials…

Basketball Hall of Famer George Gervin is contesting a request to trademark the nickname “Iceman” by Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. Gervin, an NBA and ABA legend who played for the Virginia Squires, San Antonio Spurs and Chicago Bulls during his 14-year career in the United States, told the Chicago Sun-Times on Wednesday that “we’ve…

Just because Jared McCain happens to be in his second year in the NBA on a rookie contract worth nearly $20 million doesn’t mean he’s throwing caution to the wind when it comes to his spending habits as a sports card collector. Case in point, the Oklahoma City Thunder guard signed one of his best…

Each week through the end of the regular season, we’ll check in on where I think the major individual awards races stand. Victor Wembanyama made his case for MVP this past week, and below, we’ll put his criteria under a microscope. Here’s how the Awards Watch shakes out: Since 2019, I have been one of…

The Bounce Newsletter  | This is The Athletic’s daily NBA newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Bounce directly in your inbox. The only way to begin your day of NBA consumption is by watching GG Jackson dunk on Victor Wembanyama and then Wemby getting Jackson back with an even more ferocious dunk on the very next play.…

Give Victor Wembanyama credit for this much: The young man has a knack for timing — on the court and off. Just when it seemed as if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was about to secure his second consecutive MVP honor, with the Oklahoma City Thunder atop the standings and the incumbent as dominant as ever, the San…

You’ve got to love March. After one week of action, both the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournaments have had their share of thrilling moments. There have been blowouts, yes, and Cinderellas have been hard to find. But we’ve also seen some fierce action, some amazing buzzer-beaters — and one amazing near-buzzer-beater — and plenty of…

One of the Detroit Pistons’ most glaring weaknesses hadn’t just evaporated. It had transformed into a strength. The change was obvious right away. In November, the Milwaukee Bucks deployed what was once a go-to game plan against Detroit. They pulled Pistons center Jalen Duren away from the basket and into the middle of the court.…

The NBA’s Board of Governors on Wednesday formally authorized the league to explore expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas. Adding two franchises to the NBA would bring the league’s total to 32. The NBA returning to Seattle would right what many believe to be a grievous wrong when the SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City for…

INDIANAPOLIS — The teammates stood, two names on Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick’s substitution matrix, side by side at the scorer’s table in the second half Wednesday night. The Laker on the right did his best to stay locked into the game, to try and calm his breaths and focus on the job in…