LaMelo and LiAngelo Ball both signed with an agent on Thursday, according to ESPN’s Jeff Goodman, which officially means they will not play basketball at UCLA or any other college program. Instead, the two brothers are planning to play overseas.
The Philadelphia 76ers are nearing a deal that would send Jahlil Okafor to the Brooklyn Nets, according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe. The deal would include Nik Stauskas and a 2019 second-round pick, while Philadelphia would receive Trevor Booker, per Lowe.
A deal would end a long stalemate between the 76ers and Okafor, who has publicly stated his desire to be traded. Okafor was the third overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft, but he has only played two games this season in a crowded Philadelphia front court that left no real minutes for the one-time lottery pick.
As Kawhi Leonard nears a return from a nagging quadriceps injury, the San Antonio Spurs reportedly considered activating him for last night’s game against the Detroit Pistons, according to Mike Finger of The San Antonio Express-News.
Head coach Gregg Popovich joked with his usual sarcasm prior to the game, as the local media did its usual due diligence of asking for an update on his impending return.
The Los Angeles Lakers are 0-5 straight up and 1-4 against the spread over their last five games. The Lakers begin a four-game road trip on Thursday night when they face the Philadelphia 76ers.
Los Angeles is a 9-point road underdog in Philadelphia at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. When the two teams met last month in Los Angeles, Philadelphia won 115-109 as a 4-point road favorite.
Twenty games is a pretty common benchmark at which point we assess how remixed teams are doing. The Thunder, at the 20-game mark, remain a riddle. Coming in with high expectations after adding Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, Oklahoma City sits at 8-12. Russell Westbrook and his two new co-stars have all shaved down their output to fit each other in, but it isn’t translating into consistent victory.
The Cavaliers picked up their 13th straight win with a 101-95 victory over the Kings on Wednesday, and make no mistake, it’s because LeBron James is still the best basketball player on planet flat Earth.
The King had 32 points on 12-of-18 shooting to go with 11 rebounds, nine assists, three steals and two blocks, and hit five threes, including the game-sealing shot over a hometown friend, Jakarr Sampson.
After a shaky first half, Thunder explode for 39 third quarter points.
The Oklahoma City Thunder came into this game without Carmelo Anthony and Steven Adams in the lineup against the Dallas Mavericks. However, Paul George and Russell Westbrook carried the load offensively and led the Thunder to a 112-99 victory over the Mavericks on Sunday night.
Anthony missed tonight's game with a sore back and Adams missed his 2nd straight with a calf injury.
Donovan Mitchell is becoming a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate
A sophomore out of Louisville, Donovan Mitchell wasn’t talked about as a sure-fire first-round pick talent until his unusual build garnered attention as the draft crept closer. He stands 6-foot-3 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan after all.
The Rockets made it look easy tonight.
The Rockets played the part of the West’s best team as they beat the Pacers 118-95 Sunday evening.
Houston had the odds stacked against them coming off of a back-to-back against Memphis at home to travel to Indiana, lose an hour, and play an early evening game. The Rockets did not get into Indiana until roughly 12 hours before tipoff, but it did not seem to faze them.
