It’s time to hit the floor! The Playoffs are set to begin in just a matter of hours. **5 HEADLINES FOR TODAY’S ISSUE** 🏀 April 19, 2025 **Wolves-Lakers:** Luka, LeBron, and the Lakers welcome Ant and the Wolves for Game 1. **Bucks-Pacers:** A rematch of last year’s first round in this escalating rivalry. **Clippers-Nuggets:** The fiery Clippers go head-to-head with …

Filip Petrusev emerged as a key player for Crvena Zvezda in the EuroLeague this season, where he was on loan from Olympiacos, contributing an average of 14.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Despite having a contract with Olympiacos for the upcoming season, Petrusev expressed to Serbian publication “Sportski Zurnal” that he hopes to secure another opportunity in the NBA …

ATLANTA (AP)— In the initial two quarters of the NBA Play-In Tournament elimination match against Atlanta, Miami’s backup guard Davion Mitchell appeared far from being a standout performer. During the first half, Mitchell failed to convert any of his four attempts and managed to score just a single point. At the conclusion of regulation, his tally stood at a mere …

Gregg Popovich is still facing health challenges. After experiencing a mild stroke in November, which led him to sit out the remainder of the season with the San Antonio Spurs, he recently had a medical episode in public. As reported by sources like TMZ and ESPN, the renowned head coach collapsed while dining in a San Antonio restaurant. Following his …

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Damian Lillard, the guard for the Milwaukee Bucks, is uncertain about when he will return to the court, but he is thankful that it will happen sooner than anyone anticipated. This week, Lillard received clearance for full basketball activities and was taken off blood-thinning medication after spending the past month sidelined due to deep vein thrombosis in …

Following in the footsteps of his Israeli teammate Ben Saraf, French forward Noa Essengue has declared his intention to participate in the 2025 NBA draft. “Since childhood, it has been my aspiration to be selected by an NBA team,” Essengue shared with ESPN as he revealed his decision. “My aim now is to become a top-10 pick. While I am …

Karl-Anthony Towns felt his mind swirling with thoughts. The reality of being traded just before the onset of training camp last fall from the only NBA franchise he had ever known, the Minnesota Timberwolves, to the New York Knicks, struck him deeply both intellectually and emotionally. Images and ideas flooded his mind, each one quickly replaced by the next—a rapid …

As the Dallas Mavericks prepare to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of their best-of-seven playoff series, Luka Doncic is set to go up against Rudy Gobert in the opening round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google. Having led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024, Doncic’s memorable moment came from hitting a game-winning three-pointer over …

•Get the NBA App INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP)—This year, Kawhi Leonard is feeling revitalized both physically and mentally, no longer confined to watching from the sidelines as the LA Clippers gear up for the playoffs. After being limited to just two playoff appearances over the last two seasons, the 33-year-old two-time Finals MVP is back to full health and performing like …

Promising young talent Ben Saraf has officially announced his intention to enter the 2025 NBA draft. “This feels like the perfect moment for me,” shared the 19-year-old Israeli combo guard with ESPN while disclosing his decision on Friday. “Having competed at the highest levels of European basketball, I’m eager for the draft, but my primary focus now is to ensure …

Nikola Pekovic, a former professional basketball player, has reportedly been implicated in a criminal organization by the Montenegrin Police Directorate. During a raid across 11 sites in the northern part of Montenegro, law enforcement made two arrests and issued multiple misdemeanor citations. According to the Montenegrin news outlet Vijesti, one of the vehicles that was confiscated during the operation was …

Occasionally, the writers at NBA.com will share their insights on notable narratives or popular topics within the league. Who should earn a spot on the All-NBA teams for the upcoming 2024-25 season? It’s no surprise that after embracing the “positionless” structure for these teams (a concept I resisted last year), my First Team ends up resembling what I would have …

Marc Gasol made an appearance on the “Out of the Mud” podcast, where he caught up with his former teammates Zach Randolph and Tony Allen, sharing a comical story involving himself, Nikola Jokic, and his two siblings. Gasol recounted that he first encountered Jokic’s brothers at Darko Milicic’s wedding in Serbia. “I’m at Darko’s wedding, and I spot these two …

• Download the NBA App The concluding day of this year’s SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament will finalize the No. 8 seeds for each conference. Prepare for the excitement with detailed previews and forecasts for Friday’s games. The victor: Will progress to face Cleveland in the opening round as the No. 8 seed. The defeated: Will be eliminated. Regular-season outcomes: Tied, …

Monte McNair is no longer the general manager for the Sacramento Kings, following a mutual decision made by both parties, as reported by Shams Charania and various U.S. news sources. The Kings’ defeat to the Mavericks in the opening round of the Western Conference Play-In Tournament served as the catalyst for this parting of ways. During his final year, McNair …

•Download the NBA App•2025 NBA Playoffs Schedule•NBA Playoffs: Complete Bracket and Coverage Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard has received medical clearance regarding the deep vein thrombosis affecting his right calf, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Although Lillard will sit out Game 1 against the Pacers, he has a window to return to contact practices and prepare for a comeback, Charania …

NBA icon Carmelo Anthony has made his entry into the cannabis sector with his new brand, STAYME7O (pronounced “Stay Melo”). This brand is a part of his recently established enterprise, Grand National, formed in collaboration with cannabis innovator Jesce Horton and marketer Brandon Drew Jordan Pierce. STAYME7O made its initial launch in Portland, Oregon, and is now set to expand …

NEW ORLEANS – Today, Gayle Benson, the Governor of the New Orleans Pelicans, announced the appointment of Joe Dumars as the team’s Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, effective April 21. Dumars comes with over 30 years of extensive experience, having established an illustrious career as a Hall of Fame player, NBA champion, and notable executive within the league and …

Izan Almansa, a forward for the Perth Wildcats, has made his intentions clear by officially entering the 2025 NBA Draft, as confirmed by his agent Guillermo Bermejo to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. At just 19 years old, the Spanish player has shone while representing Spain at various national levels, including the senior team. He received the MVP award at the FIBA …

Giannis Antetokounmpo reflected on the 2022 NBA All-Star Game and the encounter he had with Michael Jordan during the halftime celebration for the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. While he had previously stated that it was his first meeting with the legendary player, he offered new insights into their exchange this time around. “I believe he recognized who I was, but …

**Download the NBA App** SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – The Sacramento Kings have mutually decided to part ways with general manager Monte McNair, two years after his efforts helped the team break the longest playoff drought in NBA history. A source familiar with the situation revealed that the decision to separate was reached shortly after the Kings concluded their season with …

The NBA Playoffs are looming closer than anticipated, with the playoff picture nearly taking shape in both the Eastern and Western Conferences. In their bid to secure a matchup against the Boston Celtics as the 7th seed in the First Round of the Playoffs, the Orlando Magic confidently claimed a 120-95 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on their home court. …

While one European player successfully led his team to the NBA Playoffs, with Franz Wagner playing a key role in the Orlando Magic’s victory over the Atlanta Hawks in the Play-In tournament, the same cannot be said for Santi Aldama. The Spanish forward experienced disappointment with the Memphis Grizzlies, who fell 121-116 to the Golden State Warriors. Aldama recorded a …

Jordi Bertomeu has held the position of CEO of the EuroLeague for an impressive 22 years, playing a key role in establishing what has become the premier league for basketball in Europe. With a new endeavor on the horizon, as announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis, one former EuroLeague figure is not pleased about …

In its initial official response to the announcement regarding the potential establishment of an NBA Europe league, EuroLeague Basketball described the initiative as a “challenge to the enduring traditions of European basketball,” warning that it could result in a “fragmentation” of the sport across the continent. Mark Tatum, the NBA’s Deputy Commissioner, contended that their intention is to develop a …