Basketball: News
Browse SportsMonkie's news about basketball, organized in one crawlable topic hub.
92 articles in this topic.
Rick Carlisle Calls Pacers' Final-Play No-Call a 'Football-Caliber Collision'
Rick Carlisle chased down official J.D. DeRosa after Caleb Martin's final-play collision with Pascal Siakam went uncalled, then opened his press conference by demanding someone ask about it.
Paul George Flips Off 76ers Fan Who Dropped the Ball 'As If I'm a Dog'
Paul George scored 36 in his return to Philadelphia, then explained why he flipped off a courtside fan who dropped the ball at his feet instead of passing it back.
Brown Blows Off Tatum's Greeting, Then Tatum Gets the Better of Him in Celtics' 123-101 Win
Jaylen Brown barely acknowledged Jayson Tatum's pregame greeting, then Tatum outplayed him as the Celtics beat the 76ers 123-101 in Philadelphia.
Brunson Gets a Flopping Technical After a Gobert Push and Calls It 'Bulls---'
Jalen Brunson was pushed in the back by Rudy Gobert, sprawled forward, and was then called for flopping in the Knicks' preseason loss to Minnesota.
Jaylen Brown Watches His Boston Return From the Locker Room as Fans Call Him Dramatic
Jaylen Brown's first game back at TD Garden as a 76er ended with him resting, off the bench and watching from the locker room while Celtics fans mocked the absence.
Cooper Flagg Joins Kevin Durant as Only Teenagers With a 40-10-5 Game
Cooper Flagg scored 43 points with 10 rebounds and six assists as Dallas beat Indiana 125-122, joining Kevin Durant as the only teenagers with a 40-10-5 game.
Walker Kessler Calls Luka Doncic the Best Player in the NBA After His Historic Night
Walker Kessler called Luka Doncic the best player in the NBA after Doncic's 32-point night in Atlanta put him past Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the Lakers record book.
Reaves Drops 43 as Luka-Less Lakers Hold Off Pistons
Austin Reaves scored a season-high 43 points as the Lakers beat the Pistons 121-116 without Luka Doncic, who sat out with lower-back tightness.
Cooper Flagg Leaves With Shoulder Soreness After Nesmith Flagrant Foul
Cooper Flagg was ruled out with left shoulder soreness after Aaron Nesmith's flagrant foul on a fast break, and Naji Marshall confronted Nesmith on the court.
Bronny James Held Back by Staff After Firing Back at Heckler in Detroit
Bronny James was restrained by Lakers staff after answering a courtside Pistons fan with 'Can you run a mile? How much money you make a year?' in the Lakers' 121-116 win on Sunday.
Luka Doncic Gets Courtside Fan Ejected After He Throws a Ball at Referee Chelisa Painter
Luka Doncic confronted a courtside fan who threw a basketball hard at referee Chelisa Painter during the Lakers' 116-103 win over the Kings, and security escorted the fan out.
Doncic Gets a Technical for Throwing a Ball at a Referee Two Days After a Fan Was Ejected for It
Luka Doncic picked up a technical foul for throwing the ball at referee Sean Wright's leg on Friday, two days after he got a fan ejected for doing the same thing.
Doncic Banks a Halftime Heave From Beyond Half Court, Then Drops 53 as Lakers Rally Past Blazers
Luka Doncic banked in a halftime heave from the opposite free-throw circle, then scored 53 as the Lakers erased a 16-point deficit to beat Portland 124-118.
Makur Maker Ejected as Adelaide-Illawarra Brawl Spills Into the Hawks' Bench
Makur Maker was ejected after a fourth-quarter brawl in Adelaide's 106-78 NBL win over Illawarra, as coach Justin Tatum held a player back and argued the call.
Cole Anthony's Referee Rants Under Investigation as NBL Weighs a Fine
Melbourne United star Cole Anthony is under investigation by the NBL and Basketball Australia after a run of referee outbursts, including an alleged 'eight versus five' jibe at the commentary bench.
Luka Doncic Answers Jaxson Hayes's 'Flopper' Jab With 52 Points and a Pointed Reply
Luka Doncic scored 52 points as the Lakers beat the Jazz 132-123, answering former teammate Jaxson Hayes's 'flopper' jab with a step-back three and the line: 'You know better than that, Jax!'
Joel Embiid Gets a Retroactive Flagrant 1 for Kicking Cade Cunningham in the Groin
The NBA assessed Joel Embiid a postgame Flagrant 1 for kicking Cade Cunningham in the groin during the 76ers' 112-106 win over the Pistons, a foul no official called live.
Michigan Stuns No. 2 UConn 77-66 as Geno Auriemma Blames Himself for the Loss
No. 5 Michigan beat No. 2 UConn 77-66 for the highest-ranked win in program history, ending the Huskies' 39-game regular-season streak as Geno Auriemma took the blame.
Liberty Say They Were Told No Reset Timeout, Officials Say No One Asked in 101-98 Loss
New York say officials told them no reset timeout remained in overtime, the pool report says the opposite, and the Liberty have filed an inquiry down 2-0 to Atlanta.
Trae Young Gets No Revenge as Hawks Beat His Wizards 120-105
Trae Young scored 18 in his first game against Atlanta since the January trade, but the Hawks won 120-105 in Washington behind Nickeil Alexander-Walker's 26.
Kuminga Elbows Sengun in the Face, Gets a Flagrant 1, Then Wins the Game Late
Jonathan Kuminga was assessed a flagrant 1 for elbowing Alperen Sengun in the jaw during Minnesota's 117-107 win in Houston, then powered the fourth-quarter run that decided it.
Draymond Green Ejected After Shove Match With Dillon Brooks as Warriors Rally
Draymond Green was ejected for two technical fouls after throwing Suns center Khaman Maluach to the floor and scrapping with Dillon Brooks, and Golden State still won 116-113.
LeBron James Sips a Fan's Wine Mid-Game as the 76ers Beat the Bulls
LeBron James crashed into a courtside fan during Philadelphia's 126-107 win over Chicago, spilled the fan's wine, then took a sip of it before jogging back onto the court.
Dillon Brooks Ejected for Kicking Jamal Murray in Groin in Suns' NBA Cup Loss
Dillon Brooks was ejected with a flagrant 2 foul for kicking Jamal Murray in the groin during the Suns' NBA Cup opener against Denver, ending a season-high 22-point night in the third quarter.
NBA Rescinds Luka Doncic's Technical After Lakers Star Claps at Official
The NBA rescinded Luka Doncic's technical foul from the Lakers' 138-117 win over Miami, cutting his season total from two to one and saving him a $2,000 fine.
Kendall Puryear's Shot-Put Free Throw Goes Viral in USF's Season Opener
South Florida forward Kendall Puryear went viral in her USF debut after a free-throw attempt that looked more like a shot-put toss, missing both shots in an 80-54 win over Furman.
Dillon Brooks and John Collins Scuffle Less Than Five Minutes Into Suns-Pistons Preseason Opener
Dillon Brooks drew a technical and John Collins a flagrant 1 less than five minutes into the Suns-Pistons preseason opener in Detroit on October 5.
LeBron James Denies He Called Out Joel Embiid for Being Late: 'Stop the Lies'
LeBron James used Instagram to deny a broadcast story that he let Joel Embiid 'hear it' for arriving late to a 76ers practice: 'He ain't been late.'
Brown and Allen Scuffle, Then the Announcer Calls Him 'Jaylen Tatum'
Jaylen Brown and Grayson Allen took double technicals in Philadelphia's comeback win at Charlotte, and Hornets announcer Eric Collins accidentally merged Brown's name with Jayson Tatum's on the broadcast.
Hawks Rookie Kingston Flemings Suspended One Game After Elbow Ejection Against Pelicans
Atlanta rookie Kingston Flemings has been suspended one game without pay for intentionally elbowing Pelicans guard Bryce McGowens, and will miss Monday's game at Indiana after his ejection in the 121-99 loss at New Orleans.
LaMelo Ball's Night in San Antonio: Piggyback Moment, Spit on the Floor, Foul Out in 20 Minutes
LaMelo Ball went viral twice in one loss at San Antonio: an awkward tangle with Victor Wembanyama, then spitting on the floor before fouling out in 20 minutes.
NBA Referees Say LaMelo Ball Traveled on the Viral Three in His Timberwolves Debut
The NBA referees account said Thursday that LaMelo Ball took four steps after his gather on the viral stepback three in his Minnesota debut. Ball disagrees.
Curry Drops Doncic With Ankle-Breaker as Warriors Erase 25-Point Deficit to Beat Lakers
Stephen Curry sent Luka Doncic to the floor with a third-quarter crossover and buried the three, capping Golden State's 112-95 NBA Cup comeback from 25 points down against the Lakers.
JJ Redick Calls Out NBA Flopping Calls After Lakers' Collapse Against Warriors
Lakers coach JJ Redick questioned the consistency of the NBA's flopping calls after a 112-95 loss to Golden State, pointing to the Podziemski play and a Vanderbilt technical.
Lakers' Ziaire Williams Fined $2,000 for Flopping in Jazz Win
The NBA fined Lakers forward Ziaire Williams $2,000 for exaggerating contact from Keyonte George late in Sunday's 132-123 comeback win over Utah, the league's latest flopping penalty in its first week.
LeBron James Brushes Off Trump's Anthem Attack: 'Slow News Day at the Office'
Trump called LeBron James 'a TOTAL DISGRACE' over anthem footage from Tuesday's opener and demanded an apology. James laughed it off after Thursday's win over Cleveland.
Warriors Rookie Lendeborg Was 'Spooked' to Guard Doncic, Then Doncic Sat Out
Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg was told he would guard Luka Doncic, admitted he was spooked, then Doncic rested and he guarded Walker Kessler instead.
Clippers Host Cormier Says Viral Hot-Mic Sound Was Added by the Poster
Clippers in-arena host Hannah Cormier denied the viral hot-mic clip from the Lakers loss, saying she is innocent and that the sound was added by the person who posted the video.
Gobert Brushes Off Viral Bench Clip After Ball and Kuminga Confront Him
Rudy Gobert says he felt no animosity in the viral Timberwolves bench clip, calling it frustration on a frustrating night as Minnesota lost 119-114 to Golden State.
Hornets Bench Naz Reid for the Entire Second Half After He 'Didn't Meet Our Standards'
Charlotte coach Charles Lee benched Naz Reid for the whole second half of a 97-89 loss at Detroit, saying the prized offseason addition did not meet the team's standards in the first half.
Jaylen Brown Denies He Ever Demanded a Celtics Trade After Scalabrine Claim
Jaylen Brown said himself after the 76ers' win at Indiana that he never demanded a trade from Boston or gave the Celtics a list of ultimatums, answering Brian Scalabrine's claim directly.
Kerr Blasts 'Flopping' After Waved-Off Curry Three Seals Warriors' Collapse
Steve Kerr accused the Grizzlies of flopping and called the illegal-screen call on Draymond Green shocking after Curry's late three was waved off in a 111-108 loss.
Britt McHenry Out at State Department After Wizards Drink Incident
Britt McHenry left her State Department press adviser role days after video showed her throwing a drink at a fan during the Wizards' home opener.
Jaylen Brown calls cap on Jayson Tatum's trade story with Instagram emoji
Jaylen Brown posted a cap emoji under Jayson Tatum's Instagram clip describing the trade that sent Brown to the 76ers, appearing to dispute his account.
Brandon Miller Agrees to Five-Year, $209 Million Extension With the Hornets
Brandon Miller's five-year, $209 million Hornets extension is official: the $208.8 million maths, the 2023 class ranking, and why the No. 3 pick got nothing.
Josh Hart's Fake Square-Up Steals the Show in Knicks' First Win Over Pistons
Josh Hart turned a third-quarter scuffle in the Knicks' first win of the season into the night's viral moment, playfully squaring up to Pistons assistant Jarrett Jack as coaches separated Karl-Anthony Towns and Paul Reed.
Mikel Brown Jr. Goes From Hero to Goat as Tatum's Buzzer-Beater Sinks Nets
Nets rookie Mikel Brown Jr. forced overtime with a last-second three in Boston, then missed two late layups and switched on the final play as Jayson Tatum's buzzer-beater gave the Celtics a 125-124 win.
Caleb Wilson Drops a Defender and Scores 20 in the Second Half After One in the First
Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson had one point at half-time in Memphis, then 20 after it, a viral ankle-breaker three in the last minute and the final shot.
Gafford and Portis Get Double Technicals After Giannis Flagrant Sparks Shoving Match
Daniel Gafford was called for a Flagrant 1 on Giannis Antetokounmpo, then got into a shoving match with Bobby Portis that drew double technicals in Dallas' 113-109 win at Miami.
Aaron Gordon Ejected in Seconds as Curry Waves Him Off in Warriors Rout of Nuggets
Aaron Gordon picked up two technical fouls in seconds protesting a Christian Braun call, then watched Stephen Curry wave him to the tunnel as Golden State won 134-114 in Denver.
Malik Beasley to Plead Guilty in Federal Betting Case, Court Filing Says
Former NBA guard Malik Beasley intends to plead guilty to federal charges over an alleged betting scheme tied to his 2023-24 season with the Milwaukee Bucks, a court notice says.
Jalen Williams Stretchered Off as Thunder Star Suffers Severe Leg Injury Against Clippers
Jalen Williams suffered a fractured fibula and dislocated left ankle against the Clippers, Thunder GM Sam Presti confirmed Monday, and will need surgery with no timeline until after the operation.
Cason Wallace Agrees to Five-Year, $139 Million Extension With the Thunder
Cason Wallace and the Oklahoma City Thunder agreed a five-year, $139 million extension on Sunday, one day before the deadline. The cap bill comes later.
NBA Bans Under Parlays, First-Basket Bets and Tip-Off Wagers in Integrity Clampdown
The NBA has told its sportsbook partners to remove under parlays on one player, unders on sub-12-minute players and first-of bets after the gambling scandals.
Warriors Reportedly Explore Porzingis Trades as He Weighs His Future
Golden State is exploring trades for Kristaps Porzingis as he weighs his basketball future over recurring POTS symptoms, ESPN reports. The club says it does not expect him around the team in the immediate future.
Cam Johnson Ejected for an Elbow on Austin Reaves That Surprised Even Reaves
Cam Johnson was ejected from the Nuggets' preseason finale after a review upgraded his elbow on Austin Reaves to a Flagrant 2 that surprised the man he hit.
Knicks Call It an 'Unfortunate Mistake' After Employees Were Phished With Fake Championship Rings
MSG admitted its 'Employee Championship Ring' email was a phishing test after The Athletic revealed assistant coaches got empty ring boxes on ring night; 275+ rings worth $3.7M still promised.
No. 1 Pick AJ Dybantsa Misses the Wizards' Opener With a Mild Ankle Sprain
AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft, missed Washington's opener with a left ankle sprain and was ruled out of Friday's home game against Toronto on Thursday, his second straight missed game. What Brian Keefe said, what happened without him, and when Saturday at Chicago could bring the debut.
LeBron James Caught on Mic Claiming a 'Championship Whistle' for the Knicks on Ring Night
LeBron James was caught on an NBC microphone accusing the Knicks of getting a championship whistle on their ring night. The free throws finished 27 apiece.
Embiid Falls Into Jaylen Brown in a First-Quarter Scare on the 76ers' Lineup Debut Night
Joel Embiid was pushed in the back and fell into new team-mate Jaylen Brown, who stayed down holding his right knee before playing on and leading the 76ers with 18.
Tyrese Haliburton Returns After 486 Days With 23 Points and 12 Assists in New Orleans
Tyrese Haliburton played his first game in 486 days on Wednesday, wearing a recreation of Triple H's 2002 return jacket and finishing with 23 points and 12 assists.
Mario Hezonja Plays His First NBA Game in 2,245 Days Tonight
Mario Hezonja plays his first NBA game in 2,245 days tonight as the Cavs open at Philadelphia, debuting against Dean Wade, the forward he replaced.
Haliburton's Hot-Mic Taunt at Rollins Earns Double Technicals 75 Seconds Into the Finale
Tyrese Haliburton was shoved to the floor by Ryan Rollins 75 seconds into the preseason finale, answered with a hot-mic taunt and a three, and took a technical in his comeback week.
Kyrie Irving Scores 17 in His First Game in 586 Days as Dallas Win in Macao
Kyrie Irving returned after 586 days out with a torn ACL, scoring 17 points in 22 minutes in Dallas's 132-115 preseason win over Houston in Macao.
Bob Huggins Living With a Progressive Cognitive Condition, Family Says
Bob Huggins is living with a progressive cognitive condition that affects his memory, his family said Wednesday through the University of Cincinnati, days before his Hall of Fame induction there.
Reese Answers Game 1 With 30 and 16, Then Puts Atlanta Up 2-1 in the Finals
Angel Reese answered her scoreless Game 1 second half with 30 points and 16 rebounds to tie the WNBA Finals, then added 21 and 12 in a 97-71 Game 3 win that put Atlanta up 2-1, on a night the Finals' record TV audiences became part of the story.
Curry Limps Off Open Practice, Then Practices in Full and Is Expected to Face the Lakers
Stephen Curry rolled his right ankle at Sunday's open practice and limped out. By Monday he was a full participant, and the Warriors expect him to play Wednesday.
Kawhi Leonard Scores 23 in His Regular-Season Raptors Debut, on a Minutes Restriction
Kawhi Leonard's first game that counts for Toronto since the 2019 Finals: 23 points in 24 minutes under a minutes restriction as the Raptors routed Chicago 135-92, after a trade that took all summer to close.
Fox Throws Holmgren to the Floor as Spurs and Thunder Scuffle on Opening Night
De'Aaron Fox threw Chet Holmgren to the floor in the second quarter in San Antonio. The review gave Fox a Flagrant 1 and four players technical fouls.
Gabby Williams Took the Hit, Kept Her Feet and Closed Game 1 of the WNBA Finals
Gabby Williams was knocked down by Jordin Canada's box-out with 2:15 left in Finals Game 1, no foul was called, and she sealed Golden State's win at the line.
Zaragoza Says Mara Is Still Under Contract, the Thunder Say He Needs No Clearance
Basket Zaragoza says Aday Mara cannot play in the NBA without its clearance. Oklahoma City says his three NCAA seasons mean none is required.
Mavericks Waive Dwight Powell, Their Longest-Tenured Player, After 12 Seasons
The Mavericks waived Dwight Powell on Monday after 12 seasons. Why the guarantee deadline forced the call, why Moussa Cisse stayed, and what happens Wednesday.
Karl-Anthony Towns Says Knicks Extension Talks 'Don't Look Good' After Title Win
Karl-Anthony Towns says he is nowhere close to a Knicks extension, with New York reportedly offering about $200m against a $276m maximum after a title season.
Ben Simmons Tears Right Achilles in Kings Practice, Three Days Before the Season Opener
The Kings said an MRI confirmed Ben Simmons tore his right Achilles tendon in a practice drill on Sunday. Surgery is next, and ESPN reports his comeback season is likely over.
Steve Kerr's Lookalike Is Back: Steve Gillis Stops the Warriors Coach Cold in Las Vegas
Steve Kerr froze for five seconds when his lookalike Steve Gillis took a seat behind the Warriors bench in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas teacher first went viral in 2024.
Wembanyama Throws a Self Alley-Oop Off the Glass in the Spurs' Preseason Finale
Victor Wembanyama blocked a shot, went coast to coast in four dribbles and threw himself an alley-oop off the backboard in San Antonio's preseason finale against Sacramento.
Silver's Smart Ball Puts a One-Gram Chip Inside the NBA's Ball, and Fans Smell a Magnet
Adam Silver says the NBA is testing a Wilson smart ball with a one-gram chip that tracks spin and trajectory, could help officials as soon as next year, and has fans joking about magnet balls.
Columbia Suspends Griffith for Three Games, and Her Players Publicly Back Her
Columbia suspended Megan Griffith for the first three games after an outside review of practice conduct, and her players answered with a statement of support.
Gilgeous-Alexander Gets the Push-Off Call the Whole League Was Waiting For
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was called for a push-off against Indiana on Tuesday, the marquee name in the NBA's new off-arm emphasis, under the Four Fs framework.
Redick Says Bronny James Has Not Played Well, and Points at the Group Around Him
JJ Redick gave Bronny James an honest preseason verdict, then blamed the lineups around him. Fans heard a coach throwing the bench under the bus.
Scottie Barnes Loses His Pants on a Warmup 360 Dunk, Then Scores 19 Against the Knicks
Scottie Barnes lost his pants on a warmup 360 dunk before Toronto faced New York, laughed at the photo on Instagram, then scored 19 in a 148-98 win.
Scottie Barnes Gets First Push-Off Call as NBA's New Emphasis Debuts in Preseason Opener
Scottie Barnes was whistled for an off-arm push-off inside two minutes of the Raptors' preseason opener, the first call under the NBA's new point of emphasis.
Trail Blazers Give Travis Demers a Trial Run as TV Voice After the Braiden Bell Firing
Portland has turned to its radio voice of seven seasons, Travis Demers, as its television play-by-play announcer on a trial basis after the Braiden Bell same-day firing.
Green Reveals His Viral Sideline Warning to Acuff: Don't Have Many of Those
Draymond Green says his viral sideline talk with Kings rookie Darius Acuff Jr. was a warning that ball-dominant possessions can turn teammates against a rookie.
NBA Players Fear Wearable Tech Data Could Be Used Against Them in Contract Talks
Adam Silver says the NBA and the Players Association have no agreement on wearable tech in games, because players fear their own data could be used in bargaining.
Naji Marshall Breaks a Rim and a Folding Chair at the Mavericks' First Practice in Macao
Naji Marshall brought down a rim, signed it, then broke a folding chair at Dallas's first Macao practice, as ESPN's China Games highlights recap confirms.
Jaylen Brown Injury Rumor Spreads After 76ers Scare: What We Know
A viral Facebook post claims Jaylen Brown will miss the whole 2026-27 season with a knee injury. He finished the Nets game as Philadelphia's top scorer.
Dalen Terry Plays 43 Preseason Minutes on an Exhibit 10 Deal, Chasing Jimmy Butler's 48
Exhibit 10 guard Dalen Terry played 43 of 48 minutes for the nine-man Warriors in Portland, nearing Jimmy Butler's 2012 preseason record of playing all 48.
WNBA Ratings Drop Claim Spreads After Caitlin Clark's Exit: What We Know
A viral post claimed WNBA playoff viewership fell 70-76% after Caitlin Clark's Fever were eliminated. The like-for-like numbers show a 44-47% drop.
Doncic Crosses Sabonis Out of His Shoe and Points at It in Lakers Preseason Opener
Luka Doncic scored 21 points in 16 minutes in the Lakers' preseason opener, and the viral moment was a step-back three after Domantas Sabonis stumbled out of his shoe, which Doncic then pointed at.
Sophie Cunningham Tells A'ja Wilson to 'Grow Up' and Claims a Double Standard Over the Fan Incident
Sophie Cunningham used her podcast to call A'ja Wilson's confrontation with a Fever fan a double standard, saying Wilson is the league's LeBron and was never going to be suspended.
Jokic Gets the Technical After Hayes Shoves Him First in Nuggets-Jazz Preseason Clash
Jaxson Hayes shoved Nikola Jokic to create space in the second quarter in Utah, no foul was called, and Jokic's retaliation drew the technical in Denver's 117-106 win.