Irving's emerging game gives James, Cavs a big lift 8:00 PM ET Dave McMenaminESPN Staff Writer Close Cavs and NBA writer for ESPN.com Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14 and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09 Syracuse University graduate print AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- As LeBron James made the long walk through the inner maze that is backstage at the … [Read more...]

Celtics' Thomas seen hitting Hawks' Schroder 2:46 AM ET Ohm YoungmisukESPN Staff Writer Close Ohm Youngmisuk has covered the Giants, Jets and the NFL since 2006. Prior to that, he covered the Nets, Knicks and the NBA for nearly a decade. He joined ESPNNewYork.com after working at the New York Daily News for almost 12 years and is a graduate of Michigan State University.Follow him on … [Read more...]

Isaiah Thomas wouldn't let Boston fall into a 3-0 hole to Atlanta The Boston Celtics entered this season known as a group of talented and tough, but largely unknown, role-player types. That impression changed after a short while due to the continued emergence of diminutive guard Isaiah Thomas, a no-doubt All-Star selection in February and the NBA's 11th leading scorer this season. With the … [Read more...]

Basketball Daily Dose: Dose: Boston's Little Big Man Isaiah Thomas, once believed to be an afterthought as the 60th and final pick in the 2011 draft, has blossomed into a leader, an All-Star in both performance and popularity and has found his NBA home with the only franchise that was willing to give him the real chance he so desperately deserved. The little man—who no longer lives in … [Read more...]

Kyrie Irving's dagger puts Cavs up 3-0 and Pistons on the brink Once again, the Detroit Pistons stood toe-to-toe with the Cleveland Cavaliers, refusing to be pushed around and bullied by the defending Eastern Conference champions. Once again, though, the Cavaliers' superior stars wound up overpowering Detroit's muscle, with Kyrie Irving coming up big to turn off the lights in Motown in the … [Read more...]

NBA says Harden winner should not have counted 5:57 PM ET Calvin WatkinsESPN Staff Writer Close Calvin Watkins covers the Houston Rockets and the NBA for ESPN.com. He joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. He's covered the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers as well as colleges, boxing and high school sports. print HOUSTON -- The NBA says James Harden's game-winning shot in the … [Read more...]

Five breakout players from the first week of the 2016 NBA playoffs No, the opening week of the 2016 NBA playoffs hasn't exactly been thrill-a-minute Must-See TV, what with all the blowouts and the Relatively Low Amount of Stephen Curry. There's a silver lining surrounding that gray cloud, though, coming in the form of multiple players making the most of their postseason opportunities to … [Read more...]

Rockets' Howard to bench reaction critics: 'Shut up' 3:56 PM ET Calvin WatkinsESPN Staff Writer Close Calvin Watkins covers the Houston Rockets and the NBA for ESPN.com. He joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. He's covered the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers as well as colleges, boxing and high school sports. print HOUSTON -- Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard … [Read more...]

C.J. McCollum won Most Improved Player by taking pride in struggle Way back in the long, long ago of September, we did a little Three-Man Weave predictin' on the 2015-16 Most Improved Player Award. Here's what I wrote: [Follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr: The best slams from all of basketball] Ever since the NBA started handing out the Most Improved Player Award 30 years ago, there's been a … [Read more...]

Rotoworld Podcasts: NBA DFS Pod for Apr. 22 Friday, April 22, 2016 You have got to love Playoff Jeff Teague. He had some ups and downs during the season, but he's locked and loaded now. With Dennis Schroder (ankle) up in the air, Teague looks like a very strong play. The loss of Schroder would also mean more shots for other players, so the Hawks are a good team to stack. Meanwhile, the Cavs … [Read more...]