Just like that, Warriors are back to near-perfection 1:42 AM ET ESPN Stats & Information print And that’s what the Golden State Warriors look like when everything’s clicking once again. They’re nearly perfect. The Warriors were nearly perfect in one regard. They made their first 21 uncontested shots (then ended the game by missing their last three when the game was not in doubt). … [Read more...]

Warriors Wins Watch: No. 70 clinches West, keeps hope for 73 alive The Golden State Warriors inspired rare doubt on Tuesday night after dropping an overtime loss to the lottery-bound Minnesota Timberwolves. While no 69-9 team can truly be in crisis, dropping a second home game in three tries in the midst of a string of sub-optimal performances made the Warriors look anything like a team … [Read more...]

Gasol on contract: 'Hard to finish season like this' 12:37 AM ET Nick FriedellESPN Staff Writer Close Nick Friedell is the Chicago Bulls beat reporter for ESPN Chicago. Friedell is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and joined ESPNChicago.com for its launch in April 2009. print MIAMI -- Chicago Bulls center Pau Gasol says … [Read more...]

Carroll returns for Raptors after missing 41 games 9:30 PM ET Associated Press print ATLANTA -- Toronto Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll has returned from right knee surgery after missing 41 games. Before getting hurt, Carroll averaged 11.7 and 4.8 rebounds in 23 games. Carroll, in the first season of a four-year, $60 million contract, entered the game in the second quarter. Coach … [Read more...]

The 5 biggest disappointments of the 2015-16 NBA season (Video) Every October, we begin a new NBA season with high hopes for a great many teams ... and every April, we find ourselves wondering what the hell went wrong with at least a few of them. [Follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr: The best slams from all of basketball] With the playoffs just around the corner and 16 clubs about to begin an … [Read more...]

The Timberwolves' owner expects Kevin Garnett to play next year We haven't seen Kevin Garnett take the floor since January 23, when he played nine minutes in the Minnesota Timberwolves' 106-101 win over the Memphis Grizzlies before bowing out of the Wolves' lineup due to right knee soreness. He's still been there on the sideline, coaching and talking trash and doing his part to help expedite … [Read more...]

NBA Roundtable: Roundtable: Maybe Next Year Hello and welcome back to the NBA Roundtable! The season is almost over, but it’s never too early to think about the next one. With that said, I asked the Rotoworld hoops crew to discuss their favorite bounce-back candidates for next season. Be sure to follow us on Twitter by clicking the link next to our names. I’ll start us off! Jonas Nader … [Read more...]

Lakers beef up on merch for Kobe's final game 10:49 AM ET Darren RovellESPN Senior Writer Close ESPN.com's sports business reporter since 2012; previously at ESPN from 2000-06 Appears on SportsCenter, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com and with ABC News Formerly worked as analyst at CNBC print Fans looking to acquire commemorative items to celebrate the end of Kobe Bryant's career better … [Read more...]

Kobe's goal for final game: Play at highest level 6:02 AM ET print LOS ANGELES -- The next time Lakers icon Kobe Bryant appears on the Staples Center court, it will be for the final game of his NBA career. Has Bryant looked forward to that final game, April 13 against the Utah Jazz, and imagined what it will be like? "I try not to do it too much," Bryant said Wednesday night, "and … [Read more...]

Basketball Daily Dose: Dose: Rest for the Wicked It was a night of rest for several big dogs, including Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, John Wall and LeBron James. Here’s who showed up to play and what happened on an eight-game Wednesday night. Follow me on Twitter! Pacers 123, Cavaliers 109 – The Pacers got a gift as they fight for their playoff lives, as LeBron James got the night off for the … [Read more...]