Before DeRozan faced off with LeBron, he faced off with security DeMar DeRozan is a two-time All-Star who finished ninth in the NBA in scoring this season. He ranks in the top 10 in the Toronto Raptors' franchise record book in just about every major statistical category and, some early-postseason-struggle-induced queasiness aside, is likely to command multiple maximum-salary contract offers … [Read more...]

Fan gets tossed for razzing refs, misses Raptors' biggest win ever Through the first three games of the 2016 Eastern Conference finals, Toronto Raptors fans had been pretty unhappy with the officiating in the series. And while the tide of the series has certainly turned over the past 96 minutes of basketball, that wasn't enough to placate all Raps fans when it comes to the razzing of the … [Read more...]

Three things to watch in Oklahoma City vs. Golden State's Game 4 It isn’t an elimination game, and it isn’t if the Golden State Warriors haven’t been here before. Things are slightly different, though, this time around. The defending champs stared down 2-1 series deficits twice in the postseason last year, prior to winning it all, and needed a playoff win on the road to tie things up. … [Read more...]

NBA Fantasy Trends: Stats & Pod: The Love Movement Remember when coach Ty Lue said on May 14 this is the most help LeBron James has had in years? Well, yeah. About that. The Cavs have been destroyed in the last two games while LeBron played well in those. If you want to play the blame game, you have to start with Kevin Love. He has been benched for the last two entire fourth quarters while … [Read more...]

Steven Adams considers protecting his groin from Draymond Green In case you've been living under a rock for the past 16 hours, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was not suspended for Game 4, following another kick to Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams' groin, so the 7-foot New Zealander is considering taking steps to prevent any further damage. Steven Adams said he was … [Read more...]

Toronto is winning, which can mean only 1 thing: Drake is chirping In one of the most remarkable turnarounds in NBA conference finals history, the Raptors won two straight in Toronto to even their series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and that can mean only one thing. Drake is chirping again. [Follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr: The best slams from all of basketball] After the Cavs cleaned … [Read more...]

With his back against the wall, Raptors G Kyle Lowry delivers, as usual 4:54 AM ET print TORONTO -- Resiliency defines Kyle Lowry. It always has. He has always been at his best with his back against the wall. It’s almost as if he needs it to be there in order to thrive. “He’s a little pit bull. I mean, you question him, and that’s when he rises to the occasion,” Toronto Raptors coach … [Read more...]

Dwane Casey was a habitual line-stepper in the Raptors' Game 4 win The conference finals obviously feature a great deal of intensity from all participants, enough so that many often let their emotions carry them over the bounds of typical NBA standards and practices. Draymond Green's kick to Steven Adams stands out as perhaps the worst possible such scenario (if you think it was intentional, … [Read more...]

Love hurt stepping on ref's foot, sits again in 4th 3:41 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...]

With his back against the wall, Raptors G Kyle Lowry delivers as usual 2:19 AM ET print TORONTO -- Resiliency defines Kyle Lowry. It always has. He has always been at his best with his back against the wall. It’s almost as if he needs it to be there in order to thrive. “He’s a little pit bull. I mean, you question him, and that’s when he rises to the occasion,” Toronto Raptors coach … [Read more...]