MIAMI — The Miami Heat had one final wish in the final moments of their regular season Sunday night and sat in their locker room watching, and hoping, it happened. But there’s no need for suspense here.

Their wish wouldn’t come true. It’s a familiar story in that regard, like so many larger hopes this season from avoiding the play-in ...Read more

DALLAS — Billy Donovan has a decision to make: Will he stay or will he go?

After Chicago Bulls ownership fired executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas and general manager Marc Eversley last week, this decision will serve as the first domino in a critical period of change. But Donovan won’t make a call until he...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Luka Doncic will be back for the beginning of the Los Angeles Lakers’ playoff run. Just not on the court.

The Lakers’ superstar will rejoin the team by Friday after traveling to Spain to receive specialized treatment on his Grade 2 hamstring strain, a source familiar with the situation confirmed to The Los Angeles Times, but...Read more

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — UNC forward Jarin Stevenson will stay in Chapel Hill for the 2026-27 season, he announced Monday afternoon, giving North Carolina an experienced, versatile role player heading into Year 1 under Michael Malone.

The 6-foot-10 junior from Chapel Hill started 25 games in his first season at North Carolina after transferring ...Read more

The NBA regular season ended Sunday and the first order of business for teams that fell short of making the playoffs was to evaluate their head coach. Hall of Famer Doc Rivers wasn't spared the scrutiny.

He agreed to depart from the Milwaukee Bucks after winning 16 fewer games this season than last. Rivers has one year remaining on the $40-...Read more

CHICAGO — Regime change doesn’t happen often on the Chicago sports scene, where who you know is often more important than what you know.

And the changing of the guard at the top of the Chicago Bulls food chain could be another chapter in a long line of teams “moving on” with familiar faces still in place.

Bulls President and CEO ...Read more

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Golden State Warriors ended their 2025-26 regular season on a high note.

Not because of their result at the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, a 115-110 loss, but because the Warriors finished the ultimately meaningless game with no new injuries, which is all coach Steve Kerr wanted to see.

The Warriors were locked into ...Read more

SAN ANTONIO — Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets sure know how to keep people guessing.

They are officially set to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the NBA playoffs, a fate sealed by their 128-118 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night. But it was how Denver (54-28) got to that endpoint that provided compelling ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — All that mattered to the Los Angeles Lakers was maintaining the right approach during their final game of the NBA regular season on Sunday.

They were still in contention for a higher seed in the Western Conference, but the Lakers were not focused on that. They were facing one of the worst teams in the league in the Utah Jazz, ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Even though the regular-season finale between the Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans didn’t have any meaning, the stands were still packed.

Kevin Garnett made his return to Target Center for the first time in his new role as an official ambassador for the team. Garnett walked out of the tunnel before the game ...Read more

NEW YORK — The New York Knicks’ inactive list for Sunday night’s regular-season finale against the Charlotte Hornets featured four starters and two key rotation players.

Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby were among those who sat out. Mikal Bridges joined them on the bench 23 seconds into the first quarter after ...Read more

MIAMI — No, not something you necessarily shout loud and proud.

But for the Miami Heat, it is what resonates after the regular season for a second consecutive year: We’re No. 10.

And that they are, off to Charlotte for a play-in game against the Hornets, with the loser finished for the season and the winner going on the road for an all-or-...Read more

INDIANAPOLIS — In early October, as the Detroit Pistons began training camp, coach J.B. Bickerstaff was impressed by the team's performance during five-on-five play. Observing their efforts gave him confidence that there were no limits to what his team could achieve in the 2025-26 season.

The Pistons went on to deliver one of the most ...Read more

BOSTON — The Boston Celtics had as many players in street clothes as in uniform Sunday — yet still finished the 2025-26 regular season with a signature victory.

Having already clinched the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, head coach Joe Mazzulla opted to sit all of Boston’s biggest names against the Orlando Magic and field an eight-...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 126-106 in the final game of the regular season, setting the stage for the NBA play-in tournament matchup against the Orlando Magic.

With the Magic’s loss to the Boston Celtics, the Sixers officially earned the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference, and will host that play-in ...Read more

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Doug Christie’s future as head coach of the Sacramento Kings has been the subject of speculation throughout the season, but there will be no uncertainty as the team heads into the offseason.

League sources told The Sacramento Bee the Kings will bring Christie back next season despite their struggles this season, as ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Lynx boss Cheryl Reeve has won the WNBA Executive of the Year award twice, in 2019 and 2024.

In 2019, she won it largely because of who she drafted.

In 2024, she won it largely by proving she didn’t need draft picks.

Reeve is the greatest coach in league history, and one of the greatest coaches in any sport. As a ...Read more

HARTFORD, Conn. — No one is in Braylon Mullins’ head, or in his heart. The decision he is soon to make, or maybe given the current vagaries of the rules will not have to make so soon, is his alone. He can listen to and take advice from whoever he chooses.

None of us can know what it’s like to be 19, from a small town in Indiana, and have ...Read more

MIAMI — A better record. A similar play-in seed.

But at least less drama, so there’s that.

A year ago, when assessing a 37-45 season that delivered the Heat to the No. 10 and final play-in seed, the thought was of a net gain in escaping a half season of Jimmy Butler drama.

Now, when assessing a record assured of finishing on the plus side...Read more