LAS VEGAS — It’s not as if this hasn’t been discussed within NBA circles for some time. I wouldn’t be surprised if countless straw votes haven’t already been taken over the last several years.

It just now seems real.

Like when steel began showing up at the ballpark along the Strip for the Athletics.

So, 2028 for the NBA, huh?

...Read more

HOUSTON — The combination of Luka Doncic and LeBron James was overpowering and enthralling for all to see during the Lakers’ dynamic 124-116 win over the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on Wednesday.

Doncic was a rebound shy of a triple-double with 40 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.

James was a force with 30 points, missing just ...Read more

NEW YORK — Every time you think this Nets season can’t get any worse, somehow it does.

Wednesday night at Barclays Center delivered the latest low. Brooklyn fell to the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, 121-92, dropped to 17-52 and watched its losing streak stretch to five games in a performance that unraveled almost immediately.

For the ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Bryan Hodgson has come home this week. Or at least, that’s the straightforward version of the story.

Western New York is the place where he was born, the place he was abused, the place he was rescued, loved and given a future.

Which makes a trip to Buffalo for an NCAA Tournament game against Louisville on Thursday afternoon a...Read more

BOSTON — The Celtics’ roster now features two of the franchise’s top 10 all-time scorers.

Jaylen Brown joined that list of legends during Wednesday’s 120-99 victory over the Golden State Warriors at TD Garden, scoring 32 points on 11-of-21 shooting to reach 13,202 for his career. He moved past Jo Jo White (13,188) and Dave Cowens (13,...Read more

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Jordan Scott wasn’t sure what to expect, really.

But as Michigan State’s freshman guard sat in the corner of a cramped locker room at Buffalo’s KeyBank Center, with some of his teammates busy rifling through a box of NCAA Tournament swag nearby, the nervous energy was obvious.

“I haven't even been out there on the ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — There have been years when March arrives in Florida and barely makes a ripple.

Thankfully, not this year.

This year, the Sunshine State has four teams dancing — Florida, Miami, UCF and USF — with a fifth, Florida State, surging so hard down the stretch it felt like the Seminoles belonged in the bracket, too. Not that ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Out of the mouths of babes …

When measuring the furiously growing buzz around the Lakers, one need only heed the hopeful cries of one of their most rabid fans.

A 6-year-old.

Wearing a Shaquille O'Neal jersey that nearly drapes to his knees.

Leading 20,000 fans in a Saturday night cheer that has swept through a city.

"...Read more

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Duke basketball coach Jon Scheyer said Wednesday that sophomore center Patrick Ngongba II is unlikely to play when the Blue Devils open NCAA Tournament play.

“I think it’s very unlikely that he plays tomorrow,” Scheyer said during a press conference Wednesday. “We’re going to keep taking it day by day. And again, ...Read more

GREENVILLE, S.C. — In game planning to face Duke in the NCAA Tournament, Siena basketball coach Gerry McNamara didn’t need intel on the Blue Devils’ Cameron Boozer.

The freshman has been named a unanimous first-team AP All-America. Boozer is the ACC player of the year and likely will be voted the national player of the year.

“I think ...Read more

Monday night in Washington was supposed to be a feel-good evening for a Warriors team that really needed one.

A nice win. Steve Kerr’s 600th win, in fact.

De’Anthony Melton looked great. (Nothing new there.) Kristaps Porzingis put on a show (now that’s new). The duo combined for 57 points and offered a tantalizing glimpse of what could ...Read more

DENVER — A reminder to be vigilant of the trap game was readily available to the Nuggets.

They needed only remember their last matchup with the 76ers, when the roles were reversed — when Denver’s entire starting five was absent and Philly’s “Big Three” was fully intact. It was back in January, and Jalen Pickett, Hunter Tyson and ...Read more

Paul McNeil sat in the N.C. State men’s basketball locker room on Monday night during the team’s pregame media availability. He said guys around the country would have to figure out the rest of their lives starting on March 17.

A number of N.C. State players are in that group.

N.C. State made a number of clutch plays down the stretch, ...Read more

NEW YORK — Should Josh Hart be moved to bench?

It’s been a question floating around the Knicks — from the outside, not within — for a starting lineup that has struggled to generate quality offense, defend or get out to quick starts with consistency in recent weeks.

The Knicks have penned Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The first game the Timberwolves played without Anthony Edwards for the next week or two might end up being the most important of that bunch.

The Wolves had a chance to put some distance in the standings between them and the Phoenix Suns, who entered the night two games back of them for a guaranteed playoff spot as the No. 6 seed...Read more

The seven-game winning streak reset the Miami Heat’s season.

The two-game skid that now has followed has robbed some of that hope.

Playing in the injury absences of Bam Adebayo and Andrew Wiggins, the Heat took a jolt in their playoff chase with Tuesday night’s 136-106 loss to the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center.

With Adebayo ruled ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — Although the Magic entered Tuesday’s game against the Thunder with an 8-2 record in games on the second night of a back-to-back, Orlando was facing a different type of challenge when it returned to Kia Center after falling at Atlanta the night prior.

Oklahoma City went into the game with the best record in the NBA, had won ...Read more

GAINESVILLE, Fla — Florida Gators coach Todd Golden prefers winning to wake-up calls, if given the choice.

Entering the SEC Tournament, he dismissed the notion that a loss could serve as a reality check for the red-hot, ultra-confident Gators. On Monday, Golden was forced to recalibrate after Saturday’s 91-74 comeuppance in the semifinals ...Read more