BARCELONA — Next season, the Euroleague’s Top 16 phase will have two groups of eight instead of four groups of four. Keeping in line with the home-and-home format, that means each team will play 14 games instead of six. Some people are digging the switch. An additional eight games mean more Milos Teodosic sleepy-eyed step backs, a blitzkrieg of bombas from Juan Carlos Navarro and, God willing, more of Petr Samoylenko’s fantastic mullet. Others are less pumped. Having eight more games could
“I know the chatter will begin,” LeBron James said. Is that chatter” as in talk? Or “chatter”as in “chattering” teeth? Just five nights after he was taken to task (by some harder than by others) for not attempting the game-tying shot in the All-Star game, LeBron James had a brilliant fourth quarter until that quarter came to an end. With the game on the line in Utah, James passed to Udonis Haslem for an open 17-foot jumper that missed, and Miami’s winning
Rudy Gay’s career high in rebounds is 13, done three separate times. Memphis is 10-0 when scoring 100 points. The Hawks are 10-0 when Josh Smith scores 20 or more points. The Bulls are 16-0 this season when leading at halftime on the road. Brian Scalabrine hit a 3-pointer in the final minute of the game, followed by a roar of cheers from delighted Chicago fans. Dallas played their third game in a stretch of nine games in their next twelve days. The Rockets have been
NEW YORK — The Miami Heat’s LeBron James and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant have been named the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month for games played in February. James captured his second consecutive Player of the Month award, leading Miami to an 11-2 record in February. James led the conference in scoring (24.6 ppg) and posted double-figure point totals in all 13 of Miami’s games. He finished in the top 10 in the East in assists
Adrian Wojnarowski: Atlanta had talks with Minnesota during draft on Josh Smith for No. 2 pick, but Hawks haven’t been aggressive in trying to trade Smith. Twitter Rajon Rondo might be leaving, too, with the Lakers and Utah seen as possible destinations. New York Daily News Adrian Wojnarowski: Atlanta did express an interest to Boston about Ray Allen or Kevin Garnett, but purely exploratory conversations, sources said. Twitter Gasol did acknowledge to ESPN.com that he has received a level of clarification about his status from Lakers general manager Mitch
The Rockets have struggled offensively out of the gates after the All-Star break. Facing the Nuggets at home may just be the cure they needed, because Denver is the worst defensive road team in the league. The Houston Rockets (21-15) look to regain their offensive form against the Denver Nuggets (19-17) as both teams fight for playoff positioning in the Western Conference in Friday’s game of the night. The odds favor Houston (the line is 3.5) as they sit 15-4 at home this
Dwight Howard has asked the Orlando Magic for a lot, hasn’t he? Over the past couple of years, Howard has asked management to try to acquire a handful of players, including Monta Ellis and Deron Williams. During the preseason, he asked for a trade. Then he asked that any trade be limited to a handful of teams – the New Jersey Nets, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks — that his agent was given permission to talk to. Now, Howard apparently again is
