The NBA released its 2024-25 schedule Thursday, and among the 1,200-plus games on the slate are s...

<p>The NBA <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3054223" href="https://thescore.com/news/3054223">released</a> its 2024-25 schedule Thursday, and among the 1,200-plus games on the slate are several standout matchups. Here's a look at 10 of them.</p><h3>Oct. 22: Ring ceremony in Beantown</h3><p>The Boston Celtics will receive their championship rings and hoist an NBA-record 18th banner as part of pre-game festivities as Mikal Bridges and the new-look New York Knicks visit on Opening Night. The two Atlantic Division rivals also squared off on Opening Night last season, with the Celtics claiming a 108-104 victory at Madison Square Garden.</p><h3>Oct. 22: Redick's 1st game as Lakers coach</h3><p>While the NBA's other monolith celebrates on Opening Night, the Los Angeles Lakers will host the Minnesota Timberwolves as a new chapter in the former's storied history begins. JJ Redick will be in charge for his first regular-season game as the Lakers' bench boss, his first role as a coach in any capacity outside of his son's youth team. This game could also mark Bronny James' professional debut.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Oct. 23: New-look Sixers welcome Bucks to Philly</h3><p>If there are two Eastern Conference teams that need to start the upcoming season on a good note, it's the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks. Both are coming off first-round exits marred by injuries to their iconic bigs - Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo - and the matchup will be Paul George's first regular-season appearance for the 76ers.</p><h3>Oct. 23: Clippers host 1st game at Intuit Dome</h3><p>Tech billionaire Steve Ballmer's Intuit Dome will host its first regular-season game when the Los Angeles Clippers welcome the Phoenix Suns. Formerly co-tenants with the Los Angeles Kings, Lakers, and Sparks, the Clippers now boast their own $2-billion, privately financed 18,000-seater that includes a double-sided <a href="https://x.com/FOS/status/1814684700142678160">Halo Board</a> above the court and three times the number of toilets as the average NBA arena.</p><h3>Oct. 25: Cavs' home opener has potential for drama</h3><p>The Cleveland Cavaliers will entertain the Detroit Pistons and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff for a home opener that could be tension-filled. The Cavs fired Bickerstaff in May after four years amid reports of an internal conflict with All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell. Post-dismissal, Bickerstaff also appeared to throw shade at Jarrett Allen, who missed the last eight games of the playoffs due to a rib injury.</p><h3>Nov. 6: PG13 returns to L.A.</h3><p>It's unclear what kind of reception California-born George will get upon his return to Los Angeles after <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/paul-george-calls-the-clippers-los-angeles-b-team">characterizing</a> his five-year spell with the Clippers as "I'm on the B team." The nine-time All-Star's quote was more a statement about the team living in the shadow of the Lakers, though a homecoming that will also feature the always-divisive Embiid could make for some drama.</p><h3>Nov. 12: Klay's back in the Bay Area</h3><p>On the heels of a celebrated 11-season spell with the Golden State Warriors that included four championships and five All-Star selections, Klay Thompson returns to the Bay Area in a Dallas Mavericks jersey for this highly anticipated reunion. Thompson penned a three-year, $50-million deal with the Mavs in July following a sign-and-trade that was part of an NBA-record six-team transaction.</p><h3>Dec. 19: French studs tango at The Alamo</h3><p>Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs welcome Zaccharie Risacher and the Atlanta Hawks to town in a clash between the two most recent No. 1 picks. The French invasion continues after Risacher was one of three countrymen selected in the top six in the 2024 NBA Draft, marking the first time in league history that three or more players from outside the U.S. were chosen among the first 10 picks in the same draft.</p><h3>Dec. 25: Joyeux Noel in San Antonio</h3><p>Speaking of the Spurs, Gregg Popovich and Co. will participate in their first Christmas Day game since 2016-17 when Wembanyama and newcomer Chris Paul host the Knicks at the Frost Bank Center. The T-Wolves and Mavericks will also meet in Minnesota in a Western Conference finals rematch as part of the annual five-game festive slate.</p><h3>Jan. 25: Finals rematch in Dallas</h3><p>The Celtics head to the Lone Star State to face the Mavericks in a rematch of the 2024 NBA Finals, which Boston won in five games behind an MVP display from Jaylen Brown. The two sides will also lock horns in Boston on Feb. 6, with Eastern and Western Conference teams playing each other just twice a season under the league's current scheduling format.</p>

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The New York Knicks and head coach Tom Thibodeau have agreed on a three-year extension through th...

<p>The New York Knicks and head coach Tom Thibodeau have agreed on a three-year extension through the 2027-28 season, sources told <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1816164060766892092">ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski</a>.</p><p>The two-time NBA Coach of the Year has led the Knicks to the Eastern Conference semifinals in each of the last two seasons after joining the organization ahead of the shortened 2020-21 campaign.</p><p>Thibodeau's extension marks the latest move in a busy summer for the Knicks. The team has signed All-Star guard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/45223" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/45223">Jalen Brunson</a> to a team-friendly four-year, $156.5-million extension and re-signed forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/46480" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/46480">OG Anunoby</a> to a five-year, $212.5-million deal.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>New York also landed <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/37879" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/37879">Mikal Bridges</a> in a three-team trade with the Brooklyn Nets and Houston Rockets in exchange for <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/11056" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/11056">Bojan Bogdanovic</a>, guard <a href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/45077">Shake Milton</a>, and several future first-round picks.</p><p>Thibodeau's tenure with the Knicks is his third permanent head coaching job in the NBA following spells with the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves.</p>

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MAY 17: Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks looks on in the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 17, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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The Golden State Warriors are working with the Philadelphia 76ers to finalize a sign-and-trade fo...

<p>The Golden State Warriors are working with the Philadelphia 76ers to finalize a sign-and-trade for veteran wing Buddy Hield, sources told <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1808351511354716657">The Athletic's Shams Charania</a>.</p><p>The Warriors are looking to replace some perimeter shooting after four-time NBA champion <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/5334" href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/players/5334">Klay Thompson</a> left the organization after 13 seasons Monday. Thompson <a href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/news/2934467">reportedly</a> inked a three-year, $50-million deal with the Dallas Mavericks as part of a three-team sign-and-trade agreement.</p><p>Hield is widely viewed as one of the NBA's top threats from behind the arc and shot 38.6% from deep in 84 regular-season outings with the Indiana Pacers and 76ers in 2023-24. The Oklahoma product was traded to Philadelphia in February in a three-team deal that also included the San Antonio Spurs.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The 31-year-old has shot 40% from three across eight seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings, Pacers and 76ers.</p><p>Hield was one of over a half-dozen Sixers who entered the offseason facing free agency. The organization was active on Monday, reportedly signing <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/1889" href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/players/1889">Paul George</a> to a four-year, $212-million deal. Philadelphia also reportedly re-signed All-Star guard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/93855" href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/players/93855">Tyrese Maxey</a> to a five-year, $204-million max extension and guard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/37666" href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/players/37666">Kelly Oubre Jr.</a> to a two-year, $18.5-million pact.</p><p>The Warriors, meanwhile, reportedly added forward Kyle Anderson on a three-year, $27-million contract via a sign-and-trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves earlier Tuesday. They also reached a one-year, $12.8-million agreement with former 76ers guard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/53030" href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/players/53030">De'Anthony Melton</a> Monday.</p><p>Hield scored 24 points Tuesday as the Bahamas topped Finland 96-85 in the first game of the Olympic men's basketball qualifying tournament in Valencia, Spain.</p>

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 14: Buddy Hield #17 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates during the game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Wells Fargo Center on April 14, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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The Washington Wizards opted for Alexandre Sarr with the second overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draf...

<p>The Washington Wizards opted for Alexandre Sarr with the second overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday.</p><p>Sarr, 19, is the second Frenchman to be selected in this year's draft after Zaccharie Risacher was picked by the Atlanta Hawks at No. 1.</p><h3>Bio</h3><p><strong>Position:</strong> Forward/center<br><strong>Club: </strong>Perth (Australia)<br><strong>Height:</strong> 7-foot-1<br><strong>Weight:</strong> 224 lbs<br><strong>Wingspan:</strong> 7-foot-4<br><strong>Max vertical: </strong>37 inches</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p><strong>2023-24 statistics with Perth:</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>GP</th>
<th>FG%</th>
<th>3PT%</th>
<th>FT%</th>
<th>REB</th>
<th>BLK</th>
<th>PTS</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>27</td>
<td>51.6</td>
<td>28.6</td>
<td>71.0</td>
<td>4.26</td>
<td>1.3</td>
<td>9.44</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Sarr is viewed as an athletic rim-protector with above-average mobility for a big fitting his profile. His size and paint presence should help cover for the Wizards' defensive liabilities.</p><p><strong>NBA comparable: </strong><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/62285" href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/players/62285">Jaren Jackson Jr</a>. Sarr's defensive impact and ability to face up and shoot from the perimeter is reminiscent of the Memphis Grizzlies big man and 2023 Defensive Player of the Year.</p>

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 26: NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver poses for a photo with Alex Sarr after being drafted second overall by the Washington Wizards during the 2024 NBA Draft - Round One on June 26, 2024 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE

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Brad Stevens appears to prefer operating in the shadows while the spotlight shines on others.   T...

<p>Brad Stevens appears to prefer operating in the shadows while the spotlight shines on others. </p><p>The Celtics' president of basketball operations' statement upon receiving the 2023-24 NBA Executive of the Year award at the end of April suggested as much: "This recognition has everything to do with the team, and nothing to do with any one individual."</p><p>Whether or not Stevens seeks praise for his efforts, he deserves heaps of credit for constructing a championship Boston team that was without rival this season.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown boast eight All-Star selections and four All-NBA team nods between them, and Brown's now a Finals MVP. But as much as Beantown's two-headed monster gave this team the star power required for a championship, it was the supporting cast that galvanized the Celtics' strengths.</p><p>Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford provided the Celtics with stellar two-way play and an unrelenting intensity that became both the ethos and backbone of a team that suffered few low points. The Celtics likely don't lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy without this quartet.</p><p>Just ask Stevens. In eight seasons as Boston's soft-spoken head coach, he amassed a 354-282 regular-season record and led the team to the playoffs in seven of eight tries after missing out in his debut year in charge. Those teams got no further than the conference finals on three occasions, and his successor, Ime Udoka, was on the losing end of the 2022 NBA Finals in six games to the Warriors. Something was missing.</p><p>So, how did we get here? Four influential trades shrewdly engineered by front-office mastermind Stevens were the difference.</p><h3>Horford returns after OKC banishment</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633267/cropped_GettyImages-2154519055.jpg?ts=1718672773" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633267/w220xh124_GettyImages-2154519055.jpg?ts=1718672773 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633267/w320xh180_GettyImages-2154519055.jpg?ts=1718672773 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633267/w640xh360_GettyImages-2154519055.jpg?ts=1718672773 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633267/w768xh432_GettyImages-2154519055.jpg?ts=1718672773 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633267/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2154519055.jpg?ts=1718672773 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Boston Globe / Boston Globe / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="DERRICK WHITE TRADE (Copy)" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-3OjFO" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/3OjFO/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="202" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>After a three-year spell in Boston followed by stints in Philadelphia and Oklahoma City, Horford played only 28 games with the Thunder in 2020-21 before sitting out the remainder of the season as the organization prioritized a youth movement. A solid career was at a standstill.</p><p>In his first move as team president in June 2021, Stevens shipped Kemba Walker and a pair of picks to OKC for frontcourt duo Horford and Moses Brown. Walker was bought out by OKC and played 46 combined games with the Knicks and Mavericks across two injury-plagued seasons before heading to Europe.</p><p>In 60 playoff outings across three seasons since returning to Boston, Horford averaged 9.4 points and 7.9 rebounds, but more importantly, the 38-year-old was a defensive stalwart. In Game 1 against the Mavs, Horford excelled when forced to guard Luka Doncic in pick-and-roll scenarios. Doncic scored two points on 0-for-8 shooting in the contest with Horford as his primary defender.</p><p>Boston talked a lot about winning a title for the veteran. Mission accomplished.</p><h3>Celtics acquire White from Spurs</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="[ Insert title here ]" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-i65SE" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/i65SE/2/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="230" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>In a move that in hindsight cost the Celtics very little, Boston traded for White in February 2021 after he signed a four-year, $70-million rookie extension with the Spurs. If that seems like a bargain for one of the league's best pound-for-pound defenders, that's because it is.</p><p>If there's a player who epitomizes the selflessness and defensively unrelenting identity of this Celtics team, it's White. He's twice been selected All-NBA Defensive second team since joining Boston and was included in shortlists for biggest All-Star snubs this season. He also went from being a below-average shooter from deep to flirting with a 40% clip in 2023-24.</p><p>The 29-year-old was a constant presence against the Mavs, especially on the defensive end where the undrafted guard displayed some deft rim-protection skills: White's game-saving late block on P.J. Washington in Game 2 secured a pivotal victory.</p><h3>Porzingis to Boston in 3-team deal</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633269/cropped_GettyImages-1444849945.jpg?ts=1718672872" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633269/w220xh124_GettyImages-1444849945.jpg?ts=1718672872 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633269/w320xh180_GettyImages-1444849945.jpg?ts=1718672872 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633269/w640xh360_GettyImages-1444849945.jpg?ts=1718672872 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633269/w768xh432_GettyImages-1444849945.jpg?ts=1718672872 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633269/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1444849945.jpg?ts=1718672872 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Boston Globe / Boston Globe / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="JRUE HOLIDAY TRADE (Copy)" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-jJm18" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/jJm18/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="279" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>The Celtics acquired Porzingis in a massive three-team trade the day after the 2023 NBA Draft, in a deal that sent fan favorite Marcus Smart to Memphis a year removed from his Defensive Player of the Year season.</p><p>After a mercurial eight-season spell with the Knicks, Mavs, and Wizards, Porzingis found a role with Joe Mazzulla's Celtics that suited him well: The Latvian became a third option who blended traditional big-man duties with savvy floor-spacing perimeter skills. He averaged 20.1 points during the regular season on only 13.2 field goal attempts - efficient stuff.</p><p>Despite missing 10 playoff outings and the third game of the Finals due to various ailments, Porzingis went off in Game 1 vs. the Mavs, scoring 18 first-quarter points and setting the tone for a series that significantly favored Boston. "It doesn't matter how long the guy is off, he's going to make plays," Mazzulla said after Game 1.</p><h3>Stevens sends haul for Holiday</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="AL HORFORD TRADE (Copy)" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-8f2Zq" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/8f2Zq/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="230" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>In September 2023, the Celtics acquired Holiday from the Trail Blazers for a haul that at the time seemed not insignificant. The fact Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams can't stay healthy skews that assessment. The move came days after the Bucks shipped two-time All-Star Holiday to Portland for a package that included Dame Lillard. In getting Lillard, the elite guard they hoped to pair with Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks indirectly gifted their conference rivals a defensive workhorse perfectly suited for Mazzulla's Celtics.</p><p>A six-time NBA All-Defensive team selection, Holiday's arguably the league's best perimeter defender. He can also contribute on the offensive end when needed, like in Game 2 of the Finals. With Tatum mired in a shooting slump, Holiday filled the void with a team-high 26 points on 11-of-14 shooting. He became the first player in Finals history to record at least 25 points and 10 rebounds on 75% or better shooting with zero turnovers.</p><p>During Boston's Game 3 victory, 76ers All-Star Joel Embiid <a href="https://x.com/JoelEmbiid/status/1801076572671156678">tweeted</a>: "Did the bucks give them the championship?" Asked about the comment during the broadcast ahead of Game 4, Embiid confirmed he was talking about Holiday. To answer Joel's question: No, the Bucks didn't give the Celtics the championship, though it's unlikely they win it without Holiday.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633319/cropped_GettyImages-2158043557.jpg?ts=1718705851" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633319/w220xh124_GettyImages-2158043557.jpg?ts=1718705851 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633319/w320xh180_GettyImages-2158043557.jpg?ts=1718705851 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633319/w640xh360_GettyImages-2158043557.jpg?ts=1718705851 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633319/w768xh432_GettyImages-2158043557.jpg?ts=1718705851 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633319/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2158043557.jpg?ts=1718705851 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Adam Glanzman / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Stevens was barely noticeable on the stage during postgame celebrations Monday in Boston - that's him, furthest to the right, in the photo above - before speaking with media.</p><p>Asked about his role in building a championship side - let's not forget Stevens also struck gold in naming Mazzulla Udoka's successor - the characteristically reticent and modest executive <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSCeltics/status/1802920786388267054">stuck to the script</a>. "When I say I didn't do anything, like, I didn't do <em>anything</em>."</p><p>Fresh off an outstanding series at both ends, Holiday joined the interview, telling Stevens, "Thanks for bringing me here and being a part of this because there's no greater feeling than this." To which Stevens responded: "And to the long road ahead."</p><p>Never change, Brad Stevens.</p>

BOSTON, MA - JUNE 17: Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics talks to the media after the game against the Dallas Mavericks during Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 17, 2024 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE

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<p><em>Find the biggest stories from across the soccer world by visiting our <a href="thescore:///topsn/news">Top Soccer News</a> section and subscribing to push notifications.</em></p><p>An expected club-record crowd for a Vancouver Whitecaps match won't see Inter Miami star <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/1126" href="https://www.thescore.com/mls/players/1126">Lionel Messi</a> in the flesh.</p><p>Nor will they see fellow Miami stars <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/4433" href="https://www.thescore.com/mls/players/4433">Luis Suarez</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mls/players/1114" href="https://www.thescore.com/mls/players/1114">Sergio Busquets</a> after it was reported that the trio of former Barcelona icons will not make the trip for Saturday's clash at BC Place.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Whitecaps CEO Axel Schuster all but confirmed the absences of Messi &amp; Co.</p><p>"Unfortunately, we have no control over who plays for our opponent, and it was important for us to communicate to our fans as soon as possible," Schuster said in a <a href="https://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/vwfc-statement-miami">team statement</a>.</p><p>"We know that there will also be a lot of disappointed fans," Schuster added.</p><p>According to the Whitecaps' statement, a club-record MLS-era 55,000-sellout crowd was expected with pre-match festivities including "the biggest street party in the team’s history."</p><p>The Inter Miami trio are not injured and are skipping the match for rest, sources told the <a href="https://x.com/kaufsports/status/1793794050421674200">Miami Herald's Michelle Kaufman</a>.</p><p>Miami also has a home match against Atlanta United next Wednesday.</p><p>The club says it will offer all food and drinks at stadium concessions at 50% off and all entrants 18 years of age or younger will receive one complimentary kids combo.</p><p>"We remain committed to making this a special experience for everyone," Schuster said. </p><p>"It is still going to be an incredible atmosphere and celebration of soccer for our city. We have amazing fans, we have a good team, and Saturday's match is a very important home game for us."</p><p>At the time of the Whitecaps' team statement, some tickets for the May 25 match were priced in the thousands on <a href="https://www.ticketmaster.ca/vancouver-whitecaps-fc-vs-inter-miami-vancouver-british-columbia-05-25-2024/event/1100602DCBA3255F?utm_source=vancouver%20is%20awesome&amp;utm_campaign=vancouver%20is%20awesome%3A%20outbound&amp;utm_medium=referral">Ticketmaster</a>, with one ticket seller asking over $10,000 CAD for a single seat.</p><p>Miami enters Saturday's match with the best record in MLS. The team has six wins and a draw in their last seven league outings, outscoring opponents 20-8 in that stretch.</p>

MONTREAL, CANADA - MAY 11: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami reacts as teammate Luis Suárez #9 looks on during the second half against CF Montréal at Saputo Stadium on May 11, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Inter Miami defeated CF Montréal 3-2.

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Messi won't travel to Vancouver for record sellout

Toronto has been awarded the WNBA's 14th franchise, with the club planning to begin play for the ...

<p>Toronto has been awarded the WNBA's 14th franchise, with the club planning to begin play for the 2026 season, according to <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/wnba-toronto-awarded-expansion-team-1.7198595">CBC's Shireen Ahmed</a>.</p><p>The WNBA granted the franchise to Toronto billionaire Larry Tanenbaum's Kilmer Sports Inc., according to Ahmed. Tanenbaum is a minority owner and chairman of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), the company that owns the Toronto Raptors and three other franchises in the city.</p><p>Tanenbaum initially sought an expansion franchise under the MLSE umbrella, a decision other board members voted down.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>An announcement about the WNBA's newest franchise is reportedly expected on May 23 in Toronto.</p><p>Kilmer Sports Inc. is a new section of Tanenbaum's Kilmer Group. The organization hired notable European soccer executive Ivan Gazidis and former Raptors vice president of basketball operations Teresa Resch to lead it.</p><p>The squad is slated to play in Toronto's Coca-Cola Coliseum, a source told Ahmed. The venue's an 8,000-seat area where the PWHL's Toronto team is wrapping up its first-ever campaign.</p><p>The WNBA has already found success in its limited Canadian endeavors, selling out the Raptors' Scotiabank Arena for a preseason game last spring and over 16,000 tickets for a contest in Edmonton last week.</p><p>Golden State was recently awarded the WNBA's 13th franchise, the league's first expansion since 2008. The team will begin play in 2025.</p><p>Women's basketball continues to grow in Canada, with the country producing WNBA first-rounders in back-to-back drafts. The Washington Mystics selected UConn All-American Aaliyah Edwards, from Kingston, Ontario, at No. 6 overall in this year's draft.</p>

COLLEGE PARK, GA JUNE 26: The WNBA logo on the court during the WNBA game between the Connecticut Sun and the Atlanta Dream on June 26th, 2022 at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, GA.

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Report: Toronto awarded WNBA team for 2026

The NBA handed Milwaukee Bucks guard Patrick Beverley a four-game suspension for "forcefully thro...

<p>The NBA handed Milwaukee Bucks guard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/250" href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/players/250">Patrick Beverley</a> a four-game suspension for "forcefully throwing a basketball multiple times at spectators and an inappropriate interaction with a reporter during media availability," the league announced.</p><p>Both incidents occurred May 2 during and following the 120-98 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of the first-round series. The defeat eliminated Milwaukee from the playoffs.</p><p>Beverley, 35, was involved in an altercation with fans behind the visitors' bench with the Bucks down 20 points in the fourth quarter at Indiana's Gainbridge Fieldhouse.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>He threw a ball at Pacers fans, seemingly striking one in the head. Beverley then appears to request that the ball be returned before throwing it at the fan who obliged the veteran guard's request.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">altercation between pat bev and pacers fans behind the bench <a href="https://t.co/dfQpqSBv33">pic.twitter.com/dfQpqSBv33</a></p>— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) <a href="https://twitter.com/WorldWideWob/status/1786199789002268787?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>During postgame media availability, Beverley refused to speak to ESPN producer Malinda Adams since she isn't subscribed to his podcast. Beverley then asked her to exit the press circle.</p><p>Beverley <a href="https://twitter.com/PatBevPod/status/1788226797714170266">said</a> he called Adams to apologize for the incident. The guard claimed to have had his rule about only talking to media members subscribed to his podcast throughout the season.</p><p>He also <a href="http://twitter.com/patbev21/status/1786353077752078546">vowed</a> to "be better" in a post on X following the incidents.</p><p>Beverley began the season with the Philadelphia 76ers before being dealt to the Bucks. He'll be a free agent this offseason and will serve his suspension on whichever team he signs with.</p>

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 01: Patrick Beverley #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at the United Center on March 01, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.

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Beverley banned 4 games after fan, reporter incidents

Nikola Jokic is now in truly rarefied air.  The Denver Nuggets All-Star was named MVP on Wednesda...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/37604" href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/players/37604">Nikola Jokic</a> is now in truly rarefied air.</p><p>The Denver Nuggets All-Star was named MVP on Wednesday to become the ninth player in NBA history to win the league's most prestigious award on three or more occasions.</p><p>The MVP trophy is Jokic's third in four seasons, with the 29-year-old capturing the honor this year over first-time nominees <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/60411" href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/players/60411">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander</a> of the Oklahoma City Thunder and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/68198" href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/players/68198">Luka Doncic</a> of the Dallas Mavericks.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Player</th>
<th>1st-place votes</th>
<th>Total</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Jokic</td>
<td>79</td>
<td>926</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gilgeous-Alexander</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>640</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Doncic</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>566</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Antetokounmpo</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>192</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Jokic joins some of the NBA's most celebrated players who won MVP three times.</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Awards</th>
<th>Player</th>
<th>Team(s)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Kareem-Abdul Jabbar</td>
<td> Bucks (3) Lakers (3)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Bill Russell</td>
<td>Celtics</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Michael Jordan</td>
<td>Bulls</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Wilt Chamberlain</td>
<td>76ers (3) Warriors (1)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>LeBron James</td>
<td> Cavaliers (2) Heat (2)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Moses Malone</td>
<td>Rockets (2) 76ers (1)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Larry Bird</td>
<td>Celtics</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Magic Johnson</td>
<td>Lakers</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Nikola Jokic</td>
<td>Nuggets</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Jokic made 79 appearances for the defending champion Nuggets this season, averaging 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, nine assists, and 1.4 steals in 34.6 minutes a game. He led the NBA in several categories, including win shares (17) and Value Over Replacement Player (10.6).</p><p>The Serbian's win continues a run of six straight MVPs born outside of the United States. Cameroonian-born Philadelphia 76ers center <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/31932" href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/players/31932">Joel Embiid</a> beat out Jokic for last year's award, and Greece's <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/30611" href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/players/30611">Giannis Antetokounmpo</a> won the honor for his 2018-19 and 2019-2020 seasons. Knicks guard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/45223" href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/players/45223">Jalen Brunson</a> received the most votes of all American players, garnering three second-place selections as part of a total of 142 points, good for fifth overall.</p>

DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 9: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets reacts to a referee decision in the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Ball Arena on March 9, 2024 in Denver, Colorado.

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Jokic beats out Shai, Luka to win MVP for historic 3rd time

Victor Wembanyama was named the 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year on Monday.  With all due respect t...

<p>Victor Wembanyama was <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2895048" href="https://www.thescore.com/news/2895048">named</a> the 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year on Monday.</p><p>With all due respect to the other eligible candidates, the San Antonio Spurs phenom's win was the most obvious and certain of the seven end-of-year individual awards.</p><p>In previous instalments of Wemby Watch, we tracked the Frenchman's progress after 10 games (<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2747762" href="https://www.thescore.com/news/2747762">click here</a>) and at the All-Star break (<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2812153" href="https://www.thescore.com/news/2812153">click here</a>). This time, we're going to focus on the numbers that set him apart.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Here are some standout stats and notable numbers from Wembanyama's stellar rookie campaign.</p><h3>A unanimous Rookie of the Year</h3><p>Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Brandon Miller of the Charlotte Hornets, and others had noteworthy rookie seasons, but Wembanyama was on another level in 2023-24.</p><p>He led all rookies in three of the five major statistical categories and finished second in steals and fourth in assists. No rookie in NBA history had previously finished top four in all five categories.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="[ Insert title here ]" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-mHW9P" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/mHW9P/4/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="100" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>Wembanyama also finished first among rookies in total steals (88) ahead of per-game leader Amen Thompson of the Houston Rockets (78).</p><p>While Holmgren was justifiably in the award discussion for parts of the season, Wembanyama's impressive and rapid improvement was ultimately the deciding factor.</p><p>Here are 10 major statistical categories and how Wembanyama fared in each month of his rookie year:</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="WEMBY MONTHLY STATS (Copy)" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-A5Hxl" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/A5Hxl/12/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="485" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>His increased minutes in March and April are a factor, although Wembanyama also put up All-Star caliber numbers in January in just 26.7 minutes per outing. His 29.7 minutes per game (in 71 total appearances) represented the 79th-highest average in the league this season.</p><p>Wembanyama recorded 43 double-doubles - good for 10th in the entire league, 20 more than Holmgren, and more than the entire rookie class combined. He was the only rookie to record a triple-double this season (he did it twice) and fell just two assists and a block short of notching the fifth quadruple-double in NBA history versus the Denver Nuggets on April 2.</p><h3>A comparison with the best-ever rookies</h3><p>A glance at Wembanyama's debut season in the context of the NBA's all-time greatest immediately reveals one thing: There have been some absurd rookie campaigns.</p><p>Before comparing Wembanyama's season to others from the past, it's important to make a distinction between the modern NBA and the pre-ABA-NBA merger of 1976. Players like Wilt Chamberlain (37.6 PPG, 27 REB, MVP award) Oscar Robertson (30.5 PPG, 10.1 REB, 9.7 AST), Kareem-Abdul Jabbar (28.8 PPG, 14.5 REB, 4.1 AST; then known as Lew Alcindor), and Wes Unseld (second rookie to win MVP) all averaged around 40 minutes a game in a vastly different league.</p><p>As cited above, finishing top four in all five major categories among rookies puts Wembanyama in rarefied air, but how does his season compare to other standouts? Here's a sortable chart featuring Wembanyama and a dozen other notable post-merger rookie seasons.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="WEMBY MONTHLY STATS (Copy) (Copy)" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-BFnAY" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/BFnAY/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="613" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>At this juncture of Wembanyama's career, he's making his greatest contributions at the defensive end. This season, he led the entire league in blocks and became the youngest player ever to accomplish that feat. He also compiled the third-most blocks by a rookie in NBA history and became the first rookie with 300-plus stocks (blocks plus steals) since Shaquille O'Neal.</p><p>Wembanyama became just the 15th player in league history and the youngest ever to record the elusive <em>5X5</em> when he logged 27 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, five steals, and five blocks in 31 minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 23.</p><p>He also recorded the first-ever season with 1,500-plus points, 250-plus blocks, and 100-plus made 3-pointers in NBA history - not just by a rookie. The 20-year-old is only scratching the surface of his unique skill set.</p><h3>Other standout stats</h3><p><strong>1: </strong>No other player in NBA history - rookie or otherwise - has averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, three blocks, one steal, and one made 3-pointer in a season.</p><p><strong>2: </strong>Wembanyama authored two<strong> </strong>games with at least seven blocks and seven assists. No one else did it once this year.</p><p><strong>3.6:</strong> His 3.6 blocks per game were more than the entire Miami Heat (3.4) roster managed this season.</p><p><strong>4:</strong> He was fourth worldwide in licensed NBA jersey sales behind Steph Curry, LeBron James, and Jayson Tatum.</p><p><strong>8:</strong> Wembanyama recorded at least five blocks and five assists in eight games. The rest of the NBA did that in 12 games total this season.</p><p><strong>10: </strong>His 10 games with five-plus points, five-plus rebounds, five-plus assists, and five-plus blocks are the second-most in a season in NBA history (David Robinson had 13 in 1993-94).</p><p><strong>20x20:</strong> His 21-point, 20-rebound display versus the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 8 made Wembanyama the youngest player in league history to post a 20x20 game (19 years, 342 days).</p><p><strong>342:</strong> He led the NBA with 254 blocks. Combined with total steals to make stocks<em>, </em>Wembanyama's 342 total dwarfed second-place finisher Anthony Davis (264). No other player in the league had more than 200.</p>

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Wemby Watch: The numbers behind a historic season

The Indiana Fever selected Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draf...

<p>The Indiana Fever selected Iowa superstar <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wcbk/players/91509" href="https://www.thescore.com/wcbk/players/91509">Caitlin Clark</a> with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft on Monday in Brooklyn, New York.</p><p>The selection amounts to one of the most predictable picks in the WNBA draft's 28-year history after Clark, 22, shattered several NCAA records during her celebrated tenure with the Hawkeyes.</p><p>The NCAA Division I's all-time leading scorer (men and women) and two-time reigning AP Player of the Year should add a scoring boost to a Fever side that hasn't made the playoffs since 2016.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Los Angeles Sparks selected Stanford star <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wcbk/players/92314" href="https://www.thescore.com/wcbk/players/92314">Cameron Brink</a> with the second overall pick and Tennessee forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wcbk/players/77129" href="https://www.thescore.com/wcbk/players/77129">Rickea Jackson</a> with the fourth. The Chicago Sky drafted recently-crowned national champion <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wcbk/players/91995" href="https://www.thescore.com/wcbk/players/91995">Kamilla Cardoso</a> third overall and former NCAA title winner <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wcbk/players/92203" href="https://www.thescore.com/wcbk/players/92203">Angel Reese</a> No. 7.</p><h3>Round 1</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Pick</th>
<th>Team</th>
<th>Player </th>
<th>School/Country</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Fever</td>
<td>Caitlin Clark</td>
<td>Iowa</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Sparks</td>
<td>Cameron Brink</td>
<td>Stanford</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Sky</td>
<td>Kamilla Cardoso</td>
<td>South Carolina</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Sparks</td>
<td>Rickea Jackson</td>
<td>Tennessee</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Wings</td>
<td>Jacy Sheldon</td>
<td>Ohio State</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Mystics</td>
<td>Aaliyah Edwards</td>
<td>UConn</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Sky</td>
<td>Angel Reese</td>
<td>LSU</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>Lynx</td>
<td>Alissa Pili</td>
<td>Utah</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Wings</td>
<td>Carla Leite</td>
<td>France</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>Sun</td>
<td>Leila Lacan</td>
<td>France</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>Liberty</td>
<td>Marquesha Davis</td>
<td>Mississippi</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>Dream</td>
<td>Nyadiew Puoch</td>
<td>Australia</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Other notable first-round selections include the Washington Mystics picking UConn star Aaliyah Edwards sixth overall and the Minnesota Lynx choosing Utah forward Alissa Pili at eight.</p><p>Indiana won the WNBA draft lottery for a second successive season after finishing with the league's third-worst record (13-27) last campaign. The draft lottery is comprised of the previous season's four non-playoff teams and considers their two-year cumulative record.</p><h3>Round 2</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Pick</th>
<th>Team</th>
<th>Player </th>
<th>School/Country</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>Sky</td>
<td>Brynna Maxwell</td>
<td>Gonzaga</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>Storm</td>
<td>Nika Muhl</td>
<td>UConn</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>Fever</td>
<td>Celeste Taylor</td>
<td>Ohio State</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>Aces</td>
<td>Dyaisha Fair</td>
<td>Syracuse</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>Liberty</td>
<td>Esmery Martinez</td>
<td>Arizona</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
<td>Aces</td>
<td>Kate Martin</td>
<td>Iowa</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td>
<td>Sun</td>
<td>Taiyanna Jackson</td>
<td>Kansas</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20</td>
<td>Dream</td>
<td>Isobel Borlase</td>
<td>Australia</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>21</td>
<td>Mystics</td>
<td>Kaylynne Truong</td>
<td>Gonzaga</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>22</td>
<td>Sun</td>
<td>Helena Pueyo</td>
<td>Arizona</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>23</td>
<td>Liberty</td>
<td>Jessika Carter</td>
<td>Mississippi State</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>24</td>
<td>Aces</td>
<td>Elizabeth Kitley</td>
<td>Virginia Tech</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><h3>Round 3</h3><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Pick</th>
<th>Team</th>
<th>Player </th>
<th>School/Country</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>25</td>
<td>Mercury</td>
<td>Charisma Osborne</td>
<td>UCLA</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>26</td>
<td>Storm</td>
<td>Mackenzie Holmes</td>
<td>Indiana</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>27</td>
<td>Fever</td>
<td>Leilani Correa</td>
<td>Florida</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>28</td>
<td>Sparks</td>
<td>McKenzie Forbes</td>
<td>USC</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>29</td>
<td>Mercury</td>
<td>Jaz Shelley</td>
<td>Nebraska</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>30</td>
<td>Mystics</td>
<td>Nastja Claessens</td>
<td>Belgium</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>31</td>
<td>Lynx</td>
<td>Kiki Jefferson</td>
<td>Louisville</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>32</td>
<td>Dream</td>
<td>Matilde Villa</td>
<td>Italy</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>33</td>
<td>Wings</td>
<td>Ashley Owusu</td>
<td>Penn State</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>34</td>
<td>Sun</td>
<td>Abbey Hsu</td>
<td>Columbia</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>35</td>
<td>Liberty</td>
<td>Kaitlyn Davis</td>
<td>USC</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>36</td>
<td>Aces</td>
<td>Angel Jackson</td>
<td>Jackson State</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 15: Caitlin Clark poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected first overall pick by the Indiana Fever during the 2024 WNBA Draft at Brooklyn Academy of Music on April 15, 2024 in New York City.

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Clark selected by Fever with No. 1 pick in 2024 WNBA Draft

A rise in load management-related absences to the league's marquee players presented Adam Silver ...

<p>A rise in load management-related absences to the league's marquee players presented Adam Silver with the latest challenge of his decade-long tenure as NBA commissioner.</p><p>Silver responded ahead of the 2023-24 campaign by introducing criteria for the league's end-of-season awards in accordance with the new collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and its players' association.</p><p>Players must play no fewer than 20 minutes in 65 games to be under consideration for Most Valuable Player and other end-of-season awards. Players who suffered season-ending injuries were required to feature in 62 games.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>With the regular season complete, here's a list of marquee players who might have been up for individual honors were it not for the games-played criteria:</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="NBA stars ineligible for end-of-season awards" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-m5Vd5" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/m5Vd5/12/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="782" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><p><em>* Honors represents the number of times the player made an All-Star team, All-NBA team, All-Rookie team, All-Defensive team, or won any of the NBA's individual awards (MVP, DPOY, etc.).</em></p><p><em>The chart only includes games of 20 or more minutes played, per eligibility criteria. Khris Middleton (10 games of fewer than 20 minutes) and Jamal Murray (three games) are among those affected by this rule.</em></p>

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Walking wounded: Which NBA stars are ineligible for end-of-season awards?

Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss the remaining three games of the regular...

<p>Milwaukee Bucks All-Star <a href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/players/30611">Giannis Antetokounmpo</a> will miss the remaining three games of the regular season due to a calf strain, the team announced Wednesday.</p><p>The Bucks star will receive daily treatment and remain under evaluation. He suffered the injury in Tuesday night's win over the Boston Celtics.</p><p>Antetokounmpo underwent an MRI that confirmed the strain. It also showed that his left Achilles tendon remains fully intact and didn't suffer any significant damage, sources told <a href="https://x.com/wojespn/status/1778025887092572667">ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski</a>.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Antetokounmpo appeared to <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1777866043261583388">sustain the non-contact ailment</a> after inbounding the ball to teammate Damian Lillard in the third quarter.</p><p>When asked Wednesday if he expected Antetokounmpo to be ready for the playoffs, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said, "I don't know, I'm just hoping," according to <a href="https://twitter.com/eric_nehm/status/1778188470902767742">The Athletic's Eric Nehm</a>.</p><p>"Anytime you see one of your teammates go down, it’s a real level of concern," Lillard <a href="https://theathletic.com/5404588/2024/04/10/giannis-leg-injury-calf-achilles/">told</a> Nehm postgame Tuesday.</p><p>Lillard added: "And I was right next to him. So, I just saw, like, kind of his facial expression, like his reaction. So, obviously, I got scared."</p><p>Bucks coach Doc Rivers said postgame that the level of concern about Antetokounmpo's injury was "high," according to <a href="https://twitter.com/JamalCollier/status/1777878130260066488">ESPN's Jamal Collier</a>.</p><p>"But he's Giannis," Rivers added. "I think everyone probably feels the same way as I do right now. We're just going (to) hope for the best."</p><p>Antetokounmpo, 29, is averaging 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists on 61.1% shooting from the field in 73 games this season.</p><p>The 48-31 Bucks sit second in the Eastern Conference with a one-game advantage over the New York Knicks. Milwaukee owns the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Knicks.</p>

PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 6: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks handles the ball during the game on February 6, 2024 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE

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Giannis to miss last 3 games of season due to calf strain

Former NBA veteran Vince Carter has been announced as part of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fam...

<p>Former NBA veteran Vince Carter has been announced as part of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2024.</p><p>Carter is joined by Chauncey Billups, Michael Cooper, Seimone Augustus, Jerry West, Herb Simon, Doug Collins, Bo Ryan, Walter Davis, Charles Smith, Dick Barnett, Harley Redin, and Michele Timms.</p><p>Here's a brief look at the 12 individuals set to be enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame:</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p><strong>Vince Carter: </strong>The author of some of the most famous dunks in history, Carter was an eight-time NBA All-Star, two-time All-NBA selection, and former Rookie of the Year winner who scored 25,728 career points in an NBA-record 22 seasons. Carter posted a career-high 27.6 points per game during the 2000-01 campaign with the Toronto Raptors and also starred in two Final Fours with North Carolina.</p><p><strong>Chauncey Billups: </strong>Currently the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, Billups was a five-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection who won the 2004 NBA title and Finals MVP honors. Billups averaged 15.2 points and 5.4 assists with seven teams across his 17-year career.</p><p><strong>Michael Cooper: </strong>A member of the iconic 1980s Los Angeles Lakers teams, five-time NBA champion Cooper finally gets the call. Although Cooper averaged just 8.9 points per game in his 12-year career, he earned All-Defense honors eight times and the Defensive Player of the Year award once.</p><p><strong>Seimone Augustus: </strong>After guiding LSU to three straight Final Four berths and winning two NCCA Player of the Year honors, Augustus enjoyed a stellar WNBA career that included four championships and eight All-Star selections. She also won Finals MVP in 2011 with the Minnesota Lynx, averaging 24.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists while shooting 58.7% from the field.</p><p><strong>Jerry West: </strong>Already inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player, West is getting the nod again as an executive with the Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, and Los Angeles Clippers.</p><p><strong>Herb Simon:</strong> Simon, who purchased the Indiana Pacers in 1983 with his brother Mel, is the NBA's longest-serving owner. Under his watch, the Pacers have made the Eastern Conference finals on eight occasions and the NBA Finals in 2000.</p><p><strong>Doug Collins: </strong>Collins has contributed to the NBA as a player, coach, and broadcaster. He was a four-time All-Star in eight seasons before coaching early-career Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls. He also had spells in charge of the Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers, and Detroit Pistons.</p><p><strong>Bo Ryan:</strong> Ryan posted a 747-223 record across 32 collegiate seasons with Wisconsin-Platteville, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Wisconsin. He won a quartet of Division III championships and also guided Wisconsin to back-to-back Final Four appearances in 2014 and 2015.</p><p><strong>Walter Davis:</strong> A six-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection, Davis won the Rookie of the Year award in 1977-78 as part of a noteworthy 11-year spell with the Phoenix Suns. Davis also averaged 24.2 points per game in his rookie season, resulting in a fifth-place MVP finish.</p><p><strong>Charles Smith: </strong>Not to be confused with the former Knicks and Clippers big man of the same name, Smith is Louisiana's all-time winningest high school basketball coach. He boasts eight state titles and two unbeaten seasons in 2004 and 2010.</p><p><strong>Dick Barnett:</strong> A star in the collegiate ranks at Tennessee A&amp;I, Barnett led the school to consecutive NAIA national championships (1957-59) before embarking on a 14-year NBA career. He made one All-Star team and won two championships with the New York Knicks in 1970 and 1973.</p><p><strong>Harvey Redin: </strong>Redin was a significant contributor to the growth of women's basketball in the 1950s and 60s. He served as coach of Wayland Baptist, first with the men's team, then with the women's, where he amassed an astounding 431-66 records across 18 seasons.</p><p><strong>Michele Timms: </strong>One of the elite point guards of women's basketball, Timms won silver and bronze Olympic medals with Australia in 2000 and 1996, respectively. She was also selected to the 1999 WNBA All-Star game as part of a five-season career in the United States.</p><p>The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2024 induction ceremony will take place in August.</p>

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 16: Vince Carter speaks to the media during the Hall of Fame Press Conference as part of NBA All-Star Weekend on Friday, February 16, 2024 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE

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Carter headlines 2024 Naismith Hall of Fame inductees

Things are getting messy in Minnesota.  A day after owner Glen Taylor announced that minority own...

<p>Things are getting messy in Minnesota.</p><p>A day after owner Glen Taylor <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2878752" href="https://www.thescore.com/news/2878752">announced</a> that minority owners Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore didn't exercise their option to complete the purchase of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx in time, the duo claim the spat is getting hostile.</p><p>"We can be in this (fight) for five years, 10 years, whatever. We're not going to let go," Rodriguez told <a href="https://theathletic.com/5378492/2024/03/29/minnesota-timberwolves-lynx-sale-alex-rodriguez-glen-taylor-marc-lore/?access_token=9046&amp;redirected=1">The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski and Shams Charania</a>.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Rodriguez and Lore said prospective new owners are eligible for a 90-day extension according to the NBA's vetting process. Both indicated surprise at Taylor's announcement Thursday.</p><p>"We thought we were on good terms and we had a good relationship and they were happy with all the time that we've put into the team to help get the team to where it is today," Lore said.</p><p>"They seemed appreciative of that, and then boom. It's really like a nuclear bomb went off, completely unexpected and very, very disappointing."</p><p>A dispute over a private owners' suite in the bowels of Minnesota's Target Center has become a microcosm of the spat. Rodriguez and Lore, who acted as limited partners under Taylor's employ as part of an ownership succession plan, had a suite with luxury amenities built for the two to entertain clients and conduct business on game nights.</p><p>Taylor and his wife, Becky, said they considered the suite an unnecessary extravagance.</p><p>"(It) was more of their priority that they had that room than, 'Who are we trading for?'" he said.</p><p>Rodriguez called Taylor's comments "disingenuous" and unbefitting of a team owner. "I would expect to hear that from like, a teenager, not from someone who's so mature and so astute and who has been so successful," Rodriguez said.</p><p>Taylor said that Rodriguez and Lore are no longer permitted in the executive owners' suite, nor can they contact T-Wolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly or his staff.</p><p>"It feels very much like a slap in the face and much more personal than even just about the money," Lore said.</p><p>Rodriguez and Lore claim that Taylor pulled out of the deal because the Timberwolves' valuation has increased amid a stellar season. Taylor initially agreed on a $1.5-billion asking price when Rodriguez and Taylor approached him in April 2021.</p><p>The two parties had agreed to a gradual trajectory toward majority ownership, with a 20% first-time payment followed by a second 20% payment in 2023 and the final 40% by the March 27 deadline.</p><p>"We will use every ounce of effort here to enforce the contract that Glen broke," Lore said. "So that means time, capital, whatever means necessary."</p>

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 30: Co-owners Alex Rodriguez (R) and Marc Lore of the Minnesota Timberwolves look on in the second quarter during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Target Center on December 30, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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A-Rod, Lore call T-Wolves ownership spat 'slap in the face'

Los Angeles Lakers icon LeBron James is the first player in NBA history to reach the 40,000-point...

<p>Los Angeles Lakers icon <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/72" href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/players/72">LeBron James</a> is the first player in NBA history to reach the 40,000-point mark.</p><p>James accomplished the feat in Saturday's 124-114 defeat against the Denver Nuggets, reaching the milestone with a layup at the 10:39 mark of the second quarter.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">LeBron James scores the bucket to become the first player in league history to score 40,000 career points 👑<br><br>DEN-LAL Live on ABC <a href="https://t.co/I84Xd5hiWf">pic.twitter.com/I84Xd5hiWf</a></p>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1764111508768698680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Players</th>
<th>GP</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>LeBron James</td>
<td>1475</td>
<td>40017</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Kareem Abdul-Jabbar</td>
<td>1560</td>
<td>38387</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Karl Malone</td>
<td>1476</td>
<td>36928</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Kobe Bryant</td>
<td>1346</td>
<td>33643</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Michael Jordan</td>
<td>1072</td>
<td>32292</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most points in NBA history last season in a defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Feb. 7, 2023.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The 39-year-old four-time MVP and NBA Finals MVP also holds the league record for most playoff points (8,023) and All-Star appearances (20).</p><p>Here's a look at how James' record-setting regular-season haul has been spread among the three franchises he's played for.</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Team</th>
<th>GP</th>
<th>Points</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cleveland Cavaliers</td>
<td>849</td>
<td>23119</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Los Angeles Lakers</td>
<td>332</td>
<td>8980</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Miami Heat</td>
<td>294</td>
<td>7919</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>James finished Saturday's 2023 Western Conference Finals rematch at the Crypto.com Arena with 26 points on 12-of-20 shooting from the field to go with nine assists and four rebounds. Rui Hachimura recorded 23 points, and Anthony Davis added 17 points and 11 boards as all five Lakers starters finished with at least 17 points.</p><p>Two-time MVP Nikola Jokic had 35 points and 10 rebounds for the visitors, and Michael Porter Jr. chipped in with a tidy 25-point display that included a perfect 5-for-5 return from beyond the arc.</p><p>The Lakers fell to 33-29 with the defeat and remain in 10th place in the Western Conference and the final play-in spot.</p>

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 2: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates after scoring his 40,000th point during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 2, 2024 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE

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LeBron becomes 1st in NBA history to reach 40K points

How do you judge the impact of a player whose arrival in the NBA garnered more hype than any rook...

<p>How do you judge the impact of a player whose arrival in the NBA garnered more hype than any rookie since LeBron James 20 years ago?</p><p>Through 49 games, it appears all the hype surrounding Victor Wembanyama was warranted. The 7-foot-4 prodigy is having one of the best rookie seasons in NBA history by nearly every metric - but just how good has he actually been?</p><h3>Wemby's best performances</h3><p><em>Wembanyama has produced several notable individual showings to start his career. Here's a look at seven of his best outings leading up to the All-Star break.</em></p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p><strong>Nov. 2: Spurs 132-121 Suns</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>MIN</th>
<th>PTS</th>
<th>REB</th>
<th>AST</th>
<th>BLK</th>
<th>FG</th>
<th>3PT</th>
<th>FT</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>34</td>
<td> 38</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>15-26</td>
<td>3-6</td>
<td>5-6</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Wembanyama continued an early trend of strong finishes in the Spurs' second win over the Phoenix Suns in the span of three days. With 4:21 left, he nailed a 23-footer to tie it at 116 before scoring 10 of San Antonio's next 12 points as part of a dominant 38-point, 10-rebound showing. That made it 39 points across five fourth quarters on 15-of-19 shooting. Mon dieu. [<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2752998" href="https://www.thescore.com/news/2752998">Recap</a>]</p><p><strong>Dec. 8: Bulls 121-112 Spurs</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>MIN</th>
<th>PTS</th>
<th>REB</th>
<th>AST</th>
<th>BLK</th>
<th>FG</th>
<th>3PT</th>
<th>FT</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>31</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>8-20</td>
<td>0-4</td>
<td>5-6</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>The Frenchman's first career 20-20 outing wasn't enough to prevent the Spurs from tying their franchise-worst 16-game losing streak. Wembanyama also logged a double-double in the opening half for the first time in his career. Not bad considering he was part of a starting five that had only shared the floor for six total possessions prior to the contest. [<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2788641" href="https://www.thescore.com/news/2788641">Recap</a>]</p><p><strong>Dec. 13: Lakers 122-119 Spurs</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>MIN</th>
<th>PTS</th>
<th>REB</th>
<th>AST</th>
<th>BLK</th>
<th>FG</th>
<th>3PT</th>
<th>FT</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>32</td>
<td>30</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>11-21</td>
<td>4-5</td>
<td>4-7</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Matched up against Anthony Davis, Wembanyama became the first rookie to record 30 points, 10 rebounds, and six blocks in an NBA game since Tim Duncan (1998). Wembanyama had another strong fourth quarter, recording 14 points in the final frame as San Antonio outscored L.A. 45-30 and nearly erased a 20-point deficit. [<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2793392" href="https://www.thescore.com/news/2793392">Recap</a>]</p><p><strong>Jan. 4: Bucks 125-121 Spurs</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>MIN</th>
<th>PTS</th>
<th>REB</th>
<th>AST</th>
<th>BLK</th>
<th>FG</th>
<th>3PT</th>
<th>FT</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>26</td>
<td>27</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>10-18</td>
<td>2-8</td>
<td>5-6</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Wembanyama toasted his 20th birthday going toe-to-toe with Giannis Antetokounmpo. The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNZXiAZCJ18">final 1:30</a> was thrilling: Wembanyama denied Damian Lillard then hit a game-tying triple before Giannis threw down an and-1 slam. The Greek Freak tried it again on the next possession, only for Wembanyama to block him. Exhilarating stuff. If only the other Spurs could hit a shot. [<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2812762" href="https://www.thescore.com/news/2812762">Recap</a>]</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WNZXiAZCJ18?si=mvflLMTZzhRSf60w" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><p><strong>Jan. 10: Spurs 130-108 Pistons</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>MIN</th>
<th>PTS</th>
<th>REB</th>
<th>AST</th>
<th>BLK</th>
<th>FG</th>
<th>3PT</th>
<th>FT</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>21</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>6-16</td>
<td>0-4</td>
<td>4-5</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Wembanyama resembled an elite playmaker against the Detroit Pistons, notching a first career triple-double in 21 minutes. It was the second-fewest minutes played for a triple-double in NBA history (Russell Westbrook needed just 20 to accomplish the feat in 2014). The Spurs star also became the youngest to ever record a triple-double without a turnover. [<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2818540" href="https://www.thescore.com/news/2818540">Recap</a>]</p><p><strong>Jan. 22: 76ers 133-123 Spurs</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>MIN</th>
<th>PTS</th>
<th>REB</th>
<th>AST</th>
<th>BLK</th>
<th>FG</th>
<th>3PT</th>
<th>FT</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>28</td>
<td>33</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>10-19</td>
<td>2-5</td>
<td>11-12</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Lost in the hubbub surrounding Joel Embiid's 70-point night was a stellar display from Wembanyama, who posted a career best in free-throw attempts, signaling his effort to seek higher-percentage shots. "He's already pretty good, but once his body develops and his body also catches up, it's going to be a lot of problems for a lot of guys in this league," Embiid said, per <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/76ers/news/joel-embiid-victor-wembanyama-trade-praise-after-76ers-win-spurs">Justin Grasso of Sports Illustrated</a>. [<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2828498" href="https://www.thescore.com/news/2828498">Recap</a>]</p><p><strong>Feb. 12: Spurs 122-99 Raptors</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>MIN</th>
<th>PTS</th>
<th>REB</th>
<th>AST</th>
<th>BLK</th>
<th>FG</th>
<th>3PT</th>
<th>FT</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>29</td>
<td>27</td>
<td>14</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>10-14</td>
<td>2-4</td>
<td>5-6</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>As if the lowly Toronto Raptors needed another reminder they're a year late on being lottery-bound, the 2023 first overall pick recorded the first 10-block triple-double by a rookie since 1990 and the first ever in 30 or fewer minutes. The <a href="https://x.com/spurs/status/1757225365657800956?s=20">grin he flashed</a> after denying Scottie Barnes twice on the same possession was a concise summarization of events. [<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2843896" href="https://www.thescore.com/news/2843896">Recap</a>]</p><h3>Jaw-dropping highlights</h3><p><em>Here are a few highlights from Wembanyama's many excellent individual plays:</em></p><p><strong>Self alley-oop vs. Bucks</strong></p><p>In a clash of unicorns (as featured above), Wembanyama followed Giannis' dunk with a truly unique self-assisted effort. How do you defend this?</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Giannis throws DOWN a slam and Wemby comes RIGHT back with a self alley-oop!😱<br><br>📺 Bucks-Spurs on TNT <a href="https://t.co/ItrOsbnwEQ">pic.twitter.com/ItrOsbnwEQ</a></p>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1743077495304294651?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p><strong>Behind-the-back plus slam vs. Bucks</strong></p><p>Also from the same contest, Wembanyama eluded Lillard with a nifty move before sending 7-footer Brook Lopez on a one-way trip to retirement.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">WEMBY GOES BEHIND-THE-BACK ON THE COAST-TO-COAST SLAM 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/blstNHmgdD">pic.twitter.com/blstNHmgdD</a></p>— NBA TV (@NBATV) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1743089151778410796?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p><strong>Lankiest dunk ever vs. Celtics</strong></p><p>This is a layup for 99.999% of people on this planet. For Wembanyama, it's a finger roll dunk. This is not fair.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wemby looked every bit of 7'4" on this play against Boston 🤯 <a href="https://t.co/sTkujr0t3a">pic.twitter.com/sTkujr0t3a</a></p>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1741649235936780652?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p><strong>Shammgod vs. T-Wolves sends Gobert back to France</strong></p><p>Wembanyama made countryman Rudy Gobert reconsider his life choices with a Shammgod and slam. Again, this isn't fair.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wemby hit ‘em with the Shammgod 😳 <a href="https://t.co/UqtV7LaMtp">pic.twitter.com/UqtV7LaMtp</a></p>— NBA TV (@NBATV) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1751430711309930600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p><strong>Making circus shots look routine vs. the Grizzlies</strong></p><p>Here he is nailing a nonchalant double-banked one-footed 30-foot triple in Memphis. Replace the dunk contest with whatever the heck this is.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just a casual 30-foot floater on one leg from Wemby 😲 <a href="https://t.co/ZGtAczOPy2">pic.twitter.com/ZGtAczOPy2</a></p>— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1742375258093453542?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p><strong>Houston, we have a problem: Victor Wembanyama</strong></p><p>Wembanyama continued a trend of going at the league's best bigs with this poster on Rockets stud Alperen Sengun. Yikes.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">WEMBY ON SENGUN 😳<a href="https://t.co/GEw0YUdtgw">pic.twitter.com/GEw0YUdtgw</a></p>— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) <a href="https://twitter.com/DimeUPROXX/status/1734402927547109456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2023</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Noteworthy numbers</h3><p><em>The 7-foot-4 Frenchman has paired inspired performances with some standout stats on both ends of the court. Here's a look at some of the most notable ones:</em></p><p><strong>1 </strong>- Wembanyama is the first rookie in NBA history with 150-plus blocks and 75-plus made threes in a season. He has 27 games left to play.</p><p><strong>4</strong> - The Spurs star has four 30-point outings this season. The rest of the rookie class has seven total.</p><p><strong>13 </strong>- His 10 rebounds per game are tied for 13th in the NBA. Only two players above him (Clint Capela, Jusuf Nurkic) play fewer minutes per game.</p><p><strong>16 </strong>- Wembanyama has 16 outings of at least 20 points and four blocks, which is already the most by a rookie since 1992-93 (Shaquille O'Neal).</p><p><strong>24</strong> - He became the first player since Duncan (1988) to record 25 points, five rebounds, five assists, and seven blocks in a game. Duncan required 46 minutes to reach the mark. Wembanyama needed just 24.</p><p><strong>31 </strong>- The 20-year-old has recorded at least one block and one steal in 34 games this season, the highest mark in the league.</p><h3>Early assessment</h3><p><em>Wembanyama is enjoying an outstanding season, and not just by rookie standards, either. Here's a look at Wembanyama's stats through 49 games played:</em></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>MIN</th>
<th>PTS</th>
<th>REB</th>
<th>AST</th>
<th>BLK</th>
<th>FG%</th>
<th>3PT%</th>
<th>FT%</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td> 28.4</td>
<td>20.5</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>3.2</td>
<td>3.2</td>
<td>.468</td>
<td>.320</td>
<td>.811</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Astounding returns considering the minutes restriction that head coach Gregg Popovich has imposed on him and the quality of his teammates.</p><p>Per 36 minutes of play, Wembanyama would bump those returns to 26 points, 12.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 4.0 blocks. The last player to post four or more blocks a game in a season was Dikembe Mutombo in 1995-96.</p><p>Wemby is also improving at a rapid pace following a brief acclimation period. Most notably, he's blossomed on the perimeter:</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Month</th>
<th>3PM</th>
<th>3PA</th>
<th>3PT%</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>October</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>19</td>
<td>26.3 </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>November</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>75</td>
<td>27.3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>December</td>
<td>14</td>
<td>42</td>
<td>33.3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>January</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>71</td>
<td>32.4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>February</td>
<td>14</td>
<td>33</td>
<td>43.8</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Once considered the favorite to capture Rookie of the Year honors, Wembanyama now faces stiff competition from Oklahoma City Thunder big Chet Holmgren for the annual award. </p><p>Holmgren has had a bigger impact on winning, largely because the Thunder are actually a good team, whereas the Spurs trot out Jeremy Sochan at the point. </p><p>Wembanyama does benefit from often being the No. 1 option for the Spurs, who are also 0-6 when he sits. Also, among major statistical categories, Holmgren betters Wembanyama in just minutes per game (30.1), field-goal percentage (53%), and 3-point percentage (39%). That's not to take away from what's also been a historic season from Holmgren, who's the first rookie to shoot at least 50% from the field and 77% from the charity stripe while hitting 39% of his threes on more than 200 attempts.</p><p>With all due respect to Holmgren, though, it may be fairer to compare Wembanyama to other outstanding debutants from the past.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/614819/cropped_GettyImages-1956020263.jpg?ts=1706915692" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/614819/w220xh124_GettyImages-1956020263.jpg?ts=1706915692 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/614819/w320xh180_GettyImages-1956020263.jpg?ts=1706915692 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/614819/w640xh360_GettyImages-1956020263.jpg?ts=1706915692 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/614819/w768xh432_GettyImages-1956020263.jpg?ts=1706915692 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/614819/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1956020263.jpg?ts=1706915692 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Michael Gonzales / National Basketball Association / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Wembanyama is the only rookie in NBA history to average 20 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. O'Neal (37.9 minutes per game), Duncan (39.1 MPG), and Larry Bird (36 MPG) are among a handful of first-year standouts to come close, though they did so averaging far more minutes per game than Wembanyama's 28.4.</p><p>O'Neal won the MVP award in 1999-2000 and was one vote shy of becoming the first unanimous winner in league history.</p><p>Wembanyama's statistical returns are remarkable considering he's been a teenager for the greater part of the season and that his greatest impact on the game remains at the defensive end. This season, Wembanyama has the most blocks in a quarter (six), a half (seven), and a game (10), and he leads the league in blocks per game (3.2) and total blocks (156).</p><p>Blocks only tell part of the story of Wembanyama's impact at the defensive end, and it's a difficult task to measure the number of shots he's altered. </p><p>He recorded four denials against the Minnesota Timberwolves' towering front line in a 117-110 defeat on Nov. 10, prompting T-Wolves coach Chris Finch to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2761316" href="https://www.thescore.com/news/2761316">assess</a> Wembanyama's threat through the lens of his own players: "Defensively, I think our guys were a little too aware of him. … If he blocks a shot, he blocks a shot, but we can't stop being aggressive."</p><p>Were expectations so high that it's near impossible for Wembanyama to exceed them? And could he actually be better than even the loftiest expectations could've foretold?</p><p>Let's revisit this in April and see how Wembanyama's campaign stacks up with the greatest rookie seasons in NBA history.</p>

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Caitlin Clark's latest accolade is the most astounding yet.  The Iowa star set the new NCAA Divis...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wcbk/players/91509" href="https://www.thescore.com/wcbk/players/91509">Caitlin Clark</a>'s latest accolade is the most astounding yet.</p><p>The Iowa star set the new NCAA Division I women's basketball scoring record with her eighth point Thursday in a 106-89 win over Michigan, courtesy of a deep trey in the first quarter.</p><p>Clark finished the contest with a career-high 49 points while adding 13 assists and five rebounds.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">HISTORY ‼️ Caitlin Clark is the new NCAA Women’s Basketball’s All-Time Leading Scorer. 🐐<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CaitlinCoverage?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CaitlinCoverage</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/StateFarm?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@statefarm</a><br><br>💻: PeacockI <a href="https://t.co/c2Kdej2gIR">pic.twitter.com/c2Kdej2gIR</a></p>— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/BigTenNetwork/status/1758296958802813242?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>"I mean, we all knew I was going to shoot a logo three. Come on," Clark said postgame, courtesy of <a href="https://twitter.com/DallasJonesy/status/1758335336378183879">Dallas Jones of HawkFanatic</a>.</p><p>The 22-year-old surpassed Washington product and current Las Vegas Aces sharpshooter <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wnba/players/33404" href="https://www.thescore.com/wnba/players/33404">Kelsey Plum</a>, who set the mark in February 2017 before going first overall in the 2017 WNBA Draft.</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Player</th>
<th>School</th>
<th>GP</th>
<th>PTS</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Caitlin Clark*</td>
<td>Iowa</td>
<td>126</td>
<td>3569</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Kelsey Plum</td>
<td>Washington</td>
<td>139</td>
<td>3527</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Kelsey Mitchell</td>
<td>Ohio State</td>
<td>139</td>
<td>3402</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Jackie Stiles</td>
<td>Missouri State</td>
<td>129</td>
<td>3393</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Brittney Griner</td>
<td>Baylor</td>
<td>148</td>
<td>3283</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Dyaisha Fair*</td>
<td> Syracuse</td>
<td>146</td>
<td>3224</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><em>*Denotes player active during 2023-24 season.</em></p><p>Similarly to Plum, Clark is expected to be the first player chosen at the 2024 draft in April.</p><p>Thursday's contest was temporarily stopped at the next dead ball for the home crowd to recognize Clark's record-breaking moment.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">LEGEND. <br><br>💻: Peacock <a href="https://t.co/LVuhzptiru">pic.twitter.com/LVuhzptiru</a></p>— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/BigTenNetwork/status/1758297505710694859?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>"She's such a special player. ... I thought it was wonderful that she hits a logo three to put her over. I intended to call a timeout but it happened so fast I couldn't get it out," Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder said, per <a href="https://twitter.com/DallasJonesy/status/1758337311186571759">Jones</a>.</p><p>Clark is the third-leading scorer all time for NCAA men's and women's Division I basketball behind LSU legend Pete Maravich (3,667 points) and Detroit Mercy's Antoine Davis (3,664).</p><p>The Des Moines, Iowa, native is the reigning Naismith College Player of the Year and the only player to ever lead Division I basketball in points and assists, which she did during the 2021-22 season. Clark also leads both categories this campaign (32.2 PPG and 8.2 AST heading into Sunday's contest) and would become the first player to lead Division I in scoring on three occasions.</p>

IOWA CITY, IOWA- FEBRUARY 15: Guard Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates after breaking the NCAA women's all-time scoring record during the first half against the Michigan Wolverines at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on February 15, 2024 in Iowa City, Iowa.

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<p>Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla isn't content with sending two players from the Eastern Conference-leading juggernauts to this weekend's All-Star Game in Indianapolis.</p><p>Celtics forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/52651" href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/players/52651">Jayson Tatum</a> earned an All-Star starter selection, and teammate <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/45455" href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/players/45455">Jaylen Brown</a> will join him at the festivities as a reserve. But Mazzulla said he believes <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/44888" href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/players/44888">Kristaps Porzingis</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/32925" href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/players/32925">Derrick White</a> also merited inclusion.</p><p>"Clearly, winning is not important, huh? Winning's not valued," Mazzulla told <a href="https://x.com/NBCSCeltics/status/1757544848217759970?s=20">reporters</a> Tuesday when asked about All-Star replacements. "How could you not put both of those guys in? Winning's not the most important thing in the league."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Injury absences for Philadelphia 76ers big man <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/31932" href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/players/31932">Joel Embiid</a> and New York Knicks star <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/31118" href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/players/31118">Julius Randle</a> resulted in two vacant spots on the Eastern Conference's 12-player All-Star squad.</p><p>Coaches selected Atlanta Hawks sharpshooter <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/60633" href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/players/60633">Trae Young</a> and Toronto Raptors third-year standout <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/96044" href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/players/96044">Scottie Barnes</a> to fill those roles. Young and Barnes represent teams with records below .500 heading into the All-Star break.</p><p>Mazzulla said Porzingis' and White's snubs are unfortunate but added they're both unbothered by the decision.</p><p>"They're two guys that get it," Mazzulla said. "They're guys that have been around and just want to play the right way. They want to be a part of winning, and winning is the most important thing to those two guys. At the end of the day, that's really all that matters."</p><p>Porzingis' first campaign with the Celtics following an offseason move from the Washington Wizards has been highlighted by stats that fortify Mazzulla's position. The Latvian big man is averaging 20.4 points, seven rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 39 outings for Boston.</p><p>White's statistical returns may not be as noteworthy, though the 29-year-old has been heralded for his role as a two-way lynchpin whose defensive play has helped cover for Marcus Smart's departure. White is averaging 15.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists this season.</p><p>The 42-12 Celtics are guaranteed to boast the league's best record ahead of Sunday's All-Star Game. Mazzulla coached the Eastern Conference All-Star team last season and, per NBA rules, isn't permitted to do so in successive campaigns. Newly appointed Milwaukee Bucks bench boss Doc Rivers will do so instead.</p>

Boston, MA - January 10: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics looks over at head coach Joe Mazzulla during the second half at the Garden.

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<p>Brooklyn Nets point forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/45002" href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/players/45002">Ben Simmons</a> was impressive off the bench in his return from a 38-game absence in a 147-114 win over the Utah Jazz on Monday.</p><p>Simmons recorded 10 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds, and zero turnovers on 5-of-5 shooting from the field in 18 minutes in his first appearance since Nov. 6.</p><p>"Other people played so well tonight because of the impact of Ben Simmons. It’s that simple… Ben deserves an extreme amount of credit for how he played tonight," Nets coach Jacque Vaughn <a href="https://x.com/YESNetwork/status/1752168194008055829?s=20">said</a> postgame.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"He makes other dudes better. And he likes doing that," Vaughn added.</p><p>Simmons became the first Nets player in 20 years to record 11 or more assists in a game without a turnover, per <a href="https://x.com/TimBontemps/status/1752171763411095564?s=20">ESPN Stats &amp; Info's Matt Williams</a>. The last to accomplish the feat was Vaughn.</p><p>The three-time All-Star had played in just six games this season prior to Monday's contest, averaging 6.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 6.7 assists in 31.8 minutes. The notoriously hesitant shooter has yet to attempt a 3-pointer and is 1-for-4 from the free-throw line this season.</p><p>Simmons has dealt with countless injuries and absences over the last three seasons, playing in 48 of a possible 246 games between the Nets and Philadelphia 76ers.</p><p>The Nets now sit 10th in the East at 19-27 and occupy the final play-in spot.</p>

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 29: Ben Simmons #10 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts after scoring during the first half against the Utah Jazz at Barclays Center on January 29, 2024 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

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