#nba

#nba

As paramilitary fighters from the brutal Rapid Support Forces (RSF) overran the largest city in western Sudan carrying out mass executions, rapes and ethnic cleansing with weapons supplied by the United Arab Emirates the NBA's annual in-season tournament, the Emirates NBA Cup, tipped off on Halloween night, proudly sponsored by the very same Gulf state. The tournament is the most visible example of the NBA's expanding partnership with the UAE

I went to Minnesota when I was young. Straight out of high school, I brought all my friends that I could. Through that whole process of being there, we just grew up as young guys into, you know, young adults. So Minnesota, with the dope lakes and the more simplistic things you can do, it's like a big small city.

The Los Angeles Clippers have had a difficult last three months. Star forward Kawhi Leonard and owner Steve Ballmer became the epicenter of a scandal to allegedly circumvent the NBA salary cap by investing in a fraudulent environmental start-up, Aspiration. The team is also off to a disastrous 6-17 start and is expected to be one of the more active trade partners ahead of the 2025-26 NBA Trade Deadline, less than two months away.

This season, NBC is broadcasting the NBA for the first time since 2002, which has led the network to try and capture a very specific sort of Gen-X nostalgia for the mid-'90s.

Charlotte's LaMelo Ball, Memphis' Ja Morant and Atlanta's Trae Young all seem to be stuck in a sort of limbo with the franchises that they've been the faces of since entering the league as high lottery picks. There is rampant speculation among rival teams that Ball, Morant and Young could all be available leading up to the Feb. 5 trade deadline.

"I just remember his demeanor. That's why we nicknamed him 'Easy E,' " Scott told The Times. "He was just so cool, nothing speeding him up. He was going to take his time. He was just easy. He was such a good dude. I loved Easy, man."

I was the 13th guy on a 12-man basketball team. But here I am in the NBA for my 27th season,

PHILADELPHIA -- 76ers center Joel Embiid returned to game action for the first time in three weeks Sunday night against the Atlanta Hawks as he, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey played together for the first time this season. Yet the fact those details became a footnote spoke to the strangeness of the game, won 142-134 by the Hawks in double overtime.

With a current FanDuel offer, new users who sign up can place a qualifying moneyline bet on any team to win, and if that bet is successful, they will receive bonus bets. This means you could place a $5 wager on the Knicks to win their matchup against the Magic, and if they do, you'll get your cash profit from the bet plus an extra $150 in bonus bets.

Here's how the unexpected happened: Minnesota pushed ahead 113-105 with after Donte DiVincenzo hit his second free throw with 1:09 left. Phoenix brought the ball up the court and Brooks' 3-pointer was off the mark, but Royce O'Neale was there for the offensive rebound and putback, cutting it to 113-107 with 49.3 seconds left. A few seconds later, Gillespie stole the in-bounds pass and Brooks found Jordan Goodwin for a 3-pointer, slicing the lead to 113-110. There were still 43.4 seconds remaining.

Part 1, which you can find below, was in theory dedicated to the question of which teams this season are cool. I say in theory because we had to first get through an extended Luka Garza segment, a lengthy appreciation of Tyrese Maxey and V.J. "MJ Edgecombe" Edgecombe, and a brief look at the dire state of the New Orleans Pelicans.

The NBA has instituted yet another new format for the All-Star Game, one that will ensure there are eight international All-Stars no matter what. That could provide a way for RJ Barrett to make his first ever All-Star Game - a brand new loophole, if you will, for the Canadian wing to skate right through. The Toronto Raptors did not have an All-Star last season as they stumbled their way through a lost year.

Landing a premiere talent, who proved to be one of the most dynamic scorers in the NBA at his peak seemed like a can't lose situation for the Clippers, especially considering the discounted price they landed him at. Beal joined the Western Conference contenders with the chance to not only prove he had plenty left in the tank, but that the Suns could be to blame for his career falling off the rails over the last few season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's scoring average across 12 games this season is 33.2, third best in the league. The Thunder's hot start, despite Jalen Williams missing every game and several other rotation players missing chunks, can be credited to their unusual depth. But everything is riding on the continued greatness of the league's most consistent scorer. Gilgeous-Alexander won the scoring title a season ago, producing 32.7 points per game and has upped that output early in his eighth season. It appears he's getting better. -- Anthony Slater

SAN ANTONIO -- De'Aaron Fox scored 24 points in his season debut, Victor Wembanyama added 18 points and 18 rebounds and the San Antonio Spurs beat the New Orleans Pelicans 126-119 on Saturday night. Stephon Castle added 14 points and 14 assists as San Antonio won its second straight after two straight losses following a franchise-best 5-0 start.