basketball

Danny O’Neil: If you’re a Sonics fan, cackle along with me

I did not shout in excitement when Indiana’s Obi Toppin dunked home…

 

Pacers rely on unlikely heroes, take 2-1 NBA Finals lead

Indiana Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle sounds like a nature lover…

 

Tyrese Haliburton (0) of the Indiana Pacers is defended by Cason Wallace (22) of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in Game Two of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center on June 8, 2025, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (William Purnell / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)

Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton dealing with lower leg discomfort

Star guard not worried about Game 3 availability

 

Tyrese Haliburton hit a last-second shot to take down favored Oklahoma City in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. (Yong Kim / Tribune News Services)

Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton stuns Thunder to open NBA Finals

Tyrese Haliburton raced up the court, paused for a moment to survey the crowded landscape in front of him and proceeded to… Continue reading

Tyrese Haliburton hit a last-second shot to take down favored Oklahoma City in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. (Yong Kim / Tribune News Services)

Brewer: NBA’s newest power is scary young, different and good

or anything, really — for too long, and your brain gets sentenced to myopia. You think about the game one way,… Continue reading

The New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson (11) drives against the Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton (0) during the third quarter in Game Five of the Eastern Conference finals at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, May 29, 2025, in New York. (Al Bello / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)

Jalen Brunson gives Knicks new life against the Pacers

Jalen Brunson was being picked on defensively by the Indiana Pacers and picked apart by pundits for his ball-dominant game as the… Continue reading

The New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson (11) drives against the Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton (0) during the third quarter in Game Five of the Eastern Conference finals at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, May 29, 2025, in New York. (Al Bello / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
The Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards (5) loses control of the ball in the fourth quarter of Game 5 against the Thunder, after the Wolves had already lost control of the game. (Jeff Wheeler / The Minnesota Star Tribune / Tribune News Services)

Thunder storm into NBA Finals

The polite reaction to what unfolded Wednesday night in America’s heartland would be to salute the Oklahoma City Thunder for reaching the… Continue reading

The Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards (5) loses control of the ball in the fourth quarter of Game 5 against the Thunder, after the Wolves had already lost control of the game. (Jeff Wheeler / The Minnesota Star Tribune / Tribune News Services)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) reacts after scoring in the fourth quarter. (Carlos Gonzalez / The Minnesota Star Tribune / Tribune News Services)

Jerry Brewer: Foul artists have ruled the NBA playoffs

John Wall had a theory about foul-baiting NBA stars. The former Washington Wizards point guard, who played the game with speed and force rather than… Continue reading

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) reacts after scoring in the fourth quarter. (Carlos Gonzalez / The Minnesota Star Tribune / Tribune News Services)
(From left to right) Erica Wheeler, Gabby Williams and Zia Cooke approach the bench during a 102-82 win over the Las Vegas Aces on May 25, 2025 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. (Photo courtesy of Seattle Storm)

Storm wins three straight, Loyd returns to Seattle

The Storm beat Las Vegas 102-82 on Sunday by dishing out a season-high 32 assists.

(From left to right) Erica Wheeler, Gabby Williams and Zia Cooke approach the bench during a 102-82 win over the Las Vegas Aces on May 25, 2025 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. (Photo courtesy of Seattle Storm)
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a game-tying basket against the New York Knicks as time expires in the fourth quarter in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in New York. (Al Bello / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)

Tyrese Haliburton channels Reggie Miller, Pacers stun Knicks

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton put both of his hands around his neck, channeling Reggie Miller’s famous “choking” celebration at the end… Continue reading

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a game-tying basket against the New York Knicks as time expires in the fourth quarter in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in New York. (Al Bello / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander celebrates as the Thunder pull away in the fourth quarter Tuesday night in Oklahoma City to beat the Timberwolves. (Carlos Gonzalez / The Minnesota Star Tribune / Tribune News Services)

Anthony Edwards tried to rattle SGA, and it didn’t work.

Four minutes into a Western Conference finals headlined by two of the NBA’s brightest young stars, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards made… Continue reading

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander celebrates as the Thunder pull away in the fourth quarter Tuesday night in Oklahoma City to beat the Timberwolves. (Carlos Gonzalez / The Minnesota Star Tribune / Tribune News Services)

Sonics’ return? NBA commissioner talks expansion

By now, it’s like the drip, drip, drip of a leaky faucet. It’s the tease of the long overdue. The latest in the drawn-out saga… Continue reading

Storm heads to LA for scrimmage with regular season looming

The Seattle Storm’s May 17 opener is drawing closer, and the WNBA team is working around the clock to prepare. The Storm will be traveling… Continue reading

Head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs looks on against the Houston Rockets during the first half of a preseason game at Toyota Center on Oct. 17, 2024, in Houston, Texas. (Alex Slitz / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)

Gregg Popovich retires, ending remarkable Spurs run

which began in 1996 and included five NBA championships and a record… Continue reading

Head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs looks on against the Houston Rockets during the first half of a preseason game at Toyota Center on Oct. 17, 2024, in Houston, Texas. (Alex Slitz / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)

WSU transfer Coward considering Washington, per report

Guard Cedric Coward, who is looking to move on from Washington State after one injury-shortened season, might not be playing too far away… Continue reading

Aces guard Jackie Young (0) is fouled by Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike (3) with guard Skylar Diggins-Smith (4) on a double team during the first half of their WNBA playoffs game 2 at Michelob Ultra Arena on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow / Las Vegas Review-Journal / Tribune Content Services)

The Storm goes young, where will it go from here?

Seattle drafts 19-year-old Dominique Malonga with No. 2 pick.

Aces guard Jackie Young (0) is fouled by Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike (3) with guard Skylar Diggins-Smith (4) on a double team during the first half of their WNBA playoffs game 2 at Michelob Ultra Arena on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow / Las Vegas Review-Journal / Tribune Content Services)
Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves scored a game-high 43 points to help the Timberwolves defeat the Utah Jazz 116-105 at Target Center on Sunday, April 13, 2025. (Carlos Gonzalez / The Minnesota Star Tribune / Tribune News Services)

NBA’s final day sets stage for postseason, draft lottery

An NBA regular season marked by shocking trades and stunning dismissals of coaches whose teams were in the playoff hunt came down to the final… Continue reading

Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves scored a game-high 43 points to help the Timberwolves defeat the Utah Jazz 116-105 at Target Center on Sunday, April 13, 2025. (Carlos Gonzalez / The Minnesota Star Tribune / Tribune News Services)
Maryland’s Rodney Rice, center, reacts after hitting a three against Wisconsin in the second half. Maryland defeated Wisconsin 76-68 in a men’s basketball game at Xfinity Center. (Kenneth K. Lam / Tribune News Services)

Maryland’s Rodney Rice lists Zags in top six

Delaware guard Izaiah Pasha cancels visit.

Maryland’s Rodney Rice, center, reacts after hitting a three against Wisconsin in the second half. Maryland defeated Wisconsin 76-68 in a men’s basketball game at Xfinity Center. (Kenneth K. Lam / Tribune News Services)
Head coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets leaves the court after overtime of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 140-139 win at Ball Arena in Denver on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz / The Denver Post / Tribune News Services)

Nuggets fire coach, general manager two years after NBA title

The Denver Nuggets fired longtime coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth on Tuesday in a stunning organizational reset that came just days before… Continue reading

Head coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets leaves the court after overtime of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 140-139 win at Ball Arena in Denver on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz / The Denver Post / Tribune News Services)
Florida players celebrate after winning the NCAA Basketball National Championship Game of Florida vs. Houston at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Monday, April 7, 2025. Florida won the game 65-63. (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel / Tribune News Services)

Florida captures third NCAA men’s basketball title

The thing about basketball - the thing about sports, really - is that you work your whole life, then your whole season, then the whole… Continue reading

Florida players celebrate after winning the NCAA Basketball National Championship Game of Florida vs. Houston at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Monday, April 7, 2025. Florida won the game 65-63. (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel / Tribune News Services)