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Winnipeg Sea Bears guard Mason Kraus looks for a pass against the Edmonton Stingers at Expo Centre in Edmonton on Saturday.

Homegrown guard gives Sea Bears spark in season opening win

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Yesterday at 6:57 PM CDT

All you had to do was listen to what Mason Kraus was saying.

The 24-year-old homegrown guard, who was preparing for his second season in the Canadian Elite Basketball League, knew that he didn’t showcase everything he was capable of in 2025.

But as he got ready to take the court for his first season as a full-time pro, Kraus professed to be much more certain of his game and the impact he could have for the Winnipeg Sea Bears, this time around.

Kraus put those words into action as he delivered a few timely buckets and capped an efficient performance with two clutch free throws that secured a hard-fought 77-75 season-opening road victory for the Sea Bears over the Edmonton Stingers at the EXPO Centre on Saturday.

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Basketball

New York Knicks' Miles McBride, left, and Jalen Brunson celebrate during the first half of Game 4 against the Philadelphia 76ers in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Sunday, May 10, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Knicks bury 76ers 144-114 behind Game 4 3-point barrage, back in East finals for 2nd straight year

Dan Gelston, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Knicks bury 76ers 144-114 behind Game 4 3-point barrage, back in East finals for 2nd straight year

Dan Gelston, The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: 5:49 PM CDT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and the New York Knicks are back in the Eastern Conference finals, tying the NBA postseason record with 25 3-pointers in front of a raucous crowd rooting for the road team and rolling past the Philadelphia 76ers 144-114 on Sunday to sweep the second-round series.

Deuce McBride hit seven 3-pointers, going 4 for 4 in the first quarter when the Knicks had another record with 11, and scored 25 points. Brunson had 22 points and Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns each scored 17 in the Knicks' latest lopsided playoff victory.

The Knicks advanced to the East finals for the second straight season and will play the winner of the Cleveland-Detroit series. The Pistons lead the series 2-1.

The Knicks last season reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years before losing to Indiana. The Knicks then fired coach Tom Thibodeau, and replaced him with Mike Brown, who has guided them to seven straight playoff wins, starting with the last three games against Atlanta.

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Updated: 5:49 PM CDT

Basketball

The Indiana Pacers were hoping for a top-4 pick. They wound up with nothing in the draft lottery

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

The Indiana Pacers were hoping for a top-4 pick. They wound up with nothing in the draft lottery

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 3 minute read 5:07 PM CDT

CHICAGO (AP) — The Indiana Pacers were hoping for a top-four selection in the NBA draft. They missed getting there by one spot.

That means they got nothing.

The ping-pong balls of the NBA draft lottery came out in such a way Sunday that Indiana would have had the No. 5 pick in next month's draft — but that pick will instead go to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the trade that brought center Ivica Zubac to the Pacers earlier this year.

Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard did nothing to hide how disappointed he was about the latest batch of bad luck for a franchise that played in Game 7 of the NBA Finals last season, lost star Tyrese Haliburton to a torn Achilles tendon in that game — he missed this entire season — and has had nothing to celebrate since.

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5:07 PM CDT

Basketball

Washington wins NBA draft lottery, chance to pick first on June 23

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Washington wins NBA draft lottery, chance to pick first on June 23

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 5 minute read Updated: 5:28 PM CDT

CHICAGO (AP) — For Michael Winger, 1 was the loneliest number. And for the Washington Wizards, it was the best ping-pong ball.

Let's explain: Winger, the president of Monumental Basketball, was the Wizards' representative inside the sequestered room where the NBA draft lottery was taking place Sunday. The first ball was 4, the second ball was 2.

“I knew it was us,” Winger said.

He was right. The third ball — 1 — made it official. The fourth ball was a 13, which meant nothing. The 4-2-1 combination ensured that the Wizards had won the lottery and earned the right to pick No. 1 in next month's draft, a huge step forward for a team that finished with the league's worst record this season. And for the next 45 minutes, before the rest of the world found out during a television broadcast, Winger was essentially stone-faced.

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Updated: 5:28 PM CDT

Basketball

Knicks’ OG Anunoby out again for Game 4 against 76ers with hamstring strain, is listed as day to day

The Associated Press 1 minute read Preview

Knicks’ OG Anunoby out again for Game 4 against 76ers with hamstring strain, is listed as day to day

The Associated Press 1 minute read 1:25 PM CDT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — OG Anunoby was ruled out again for Game 4 on Sunday with a strained right hamstring, and the New York Knicks forward remained day to day in the second-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Anunoby was injured late in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, in which he scored 24 points.

The Knicks hold a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Anunoby was having another strong game Wednesday before appearing to suffer a leg injury and motioning to come out of the game. He went to the locker room area and did not return to the bench before the end of the Knicks’ 108-102 victory.

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1:25 PM CDT

Basketball

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell (25) drives to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers' Marcus Smart (36) in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Ajay Mitchell is the Thunder’s latest emergent star after his best career playoff game vs Lakers

Greg Beacham, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Ajay Mitchell is the Thunder’s latest emergent star after his best career playoff game vs Lakers

Greg Beacham, The Associated Press 4 minute read 12:32 AM CDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Everybody knows the Oklahoma City Thunder's depth is the envy of the league and the backbone of their aspirations for a second straight NBA championship.

The next impressive player to rise from the Thunder's bottomless depth and onto the national stage is Ajay Mitchell, who has seized the spotlight while replacing injured teammate Jalen Williams during these playoffs.

After delivering career playoff highs of 24 points and 10 assists with no turnovers in the Thunder’s 131-108 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night, the Belgian guard is the latest cog in general manager Sam Presti's formidable machine to prove he's ready to contribute to Oklahoma City's aspiring dynasty.

Perhaps only his teammates aren't surprised.

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12:32 AM CDT

Basketball

Wings edge Fever 107-104 as Caitlin Clark’s late 3 rims out

The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Wings edge Fever 107-104 as Caitlin Clark’s late 3 rims out

The Associated Press 4 minute read Yesterday at 10:21 PM CDT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Arike Ogunbowale had 22 points, Paige Bueckers scored 20, and Caitlin Clark missed a deep 3 with a chance to send the game to overtime as the Dallas Wings beat the Indiana Fever 107-104 to open their WNBA seasons on Saturday.

Odyssey Sims also had 20 points for the Wings, and No. 1 draft pick Azzi Fudd scored three in 18 minutes.

Kelsey Mitchell, who also missed a chance to tie the game at the final buzzer, led Indiana with 30 points. Aliyah Boston had 23 points, and Clark finished with 20 points, seven assists, five rebounds and five turnovers.

Bueckers made 8 of 10 from the field and Sims made 8 of 11. Jessica Shepard had 13 points, nine assists and nine rebounds in her Wings debut.

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Yesterday at 10:21 PM CDT

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Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) shoots over Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris, left, in the second half of Game 3 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series Saturday, May 9, 2026 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Harden’s late barrage lifts Cavaliers past Pistons, cuts series deficit to 2-1

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Harden’s late barrage lifts Cavaliers past Pistons, cuts series deficit to 2-1

The Associated Press 3 minute read Yesterday at 10:12 PM CDT

CLEVELAND (AP) — James Harden hit three clutch shots in the final two minutes, Donovan Mitchell scored 35 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat Detroit 116-109 on Saturday to cut the Pistons’ lead to 2-1 in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Harden bounced back from two mistake-marred performances to finish with 19 points and Jarrett Allen scored 18 for the Cavaliers, who will look to even the series when they host Game 4 on Monday night.

Mitchell reached 2,000 career postseason points in his 73rd game, tied for third-fastest among active players and ninth in NBA history.

Detroit’s Cade Cunningham had his second career postseason triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, but also committed eight turnovers. Tobias Harris added 21 points.

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Yesterday at 10:12 PM CDT

Basketball

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, takes a pass as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defends during the first half of Game 3 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Thunder charge past Lakers 131-108 in Game 3 for another blowout in the champs’ 7-0 playoff run

Greg Beacham, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Thunder charge past Lakers 131-108 in Game 3 for another blowout in the champs’ 7-0 playoff run

Greg Beacham, The Associated Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 11:29 PM CDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ajay Mitchell had career playoff highs of 24 points and 10 assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder extended their unbeaten playoff run to the brink of another Western Conference finals with a 131-108 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the second round on Saturday night.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 23 points and nine assists for the Thunder, who coolly improved to 7-0 — both in these playoffs overall, and in their seven games this season against LeBron James and the Lakers. Oklahoma City is the NBA's sixth defending champion to start 7-0 in the following postseason after three wins over short-handed Los Angeles by a combined 59 points.

Game 3 was remarkably similar to Game 2 in many respects: The Lakers again had to fight desperately just to keep up with the champs into the third quarter, only for the Thunder to run away with their usual merciless efficiency when LA finally faltered. Chet Holmgren had 18 points and nine rebounds for Oklahoma City, which outscored the Lakers 33-20 in the third quarter and wasn't threatened at all down the stretch.

“I think (the first half) wasn't our best half, and in the locker room we just talked about it and knew that we had to adjust and be better,” said Mitchell, who continued his postseason emergence by scoring at least 14 points for the sixth consecutive game. “I think we did a great job coming out of the half.”

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Updated: Yesterday at 11:29 PM CDT

Basketball

The Portland Fire return after 24 years as WNBA expansion team opens the season

Anne M. Peterson, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

The Portland Fire return after 24 years as WNBA expansion team opens the season

Anne M. Peterson, The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 11:50 PM CDT

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — After 24 years, the Fire have returned to Portland.

The expansion Portland Fire took the court at the city's Moda Center, dubbed the “Fire Pit” for the occasion, for the team's WNBA season opener against the Chicago Sky on Saturday night.

“Yeah, the fire pit was really lit,” guard Sarah Ashlee Barker said with a smile following the game.

The Portland players warmed up wearing T-shirts that said “Legacy Reignited” on the front and “2002 PDX 2026” on the back — paying homage to the original Fire, who played three seasons from 2000-02.

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Updated: Yesterday at 11:50 PM CDT

Basketball

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is seen during the second half of his NBA play-in tournament game against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., Friday, April 17, 2026. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Steve Kerr agrees to a two-year deal to continue coaching the Warriors, AP source says

Janie Mccauley, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Steve Kerr agrees to a two-year deal to continue coaching the Warriors, AP source says

Janie Mccauley, The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 9:58 PM CDT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Steve Kerr is giving it another go with Golden State.

Kerr has reached an agreement in principle on a two-year contract to continue coaching the Warriors, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations. Kerr still must sign his new deal, the person told The Associated Press on Saturday night, speaking on condition of anonymity because the contract must be finalized.

The Warriors missed the playoffs for the second time in three years, earning the 10th seed in the Western Conference and eventually losing at Phoenix in the play-in tournament.

Kerr's 12-year coaching run with the franchise has featured four championships and six NBA Finals appearances alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, including five straight from 2015-19. Kerr shared an embrace with those two stars near the end of the loss in Phoenix, saying afterward he knew it could be their final time together.

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Updated: Yesterday at 9:58 PM CDT

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Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) shoots as Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (12) defends in the first half of Game 3 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series Saturday, May 9, 2026 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

From 3 for 13 to clutch closer: James Harden’s late takeover in Cavaliers’ Game 3 win

Joe Reedy, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

From 3 for 13 to clutch closer: James Harden’s late takeover in Cavaliers’ Game 3 win

Joe Reedy, The Associated Press 4 minute read Yesterday at 7:45 PM CDT

CLEVELAND (AP) — James Harden endured plenty of criticism after the first two games of Cleveland's Eastern Conference semifinal series against Detroit.

With the Cavaliers in danger of falling into a 3-0 hole that no NBA team has ever overcome, the 17-year veteran showed he can still come up big in the clutch.

Harden hit three shots in the final two minutes Saturday to lift the Cavaliers to a 116-109 victory over the Pistons in Game 3.

“I love it. When my number’s called, just getting to my spots,” said Harden, who finished with 19 points and seven assists in 40 minutes. “Don(ovan) Mitchell had been working so extremely hard throughout the course of the game, just trying to find opportunities to help him. So that last minute and a half, two minutes, however long it was, it presented itself. And for me, just going out there and taking my shots.”

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Yesterday at 7:45 PM CDT

Basketball

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus (2) celebrates a turnover by the Detroit Pistons in the first half of Game 3 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series Saturday, May 9, 2026 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Harden hits clutch shots, Mitchell scores 35 and the Cavaliers beat the Pistons 116-109 in Game 3

Joe Reedy, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Harden hits clutch shots, Mitchell scores 35 and the Cavaliers beat the Pistons 116-109 in Game 3

Joe Reedy, The Associated Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 8:20 PM CDT

CLEVELAND (AP) — After collapsing in the clutch in the first two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Cleveland Cavaliers got timely plays in the final three minutes from James Harden and Max Strus to get back into their series against the Detroit Pistons.

Harden hit three big shots and Strus came up with the steal and go-ahead basket in the Cavaliers' 116-109 victory on Saturday to cut the Pistons' lead to 2-1.

“We know how important it is to get this first win to make it a series. So, really a team win where a lot of guys contributed tonight,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said.

The Cavaliers will look to even the series when they host Game 4 on Monday night.

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Updated: Yesterday at 8:20 PM CDT

Basketball

The NBA’s draft lottery is Sunday, and tankers may prosper. Here’s what to know

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

The NBA’s draft lottery is Sunday, and tankers may prosper. Here’s what to know

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 5 minute read Yesterday at 11:42 AM CDT

CHICAGO (AP) — Washington will emerge with a top-five pick. Brooklyn and Utah may receive a great prize after putting together arguably the least-competitive seasons in their histories. Oklahoma City could win the whole thing without even trying.

The NBA draft lottery is Sunday. It could be boring. It may reward tanking. Nobody knows.

The story will be told by four ping-pong balls, plucked out of a hopper in a secure room, with sequestered onlookers from each of the involved teams and a few members of the media looking on. Those balls will create a four-digit combination that will match one previously assigned to the lottery teams, and with that, somebody wins the No. 1 pick in next month's draft.

“June 23rd, I'll know where I'm at,” AJ Dybantsa, the BYU star who is jumping to the NBA after leading the nation in scoring in his lone college season, said last month when announcing his draft decision.

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Yesterday at 11:42 AM CDT

Basketball

FILE - Washington Wizards first draft pick John Wall, center, from the University of Kentucky, smiles as he holds up a ball and jersey with coach Flip Saunders, right, and Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld, during a news conference in Washington, June 25, 2010. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

A look at each team in the NBA draft lottery – and how it’s gone for them in the past

Noah Trister, The Associated Press 7 minute read Preview

A look at each team in the NBA draft lottery – and how it’s gone for them in the past

Noah Trister, The Associated Press 7 minute read Yesterday at 10:32 AM CDT

The NBA draft lottery is Sunday, with Washington, Indiana and Brooklyn having the best odds of winning the No. 1 pick.

The lottery began in 1985, when the New York Knicks received the top selection and altered the course of their franchise by taking Patrick Ewing. The format has had its share of changes since then, and there might be another coming soon, but for now the process should be pretty familiar. The top four selections are determined via a weighted draw. Then picks No. 5-14 are dispersed in reverse order of finish from this season.

Last year, The Associated Press reviewed each franchise’s draft lottery history. Here is an updated version — including only the teams involved in this year's lottery.

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Yesterday at 10:32 AM CDT

Basketball

Wemby matches Kareem, Hakeem and Shaq with his superb stat line for Spurs in Game 3 win over Wolves

Dave Campbell, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Wemby matches Kareem, Hakeem and Shaq with his superb stat line for Spurs in Game 3 win over Wolves

Dave Campbell, The Associated Press 3 minute read Yesterday at 4:58 AM CDT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Victor Wembanyama plays with an agility and a gracefulness beneath his daunting wingspan that can make his dominance for the San Antonio Spurs on both ends of the floor appear almost effortless.

Fresh cuts and bruises on those long arms after fighting for paint position and jockeying for rebounds all night with the Minnesota Timberwolves made clear Wembanyama had to put in plenty of work to compile 39 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks in a 115-108 victory in Game 3 on Friday that gave the Spurs a 2-1 lead in their second-round NBA playoff series.

“It's going to happen," Wembanyama said. “They're Wolves, after all.”

The Spurs stayed unbeaten on the road in this postseason with their first win in a truly close game, after four victories in the first round over the Portland Trail Blazers with margins between 12 and 21 points.

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Yesterday at 4:58 AM CDT

May 10, 2026

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