CELTICS' JAYLEN BROWN CALLED OUT FOR MAKING EXCUSES AFTER GAME 7 LOSS

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Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics looks on during introductions prior to a game against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game Seven of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at TD Garden on May 02, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts.

It took Jaylen Brown less than 24 hours to start the blame game after he and the Boston Celtics were eliminated from the NBA playoffs.

The 2024 NBA Finals MVP blamed the referees for having “an agenda” against him and compulsively calling offensive fouls against him. He was called for 10 offensive fouls in the seven-game series versus the Philadelphia 76ers, five more than any other player.

“They clearly had an agenda, maybe because I spoke so critical on them in the regular season, so you know, how they responded,” Brown said of the referees.

“Like, we are going to call every—you are going to lead the playoffs in offensive fouls. That was the response from the officiating crew. You could clearly tell.”

Jaylen Brown Gets Called Out

Brown also took issue with Joel Embiid’s “flopping” and suggested that the Sixers star knowingly manipulated the officials in the series.

“Flopping has ruined our league,” Brown said on his Twitch stream. “Joel Embiid is one of the greatest players that has played basketball, but he flops. He knows it too.”

Former NBA All-Star Michael Redd took serious issue with Brown’s comments, urging the Celtics star to “take ownership” for the Game 7 loss rather than making excuses.

“Jaylen Brown is a great player. A great player. Fans just need slightly more right now,” Redd began in his passionate rant on X.

“I need to rewatch game tape, to know if Brown’s right or not, but what I do know is: fans don’t want to hear this the day after losing a G7 as the higher seed.

“They need accountability and ownership of what happened. They need to know you appreciate the gravity and can and will bounce back.

“Then, and only then, can you start diving into who else is to blame and what outside factors might have played a role.”

Redd concluded his message by making it clear that he hadn’t watched the entire Twitch stream and didn’t want to assume the Celtics star didn’t take accountability.

Celtics Blow 3-1 Series Lead

Brown was a -19 on the floor in Games 5, 6 and 7 as the Celtics blew a 3-1 series lead for the first time in franchise history.

The Celtics were outscored by 57 points with Brown on the floor in the final three losses, when he shot 41.8% from the field and 31.6% from three.

Although he finished with a team-high 33 points, including 20 in the second half, in the Game 7 loss, Brown missed four consecutive shots in the final five minutes of the game when the Celtics trailed 97-96. His cold stretch in the end allowed the Sixers to outscore the Celtics, 12-6, in the clutch to come away with a 109-100 win.

- Sai Mohan

JOEL EMBIID KEEP SIXER ALIVE FOR GAME SIX | NBA PLAYOFFS 2026

THE INSIDE GUYS REACT TO JOEL EMBIID RETURN AND MORE

 

THE 2026 NBA ALL-SNUB TEAM

From Paolo Banchero to Michael Porter Jr., here’s the list of almost NBA All-Stars

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (left) and guard James Harden did not make the NBA All-Star team despite the Clippers hosting the game at Intuit Dome this season. Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images

The Los Angeles Clippers will be hosting the 2026 NBA All-Star Game with no representatives playing.

The NBA announced its All-Star reserves on Sunday for the Feb. 15 game played at the Clippers home arena — the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. But despite having great statistical seasons and success of late, James Harden and Kawhi Leonard didn’t make the list. Meanwhile, the crosstown Los Angeles Lakers will have two-All Stars in LeBron James and Luka Doncic.

The NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles will feature a new “U.S. vs. World” format. Two teams of U.S. players and one team of international players will compete in four 12-minute games, with the top two teams advancing to a championship game. The reserves for both conferences, as selected by the respective conference coaches, were revealed Sunday.

Once again, Andscape presents its annual NBA All-Snub team, our squad of the most deserving players who didn’t make the cut.

Paolo Banchero, forward, Orlando Magic

FERNANDO MEDINA/NBAE VIA GETTY IMAGES.
Paolo Banchero (right) missed out on his second All-Star appearance.

Banchero is in the Top 25 in the NBA in points and rebounds per game while also averaging 4.9 assists entering Sunday. Those stats weren’t enough to be selected to the All-Star team for the second time. Perhaps Orlando’s 25-22 record and Banchero’s early games missed to injury played a role.

Desmond Bane, guard, Orlando Magic

Desmond Bane shoots against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 26 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. DAVID LIAM KYLE/NBAE VIA GETTY IMAGES

Bane has been a great addition for the Magic, averaging 19.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game this season. The snub, however, keeps Bane from making his first-ever All-Star appearance. Orlando’s far-from-stellar record probably had a role in the snub as well.

Joel Embiid, center, Philadelphia 76ers

Injurie have limited Joel Embiid (right) to just 28 games this season. MITCHELL LEFF/GETTY IMAGES

Embiid is averaging 26.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game this season. But what was likely held against Embiid was injuries limiting him to 28 games. It’s the second straight season that the seven-time NBA All-Star missed the All-Star team.

James Harden, guard, Los Angeles Clippers

James Harden missed the All-Star team for the fifth time in six seasons. ALEX GOODLETT/GETTY IMAGES

Harden entered Sunday ranked 17th in NBA in scoring at 25.4 points per game, along with 8.1 assists and 3.1 3-pointers made per game. The Los Angeles native, however, will miss being able to represent the Clippers at home. The 11-time NBA All-Star has failed to be named an All-Star in five of the past six seasons.

Brandon Ingram, forward, Toronto Raptors

Brandon Ingram (left) didn’t get to join teammate Scottie Barnes on the All-Star team this season. JOSHUA GATELEY/GETTY IMAGES

Ingram planned on bringing his rap star girlfriend GloRilla with him to Los Angeles had he been named an NBA All-Star for the second time. But after being snubbed, the celebrity couple will likely be heading somewhere else for vacation during the NBA All-Star break.

Ingram is averaging a team-best 21.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game for the Raptors this season. The Raptors also entered Sunday with tied for the Eastern Conference’s fourth-best record at 29-21. Even so, the East’s coaches decided that the Raptors only deserved one All-Star in forward Scottie Barnes.

Kawhi Leonard, forward, Los Angeles Clippers

Kawhi Leonard (left) is seventh in the NBA in scoring. LUIZA MORAES/GETTY IMAGES

Leonard has had a rebirth this season, averaging a Clippers-best and career high 27.7 points per game entering Sunday which ranked seventh in the NBA (Leonard also leads the NBA in steals per game and free-throw percentage). The six-time NBA All-Star has failed to be named an All-Star in four of the past five seasons. While the Clippers’ record didn’t help his cause, his stellar play was certainly snubbed by the coaches.

Lauri Markkanen, forward, Utah Jazz

Lauri Markkanen (left) missed out making the NBA All-Star World team. DAVID LIAM KYLE/NBAE VIA GETTY IMAGES

Markkanen entered Sunday ninth in the NBA in scoring, averaging 27.4 points per game. The Finland native could have been a great addition for the inaugural NBA All-Star World team. The 2023 NBA All-Star has not made the All-Star team in three straight seasons.

Michael Porter Jr., forward, Brooklyn Nets

Michael Porter Jr. is averaging career bests in points, rebounds and assists per game. AARON ONTIVEROZ/THE DENVER POST

Porter Jr. is averaging career bests of 25.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in his first season with the Nets. The Nets, however, didn’t help the newcomer’s cause with the third-worst record in the East. The Nets haven’t had an All-Star since Kevin Durant in 2022.

- Marc J. Spears

'YOU CAN'T DEPEND ON JOEL EMBIID ' - STEPHEN A

JOEL EMBIID WAS FURIOUS AFTER BEING REJECTED FOR ARGUING OFFENSIVE FOUL VALL

JOEL EMBIID EJECTED UN CHAOTIC FIRST HALF OF 76ERS WIN VS. SOAIN

 PHILADELPHIA -- The 76ers rallied to beat the Spurs 111-106 despite a chaotic opening half that included Joel Embiid getting ejected after drawing two quick technical fouls for arguing a charge call -- and another ejection for teammate Andre Drummond that was later rescinded in a bizarre scene Monday night.

Driving to the basket in transition as San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama attempted to defend, Embiid plowed into the 20-year-old French phenom, knocking him to the floor. Embiid was whistled for a charging foul with 2:59 left in the first half.

Embiid stood up immediately and vehemently argued the call, leading to a technical foul from referee Jenna Schroeder as the center headed toward the Philadelphia bench.

Once near the bench area, a furious Embiid charged toward the officials and was restrained by teammate Kyle Lowry, coach Nick Nurse and several assistants as Schroeder issued another technical foul, leading to Embiid's second career ejection.

Embiid got close to Schroeder during the initial technical foul, but it wasn't clear from replays whether he made contact with the official. After the game, crew chief Curtis Blair said to a pool reporter that there was "incidental contact with both of them" during the sequence, but added, "There was nothing that warranted any further punishment."

Nurse said he never received an explanation for Embiid's ejection.

"I couldn't ever really get to the referee that called it," Nurse said. "So, I was asking the other guys and they were saying to ask her, and I never really got a chance. I just assume it was [for] arguing or whatever."

Blair said that Embiid was ejected for two unsportsmanlike technical fouls.

Wearing a mask while playing in just his second game since suffering a sinus fracture, Embiid had nine points and three rebounds in 14 minutes, shooting 2-for-8. He entered the game averaging 22.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists.

It was the second ejection of the quarter by Schroeder, although the first was rescinded in a strange sequence. Drummond, the 76ers' reserve center, was whistled for a technical foul with 8:13 remaining in the first half after pushing Wembanyama to the floor as the two battled under the basket. Seconds later, Drummond appeared to push Wembanyama down again.

Drummond was initially called for his second technical foul and ejected. After video review, however, the officials rescinded the ejection. Then, they assessed Wembanyama with a technical foul for flopping. Philadelphia's Tyrese Maxey made the free throw, only for the officials to rescind the "unsportsmanlike flop" technical, remove the point from the 76ers' total and restart the game.

"The whole thing was really strange," Nurse said.

According to the pool report, it was determined that Drummond stepped on Wembanyama's foot and the contact was deemed incidental.

Drummond, who had already departed for the locker room, was seen on the broadcast putting his jersey back on as he came down the tunnel toward the court.

"The whole thing was really strange," 76ers coach Nick Nurse said of Andre Drummond being ejected. Drummond was allowed to return to the game when his second technical foul was rescinded upon video review. Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

"He just stepped on my foot, and I fell," Wembanyama said. "I didn't expect the foul to be called. I just fell."

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson, who is in charge as Gregg Popovich recovers from a stroke, agreed.

"I don't think it was a foul on them, and I don't think it was a flop [on Wembanyama]," he said. "That's kind of how I saw it up to that point."

Those incidents led to Philadelphia fans relentlessly booing Wembanyama every time he touched the ball. He finished with 26 points, nine rebounds and eight blocks. But Maxey scored 32 points and made two crucial plays in the final minute to help the 76ers complete the comeback.

Embiid, who was playing in just his eighth game, returned to the court after the win and was smiling as he celebrated with his teammates.

Embiid did not address the incident afterward. According to a team official, Embiid left the arena when reporters were in the locker room for postgame media availability.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

- Michael C. Wright, ESPN Staff Writer

SIXERS' JOEL EMBIID SUFFERS SINUS FRACTURE AGAINST PACERS

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Joel Embiid suffered a sinus fracture in the Philadelphia 76ers' 121-107 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Friday night, the latest setback in a season full of them for the All-Star big man.

Embiid was battling Indiana's Bennedict Mathurin for a defensive rebound in the closing seconds of the first half when he caught an errant forearm and elbow to the face. He crumpled to the floor as play continued up the court and stayed down near the Philadelphia bench, holding his face.

The team ruled him out early in the second half because of "impact to the right side of the face" in the cheek and nose area.

Coach Nick Nurse didn't have an update on Embiid's status after the game, only to say he still was undergoing testing. The team later said he suffered the sinus fracture and would be reevaluated this weekend.

Embiid had 12 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds in 17½ minutes in the loss for the 76ers, who next play at Charlotte on Monday.

He has played in only six of Philadelphia's 23 games. Embiid has been bothered by swelling in his left knee and served a three-game suspension for a physical incident with a reporter.

Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George -- billed as Philadelphia's big three after George's offseason arrival -- have played parts of only three games together. The Sixers are 7-16 on the season.

"You just have to move on and practice when we practice again and have a next-man-up mentality," said Maxey, who led Philadelphia with 22 points. "What sucks about this is that we were moving in the right direction. Guys were figuring out roles, what coach wants from them and playing the right way. We know how to play with Joel, and now we may have to revert our minds back to playing without him. That's OK. It's different. That's how life is."

Embiid has had number of facial injuries, including an orbital bone fracture after a collision with Pascal Siakam during the 2022 playoffs against the Toronto Raptors and one in 2018 after colliding with teammate Markelle Fultz. Last year, Embiid revealed during a first-round playoff loss to the New York Knicks that he had Bell's palsy.

Embiid told ESPN after Sunday's win in Chicago that his left knee issues this season were "depressing" because of the swelling not being related to an injury. That was Philadelphia's last game before Friday.

"He's been in a really good place all week, and he practiced all week," Nurse said when asked about Embiid's state of mind. "We did a lot of stuff to get up to speed with him. But I can imagine that he can feel like the black cloud is over him a little bit. He just keeps running into something, really, unfortunately."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

- ESPN News Services

JOEL EMBIID CONFRONTS, SHOVES COLUMNIST

AP Photo

PHILADELPHIA -- Joel Embiid was involved in an altercation with a local columnist in the locker room after the 76ers' 124-107 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night, shouting at him during an exchange of words before eventually shoving him.

"We are aware of reports of an incident in the Sixers locker room this evening and are commencing an investigation," an NBA spokesman said in a statement.

Embiid took issue with a recent column by Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes. In it, Hayes mentioned Embiid's son and late brother -- both named Arthur -- while questioning Embiid's professionalism and effort to stay in shape.

As reporters entered the locker room to talk to players, Embiid stood and confronted Hayes.

"The next time you bring up my dead brother and my son again, you are going to see what I'm going to do to you and I'm going to have to ... live with the consequences," Embiid said to Hayes.

Embiid continued, with several instances of profanity. Hayes offered an apology, which Embiid did not want. "That's not the f---ing first time," Embiid said.

Embiid later said he doesn't care what reporters say. "But you do," Hayes answered.

Embiid appeared to raise his voice at that point and not long afterward pushed Hayes on the shoulder while the team's public relations chief got between them. Another team official moved Tyrese Maxey's interview to the hallway outside the locker room to try to clear reporters from the locker room.

At the same time, a team security person asked reporters not to report on what had happened. Embiid yelled over the security guard.

"They can do whatever they want," Embiid said. "I don't give a s---."

76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey told ESPN's Tim Bontemps that the team was aware of the incident.

"We take the situation very seriously and are investigating, and have already spoken to the NBA," Morey said in a statement.

Embiid didn't play in Saturday's contest, the fifth consecutive game he has sat out to begin the campaign because of left knee injury management. Both he and Paul George, who sustained a bone bruise in his left knee when stepping awkwardly in a preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks on Oct. 14, have yet to play this season for the 76ers (1-4).

Speaking to reporters Friday after practice at the team's facility for the first time in a few weeks, Embiid expressed frustration with the concept that he doesn't want to play.

"Everybody has been on the same page," Embiid said of his recovery plan. "If your body doesn't react well, and if your body tells you one thing [sit out]. I've done it. From what I can tell you, I've broken my face twice; I came back early with the risk of losing my vision. I have broken fingers. I still came back. When I see people say, 'He doesn't want to play,' I've done way too much for this city, putting myself at risk, for people to be saying that."

Embiid had surgery on his left knee after sustaining an injury in January, limiting him to 39 games last season. He then returned in April, playing in Philadelphia's six games of a first-round playoff loss to the New York Knicks, before helping Team USA win gold at the Paris Olympics.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

- ESPN News Services

76ERS TO HOLD JOEL EMBIID (KNEE) OUT FOR REST OF PRESEASON

The Philadelphia 76ers announced Sunday that superstar center Joel Embiid will sit out for the remainder of the preseason due to left knee injury management.

Embiid wasn't with the team on the start of its three-game preseason road trip to Iowa Friday and Boston on Saturday, instead meeting with doctors Thursday to check on the status of his left knee. That meeting went well, with sources saying that the goal is to put Embiid in the best possible position to make it through the season, and to have his knee as close to 100% as possible.

Last season, Embiid only played in one preseason game, and the expectation this year was that he would be a limited participant in the exhibition slate -- if he wound up doing so at all.

Now, the first time he will wear a 76ers uniform this season won't be until at least the season opener on Oct. 23 against the Milwaukee Bucks in Philadelphia.

Embiid, who played in 39 games last year after a knee injury in late January wiped out his chances of defending his MVP award, dropped 25 to 30 pounds of weight entering training camp -- and has said he hopes to lose more -- to take pressure off his knee.

Philadelphia enters this season with arguably the highest expectations it has had at any point during the Embiid Era after one of the best offseasons in the NBA. The 76ers landed Paul George as a free agent, extending both Embiid and Tyrese Maxey to long-term deals, retaining free agents Kelly Oubre Jr. and Kyle Lowry and signing Caleb Martin, Eric Gordon and Andre Drummond to fill out the team's rotation.

George made his preseason debut Friday in Iowa, while all eight of those players sat out Saturday's loss in Boston on the second night of a back-to-back.

2014-25 PHILADELPHIA 76ERS ROSTER | #NBA

 

JOEL EMBIID LAUGHS OFF JEERS, LEADS U.S. ROUT INTO OLYMPIC SEMIS

Joel Embiid of Team USA at Paris Olympics on August 6, 2024. PHOTO: GREGORY SHAMUS/GETTY

PARIS -- If there's one thing Joel Embiid has learned during the Olympics, it's that the French can boo him but no one here can stop him from doing the crotch chop.

The American center's comfort level in dealing with adversity mirrored that of the rest of his teammates Tuesday as Team USA put on a clinic in a 122-87 quarterfinal victory over Brazil.

The U.S. is now two wins from a fifth consecutive gold medal and is set up for another meeting with Serbia in the semifinals on Thursday.

Kevin Durant added 11 points for Team USA, passing legend Lisa Leslie for the most points in American Olympic history.

Not only did Embiid laugh his way through the jeers from those still annoyed that he passed on France's offer to join its national team. He was all too happy to pull out one of his favorite celebrations with the WWE-inspired chop maneuver. Embiid has been fined twice -- for $60,000 -- for the move by the NBA, but on this night, league commissioner Adam Silver was at Bercy Arena only as a fan.

"Oh no, they still might find a way [to fine me], but that felt good," Embiid said with a smile. "It's good to have fun too, because at the end of the day, you got to take something out of this experience."

The U.S. needed some production from Embiid against a Brazil team with a strong front line. He was dominant right from the start, cleaning the glass effectively and showing off his classic mix of interior and perimeter scoring.

In 12 devastating minutes of work in the first half, Embiid put in 14 points with seven rebounds. Brazil was helpless in dealing with him as he made 5 of 6 shots, including two 3-pointers. The boos from the fans ebbed, which only seemed to encourage Embiid to ask for more of them.

Embiid did have a minor ankle turn, and he sat the second half as a precaution.

The antics were part of the low-stress evening Team USA was hoping for, especially after seeing underdogs apply all sorts of pressure during the day, including France upsetting Canada just as the Americans were arriving at the arena.

With Tuesday's 35-point victory, Team USA has won each of its first four games here by at least 15 points, marking the first time a U.S. men's team has done so since the 2008 Redeem Team, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

Durant, who entered the game five points behind Leslie as the U.S. Olympic scoring leader, finished the day with 494 points for his career.

"Records are meant to be broken, so somebody will come along and do the same to me," Durant said. "My focus is on trying to win this gold."

All in all, it was a brilliant display of precision basketball led by LeBron James, who is steadily assembling a case for Olympic MVP. James was the catalyst for an impressive display of selfless offense, throwing an array of jaw-dropping passes that led to easy baskets for his teammates.

The most memorable happened just before the end of the first half on an inbounds pass. From half court, James threw a no-look frozen rope that threaded a tight window between Brazilian defenders and ended up perfectly in the hands of Jayson Tatum for an alley-oop.

"We had a play, but he just looked at me, so I knew he was doing the backdoor," Tatum said. "That was a hell of a pass. He put it right on the money, so he made it easy for me."

James has thrown some passes for the scrapbook already during the Paris Games, and all he did Tuesday was pile up nine assists in just 12 minutes to go with 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting. The only thing keeping it from being a perfect night was an elbow.

Brazil's Georginho De Paula caught James above the left eye going for a rebound midway through the third quarter, opening up a cut. James exited to the locker room, where he got four stitches, and did not return to the game. It is not expected to cost him any more time.

James' lead was infectious as Team USA displayed perhaps its best ball movement of the summer. The Americans had 18 assists on their first 19 baskets.

"For a guy who truly is a point forward at heart, for him to be the leading scorer in NBA history when that's kind of the secondary thing that he does, he's crazy," Team USA coach Steve Kerr said. "But that's LeBron."

Devin Booker, who has been one of the Americans' steadiest players, ended up leading the team in scoring with 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting.

Brazil was fueled by former NBA player Bruno Caboclo, who had 24 points.

- Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior Writer

TEAM USA BASKETBALL IS FACING INTERNAL PROBLEMS AS PAST FRICTIONS ARE RESURFACING DURING THE OLYMPICS

Past "beefs" between players are resurfacing

Team USA basketball is facing internal problems as past frictions resurface during the 2024 Olympics

 Team USA basketball for the Paris Olympics 2024 is without a doubt full of talent. The most elite NBA players are set to compete against teams like Spain, Canada, and Serbia for the gold medal. But with this amount of talent and competitiveness comes with a roller coaster where past "beefs" between players can

LeBron James and Steph Curry are two of the most competitive athletes in the world, and now they are on the same team. These two future NBA Hall of Famers are the captains of this elite squad and must set the example of leaving past frictions behind to achieve the ultimate goal. Their challenge is to inspire their teammates to do the same, but it seems that in the case of two particular players, the competition is not being taken as it should.

The USA National Team scrimmages are heating up

All eyes are on Devin Booker and Brandin Podziemski after an awkward end to the latest practice. The team has been grinding in Las Vegas, getting ready for the upcoming Paris Olympics, and the tension is palpable.

The main team, featuring stars like LeBron James, Joel Embiid, and Anthony Edwards, has been training alongside younger players from the Select Team. A video making the rounds on social media shows players shaking hands and hugging it out after a game, but one moment stole the spotlight. Devin Booker and Brandin Podziemski walked right past each other, completely ignoring one another.

Fans were quick to react, buzzing about the potential beef between the two. Many believe the tension dates back to 2022, when the Golden State Warriors faced off against the Phoenix Suns, and Klay Thompson taunted Booker with the "four rings" gesture.

Whatever the cause, the drama is real, and these two guards are set to clash many times in the seasons ahead. Podziemski, just 21, is entering his second year in the NBA, while 27-year-old Booker still has plenty of years left to make his mark.

- Jasser Akle

USA MAN'S BASKETBALL OLYMPIC TEAM ARRIVES FOR CAMP I LAS VEGAS

 LAS VEGAS (AP) — There’s something that Kobe Bryant once said that has stuck with U.S. men’s Olympic basketball coach Steve Kerr and seems especially important now.

It was about how other nations have made big strides in basketball, how the gap between the rest of the world and the U.S. is closing and how that’s been a great thing for the NBA. And Bryant’s response, paraphrased, was basically, “so what?”

His point: If everyone else is getting better, then the U.S. better find ways to do the same.

“Maybe we’ll show that one to the guys,” Kerr said. “I love that. And it has to be our attitude this summer.”

After months of planning, it’s time for the U.S. Olympic team — one that will go to the Paris Games later this month seeking a fifth consecutive gold medal — to take the floor. The first practice for the squad is Saturday, the start of a four-day training camp before its exhibition opener against Canada on Wednesday.

Players began arriving Thursday in Las Vegas; Stephen Curry was the first to check in for camp, perhaps underscoring how anxious he is for what will be his first Olympics. The 12 players have all known each other for years, but the task of becoming a team starts in earnest Saturday.

“I feel like it starts when it gets there, because that’s when you really see each other eye-to-eye,” said Bam Adebayo, who is seeking his second gold medal after winning one at the Tokyo Games three years ago. “You have those conversations, you have those many conversations within what we’re going through, what we’re trying to do. And that’s when it’s time to really be honest about what we want to do.”

That part is easy: Win gold.

The how-to-do-it part, that’s the key.

Last year brought another humbling World Cup experience for the U.S.; after finishing seventh in 2019, the Americans were fourth at Manila. But the argument — or justification, for lack of a better word — for those stumbles was that the U.S. wasn’t sending the best possible roster to those tournaments. Getting the big names like Kevin Durant and LeBron James for the Olympics, that’s one thing. Getting them for the World Cup and asking them to represent their country in back-to-back summers, that’s something else.

Tyrese Haliburton and Anthony Edwards were on that World Cup team last summer and were picked for this Olympic team as well.

“Obviously, last year we didn’t do what we wanted to do,” Haliburton said. “And that was frustrating because any time you get to represent USA Basketball, the expectation is to win. And we weren’t able to do that.”

This team was put together with a very different ending in mind. James is back on the Olympic team for the first time since 2012 and seeking a third gold, Durant is going for what would be a men’s Olympic record fourth basketball gold, and five other players — Adebayo, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, Jayson Tatum and Anthony Davis — each have one. The first-time Olympians are Haliburton, Edwards, Curry, Kawhi Leonard and Joel Embiid, someone who the U.S. convinced to play despite a strong push by France for the Philadelphia star to represent the host nation in Paris.

As far as choosing a starting lineup, good luck.

“It’s a good problem to have,” Kerr said. “I’m guessing that all 12 players on this roster will be in the Hall of Fame someday. So, how do you pick five out of 12? The idea is, you find combinations that click, and you find two-way lineups that can be effective at both ends. Our big job in Las Vegas is to find five-man combinations that fit and to just ask all 12 guys to fully commit to the goal of winning a gold medal no matter what it looks like, no matter who’s playing.”

The Americans play their first exhibition against Canada in Las Vegas, then have games at Abu Dhabi (against Australia and Serbia) and London (against South Sudan and Germany) before the Paris Games start. The U.S. opens Olympic play July 28 against Serbia and will also have group games against South Sudan and the winner of Sunday’s qualifier in Puerto Rico — either Mexico, Lithuania, Italy or Puerto Rico.

“We’ve got 39 days or so to get locked in to go get this gold medal, 12 amazing, talented guys ready to come together for one goal,” Curry said when he arrived to check in for camp. “I’m hyped for it all.”

TIMBERWOLVES VS. NUGGETS: NBA WORLD REACTS TO MINNESOTA'S 20-POINT GAME 7 COMEBACK VICTORY

DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 19: Anthony Edwards #5 and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrate after winning Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round Playoffs against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on May 19, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. 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. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images

 

 The basketball world was in shock as the Minnesota Timberwolves climbed back from a 20-point deficit to defeat the Nuggets, 98-90, in Denver during Sunday's winner-take-all Game 7. The Western Conference series saw its fair share of lopsided games and it looked like this would be another blowout. However, Denver had a disastrous third quarter and the Timberwolves stayed poised, despite Anthony Edwards having a slow start. 

Patience and determination led to the Timberwolves' first Western Conference Finals since 2004, as well as plenty of great reactions on social media. 

Philadelphia 76ers' star Joel Embiid kept it short and simple when describing what most of us were feeling when the comeback was completed: "WOW"

The win was a full team effort with six Timberwolves reaching double-digit scoring. They were deeper than the Nuggets, who relied on Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray scoring 69 of Denver's total points. Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young was impressed with Minnesota as a whole.

"Wolves got a SQUAD man!" he said.

Edwards did not have a great offensive game as he got 16 points on 6-for-24 shooting. However, he contributed with eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals while also doing a better job locking in Murray in the second half. 

Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson was one of many praising the young star.

Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns put up 23 points, going 8-of-14 from the field and completed a double-double with 12 rebounds. NBA icon Jamal Crawford approached the Timberwolves star duo after their win. He did not say what he told them, but he did share a video of the moment on social media. 

Crawford was not the only one impressed with them. Milwaukee Bucks point guard Patrick Beverly praised Towns' clutch performance.

"I don't wanna hear anymore bad talk about Kat ever. He has been locked in," Beverly wrote.

He also compared Edwards and Towns to the Chicago Bulls' legendary duo of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

Jaden McDaniels also had outstanding stats with 23 points on 70% shooting, along with six rebounds, two steals and one block. 

One of his (almost) highlights was a dunk attempt with 20 seconds remaining. It was unsuccessful, but many still appreciated his killer instinct. Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero said the "bounce lob attempt was crazy" and shared a post that described McDaniels as a "psychopath."

Sunday was not the first time the Nuggets blew a large lead while playing a Game 7 at home. They were up by 17 points against Portland in 2019 in the conference semifinals, and former Trail Blazer Evan Turner has not forgotten.

"This look like game 7 in back in 2019 tbh," Turner said.

The Timberwolves will now have to battle Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks for a spot in the NBA Finals. Bulls shooting guard Alex Caruso is already looking forward to the upcoming series.

"Luke or Ant coming out of the west," he wrote.

The Timberwolves will be hosting the first two games, and Edwards told NBA legend Charles Barkley that it was time for him to make a trip to Minnesota.

"Bring ya ass," Edwards told him.

Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals is set for Wednesday, May 22 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

- Isabel Gonzalez

76 OWNERS BUY 2,000 TICKETS FOR HONE PLAYOFF GANE. AIN FOR FEWER KNICKS FANS

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 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers off-court strategy heading into Game 6 of their NBA playoff series is to keep New York Knicks fans out of Wells Fargo Arena on Thursday night.

Team owners Josh Harris, David Blitzer and David Adelman and former minority owner Michael Rubin joined forces Wednesday to buy more than 2,000 tickets they handed out to people who serve the Philadelphia community.

Wells Fargo Arena seemed more like Madison Square Garden South during the Knicks' 97-92 win in Game 4 on Sunday, prompting 76ers star Joel Embiid to express frustration about the home-court disadvantage.

On Tuesday, the 76ers won 112-106 in overtime in New York to cut their deficit to 3-2 in the best-of-seven series.

After the 2,000-plus Game 6 tickets were bought in bulk, Rubin announced on social media they would be given to first responders, health care professionals and other Philadelphia-based organizations.

Dawn Staley, coach of the NCAA champion South Carolina women’s basketball team and a Philadelphia native, also asked fans to not sell their tickets to Knicks fans.

“We need everybody’s support, man,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said.

TYRES MAXEY SAVES SIXERS FROM ELIMINATION WITH HUGE FINISH IN OT WIN THAT CUT'S KNICKS' LEAD TO 3-2

AP Photo 

 NEW YORK (AP) — Tyrese Maxey made his Madison Square Garden memory, engineering a season-saving comeback with a rapid-fire flurry that evoked memories of Reggie Miller.

Not that he was thinking about his own legacy as those 3-pointers fell through the net.

“Going through my mind right there was just, find a way to survive,” Maxey said.

The 76ers did. Now they're thinking about advancing.

Maxey saved Philadelphia from elimination with seven points in the final 25 seconds of regulation, finished with 46 and led the 76ers to a 112-106 overtime victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night in Game 5 of their first-round series.

The Sixers trailed by six points with 28 seconds left in regulation before Maxey pulled out a comeback that had team trainer Kevin Johnson talking to him about Miller's eight points in nine seconds for Indiana in an out-of-nowhere comeback at Madison Square Garden in 1995.

Asked to describe the feeling, Maxey settled on “mandatory.”

The All-Star guard converted a four-point play with 25 seconds remaining to cut it to two, and after Josh Hart's free throw, pulled up from 35 feet to tie it at 97 with 8.1 seconds left in front of a stunned crowd that was set to celebrate the Knicks' second straight trip to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Joel Embiid finished with 19 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists for the Sixers, who will host Game 6 on Thursday night.

Jalen Brunson scored 40 points for the Knicks, who were thinking about a possible Game 1 of the second round at MSG on Saturday night. Instead, it could be Game 7 of this series, which seemed all but over.

“It was a tough way to lose because you get up six, eight and then we had a couple turnovers and we’ve got to just be better,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “Play tougher with the lead, use good judgement. Fourth quarter is different, understand the difference. So we can do better and we will.”

It was the second desperate rally to avoid what seemed like certain defeat in what has been a razor-tight series between Atlantic Division rivals. The Knicks won Game 2 after trailing by five points with under 30 seconds remaining.

Embiid, who has been ailing and missed shootaround with a headache, didn’t score like usual after coming into the game with an NBA-leading 35 points per game in the playoffs. But Maxey picked up the load, making seven 3-pointers while adding nine assists.

“I think that considering that our No. 1 option was struggling, for him to say, ‘All right, I got to put this team on my back and go,’ I just kept encouraging him, like, to take his chances, take his shots, make plays,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said. “And he certainly did it and got in a rhythm and made a whole bunch of them.”

Maxey had the most points by a Sixers player in a win to stave off elimination, surpassing Hall of Famer Allen Iverson's 44 in a Game 7 win against Milwaukee in the 2001 Eastern Conference final.

Maxey's last 3-pointer got the 76ers on the board in overtime after Brunson scored the first five points. That triggered a 9-0 run that Embiid capped with a three-point play with 1:40 remaining for a 106-102 lead, and after Brunson’s 3 tied it at 106, Kelly Oubre Jr. made the tiebreaking basket with 1:02 to go and Tobias Harris followed with two free throws.

Harris had 19 points and Oubre scored 14.

Hart had 18 points and OG Anunoby 17 for the Knicks, who won Game 4 at Philadelphia and didn't appear like they were heading back there. But the Sixers' rally to win by six meant the No. 7 seeds have outscored the Knicks by two total points in the series.

Embiid was the target of the loud and long boos before the game even started, Knicks fans angry after his flagrant foul on Robinson in Game 3 in Philadelphia. They had plenty of chances to jeer him after Embiid also had nine turnovers in a sloppy performance.

But thanks to Maxey, Embiid might be playing in front of that MSG crowd one more time.

“It’s not hostile," Embiid said of the taunts that were frequently profane. “I mean, I love New York. New York is one of my favorite cities in the world. I have (had) a place here for the past five years. I just love New York. And then the fans, when you play against a team, they’re always going to pick that guy and they seem to have picked me, which is fun. I love it.”

Embiid shuffled slowly through the locker room a little more than an hour before the game, resting his head in his hand while he briefly sat before going to warm up. He may have lacked energy, but the 23-year-old Maxey, the winner of the NBA's Most Improved Player award, seems to have a limitless amount.

Robinson returned after missing Game 4 with a sprained left ankle, but the Knicks announced before the game that Bojan Bogdanovic would miss the rest of the playoffs and have surgery on the left foot he injured in Game 4.

The Knicks, who have flourished when Embiid is resting in the series, started a 22-5 run while he was out in the second quarter and went up by 10 points in the period. They were ahead 70-69 going to the fourth.

- BRIAN MAHONEY

NBA ROUNDUP: WOLVES FINISH OFF SWEEP OF SUNS

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 Anthony Edwards scored 31 of his 40 points in the second half and the Minnesota Timberwolves completed a four-game sweep of the host Phoenix Suns with a 122-116 victory on Sunday night in their Western Conference first-round series.

Edwards made seven 3-pointers and had nine rebounds and six assists for the third-seeded Timberwolves. Karl-Anthony Towns added 28 points and 10 rebounds as Minnesota won a playoff series for the first time in 20 years.

Jaden McDaniels added 18 points and Mike Conley had 10 points and seven assists for the Timberwolves, who will face either the Denver Nuggets or Los Angeles Lakers in the second round.

Devin Booker scored a playoff-career-high 49 points for the sixth-seeded Suns. Booker made 13 of 21 shots from the floor and hit 20 of 21 free-throw attempts. Kevin Durant added 33 points on 12-of-17 shooting for Phoenix. He also had nine rebounds, five assists and four blocked shots.

Knicks 97, 76ers 92

Jalen Brunson scored a career playoff-high 47 points to go along with 10 assists as New York defeated host Philadelphia in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first-round series.

Brunson set a franchise playoff scoring record and also became the first player in franchise history to post at least 30 points and 10 assists in consecutive playoff games. The Knicks lead the series 3-1 with Game 5 set for Tuesday in New York.

Brunson, who shot 18 of 34 from the field and 9 of 11 from the free-throw line, knocked down two free throws with 5.2 seconds remaining for a 97-92 lead. OG Anunoby added 16 points and 14 rebounds, Miles McBride scored 13 and Josh Hart pulled down 17 rebounds.

Joel Embiid led Philadelphia with 27 points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots. Tyrese Maxey scored 23 points, Kelly Oubre Jr. added 19 and Tobias Harris had 10. Embiid had scored a playoff career-high 50 points despite struggling on his surgically repaired left knee in the Sixers' win over the Knicks in Game 3 on Thursday.

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Pacers 126, Bucks 113

Myles Turner scored 29 points and Tyrese Haliburton added 24 to fuel Indiana to a victory over undermanned Milwaukee in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first-round series in Indianapolis.

Turner sank seven 3-pointers for the sixth-seeded Pacers, who shot 51.2 percent from beyond the arc and 51.7 percent overall to seize a 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven series. Game 5 is Tuesday in Milwaukee. Haliburton made five 3-pointers despite being added to the injury report as questionable approximately 90 minutes before tipoff due to a balky back.

Milwaukee's Brook Lopez recorded 27 points and nine rebounds and Khris Middleton added 25 and 10, respectively. Malik Beasley added 20 points for the third-seeded Bucks, who were short-handed due to the early ejection of Bobby Portis in addition to the absences of injured stars Damian Lillard and two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

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Clippers 116, Mavericks 111

Paul George and James Harden each scored 33 points and Los Angeles rallied after coughing up a 31-point lead to beat host Dallas Mavericks in Game 4, evening the Western Conference first-round playoff series.

Luka Doncic finished with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Mavericks. Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 40 points on 14-of-25 shooting from the floor, including 6-of-12 from 3-point range. The rest of the Mavericks shot only 5-of-21 from deep, including 1-of-9 from Doncic.

The series, which is tied 2-2, heads back to Los Angeles for Wednesday's Game 5.

USA TODAY Sports 

- Reuters 

76ERS ALL-STAR CENTER JOEL EMBIID SAYS HE'S SUFFERING FROM BELL'S PALSY

AP Photo 

 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.

Embiid wore sunglasses to the podium after he scored 50 points in the Sixers' Game 3 win over the New York Knicks and said he's dealt with various symptoms such as blurred vision and dry eyes.

Embiid said he first started suffering from the affliction about a “day or two” before the Sixers played the Miami Heat on April 17 in the play-in tournament. Embiid had 23 points and 15 rebounds in the win that sent the Sixers to the playoffs.

Embiid complained of migraines but “thought it was nothing" before he finally notified doctors he wasn't feeling well.

“My body was just, I was just not feeling it,” Embiid said. “Yes, it's pretty annoying. My left side of my face, my mouth and my eye. It's been tough. But I'm not a quitter. I'm going to keep fighting through anything. It's unfortunate, that's the way I look at it. But it's not an excuse. I've got to keep pushing.”

Last season's NBA MVP, Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers in Game 3.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1 and Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid had been wearing sunglasses throughout the series and conducted a Game 2 postgame interview with his head down in front of his locker to hide his symptoms.

Embiid said he has no timetable on how long it may take to recover from Bell's palsy.

“It hasn't really necessarily gotten better,” he said. “With the conversations that I've had, it could be weeks, it could be months. I just hope that it stays like this. I've got a beautiful face. I don't like when my mouth is looking the other way. Unfortunate situation but everything happens for a reason.”

- DAN GELSTON

JOEL EMBIID SCORES 50 POINTS TO LEAD 76ERS PAST KNICKS 125-114 TO CUT DEFICIT TO 2-1

 PHILADELPHIA -- — Joel Embiid is suffering from Bell's palsy and played Game 3 with a bulky knee brace to sturdy the 7-footer after dealing with injuries all season.

The lingering effects of the time off from his most recent knee surgery sucked him into a depression — and that was before Embiid was hit with a form of facial paralysis. Embiid pushed aside the pain — mental and physical — and embraced the pressure after he vowed the 76ers were “going to win this series” against the New York Knicks.

Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-saving third quarter on Thursday night to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 125-114 win in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

After getting punished in New York, the Sixers pushed back.

“They want to bring the physicality,” Embiid said. “We can be physical, too.”

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

They at least have a shot now — the Knicks lead the series 2-1 and Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

Embiid, who scored a franchise-best 70 points against San Antonio in January, became the first player in NBA history to score 50 points on fewer than 20 shots in a playoff game.

Last season’s NBA MVP, Embiid finally turned the crowd -- which had a distinct New York flavor in South Philly --- into one rocking for the home team. The All-Star center played more like a sharpshooting guard in the third, when he saved the season.

The Sixers pecked away at a three-point halftime deficit when Embiid got hot. He hit one 3 and then two more —- the last two with assists from Tyrese Maxey — that gave the Sixers an 82-72 lead. His fourth 3 pushed the lead to 98-85.

Not bad for a career 34% 3-point shooter.

Maxey added two 3s in the quarter and the 76ers went a whopping 9 of 12 from beyond the arc for 43 points.

Embiid mostly kept his cool and was in the mix on both ends of the court all game. Embiid had 17 points, three fouls and he even grabbed Mitchell Robinson and dragged him to the court in a first half where they again weren't good enough to look like a team that could beat the Knicks.

Embiid was whistled for a flagrant foul on the play. Robinson suffered a sprained left ankle and left the arena in a boot.

“I didn't mean to hurt anybody,” Embiid said. “In those situations, I've got to protect myself.”

Embiid said he first started suffering from the affliction about a “day or two” before the Sixers played the Miami Heat on April 17 in the play-in tournament.

“My left side of my face, my mouth and my eye,” Embiid said. “It’s been tough. But I’m not a quitter. I’m going to keep fighting through anything.”

The Knicks won the first two games in New York, highlighted by Donte DiVincenzo's go-ahead 3-pointer with 13 seconds left in Game 2. Against the backdrop of two Villanova national championship banners they helped the program win, the trio of former Wildcats were largely stifled in Game 3.

Jalen Brunson did lead the Knicks with 39 points and 13 assists. Josh Hart — whose spectacular 3-point shooting in New York was an unexpected bonus for the Knicks — scored 20 points but DiVincenzo had five.

Hart said he was “all for tough playoff fouls” but Embiid's foul could have put Robinson out for a “serious amount of time.”

The Knicks must have felt at home inside a Sixers' arena that sounded more like Madison Square Garden as chants of "Let's Go Knicks!' echoed throughout the arena for a chunk of the game. John Starks wildly cheered them on from his courtside.

The Sixers countered with Allen Iverson, who along with Embiid and Billy Cunningham are the only players in franchise history to hit 50 points in a playoff game.

But nostalgia didn't matter much between teams that played each other in a postseason series for the first time since 1989.

This one could be shaping up as one to remember.

Embiid was serenaded with “MVP! MVP!” chants as he stretched the lead from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.

“Joel Embiid has been banned from the Empire State Building,” was posted on the skyscraper's social media account.

Maxey finished with 25 points. Kelly Oubre Jr. had 15 points and showed no lingering effects following his reported involvement in a car crash after Game 2. Cam Payne hit three 3s and scored 11 points.

“I think Cam Payne was the MVP of the game," 76ers guard Kyle Lowry said.

Outside of a disputed call on Embiid's flagrant, Game 3 was played without any significant disputes with the officiating after the NBA said the referees missed several late calls in Game 2.

Embiid's 21 free-throw attempts were more than New York attempted the entire game; the Knicks made 13 of 19.

“I'll send my clips in like I do every game,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “They'll say marginal contact. Then they'll say marginal contact on Embiid and he'll be at the line 21 times. That's just the way it works.”