The clock is ticking toward Thursday at noon and the NBA’s trade deadline, and let’s be clear about what’s actually at stake for the Golden State Warriors in these final hours:

This isn’t just about roster construction or luxury tax gymnastics. It isn’t about draft pick protections or the “Two Timelines” theory that has pivoted ...Read more

FORT WORTH, Texas — Twenty-nine games. 587 points. 312 rebounds. 53 blocks. Sixteen wins. Zero playoff appearances.

There are other numbers involved, but these are the contributions from Anthony Davis in his career with the Dallas Mavericks after they acquired him in the Luka Doncic trade.

Boston Red Sox, you’re off the hook. Dealing Babe ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Curious.

Suggestive.

Dangerous.

Most of all, unfortunate.

Those are the only sorts of words you can use right now when evaluating the Sixers’ decision to trade Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder Wednesday afternoon in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick and some ancillary draft capital.

To judge the move in more ...Read more

Cam Thomas won’t be on the floor Thursday night in Orlando, Fla.

He wasn’t on the team plane, either.

The Nets ruled Thomas out for personal reasons ahead of their road game against the Orlando Magic, a decision that comes with Thursday’s NBA trade deadline looming at 3 p.m. ET and, understandably, invites questions that go beyond the ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Jared McCain’s tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers is over.

A source confirmed Wednesday that the team is trading the second-year guard to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for the Houston Rockets’ 2026 first-round pick and three second-round selections.

One of the second-rounders is the 2027 most favorable pick from ...Read more

CHICAGO — After seven years with the team, Coby White no longer will wear a Chicago Bulls jersey.

The Bulls traded White to the Charlotte Hornets Wednesday along with Mike Conley Jr., getting back Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng and three second-round draft picks.

The No. 7 pick in the 2019 draft, White was the last remaining player acquired ...Read more

What Giannis Antetokounmpo wants versus what actually happens could go down as two very different things.

Amid swirling trade rumors, Antetokounmpo reiterated in two new interviews that his ideal scenario is to remain with the Milwaukee Bucks and to compete for championships with the team that drafted him 13 years ago.

But the Bucks have not ...Read more

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Offensive woes traveled with Pitt from Clemson, S.C., back home and with them on a road trip back south to Virginia. The previous time the Panthers visited John Paul Jones Arena, they upset a top 25-ranked Virginia team. A new group of Panthers tried to the do the same and pick up a signature victory but fell well short....Read more

MIAMI – Bodies were lacking and so was the inspiration.

Shorthanded yet again, not even a celebration of the team’s 2005-06 championship season could provide needed motivation as the Heat fell 127-115 Tuesday night to the Atlanta Hawks at Kaseya Center.

So 27-25 it is, with the Heat now idle through Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET NBA trade ...Read more

NEW YORK — It had been just about 5 1/2 weeks since Austin Reaves last played for the Lakers, a total of 19 games he was out because of a left calf strain, an injury he and the Lakers were being cautious about until he was ready to play against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night.

Reaves was on a minutes restriction, but at least he was ...Read more

OKLAHOMA CITY — Groundhog Day might have been Monday but Tuesday night between the Magic and Thunder felt like a repeat of most other contests from the past two months for Orlando.

Coach Jamahl Mosley‘s squad failed to get off on the right foot, trailed by as many 41 points and fell, 128-92, during its lone trip of the season to Paycom ...Read more

DURHAM, N.C. — The ball went up Tuesday for Duke’s game against Boston College and the first minute was all about Cameron Boozer.

The freshman knocked down a 3-pointer. A few moments later, he had a steal and sped down court for a two-hand slam.

Just like that, the No. 4 Blue Devils were off and running. It wouldn’t get any easier for ...Read more

HARTFORD, Conn. — The third-ranked UConn men’s basketball team completed its season sweep of Richard Pitino and Xavier in a 92-60 rout at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford Tuesday night.

UConn improved to 22-1 and 12-0 in the Big East, and will carry its 18-game winning streak into the toughest game of the conference season so far when it meets...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Joel Embiid is content to spend his All-Star break on a family vacation after the 76ers’ standout center was not selected as an Eastern Conference reserve by the NBA’s coaches.

“I don’t need any validation from anybody,” Embiid said following the Sixers’ victory over the Clippers on Monday night. “I’m happy where...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — For my money, Otega Oweh’s performance in Kentucky’s 85-77 men’s basketball upset of then-No. 15 Arkansas Saturday night was the best all-around game of his UK career so far.

Offensively, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Oweh played downhill and with high efficiency. The Newark, N.J., product scored a game-high 24 points on 9-of...Read more

James Harden is headed to Cleveland.

The Los Angeles Clippers are trading Harden to the Cavaliers for for Darius Garland and a second-round pick, according to ESPN.

Harden, 36, is averaging 25.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game this season, his third with Los Angeles.

After slumping to a 6-21 start, the Clippers have rebounded ...Read more

With Thursday afternoon’s NBA trade deadline growing closer, teams are officially open for business.

The Utah Jazz pulled off the first major acquisition of the week, agreeing Tuesday to acquire forward Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Memphis Grizzlies for a haul that includes three first-round picks, according to ESPN.

In addition to those ...Read more