basketball

Fans cheer during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the Miami Heat and the Milwaukee Bucks, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020, in Miami. A limited number of family and friends are in attendance by invitation. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Analysis: Amid a pandemic, a blowout epidemic also happening

Games are turning into runaways far more than usual

  • Jan 12, 2021

 

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) scores past San Antonio Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Hammon first woman to coach NBA team; Lakers beat Spurs

Hammon first woman to coach NBA team; Lakers beat Spurs

 

Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby (3) and Miami Heat forward KZ Okpala (4) batle for a rebound during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. The Raptors are playing their home games in Tampa as a result of Canada’s strict travel regulations stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

Fultz, Isaac, White, Kennard and Anunoby get extensions done

Teams had until Monday to get new deals done

  • Dec 22, 2020

 

Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer huddles with her team during a timeout againt Pacific during the firs half of an NCAA college basketball game in Stockton , Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. With a win over Pacific, VanDerveer will become the winningest women's coach in history breaking Pat Summitt's record of 1,098. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Tara VanDerveer becomes winningest women’s basketball coach

Tara VanDerveer becomes winningest women’s basketball coach

Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer huddles with her team during a timeout againt Pacific during the firs half of an NCAA college basketball game in Stockton , Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. With a win over Pacific, VanDerveer will become the winningest women's coach in history breaking Pat Summitt's record of 1,098. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
FILE - Miami Heat's Goran Dragic, bottom left, Jae Crowder, top left, and Jimmy Butler (22) defend as Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) shoots during the first half of an NBA basketball conference semifinal playoff game inin Lake Buena Vista, Fla., in this Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, file photo. Bucks Khris Middleton, right rear, looks on. Having the NBA’s best regular-season record and the league’s MVP each of the last two years hasn’t paid off for the Bucks in the playoffs. They’re hoping an offseason overhaul of their roster will help them earn the title that has eluded this franchise since 1971 and make sure two-time reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo stays in Milwaukee for years to come.(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

Giannis Antetokounmpo agrees to extension with Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo agrees to extension with Bucks

FILE - Miami Heat's Goran Dragic, bottom left, Jae Crowder, top left, and Jimmy Butler (22) defend as Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) shoots during the first half of an NBA basketball conference semifinal playoff game inin Lake Buena Vista, Fla., in this Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, file photo. Bucks Khris Middleton, right rear, looks on. Having the NBA’s best regular-season record and the league’s MVP each of the last two years hasn’t paid off for the Bucks in the playoffs. They’re hoping an offseason overhaul of their roster will help them earn the title that has eluded this franchise since 1971 and make sure two-time reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo stays in Milwaukee for years to come.(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

LeBron considers load management, maps future with Lakers

LeBron considers load management, maps future with Lakers

Canada’s Nembhard scores 11 points off the bench in Gonzaga debut

Canada’s Nembhard scores 11 points off the bench in Gonzaga debut

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23) brings the ball up court against Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) during the first half of NBA basketball action in Toronto on January 28, 2020. The Raptors officially annoucned that VanVleet has agreed to a multi-year contract with the team. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Raptors guard Fred VanVleet says contract negotiations were “easy”

Raptors guard Fred VanVleet says contract negotiations were “easy”

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23) brings the ball up court against Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) during the first half of NBA basketball action in Toronto on January 28, 2020. The Raptors officially annoucned that VanVleet has agreed to a multi-year contract with the team. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Sacramento Kings' Alex Len (25) collects a rebound against Brooklyn Nets' Jarrett Allen (31) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Aug. 7, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Ashley Landis

Raptors continue to shore up frontcourt, signing Alex Len to one-year deal

Raptors continue to shore up frontcourt, signing Alex Len to one-year deal

Sacramento Kings' Alex Len (25) collects a rebound against Brooklyn Nets' Jarrett Allen (31) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Aug. 7, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Ashley Landis
San Diego State’s Malachi Flynn brings the ball up against Air Force during the second half of a Mountain West Conference tournament NCAA college basketball game in Las Vegas on March 5, 2020. The undersized guard says he’s worked hard to prove his doubters wrong. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Isaac Brekken

Flynn has studied fellow small guards Lowry, VanVleet, admires how hard they compete

Raptors drafted the San Diego State guard

San Diego State’s Malachi Flynn brings the ball up against Air Force during the second half of a Mountain West Conference tournament NCAA college basketball game in Las Vegas on March 5, 2020. The undersized guard says he’s worked hard to prove his doubters wrong. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Isaac Brekken
FILE - In this Oct. 9, 2020, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis shoots past Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler during the second half in Game 5 of basketball's NBA Finals in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Davis is the biggest name on the free agency board; he turned down his option for this season with the Lakers but isn’t expected to go anyplace else. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

NBA’s off-season sprint continues with free agency starting

NBA’s off-season sprint continues with free agency starting

FILE - In this Oct. 9, 2020, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis shoots past Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler during the second half in Game 5 of basketball's NBA Finals in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Davis is the biggest name on the free agency board; he turned down his option for this season with the Lakers but isn’t expected to go anyplace else. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse, centre, gestures while talking to team president Masai Ujiri as general manager Bobby Webster (left) looks on during training camp practice, Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at Laval University in Quebec City. The Toronto Raptors have the 29th and 59th picks in Wednesday night's NBA draft, capping the longest and most convoluted pre-draft period in league history. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

NBA draft one of several huge tasks facing the Raptors this month

NBA draft one of several huge tasks facing the Raptors this month

Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse, centre, gestures while talking to team president Masai Ujiri as general manager Bobby Webster (left) looks on during training camp practice, Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at Laval University in Quebec City. The Toronto Raptors have the 29th and 59th picks in Wednesday night's NBA draft, capping the longest and most convoluted pre-draft period in league history. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
Toronto Raptors' Fred VanVleet (23) celebrates with teammate OG Anunoby (3) during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Boston Celtics Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Canada reviewing NBA plan to play in Toronto amid pandemic

Canada reviewing NBA plan to play in Toronto amid pandemic

Toronto Raptors' Fred VanVleet (23) celebrates with teammate OG Anunoby (3) during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Boston Celtics Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
International leagues are on pause for a two-week FIBA break. (Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS)

“Resilient spirit” among Canada’s women’s basketball players amid pandemic

Canadian women ranked No. 4 globally

International leagues are on pause for a two-week FIBA break. (Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Indiana Fever’s Natalie Achonwa, left, drives against the defence of Seattle Storm’s Alysha Clark during the first half of a WNBA basketball game on August 20, 2020, in Bradenton, Fla. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Mike Carlson

Canada’s Achonwa says regardless of election’s outcome, the work is far from done

Achonwa one of basketball’s most active and vocal athletes around social justice issues

Indiana Fever’s Natalie Achonwa, left, drives against the defence of Seattle Storm’s Alysha Clark during the first half of a WNBA basketball game on August 20, 2020, in Bradenton, Fla. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Mike Carlson
Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri takes part in a basketball event with young basketball players in Dakar, Senegal, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020. The Raptors' director of global scouting is in the U.S. scouting players ahead of the Nov. 18 draft, but he said the team is considering everything. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Raptors’ Engelbrecht: Every draft prospect has unique pandemic challenges

Raptors’ Engelbrecht: Every draft prospect has unique pandemic challenges

Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri takes part in a basketball event with young basketball players in Dakar, Senegal, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020. The Raptors' director of global scouting is in the U.S. scouting players ahead of the Nov. 18 draft, but he said the team is considering everything. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Kansas City mayor, star quarterback want Raptors to make Missouri temporary home

Kansas City mayor, star quarterback want Raptors to make Missouri temporary home

FILE - In this Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, file photo, President Donald Trump bows his head down as they say their prayer at the Values Voter Summit in Washington. Three liberal groups are launching new efforts aimed at souring religious voters on President Donald Trump ahead of next month’s election, fresh signs of a growing left-leaning investment in courting that sector even as Trump’s campaign works to consolidate his devout conservative base. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

As election draws closer, the NBA continues calls to vote

Players want to defeat ‘systemic, targeted voter suppression’

  • Oct 8, 2020
FILE - In this Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, file photo, President Donald Trump bows his head down as they say their prayer at the Values Voter Summit in Washington. Three liberal groups are launching new efforts aimed at souring religious voters on President Donald Trump ahead of next month’s election, fresh signs of a growing left-leaning investment in courting that sector even as Trump’s campaign works to consolidate his devout conservative base. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) and Miami Heat’s Kelly Olynyk (9) fight for control fo the ball during the first half in Game 3 of basketball’s NBA Finals, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Mark J. Terrill)

Canadian Kelly Olynyk making most of opportunity for Miami Heat in NBA Finals

Olynyk has been in and out of rotation in the NBA playoffs

Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) and Miami Heat’s Kelly Olynyk (9) fight for control fo the ball during the first half in Game 3 of basketball’s NBA Finals, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Mark J. Terrill)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) celebrates the team’s win over the Los Angeles Clippers in an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. John Calipari believes that what sets Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray apart was his humble upbringing in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Mark J. Terrill

Kentucky coach John Calipari believes Canada shaped Nuggets star Jamal Murray

Murray led Nuggets to Western Conference final

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) celebrates the team’s win over the Los Angeles Clippers in an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. John Calipari believes that what sets Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray apart was his humble upbringing in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Mark J. Terrill