LEXINGTON, Ky. — The one thing you figure never to have to worry about with a Mark Pope-coached basketball team is the offense.

Pope showed his offensive acumen in the five seasons (2019-2024) he spent coaching at BYU. During that stint, the Cougars ranked in the top 50 in adjusted offensive efficiency in the Pomeroy Ratings four times, ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson has been accused of raping and abusing a woman who says she dated the former Duke standout and No. 1 overall draft pick from 2018-2023.

In a civil lawsuit filed Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, a woman identified as Jane Doe provides details of two alleged instances in 2020...Read more

NEW YORK — The Knicks know what’s on the line.

But so do the Indiana Pacers.

That’s why the Knicks aren’t getting too high, nor are the Pacers getting too low, as the Eastern Conference finals shift back to Indianapolis for Game 6 on Saturday night.

“We have no more room for error,” Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns said. “It’s...Read more

SEATTLE — One of the biggest nightmares for Seattle SuperSonics fans is one step closer to becoming reality.

On Wednesday night, the Oklahoma City Thunder demolished the Minnesota Timberwolves, 124-94, in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, clinching the team’s spot in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012.

The Thunder lost ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — An old Schoolhouse Rock song proclaims that three is a magic number.

That was the case when the 76ers took future MVP Joel Embiid in that slot in 2014. But not so much the following year, when they selected Jahlil Okafor.

That is evidence that the NBA draft, even near the top, does not guarantee a team will land a future ...Read more

FORT WORTH, Texas — Other than grab 29 offensive rebounds on the same possession, mostly off her own shots, Angel Reese’s most impressive play on a basketball court remains her “You Can’t See Me” hand gesture in front of America’s sweetheart.

We will never know if it was business decision, but the moment Reese diminished Caitlin ...Read more

NEW YORK — Closeout games are when NBA stars are needed the most. It’s why teams pay them the big bucks and in this case, it’s why the Pacers have Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton as the team’s highest-paid players.

With a shot at clinching an NBA Finals berth in Thursday’s Eastern Conference finals Game 5, they were almost ...Read more

Legendary rocker and Indiana native John Mellencamp apologized Thursday "on behalf of most Hoosiers" for the "poor, poor sportsmanship" displayed during the Pacers' home win over the New York Knicks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals two days earlier.

Although the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer did not call out any specific Indiana sports ...Read more

CHICAGO — Candace Parker will be enshrined at Wintrust Arena this summer.

The Chicago Sky will retire Parker’s No. 3 jersey on Aug. 25 before a game against the Las Vegas Aces. Parker, who grew up in Naperville, is the first former Sky player to have her jersey retired, an honor that reflects her stature in the history of Illinois women’s...Read more

DENVER — Jamal Murray needs a straight shooter.

A coach who’ll tell him to show up in shape. Who’ll remind him to make the NBA, not the UFC, the three letters that matter most from October through June?

A coach who’ll bring up the award snubs. Who’ll do a Google search and show the Blue Arrow just how many writers have lamented the ...Read more

OKLAHOMA CITY – When the Timberwolves are ready for their season to be over, they certainly don’t hide it.

Last season in the NBA Western Conference finals they trailed by as much as 36 before they lost to the Dallas Mavericks at home in Game 5.

This season, it got worse. The Oklahoma City Thunder led by 37 points going into the third ...Read more

Losing is not the relentless curse that so many Minnesota sports fans pretend it is.

You can lose because of luck, or injuries, or an unavoidable confrontation with greatness.

The risk of losing is the very price of admission in high-level sports. Losing with honor can be admirable.

The Timberwolves did not lose with honor Wednesday night in ...Read more

DENVER — On the first day of the rest of his life, David Adelman dressed like David Duchovny and took questions.

The dark coat, white dress shirt and black tie did not seem like a coincidence. Before he thanked all the important people in his life, from family to former high school coaches, Adelman navigated six weeks as the interim, his ...Read more

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — There was a moment Tuesday night when “muscle memory” transcended the colors on the uniforms. Paige Bueckers was at the free throw line, and Olivia Nelson-Ododa instinctively stuck out her hand.

“Force of habit, I guess,” Bueckers said, “… that’s my sister.”

That Bueckers was wearing the green of the ...Read more

NEW YORK — A Pacers fan who was arrested for stabbing a Knicks fan told authorities the victim was bad-mouthing his team during a watch party for the NBA playoffs hosted by an Indiana brewery.

The violence erupted at Danny Boy Beer Works in Carmel during Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, which saw the Pacers top the Knicks, 114-109, at...Read more

A WNBA investigation was unable to substantiate a "report of racist fan behavior in the vicinity of the court" during a game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever on May 17 in Indianapolis.

The investigation reportedly was started in response to allegations that a fan had made racist comments toward Sky star Angel Reese. It remains unclear ...Read more

INDIANAPOLIS — The Knicks have a problem. In fact, they have two. The first is the most pressing: Their two-best players are poor defenders. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are all-world scorers. They are two of the best offensive players at their position the game has ever seen. But they are hunted on defense so frequently — and so ...Read more

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — The Connecticut Sun call Mohegan Sun home, but former UConn star Paige Bueckers claimed the state as her territory on Tuesday with the best performance of her young WNBA career to lead the Dallas Wings in a 109-87 victory.

Though the Sun’s signature orange was still prominent in the crowd, most of the fans in attendance ...Read more