By Lauren Brownlow, WRALSportsFan columnist/reporter New Orleans — Armando Bacot’s right ankle twisted yet again in the national title game and had no more support to offer him. He’d already spent the better part of the last 24 hours getting it ready for this game, and with the ball down by 1, the Tar Heels … Read more
Photo: Christian Petersen (Getty Images) Joel Embiid is a gift to the game of basketball, a guy who is one of the best players in the NBA and a real chance to be named the league’s MVP this year. He is an unstoppable force on the court, so it may not surprise you too much … Read more
It looked as promising as any development in this poor season. Immanuel Quickley rushed the ball downcourt and saw Obi Toppin sprinting step-for-step with his defender. Well aware of his teammate’s explosiveness, Quickley lobbed a lead pass that assumed Toppin would break away, and he did for an easy dunk in Sunday’s third quarter. The … Read more
Magic Johnson wanted the Lakers to pursue DeMar DeRozan in the offseason over Russell Westbrook. The Lakers legend was discussing this season’s roster makeup Monday, during consecutive appearances on ESPN’s morning shows, “Get Up” and “First Take.” After giving praise to the Lakers’ leading scorer, LeBron James, Johnson said the franchise face is to blame … Read more
CNN — The South Carolina Gamecocks won their second national championship in five years Sunday after defeating the Connecticut Huskies 64-49. The name of the game Sunday was defense and offensive rebounds for the Gamecocks, who controlled the game from the start with a 13-2 lead in just the first six minutes of the game. … Read more
ORLANDO, Fla. — RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson wanted to forget their performances in the blowout loss to Cleveland on Saturday. Immanuel Quickley and Obi Toppin wanted to continue their momentum. It all happened in a perfect storm that featured the first triple-double of Quickley’s career. A day later, Barrett and Robinson reversed their fortunes … Read more
ATLANTA — In the biggest game of the Nets’ season, Kevin Durant gave them the biggest scoring night of his career. And it still wasn’t enough. The Nets’ 122-115 loss to Atlanta — falling behind and wasting a career-high 55 points from Durant — dropped them to 10th in the East. “We didn’t play a … Read more
Matt McMahon will have his hands full at LSU.Picture: Getty Images Sanctions are coming, Will Wade is gone, and the Tigers aren’t sticking around to find out what it looks like. LSU basketball might not be receiving the death penalty from the NCAA for their former coach’s infractions, but the team itself has sent the … Read more
ESPN has retained its high-profile NFL and NBA insiders after a push from sports gambling companies to poach them away. The network announced on Thursday that it has signed multi-year contract extensions with Adam Schefter and Adrian Wojnarowski. “Adam and Woj are difference-makers that solidify our long-term position as the definitive source for everything NFL … Read more
Julius Randle heard a fair amount of boos during pregame introductions, but the Knicks’ highest-paid player forcefully denied suggestions that he is seeking a trade in the offseason or that he isn’t committed to the organization long term. “That’s not true, bro. That’s just not true, simple as that, it’s not true at all,” Randle … Read more