NBA.COM CANADA

The official site of the National Basketball Association. Your home for scores, schedules, stats, League Pass, video recaps, news, fantasy, rankings and more for NBA players and teams. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: PHOENIX SUNS VS. DENVER NUGGETS SERIES Result: Nuggets won 2-1 Best game: Jan. 23, 2021 - Nuggets 120, Suns 112 Best performance: Nikola Jokic (Jan. 23, 2021) - 29 points, 22 rebounds, six assists and one steal. The Suns and Nuggets fought one of the most tightly-contested season series of the year. Their three games were decided by an average margin of five points with one game going to overtime and another going to WHEN IS THE 2021 NBA DRAFT LOTTERY? ODDS, TIEBREAKERS, AND When is the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery? Odds, tiebreakers, and key dates explained. Consisting of the 14 teams that failed to qualify for the 2021 NBA Playoffs, this marks the third year of the NBA Draft Lottery's revised odds system. MIKE CONLEY: HOW LONG WILL THE UTAH JAZZ GUARD BE OUT 2 hours ago · The Utah Jazz could be without Mike Conley once again.. After sitting out Game 1 of Utah's second-round series with the LA Clippers, Conley is questionable for Game 2 with a "mild right hamstring strain.". Mike Conley is questionable for Game 2 (mild right hamstring strain). - utahjazz (@utahjazz) June 9, 2021 Here's everything we know about Conley's injury and when he could return. ONE PLAY: HAVE THE BROOKLYN NETS FIGURED OUT AN ANSWER FOR Coming into their second-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Brooklyn Nets knew that if they contained the two-time league MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, their chances of advancing to the Conference Finals would greatly increase. So far, the Nets are rolling out an impressive plan to slow the Greek Freak down and it's being led by an unlikely defensive hero. RUDY GOBERT: HISTORY IS WITHIN REACH FOR UTAH JAZZ CENTER 2 hours ago · With the 2020-21 award under wraps, Rudy Gobert has separated himself to join a short list of elite defenders in NBA history who have won the award at least three times. At 28, the Utah Jazz's durable franchise cornerstone is a legitimate threat to break the all-time record for most Defensive Player of the Year wins. OFFSEASON OUTLOOK: WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE MIAMI HEAT? 14 minutes ago · According to RealGM's Keith Smith, the maximum amount of cap space the Heat could have in the offseason is $28.1 million, the eighth-most in the NBA. - Scott Rafferty (@crabdribbles)The 2021 NBA Draft. The Heat do not own any picks in the 2021 NBA Draft. As part of a three-team deal from 2015, Miami's first-round pick has been rerouted to the Oklahoma City Thunder. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: LA CLIPPERS VS. UTAH JAZZ SERIES Can the Clippers carry their momentum off the back of a seven-game series into the second round? Will the Jazz's five day rest be a blessing or a curse? Two of the best teams in the regular season meet in the second round in a star-studded matchup! OFFSEASON OUTLOOK: WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS In losing to the Suns in Game 6, the Lakers became only the seventh reigning champions to be knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. The Lakers will now shift their attention to the offseason, where they'll have some key decisions to make. The defending champions have been eliminated. In BOSTON CELTICS: WHICH CANDIDATES COULD BE CONSIDERED TO With Brad Stevens relinquishing his head coaching duties to accept a front office role, the Celtics have indicated that they will immediately begin searching for a new head coach. While Yahoo's Chris Haynes reports that Lloyd Pierce and Jason Kidd are candidates, there are a number of other names that should receive consideration.

NBA.COM CANADA

The official site of the National Basketball Association. Your home for scores, schedules, stats, League Pass, video recaps, news, fantasy, rankings and more for NBA players and teams. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: PHOENIX SUNS VS. DENVER NUGGETS SERIES Result: Nuggets won 2-1 Best game: Jan. 23, 2021 - Nuggets 120, Suns 112 Best performance: Nikola Jokic (Jan. 23, 2021) - 29 points, 22 rebounds, six assists and one steal. The Suns and Nuggets fought one of the most tightly-contested season series of the year. Their three games were decided by an average margin of five points with one game going to overtime and another going to WHEN IS THE 2021 NBA DRAFT LOTTERY? ODDS, TIEBREAKERS, AND When is the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery? Odds, tiebreakers, and key dates explained. Consisting of the 14 teams that failed to qualify for the 2021 NBA Playoffs, this marks the third year of the NBA Draft Lottery's revised odds system. MIKE CONLEY: HOW LONG WILL THE UTAH JAZZ GUARD BE OUT 2 hours ago · The Utah Jazz could be without Mike Conley once again.. After sitting out Game 1 of Utah's second-round series with the LA Clippers, Conley is questionable for Game 2 with a "mild right hamstring strain.". Mike Conley is questionable for Game 2 (mild right hamstring strain). - utahjazz (@utahjazz) June 9, 2021 Here's everything we know about Conley's injury and when he could return. ONE PLAY: HAVE THE BROOKLYN NETS FIGURED OUT AN ANSWER FOR Coming into their second-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Brooklyn Nets knew that if they contained the two-time league MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, their chances of advancing to the Conference Finals would greatly increase. So far, the Nets are rolling out an impressive plan to slow the Greek Freak down and it's being led by an unlikely defensive hero. RUDY GOBERT: HISTORY IS WITHIN REACH FOR UTAH JAZZ CENTER 2 hours ago · With the 2020-21 award under wraps, Rudy Gobert has separated himself to join a short list of elite defenders in NBA history who have won the award at least three times. At 28, the Utah Jazz's durable franchise cornerstone is a legitimate threat to break the all-time record for most Defensive Player of the Year wins. OFFSEASON OUTLOOK: WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE MIAMI HEAT? 14 minutes ago · According to RealGM's Keith Smith, the maximum amount of cap space the Heat could have in the offseason is $28.1 million, the eighth-most in the NBA. - Scott Rafferty (@crabdribbles)The 2021 NBA Draft. The Heat do not own any picks in the 2021 NBA Draft. As part of a three-team deal from 2015, Miami's first-round pick has been rerouted to the Oklahoma City Thunder. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: LA CLIPPERS VS. UTAH JAZZ SERIES Can the Clippers carry their momentum off the back of a seven-game series into the second round? Will the Jazz's five day rest be a blessing or a curse? Two of the best teams in the regular season meet in the second round in a star-studded matchup! OFFSEASON OUTLOOK: WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS In losing to the Suns in Game 6, the Lakers became only the seventh reigning champions to be knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. The Lakers will now shift their attention to the offseason, where they'll have some key decisions to make. The defending champions have been eliminated. In BOSTON CELTICS: WHICH CANDIDATES COULD BE CONSIDERED TO With Brad Stevens relinquishing his head coaching duties to accept a front office role, the Celtics have indicated that they will immediately begin searching for a new head coach. While Yahoo's Chris Haynes reports that Lloyd Pierce and Jason Kidd are candidates, there are a number of other names that should receive consideration. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: MONTY WILLIAMS PRAISES RELENTLESS 10 hours ago · The Phoenix Suns offence has been explosive through two games, but it's on the defensive end where they are putting in the work.. The Denver Nuggets are averaging just 101.5 points per game thus far, with the Suns stifling defence creating all kinds of problems for Michael Malone's squad.. Suns head coach Monty Williams praised his team's preparation, which begins each game at NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: CHRIS PAUL DOMINATES AND PHOENIX SUNS 12 hours ago · For the second consecutive game, the Phoenix Suns used a third quarter blitz to rock the Denver Nuggets. Led by Chris Paul, the Suns blew out the Nuggets after halftime and now take a commanding 2-0 lead as the series moves to Denver. Home court defended. The Phoenix Suns blew out the Denver Nuggets NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: NIKOLA JOKIC STRESSES NEED TO BE 'HIT 10 hours ago · NBA Playoffs 2021: Nikola Jokic stresses need to be 'hit first' and be agressive after 25-point Game 2 loss. Although head coach Michael Malone called their performance embarrassing and felt that they quit in Game 2, Jokic wasn't as harsh as he discussed what the Nuggets need to make this series more competitive as it shift to Denver for Games 3 and 4. NBA AND NBPA ANNOUNCE COVID-19 TEST RESULTS (MAY 26, 2021 NBA and NBPA announce COVID-19 test results (May 26, 2021) Anyone who has returned a confirmed positive test, or has been identified as having been in close contact to an infected person, is isolated or quarantined until they are cleared under the rules established by the NBA and the Players Association in accordance with CDC guidance. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: ATLANTA HAWKS FORWARD DE'ANDRE HUNTER 19 hours ago · NBA Playoffs 2021: Atlanta Hawks forward De'Andre Hunter to undergo season-ending knee surgery. De'Andre Hunter, who averaged 10.8 points and 4.0 rebounds as a starter in Atlanta's opening round victory over the New York Knicks, will miss the remainder of the playoffs after undergoing surgery to repair a torn

meniscus.

MIKE CONLEY: HOW LONG WILL THE UTAH JAZZ GUARD BE OUT 2 hours ago · The Utah Jazz could be without Mike Conley once again.. After sitting out Game 1 of Utah's second-round series with the LA Clippers, Conley is questionable for Game 2 with a "mild right hamstring strain.". Mike Conley is questionable for Game 2 (mild right hamstring strain). - utahjazz (@utahjazz) June 9, 2021 Here's everything we know about Conley's injury and when he could return. OFFSEASON OUTLOOK: WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE MIAMI HEAT? 14 minutes ago · According to RealGM's Keith Smith, the maximum amount of cap space the Heat could have in the offseason is $28.1 million, the eighth-most in the NBA. - Scott Rafferty (@crabdribbles)The 2021 NBA Draft. The Heat do not own any picks in the 2021 NBA Draft. As part of a three-team deal from 2015, Miami's first-round pick has been rerouted to the Oklahoma City Thunder. ONE PLAY: HAVE THE BROOKLYN NETS FIGURED OUT AN ANSWER FOR Coming into their second-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Brooklyn Nets knew that if they contained the two-time league MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, their chances of advancing to the Conference Finals would greatly increase. So far, the Nets are rolling out an impressive plan to slow the Greek Freak down and it's being led by an unlikely defensive hero. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: LA CLIPPERS VS. UTAH JAZZ SERIES Can the Clippers carry their momentum off the back of a seven-game series into the second round? Will the Jazz's five day rest be a blessing or a curse? Two of the best teams in the regular season meet in the second round in a star-studded matchup! INDIANA PACERS WILL NOT RETAIN HEAD COACH NATE BJORKGREN 23 hours ago · Indiana Pacers will not retain head coach Nate Bjorkgren for 2021-22 season. In one season at the helm in Indiana, Nate Bjorkgren led the Pacers to a 34-38 record and the East's ninth

seed.

NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: DONOVAN MITCHELL 'GRATEFUL' TO HAVE NBA Playoffs 2021: Donovan Mitchell 'grateful' to have Dwyane Wade coaching him from the sidelines. During the third quarter of the Utah Jazz's Game 1 win, minority owner Dwyane Wade was giving Donovan Mitchell some pointers from the bench, with the All-Star going on to

record 45 points.

WHEN IS THE 2021 NBA DRAFT LOTTERY? ODDS, TIEBREAKERS, AND The 2021 NBA Draft Lottery will take place on Tuesday, June 22 at 8:30 p.m. ET. 2021 marks the third year of a new Draft Lottery system in which each of the league's bottom three teams has an equal chance at obtaining the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: BROOKLYN NETS VS. MILWAUKEE BUCKS The Nets have defeated the Celtics in five games, advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the first time since 2014. Awaiting them is Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, who walked through their first-round matchup in four games, setting the stage for one of the best series the 2021 NBA Playoffs will have to offer. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: PHILADELPHIA 76ERS VS. ATLANTA HAWKS The No.1 seed Philadelphia 76ers have defeated the Washington Wizards in five games, advancing to the second round of the NBA Playoffs.. Awaiting them is the No.5 seed Atlanta Hawks, who took care of the New York Knicks in five games, giving us a matchup between one of the best offences in the league and the best defences.. NBA.com is your destination for complete coverage of every series NBA AND NBPA ANNOUNCE COVID-19 TEST RESULTS (MAY 26, 2021 NBA and NBPA announce COVID-19 test results (May 26, 2021) Anyone who has returned a confirmed positive test, or has been identified as having been in close contact to an infected person, is isolated or quarantined until they are cleared under the rules established by the NBA and the Players Association in accordance with CDC guidance. 2021 NBA DRAFT: JONATHAN KUMINGA SCOUTING REPORTAUTHOR: KYLE IRVING Jonathan Kuminga is a name you are going to want to familiarize yourself with heading into the 2021 NBA Draft. The G League Ignite's star forward was once the No. 1-ranked prospect on ESPN's Top 100 for the class of 2021 before he elected to reclassify for the class of

2020.

2021 NBA DRAFT: JOSH GIDDEY SCOUTING REPORT, STRENGTHS Aussie superstar guard Josh Giddey has declared for the 2021 NBA Draft. The 18-year-old's production in the NBL has his name shooting up draft boards, but what exactly will he bring to the NBA team that

selects him?

2021 NBA DRAFT: LIST OF NCAA PLAYERS THAT HAVE DECLARED 2021 NBA Draft: List of NCAA players that have declared for the 2021 NBA Draft. The NBA has announced that the deadline for players to apply for early entry is Sunday, May 30, and the deadline for players to withdraw from the draft is Monday, July 19. 2021 NBA DRAFT BIG BOARD: WHO ARE THE BEST PLAYERS 2021 NBA Draft Big Board: Who are the best players available in this draft? With the 2021 NBA Draft set for July 29, get to know the best players available in this year's draft class through the eyes of NBA.com draft analyst Eric Fawcett. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: DONOVAN MITCHELL 'GRATEFUL' TO HAVE NBA Playoffs 2021: Donovan Mitchell 'grateful' to have Dwyane Wade coaching him from the sidelines. During the third quarter of the Utah Jazz's Game 1 win, minority owner Dwyane Wade was giving Donovan Mitchell some pointers from the bench, with the All-Star going on to

record 45 points.

WHEN IS THE 2021 NBA DRAFT LOTTERY? ODDS, TIEBREAKERS, AND The 2021 NBA Draft Lottery will take place on Tuesday, June 22 at 8:30 p.m. ET. 2021 marks the third year of a new Draft Lottery system in which each of the league's bottom three teams has an equal chance at obtaining the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: BROOKLYN NETS VS. MILWAUKEE BUCKS The Nets have defeated the Celtics in five games, advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the first time since 2014. Awaiting them is Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, who walked through their first-round matchup in four games, setting the stage for one of the best series the 2021 NBA Playoffs will have to offer. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: PHILADELPHIA 76ERS VS. ATLANTA HAWKS The No.1 seed Philadelphia 76ers have defeated the Washington Wizards in five games, advancing to the second round of the NBA Playoffs.. Awaiting them is the No.5 seed Atlanta Hawks, who took care of the New York Knicks in five games, giving us a matchup between one of the best offences in the league and the best defences.. NBA.com is your destination for complete coverage of every series NBA AND NBPA ANNOUNCE COVID-19 TEST RESULTS (MAY 26, 2021 NBA and NBPA announce COVID-19 test results (May 26, 2021) Anyone who has returned a confirmed positive test, or has been identified as having been in close contact to an infected person, is isolated or quarantined until they are cleared under the rules established by the NBA and the Players Association in accordance with CDC guidance. 2021 NBA DRAFT: JONATHAN KUMINGA SCOUTING REPORTAUTHOR: KYLE IRVING Jonathan Kuminga is a name you are going to want to familiarize yourself with heading into the 2021 NBA Draft. The G League Ignite's star forward was once the No. 1-ranked prospect on ESPN's Top 100 for the class of 2021 before he elected to reclassify for the class of

2020.

2021 NBA DRAFT: JOSH GIDDEY SCOUTING REPORT, STRENGTHS Aussie superstar guard Josh Giddey has declared for the 2021 NBA Draft. The 18-year-old's production in the NBL has his name shooting up draft boards, but what exactly will he bring to the NBA team that

selects him?

2021 NBA DRAFT: LIST OF NCAA PLAYERS THAT HAVE DECLARED 2021 NBA Draft: List of NCAA players that have declared for the 2021 NBA Draft. The NBA has announced that the deadline for players to apply for early entry is Sunday, May 30, and the deadline for players to withdraw from the draft is Monday, July 19. 2021 NBA DRAFT BIG BOARD: WHO ARE THE BEST PLAYERS 2021 NBA Draft Big Board: Who are the best players available in this draft? With the 2021 NBA Draft set for July 29, get to know the best players available in this year's draft class through the eyes of NBA.com draft analyst Eric Fawcett. 2021 NBA DRAFT BIG BOARD: WHO ARE THE TOP PROSPECTS IN Position: F Height: 6-foot-8 Weight: 220 lbs. Age: 19 Kuminga is the most versatile defender in this draft class. His strength and quickness paired with his 7-foot wingspan give him the ability to lock down any perimeter players while also being able to punch up a weight class and defend bigs. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: DONOVAN MITCHELL 'GRATEFUL' TO HAVE NBA Playoffs 2021: Donovan Mitchell 'grateful' to have Dwyane Wade coaching him from the sidelines. During the third quarter of the Utah Jazz's Game 1 win, minority owner Dwyane Wade was giving Donovan Mitchell some pointers from the bench, with the All-Star going on to

record 45 points.

NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: DONOVAN MITCHELL DROPS 45, SPARKS JAZZ 3 hours ago · The Jazz got off to a slow start, including 20 straight misses early in the first quarter but they rebounded from that to clinch Game 1 on the final possession, 112-109. Donovan Mitchell, who was receiving counsel from the franchise's minority owner Dwyane Wade on the sidelines, led the comeback by scoring 32 of his game-high points tally in the second half. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: DOC RIVERS CREDITS JOEL EMBIID FOR 5 hours ago · NBA Playoffs 2021: Doc Rivers credits Joel Embiid for 'setting the tone' in complete team effort as 76ers easily win Game 2. Embiid's 40-point game, which helped Philadelphia tie the series up at 1-1 with the 118-102 Game 2 win, was the first by a 76ers player since Allen Iverson in 2003. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: JOEL EMBIID DOMINATES WITH 40 POINTS AS 6 hours ago · Joel Embiid turned in a huge performance in game 2, dropping 40 points and 13 rebounds and the 76ers secured a 118-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks. The Philadelphia 76ers level the series at 1-1 after cruising to a 118-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks in ASSIST OF THE NIGHT: TRAE YOUNG 5 hours ago · Assist of the Night: Trae Young - June 8, 2021. Joel Embiid drops playoff career-high 40 PTS in Game 2 win vs. Hawks NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: LA CLIPPERS SUPERSTAR KAWHI LEONARD IS 17 hours ago · NBA Playoffs 2021: LA Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard is showing shades of 2019 supremacy. In the Clippers' opening round series victory over the Mavericks, Kawhi Leonard delivered one of the most efficiently dominant scoring performances in the history of the NBA Playoffs, something reminiscent of his play during his last Finals run with the Raptors. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: BROOKLYN NETS VS. MILWAUKEE BUCKS The Nets have defeated the Celtics in five games, advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the first time since 2014. Awaiting them is Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, who walked through their first-round matchup in four games, setting the stage for one of the best series the 2021 NBA Playoffs will have to offer. NBA ACADEMY LAUNCHES VIRTUAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR TOP 7 hours ago · NBA Academy launches virtual development program for top female international prospects. NBA Academy Women’s Virtual Program will provide more than 40 of the top international prospects with basketball instruction, life skills development and player pathway guidance from current and former WNBA players. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: LEBRON IN UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY WITH A blunt LeBron James assessed the Los Angeles Lakers situation as an opportunity to defend home court. Trailing 3-2 in the series with the Phoenix Suns, James is in danger of being eliminated in the first round for the first time in his career. NBA CLOTH TALK: DISCUSSING 'SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY 11 hours ago · With the release of "Space Jam: A New Legacy" on the horizon and the reveal of the exclusive LeBron 19 sneakers debuted in the movie, two members of our NBA.com Staff dive in to their thoughts on the upcoming film. From the newly announced Space Jam merchandise, the cast of NBA and WNBA players on screen and more, get excited for the highly anticipated recreated movie. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: HOME COURT ADVANTAGE IN FULL EFFECT AS 10 hours ago · The Phoenix Suns toiled hard in the regular season, winning 51 games - a tally one shy of the league-best this year.. They did all of that for home-court advantage in the postseason, their first since 2010. And boy, did the near sell-out crowd come up huge in Game 1 of the Conference Semifinals against the Denver Nuggets.. The crowd went berserk in the second half, as their Suns comfortably NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: AGGRESSIVE CHRIS PAUL DELIVERS LATEST 11 hours ago · This is exactly why the Phoenix Suns acquired Chris Paul. Trailing and under pressure during the third quarter, Paul took over, producing a fourth quarter masterclass to lead the Suns to an important win in Game 1. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: BROOKLYN NETS VS. MILWAUKEE BUCKS The Nets have defeated the Celtics in five games, advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the first time since 2014. Awaiting them is Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, who walked through their first-round matchup in four games, setting the stage for one of the best series the 2021 NBA Playoffs will have to offer. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: LEBRON IN UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY WITH A blunt LeBron James assessed the Los Angeles Lakers situation as an opportunity to defend home court. Trailing 3-2 in the series with the Phoenix Suns, James is in danger of being eliminated in the first round for the first time in his career. OFFSEASON OUTLOOK: WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS In losing to the Suns in Game 6, the Lakers became only the seventh reigning champions to be knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. The Lakers will now shift their attention to the offseason, where they'll have some key decisions to make. The defending champions have been eliminated. In NBA AND NBPA ANNOUNCE COVID-19 TEST RESULTS (MAY 26, 2021 NBA and NBPA announce COVID-19 test results (May 26, 2021) Anyone who has returned a confirmed positive test, or has been identified as having been in close contact to an infected person, is isolated or quarantined until they are cleared under the rules established by the NBA and the Players Association in accordance with CDC guidance. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: HOME COURT ADVANTAGE IN FULL EFFECT AS 10 hours ago · The Phoenix Suns toiled hard in the regular season, winning 51 games - a tally one shy of the league-best this year.. They did all of that for home-court advantage in the postseason, their first since 2010. And boy, did the near sell-out crowd come up huge in Game 1 of the Conference Semifinals against the Denver Nuggets.. The crowd went berserk in the second half, as their Suns comfortably NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: AGGRESSIVE CHRIS PAUL DELIVERS LATEST 11 hours ago · This is exactly why the Phoenix Suns acquired Chris Paul. Trailing and under pressure during the third quarter, Paul took over, producing a fourth quarter masterclass to lead the Suns to an important win in Game 1. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: BROOKLYN NETS VS. MILWAUKEE BUCKS The Nets have defeated the Celtics in five games, advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the first time since 2014. Awaiting them is Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, who walked through their first-round matchup in four games, setting the stage for one of the best series the 2021 NBA Playoffs will have to offer. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: LEBRON IN UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY WITH A blunt LeBron James assessed the Los Angeles Lakers situation as an opportunity to defend home court. Trailing 3-2 in the series with the Phoenix Suns, James is in danger of being eliminated in the first round for the first time in his career. OFFSEASON OUTLOOK: WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS In losing to the Suns in Game 6, the Lakers became only the seventh reigning champions to be knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. The Lakers will now shift their attention to the offseason, where they'll have some key decisions to make. The defending champions have been eliminated. In NBA AND NBPA ANNOUNCE COVID-19 TEST RESULTS (MAY 26, 2021 NBA and NBPA announce COVID-19 test results (May 26, 2021) Anyone who has returned a confirmed positive test, or has been identified as having been in close contact to an infected person, is isolated or quarantined until they are cleared under the rules established by the NBA and the Players Association in accordance with CDC guidance.

NBA.COM CANADA

The official site of the National Basketball Association. Your home for scores, schedules, stats, League Pass, video recaps, news, fantasy, rankings and more for NBA players and teams. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: HOME COURT ADVANTAGE IN FULL EFFECT AS 10 hours ago · The Phoenix Suns toiled hard in the regular season, winning 51 games - a tally one shy of the league-best this year.. They did all of that for home-court advantage in the postseason, their first since 2010. And boy, did the near sell-out crowd come up huge in Game 1 of the Conference Semifinals against the Denver Nuggets.. The crowd went berserk in the second half, as their Suns comfortably NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: AGGRESSIVE CHRIS PAUL DELIVERS LATEST 11 hours ago · This is exactly why the Phoenix Suns acquired Chris Paul. Trailing and under pressure during the third quarter, Paul took over, producing a fourth quarter masterclass to lead the Suns to an important win in Game 1. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: CHRIS PAUL LEADS BALANCED OFFENCE AS 11 hours ago · NBA Playoffs 2021: Chris Paul leads balanced offence as big second-half run helps Suns comfortably clinch Game 1. After averaging just 9.2 points in the first round of the 2021 postseason, Chris Paul finished with 21 points in Game 1, including in the fourth quarter alone, as the Suns comfortably clinched Game 1 by turning the game on its head with a monster 39-12 run in the second NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO IMPLORES 12 hours ago · NBA Playoffs 2021: Giannis Antetokounmpo implores Milwaukee Bucks to take care of business at home. The Bucks find themselves down 0-2 after a lacklustre performance agains the Nets, slumping to their second-largest defeat in franchise playoff history. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: KEVIN DURANT STAYS HOT AS THE BROOKLYN 14 hours ago · The Brooklyn Nets remain scary. Kevin Durant poured in 32 points and Kyrie Irving added 22 as the Nets blew the game out in the first quarter and never looked back on their way to a 2-0 lead. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: STEVE NASH DISCUSSES KEVIN DURANT'S 13 hours ago · "It's really hard to tell the difference," Nash said postgame on how close the 2014 league MVP looks to pre-injury KD. Durant scored a super-efficient game-high 32 as the Nets led by as many as Game 2 before cruising to a record-breaking 125-86 victory. NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: DONOVAN MITCHELL'S RETURN HAS UTAH JAZZ 22 hours ago · When the Jazz dropped Game 1 of the first round to the Grizzlies, the naysayers of the team with the best record in the league were ready to pounce on the opportunity to call an eight-over-one upset. Once All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell returned to the floor in Game 2, Utah immediately looked like the dominant force we saw all season long. The 24-year-old superstar made all the

difference to

NBA PLAYOFFS 2021: LEBRON IN UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY WITH A blunt LeBron James assessed the Los Angeles Lakers situation as an opportunity to defend home court. Trailing 3-2 in the series with the Phoenix Suns, James is in danger of being eliminated in the first round for the first time in his career. NEW YORK KNICKS HEAD COACH TOM THIBODEAU AWARDED 2020-21 17 hours ago · First year head coach of the New York Knicks, Tom Thibodeau has been named Coach of the Year. Thibodeau led the Knicks to their first postseason appearance since 2013 with a 41-31 record.

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02/20/2020 Philadelphia 76ers NBA ALL-STAR GAME 2020: BEN SIMMONS LISTS FIVE TOUGHEST PLAYERS TO

GUARD IN THE NBA

We asked Ben Simmons to select his five toughest players to guard in the NBA. Here's what the Defensive Player of the Year candidate had to say along with how he's fared in the head-to-head matchups. https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/NBA_Global_CMS_image_storage/1f/66/irvgotti_1cfldr6xwy73t1tkyk0ey4t3wq.jpg?t=1381842313&w=500 By Kyle Irving @KyleIrv_

*

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url copied to clipboard CHICAGO - Entering the 2019-20 season Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard Ben Simmons only had one personal goal

:

to win Defensive Player of the Year. The Aussie star made strides on defence last season, taking on bigger assignments as the year went on. By the time the playoffs came around, Sixers head coach Brett Brown trusted Simmons enough to be the primary

defender

on Kawhi Leonard

in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, tasked to slow down one of the best players in the NBA amidst the most dominant stretch of his

career.

There's no better testament to his growth on that end of the floor. This season, he's taken another leap. He's challenged himself and succeeded through the unofficial midway point of the season, making a strong case for that coveted DPOY trophy and an All-Defensive First

Team selection.

His 2.2 steals per game leads the NBA and he has continuously been counted on to try and shut down opposing team's premier scorers. And though Simmons has become well-versed in handling that chore, it doesn't make it any easier. Some guys in this league are borderline unstoppable, and Simmons acknowledged that at All-Star weekend's media

availability.

When asked who the five toughest players to guard in the NBA are, he was sure in his answer. In no particular order - "Kawhi, Bron, KD, James and Giannis," the DPOY hopeful told NBA.com. For players that great, full names - or last names - aren't needed to know who the All-Star guard is talking about. He's already matched up with Leonard, LeBron James

and James Harden

a handful of times this season. With Kevin Durant out for the season's entirety while recovering from Achilles injury, he'll have to wait until next season to get his next chance at stopping the All-World scorer. As for Giannis Antetokounmpo

,

he didn't spend too much time defending the MVP candidate in their first two meetings this season but has another opportunity on the

horizon.

So what makes these players so special and how has Simmons fared in trying to accomplish the feat of slowing down these offensive

juggernauts?

_All matchup data is courtesy of NBA stats._ KAWHI LEONARD - LA CLIPPERS https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/NBA_Global_CMS_image_storage/c0/38/kawhi-simmons_nd07iw1r9aq017vzowz7wyej3.jpg?t=1332672312&w=500 SIMMONS GUARDING LEONARD - 2019-20

GAMES PLAYED

PARTIAL POSSESIONS

PTS

FGM-FGA

FG%

3PM-3PA

3P%

AST

TO

1

36.5

14

6-12

50.0

2-4

50.0

5

1

MATCHUPS REMAINING: One - March 1 What makes Kawhi Leonard so special? He always plays at his own pace. He's fantastic at using his strength to assert himself to his favourite spots on the floor and once he gets to those spots, he rarely fails to convert. We saw just how dominant Leonard can be in last year's title run with

the Toronto Raptors

that resulted in his second Finals MVP trophy. We've only seen one matchup between Kawhi and Simmons so far this season, coming in the 76ers final game just before the All-Star break. Leonard had and efficient 30 points with nine assists and even a Defensive Player of the Year candidate like Simmons struggled to slow down the Clippers' leading scorer in his time as the primary defender. In a nod to Simmons, the Clippers ran pick-and-rolls all game long to try and get Leonard a more favourable matchup. The Aussie's strength, length and agility makes him a better matchup than most against the four-time All-Star, but Leonard was still able to pick his spots to go

to work on offence.

Luckily for the 76ers, Simmons brought his A-game in other areas, going for his second triple-double of the season to lead the 76ers to victory. Ideally in the second matchup he'll do a better job of containing Leonard - similar to the 40.0% shooting from the field and 23.5% from 3 from last postseason - to make life easier on Philly. LEBRON JAMES - LOS ANGELES LAKERS https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/NBA_Global_CMS_image_storage/38/cd/lebron-simmons_9a1vten5xab01g12m6rq5du04.jpg?t=1332673344&w=500 SIMMONS GUARDING JAMES - 2019-20

GAMES PLAYED

PARTIAL POSSESIONS

PTS

FGM-FGA

FG%

3PM-3PA

3P%

AST

TO

1

26.4

5

2-9

22.2

1-6

16.7

2

2

MATCHUPS REMAINING: One - March 3 What makes LeBron James so special? The fact that he's actually a better playmaker than scorer, but can flip a switch to become a dominant scorer in a matter of seconds. We've been watching it for 17 years now as NBA fans - LeBron generally does whatever he wants on the basketball court. If he feels like going for 30 points, he'll go for 30 points. If he feels like dishing out 10-plus assists, he'll wow us with passes that make you believe he has a sixth-sense dedicated to picking apart defences. The best evidence of that is James deferring as the Lakers go-to option on offence this offseason

,

then going out and leading the NBA with 10.8 assists per game through the first half of the season. Prior to Simmons' first meeting with LeBron this season, I wrote about how he is a video game-like create-a-player designed to try and slow

down The King

.

In his time as the primary defender on James, he did just that, holding LeBron to just five points on 2-for-9 shooting from the field with only two assists and two turnovers. The result: a blowout win for

the 76ers.

It's repetitive with the case against Leonard - or any NBA player for that matter - but Simmons is long enough, strong enough and fast enough to stay with LeBron. That's something that can't be said about

99% of the NBA.

He has active hands in the passing lanes, which gives James smaller windows to feed his teammates. When he tries to bully his way to the rim with a combination of strength and quickness for his size, Simmons can stay with him step-for-step. These two still have one more head-to-head matchup this season and it will be interesting to see if Simmons can lock down the MVP candidate

again.

KEVIN DURANT - BROOKLYN NETS https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/NBA_Global_CMS_image_storage/ff/45/durant-simmons_1roudk1cxwmfl1r6ofydx5iflm.jpg?t=1332674408&w=500 SIMMONS GUARDING DURANT - 2018-19*

GAMES PLAYED

PARTIAL POSSESIONS

PTS

FGM-FGA

FG%

3PM-3PA

3P%

AST

TO

2

36.7

12

5-13

38.5

1-3

33.3

0

3

*_Last season's stats since __Durant is out the entire 2019-20 season with an Achilles injury._ What makes Kevin Durant so special? He's nearly 7-feet tall but handles the ball like a guard, can score from all three levels of the floor, shoot over the top of anyone and has a case as one of the greatest marksmen to ever grace a basketball court. While his Achilles injury suffered in last year's NBA Finals prevents us from seeing prime-defending Simmons against the bucket-getting Durant this year, we still have their two matchups from last season to

go off of.

Not many defenders that are quick enough to keep up with Durant have the length to even enter his line of vision toward the basket, but Simmons 7-foot wingspan makes him unique in that sense. He was able to hold KD to just 38.5% shooting from the field and 33.3% shooting from 3 in the two games the 76ers and Warriors played against each other last season, scoring just 12 points on 13 shots. Simmons wasn't the gameplanned primary defender on Durant - extreme competitor Jimmy Butler took on that challenge whenever he was on the floor - but Simmons still found some success in disrupting the four-time scoring champion. With the progress Simmons has made as a defender, we'll surely see plenty of him matched up with KD next season. Especially with Durant now playing for the Brooklyn Nets, who face off against the 76ers four times a year as Atlantic Division foes. JAMES HARDEN - HOUSTON ROCKETS https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/NBA_Global_CMS_image_storage/88/1f/harden-simmons_144rm6pniswgb1oydhh6uoihta.jpg?t=1332675440&w=500 SIMMONS GUARDING HARDEN - 2019-20

GAMES PLAYED

PARTIAL POSSESIONS

PTS

FGM-FGA

FG%

3PM-3PA

3P%

AST

TO

1

15.7

12

3-9

33.3

2-5

40.0

4

2

MATCHUPS REMAINING: One - March 31 What makes James Harden so special? The shots that are typically considered "bad shots" for just about every other player in the league are the ones he's looking to take. His step-back is almost more lethal than a regular pull-up jumper and on top of that, he's deceptively quick, has insane body control and is an absolute mastermind at drawing fouls to get to the charity stripe. Simply put, he's one of the greatest scorers we ever have, and ever

will, see.

Harden went off for 44 points in a win over the 76ers in their only matchup so far this season, but he didn't exactly have his way with Simmons. The Sixers star guard was able to use his height advantage to make up for the ground that Harden covers on his patented step-back and his quick feet and active hands only allowed the league's leading scorer to draw two shooting fouls as the primary defender. 12 points on 33.3% shooting from the field with just two 3-pointers is a solid day's work in defending an offensive wizard like Harden. He did most of his damage off of pick-and-roll switches in his first meeting with Philly, attacking slower defenders like Al Horford

.

There's still one more meeting between the Rockets and 76ers this season, meaning we'll get one more chance to watch the DPOY hopeful-Simmons try and slow down the reigning scoring champ. GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO - MILWAUKEE BUCKS https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/NBA_Global_CMS_image_storage/56/b0/giannis-simmons_wadwc719rg401jxdkvktd25by.jpg?t=1332673344&w=500 SIMMONS GUARDING ANTETOKOUNMPO - 2019-20

GAMES PLAYED

PARTIAL POSSESIONS

PTS

FGM-FGA

FG%

3PM-3PA

3P%

AST

TO

2

9.0

2

1-2

50.0

0-0

0

1

0

MATCHUPS REMAINING: One - Feb. 22 What makes Giannis Antetokounmpo so special? His Inspector Gadget-like arms, strength and agility make it almost impossible to stop him from getting to the rim. He's a freight train in transition and it takes him less than a handful of dribbles to get from one end of the floor to the other. If he's within five feet of the basket, he's scoring. He's the reigning, and likely back-to-back, MVP for a reason. This is a more unique situation than the others because Simmons typically never draws this matchup in the 76ers gameplan. He's almost always marking All-Star forward Khris Middleton while All-Star centre guards Antetokounmpo from the paint. The matchup data is simply too small of a sample size to pull anything from, but there isn't much explanation needed as to why Simmons would call the Greek Freak one of the toughest players to defend in the league, because he's faced Antetokounmpo enough times to still draw a couple possessions against the four-time All-Star. A player that big, strong, fast, long and athletic is a matchup nightmare, hence why he's arguably the best player in the NBA today. The 76ers have one last matchup against the Bucks just after the All-Star break, so we'll have one more opportunity to potentially watch Simmons try and come up with some stops on Antetokounmpo in the

regular season.

_The views on this page do not necessarily represent the views of the

NBA or its clubs._

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