6:31 PM ET EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — LeBron James says “every game is going to be emotional” as the Los Angeles Lakers play out the season following the helicopter crash that took the lives of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others on Jan. 26. Including the NBA All-Star Game in Chicago later this

9:31 AM ET The fun thing about the trade deadline is that it’s a deadline — which spurs activity. Just when you think it’s barren, seven trades come across Woj’s Twitter feed in a two-minute span. The lead-up has been a tad dull. Bradley Beal‘s extension took him off the market until the offseason, removing

8:21 PM ET The Houston Rockets are actively discussing several trade scenarios involving center Clint Capela, including with a host of Eastern Conference franchises, league sources tell ESPN. The Rockets are engaged in three-way trade possibilities that might allow for them to use Capela’s to gather the draft assets needed to acquire an impact wing

6:47 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN HOUSTON — In the early part of his NBA career, New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson has proven to be a force down in the post area. Whether it’s his offensive rebounding or touch around the rim, he’s proven a tough cover for opposing teams. That’s why after Sunday afternoon’s

3:34 AM ET SACRAMENTO — A day later and 380 miles up the I-5 North from Los Angeles, the Lakers were a part of a Kobe Bryant tribute once again. The Sacramento Kings, coached by a former Bryant teammate in Luke Walton and run by vice president of basketball operations Vlade Divac, the man the

2:44 AM ET PORTLAND — Portland Trail Blazers All-Star Damian Lillard continued his historic streak of dominant play with his third 50-point performance in his past six games Saturday as the Blazers defeated the visiting Utah Jazz 124-107 to win their fourth consecutive game. According to Elias Sports Bureau research, Lillard is the first player

6:23 PM ET ESPN News Services Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry will miss all of February as he continues to recover from a broken left hand. He will be re-evaluated in four weeks, and the team is hopeful for a return sometime in March. Curry sustained the injury during an Oct. 30 loss to

9:00 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN BOSTON — Al Horford became a five-time All-Star and developed a reputation as one of the NBA’s most underrated players in part because of one key attribute: versatility. Drafted as a power forward by the Atlanta Hawks, he became the rare center who could grab a rebound and lead the

1:58 AM ET LOS ANGELES — There’s never been an NBA game like the one that took place at Staples Center on Friday night between the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers. It’s been five days since Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven people died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas,

4:14 PM ET LOS ANGELES — Portland Trail Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony, who was close with Lakers star Kobe Bryant, will not play in Friday’s game against Los Angeles for what the team is officially calling personal reasons. Friday’s game will be the first for the Lakers since Bryant’s death, and Anthony is still feeling

10:34 AM ET MYCHAL THOMPSON HAS hardly been able to sleep since he woke up to a nightmare on the Los Angeles Lakers‘ charter flight Sunday afternoon. Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter accident, and Gianna was with him. She’s gone, too. The Lakers broadcaster had been asleep on the trip home from Philadelphia

1:25 AM ET Associated Press CLEVELAND — Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry said he was pushed by a fan when he dove into the stands going after a loose ball during Thursday night’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The play occurred late in the fourth quarter of Toronto’s 115-109 victory. Lowry retrieved a missed shot

5:06 PM ET The NBA has informed teams of 2020-2021 salary-cap and luxury tax estimates, including a $2 million drop in the tax threshold that brings a costly impact to teams facing that penalty, league sources tell ESPN. The league informed teams of estimates of a $115 million salary cap and $139 million luxury tax

Jan 29, 2020 What should we expect before the 2020 NBA trade deadline on Feb. 6? After a long hiatus, trade season has ramped up a bit, with the Golden State Warriors recently moving center Willie Cauley-Stein to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for a second-round draft pick. Which title contender most needs to make

12:59 AM ET The NBA has alerted teams to the impending release of adjusted 2020-2021 salary and luxury tax projections, signaling the likelihood that a decline in revenue will cause a drop in the figures, league sources tell ESPN. The league office is expected to deliver revised projections as soon as Thursday, an accommodation that

4:28 PM ET Carmelo Anthony is hoping his stay in Portland lasts longer than this season. The veteran forward, who’s on a one-year, $2.2 million deal with the team, told the Portland Tribune earlier this week that he’s hoping to finish his career with the Trail Blazers. “I would love to stay,” he said as

1:06 AM ET Eric WoodyardESPN MILWAUKEE — The league-leading Milwaukee Bucks will clearly go as far as Giannis Antetokounmpo can take them this season. But there are nights when others steal the show. And Tuesday was one of them. Khris Middleton posted a personal-best 51 points, 10 rebounds and six assists on 16-for-26 shooting, leading

8:34 PM ET Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant died Sunday at age 41. Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, a source confirmed to ESPN. Bryant entered the NBA straight out of high school in 1996 and won five championships and one regular-season