NBA

FILE - Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner sits during the first half of Game 2 of basketball's WNBA Finals against the Chicago Sky, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, in Phoenix. Brittney Griner said she's “grateful” to be back in the United States and plans on playing basketball again next season for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury a week after she was released from a Russian prison and freed in a dramatic high-level prisoner exchange. “It feels so good to be home!” Griner posted to Instagram on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, in her first public statement since her release. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)

Brittney Griner says she’ll play basketball in Arizona again

Brittney Griner said she’s “grateful” to be back in the United States…

 

FILE - Charlotte Bobcats coach Paul Silas argues a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Charlotte, N.C., April 18, 2012. Silas, a member of three NBA championship teams, has died, his family announced Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. He was 79. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, file)

Paul Silas, 3-time NBA champion, longtime coach, dies at 79

Silas was LeBron James’ first coach in the league

 

Brooklyn Nets head coach Steve Nash argues a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

B.C. basketball legend Nash fired as Nets coach after poor start, more controversy

Plagued with controversy surrounding their stars, Brooklyn started the season 2-5 under Nash

 

Toronto Raptors’ Pascal Siakam speaks to reporters at the Raptors media day availability, in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Siakam thrilled to have Rico Hines on the Raptors’ NBA coaching staff this season

Newcomer says he lives and breathes his work

Toronto Raptors’ Pascal Siakam speaks to reporters at the Raptors media day availability, in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Toronto Raptors’ Chris Boucher answers questions from a reporter during the Raptors training camp at the Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities at the University of Victoria in Victoria, B.C., on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. Raptors coach Nick Nurse says<strong> </strong>Boucher is one of the most unique players in the NBA.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Raptors coach Nurse looking for more consistency this season from ‘unique’ Boucher

NBA team holding training camp in Victoria

Toronto Raptors’ Chris Boucher answers questions from a reporter during the Raptors training camp at the Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities at the University of Victoria in Victoria, B.C., on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. Raptors coach Nick Nurse says<strong> </strong>Boucher is one of the most unique players in the NBA.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes, left, photographed in NBA playoff action against Philadelphia’s James Harden last spring, will be among the stars in Saanich next month for the Raptors’ training camp at the University of Victoria. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Toronto Raptors return to B.C. for 2022-23 NBA training camp

Former champions’ pre-season workouts Sept. 26 to Oct. 1 at University of Victoria

Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes, left, photographed in NBA playoff action against Philadelphia’s James Harden last spring, will be among the stars in Saanich next month for the Raptors’ training camp at the University of Victoria. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
FILE - Bill Russell grins at announcement that he had been named coach of the Boston Celtics basketball team, April 18, 1966. (AP Photo, File)

Bill Russell, NBA great and Celtics legend, dies at 88

Russell was first ever Black head coach of any major U.S. sport

FILE - Bill Russell grins at announcement that he had been named coach of the Boston Celtics basketball team, April 18, 1966. (AP Photo, File)
Paolo Banchero, right, is congratulated by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number one pick overall by the Orlando Magic in the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 23, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Magic take Banchero 1st, Holmgren, Smith follow in NBA draft

6-foot-10 forward from Duke is the top overall choice

Paolo Banchero, right, is congratulated by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number one pick overall by the Orlando Magic in the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 23, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) high fives Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II (0) during the second quarter of Game 6 of basketball’s NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics, Thursday, June 16, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Warriors beat Boston Celtics 103-90 to win 4th NBA title in 8 years

Finals MVP Stephen Curry leads Golden State with 34 points

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) high fives Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II (0) during the second quarter of Game 6 of basketball’s NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics, Thursday, June 16, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots against Boston Celtics centre Al Horford during the first half of Game 5 of basketball’s NBA Finals in San Francisco, Monday, June 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Golden State Warriors 1 win away from NBA title after 104-94 victory over Celtics

Game 6 in playoff series goes Thursday night in Boston

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots against Boston Celtics centre Al Horford during the first half of Game 5 of basketball’s NBA Finals in San Francisco, Monday, June 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Canada’s Steve Nash tries to steal the ball from France’s Laurent Sciarra (right) during second half quarter final basketball action at the Olympics in Sydney, Australia Thursday September 28, 2000. Nash, a former two-time NBA MVP and one of the NBA’s 75 greatest players, is among a group of seven who will be inducted into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame for the classes of 2021 and 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kevin Frayer

Steve Nash headlines list of inductees to Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame

Canada Basketball will hold the induction ceremony on July 10 in Toronto

Canada’s Steve Nash tries to steal the ball from France’s Laurent Sciarra (right) during second half quarter final basketball action at the Olympics in Sydney, Australia Thursday September 28, 2000. Nash, a former two-time NBA MVP and one of the NBA’s 75 greatest players, is among a group of seven who will be inducted into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame for the classes of 2021 and 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kevin Frayer
Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) battles for ball against Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) during second half NBA round one playoff basketball action in Toronto on Thursday, April 28, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

No historic comeback for Raptors, eliminated after 132-97 blowout loss to 76ers

Embiid leads Philadelphia to six-game NBA playoff series win over Toronto

Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) battles for ball against Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) during second half NBA round one playoff basketball action in Toronto on Thursday, April 28, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse watches during the second half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

“Could be us” — Nick Nurse believes Raptors are capable of historic comeback

No team in NBA history has come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven series

Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse watches during the second half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes, left, tries to get past Philadelphia 76ers’ James Harden during the first half of Game 5 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Monday, April 25, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Raptors fend off elimination with crucial 103-88 win over 76ers in Philadelphia

Toronto, now trailing 3-2, hosts Game 6 in NBA playoff series on Thursday

Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes, left, tries to get past Philadelphia 76ers’ James Harden during the first half of Game 5 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Monday, April 25, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby (3) reacts as Philadelphia 76ers centre Joel Embiid (21) celebrates the 76ers win with forward Tobias Harris (12) in overtime NBA first round playoff action in Toronto on Wednesday April 20, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Embiid hits dagger in OT and Sixers take 3-0 NBA series lead over Raptors

Toronto must dig out of massive hole in best-of-7 playoff matchup

Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby (3) reacts as Philadelphia 76ers centre Joel Embiid (21) celebrates the 76ers win with forward Tobias Harris (12) in overtime NBA first round playoff action in Toronto on Wednesday April 20, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) drives to the basket as Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic (13) defends during first half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Siakam has 31 points, 13 boards as Raptors clinch playoff spot with win over Atlanta

Toronto picks up 12th win in last 15 games

Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) drives to the basket as Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic (13) defends during first half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Empty seats are seen at the Scotiabank Arena as the Toronto Raptors take on the Golden State Warriors in NBA basketball action in Toronto on Saturday, December 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Toronto Raptors game against visiting Magic postponed due to Orlando COVID-19 outbreak

Monday’s Raptors game was one of several that the NBA postponed

Empty seats are seen at the Scotiabank Arena as the Toronto Raptors take on the Golden State Warriors in NBA basketball action in Toronto on Saturday, December 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Toronto Raptors executive Masai Ujiri attends a press conference in Toronto on Wednesday August 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Raptors to open season Oct. 20 vs. Wizards – hopefully at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena

Masai Ujiri said that playing last season out of Tampa set the team back two years

Toronto Raptors executive Masai Ujiri attends a press conference in Toronto on Wednesday August 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts during the second half of Game 6 of basketball’s NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Milwaukee’s 50-year wait ends with NBA title behind 50 from Giannis

Bucks beat Phoenix Suns 105-98 in Game 6 of league finals

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts during the second half of Game 6 of basketball’s NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse talks to Fred VanVleet during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, in Milwaukee. A greatly reduced Raptors team will host the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday in Toronto’s temporary home of Tampa, Fla. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Morry Gash

After dodging COVID-19 for months, the Raptors are feeling full force of pandemic

Raptors have been playing in Florida, a COVID-19 hotspot

Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse talks to Fred VanVleet during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, in Milwaukee. A greatly reduced Raptors team will host the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday in Toronto’s temporary home of Tampa, Fla. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Morry Gash