Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has been ruled out of Saturday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks with a left ankle sprain, marking his 31st absence of the NBA season.
The franchise initially listed the two-time MVP as questionable due to the ongoing management of a previous right calf injury.
However, Milwaukee medical staff subsequently downgraded the 13-year veteran to unavailable prior to tip-off in Georgia.
New setback compounds frustrating campaign
Head coach Doc Rivers confirmed the latest ankle problem stemmed from Thursday’s 112-105 defeat by the Miami Heat.
This absence establishes an unwelcome personal milestone for the Greek forward.
He has now missed more fixtures in the current campaign than in any other single season of his professional career.
Cautious approach to consecutive fixtures
Doc Rivers’ side are currently navigating a challenging schedule featuring games on back-to-back days.
The team will immediately return to Wisconsin to host the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.
Their talismanic leader has not participated in consecutive matchups since returning from his previous calf strain on 2 March.
The Golden State Warriors suffered a fourth consecutive defeat and lost four more players to injury during a 127-117 home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.
Head coach Steve Kerr watched his side fall further down the Western Conference standings on a damaging night in San Francisco.
Draymond Green was withdrawn shortly before tip-off with back soreness, triggering a cascade of physical setbacks for the hosts.
Veteran duo Al Horford and Seth Curry subsequently left the court with calf and adductor issues respectively, while second-year center Quinten Post sprained an ankle.
“We’re going through it,” said Kerr. “We’re about as beaten up as any team I can ever remember.”
Play-off hopes fading
The latest casualty list compounds a miserable period for the seven-time NBA champions, who are already missing two pivotal figures.
Jimmy Butler was ruled out for the season with a torn ACL in January, whilst talisman Stephen Curry has been sidelined since late last month with a persistent knee problem.
Without their primary playmaker, the franchise has managed just five victories in 16 outings to drop to a 32-34 record.
They now sit two games behind the Los Angeles Clippers in the race for the eighth Western Conference play-off seed.
Edwards stars despite fitness doubts
Kerr confirmed Horford’s injury is a calf strain that will require a period of rehabilitation, though Green’s back problem is not thought to be severe.
This mounting crisis coincides with a daunting six-game road trip, commencing against the New York Knicks on Sunday.
One minor positive for the depleted hosts was a 20-point contribution from recently acquired centre Kristaps Porzingis.
However, the severely outmanned home side could not contain an inspired Anthony Edwards.
The Minnesota guard overcame pre-game fitness doubts to register 42 points, aiming playful banter at the sidelined Stephen Curry throughout the contest.
“Love Steph, to me he is the greatest point guard,” said Edwards. “If he’s not playing, I talk a little trash to him on the side.”
The WNBA and its players’ union face a critical Monday deadline to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement and avoid severe disruptions to the upcoming season.
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has stressed the urgency of finalising the deal to protect the preseason calendar, free agency, and an upcoming expansion draft.
“We have to get it done by Monday,” Engelbert said.
“We’ve got to get expansion going, we’ve got to get free agency going, and we’ve got to get the college draft, which is now a month from today.”
Revenue sharing remains the biggest hurdle
Negotiations between the league and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) have involved intense, double-digit hour sessions over the past four days.
A final agreement hinges heavily on creating a completely revamped revenue-sharing model that satisfies both parties.
The league has proposed allocating an average of 70% of net revenue to the athletes, while player representatives are pushing for 26% of gross revenue over the lifetime of the contract.
These conflicting systems have generated wildly different initial salary cap projections, with the governing body offering $6.2m per team compared to the union’s $9.5m demand.
Preseason schedule under threat
WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson expressed cautious optimism about recent progress despite viewing the established deadlines as somewhat arbitrary.
“As long as movement keeps us going in a forward direction, then I think we’re good,” Jackson told reporters.
Time is rapidly running out for the highest level of women’s professional basketball to resolve these foundational economic issues.
With training camps scheduled to open on 19 April and preseason fixtures commencing just six days later, any further delay could severely impact player preparation.
The sport is currently experiencing an unprecedented boom in popularity and viewership, making a seamless start to the new campaign vital for continued growth.
Luka Doncic scored a Lakers career-high 51 points to lead Los Angeles to a 142-130 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday, marking a successful return for LeBron James following a three-game injury absence.
The Slovenian playmaker delivered an offensive masterclass, eventually checking out late in the fourth quarter to a standing ovation.
His historic haul was supported by a remarkable collective effort from the hosts’ starting line-up, who combined for a staggering 137 points.
That tally represents the highest-scoring output by a starting five in a regulation NBA fixture since the 1970-71 season.
James returns to support starring cast
James had missed the previous three games with foot, elbow and hip issues, but adapted seamlessly to a supporting role upon his comeback.
The 41-year-old veteran finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists while deliberately taking a back seat to his team-mates.
“I know what I’m capable of still doing as an individual, but what’s important for this team, I’m able to adapt to.”
Lakers head coach JJ Redick praised this selfless approach, highlighting the forward’s desire to let his red-hot colleagues flourish.
Los Angeles now boast an 8-3 record this season when their all-time leading scorer is not one of the top two players in field goal attempts.
Reaves milestone fuels Western Conference surge
Austin Reaves continued his own spectacular form with a 30-point performance, exceeding the 25-point mark for the third consecutive outing.
The American guard also surpassed 5,000 career points during the contest, becoming just the 46th undrafted player in league history to achieve the feat.
Further offensive firepower was provided by Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura, who contributed 23 and 15 points respectively.
The victory secures a seventh win in eight matches for Los Angeles, propelling them to third place in the Western Conference standings with just 16 regular-season games remaining.
Doncic later revealed that a verbal exchange with 21-year-old Chicago forward Matas Buzelis provided the extra motivation for his scoring explosion.
“Somebody started talking to me, so that woke me up.”
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will attempt to break Wilt Chamberlain’s 63-year-old NBA record for consecutive 20-point games when he faces the Boston Celtics on Thursday.
The reigning NBA MVP has scored at least 20 points in 126 successive matches, tying a landmark previously thought to be unbreakable.
His remarkable marathon of consistency began on 1 November 2024 during a victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Since that initial performance, the dynamic playmaker has secured both the regular-season and Finals MVP awards.
Chasing a mythical milestone
Chamberlain set the original 126-game benchmark over six decades ago.
The late Hall of Fame centre achieved statistical feats so dominant that the current Thunder star recently described him as “almost like a mythical creature”.
Before this extraordinary streak began, the closest any player had come to the record was Chamberlain himself with a separate 92-game run.
Oscar Robertson sits third on the all-time list after managing 79 consecutive matches with 20 or more points.
Dominating the modern era
The Canadian international’s scoring output completely eclipses his modern contemporaries.
Kevin Durant holds the closest 21st-century streak, having reached 72 games during his tenures with Oklahoma City and Golden State.
Late Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant is the only other modern player to reach the halfway mark, achieving 63 consecutive games between December 2005 and November 2006.
“My whole life is consistent, everything I do.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
By contrast, Kawhi Leonard holds the second-longest active streak across the league with a comparatively modest 42 games.
Sustaining elite performance
This unprecedented offensive output highlights a profound era of dominance for the Oklahoma City franchise.
The lightning-fast guard remains the heavy favourite to claim another MVP award for the upcoming 2025-26 campaign.
Eclipsing Chamberlain’s legendary benchmark against the Celtics would firmly cement his legacy among basketball’s greatest historical scorers.
Caitlin Clark returned from an eight-month injury absence to record 17 points and 12 assists in her senior United States debut, inspiring a 110-64 victory over Senegal in their FIBA World Cup qualifier.
The Indiana Fever guard played 19 minutes in San Juan, Puerto Rico, marking her first competitive appearance since July.
She had been sidelined with groin and ankle injuries that forced her to miss the latter stages of the domestic season.
Instant impact off the bench
Stepping onto the court midway through the first quarter, the debutant immediately showcased her elite playmaking ability.
She distributed three quick assists to team-mates Monique Billings and Kelsey Plum before hitting a three-pointer to close out the opening period.
The dynamic playmaker finished a highly efficient four of five from beyond the arc.
“I thought I was going to be anxious, but I was just excited,” said Clark following her successful return.
“There’s nothing like getting to run around out there and having fun, especially with a group of people as talented as this.”
Lawson praises playmaking prowess
United States head coach Kara Lawson highlighted the importance of utilising the point guard’s exceptional passing skills alongside her well-documented scoring threat.
The national team boasts a formidable roster, allowing the returning star to seamlessly transition between creating opportunities and taking her own shots.
“As much as she is a dynamic scorer, she’s one of the most dynamic playmakers in the world as well,” noted Lawson.
“I thought she toggled between playmaking and scoring really well.”
Focus on tempo and fitness
Operating with a high-paced tempo was a primary focus for the American guard, despite admitting the speed of the international game initially left her grasping for air.
However, she quickly found her rhythm and expressed satisfaction with the carefully managed workload.
“More than anything, it makes me happy that I’m super sweaty right now and I got to play basketball,” she concluded.
The Boston Celtics have surged in the NBA championship betting markets following the return of Jayson Tatum from a long-term Achilles injury.
The Eastern Conference contenders saw their title odds slashed from +900 to +550 after winning two of their first three games.
Tatum sustained the severe tendon issue during last season’s playoffs, forcing a lengthy and gruelling rehabilitation.
Bookmakers reacted swiftly to the forward’s recovery, with over a quarter of recent championship wagers backing the Massachusetts franchise.
Oklahoma City Thunder maintain overall lead
Despite Boston’s upward momentum, the Oklahoma City Thunder remain the outright favourites to secure the 2025-26 NBA crown at +135.
The Western Conference powerhouses are currently outpacing both the Denver Nuggets and the San Antonio Spurs, who sit at +750.
Boston’s resurgence has simultaneously devalued the futures of their regional rivals across the East.
Odds for the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons have all drifted over the past week as confidence grows in the Celtics.
Gilgeous-Alexander closes on second MVP
In the individual accolades market, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is rapidly pulling away from the competition.
The Canadian guard is overwhelmingly priced at -800 to secure his second consecutive Most Valuable Player award.
His commanding position is heavily supported by a clean bill of health and Oklahoma City’s sustained dominance on the court.
Adebayo heroics fail to move Miami odds
Elsewhere, a historic 83-point performance from Bam Adebayo failed to significantly alter the market view of the Miami Heat.
Bookmakers kept the Florida outfit at 200-1 for the championship, though their divisional odds did shorten slightly to +105.
The spectacular individual display will be remembered as a season highlight, but oddsmakers clearly remain unconvinced of Miami’s broader title credentials.
Los Angeles Sparks player Rickea Jackson has filed a petition for protection against Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr, detailing a history of alleged abuse and a high-speed car chase in Florida.
Court documents reveal the 24-year-old stated she was in fear for her life and believed her ex-boyfriend would kill her without judicial intervention.
The filing follows a severe incident on 7 February, which culminated in the NFL defender’s arrest on multiple battery and stalking charges.
High-speed pursuit and police intervention
The WNBA star detailed a harrowing sequence of events where she noticed her former partner following her vehicle as she drove home.
Fearing for her safety, the Los Angeles forward diverted towards a Doral police station while contacting emergency services.
She alleges the 22-year-old chased her at high speeds, blocked her car at a traffic light, and attempted to force his way inside before jumping onto the roof of her vehicle.
The pursuit reportedly continued with the American football player repeatedly striking her car in an attempt to spin it out of control.
Protection order and felony charges
Upon reaching the police station, Jackson flagged down an officer just as her pursuer allegedly rammed his vehicle into hers once again.
Initial incident reports state the Atlanta player then struck a law enforcement officer with his car before crashing and fleeing on foot.
He was subsequently apprehended and now faces five felony charges, including two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated stalking.
A temporary protection order has been granted, barring him from contacting the basketball player or coming within 500 feet of her home.
Alleged threats and financial offers
In her petition, Jackson disclosed that the physical and verbal abuse occurred on multiple occasions after she attempted to end their relationship.
“James verbally and physically abused me on more than one occasion.”
She also claimed he had previously threatened to place a bag over her head and cause her serious harm.
The court filing notes that in the hours preceding the February chase, he allegedly offered her up to $200,000 to remain in a relationship with him.
A permanent injunction hearing is scheduled for 21 April, while the Atlanta Falcons have declined to comment on the ongoing legal matter.