The Aces lost to the Indiana Fever, 81-54, on Thursday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

It was the Aces’ first loss to the Fever since 2019, ending a 16-game winning streak.

A’ja Wilson had 29 points for the Aces (8-9), who didn’t have another player in double figures.

The Aces trailed from start to finish, falling into a 22-...Read more

The Storm began their three-game road trip with an improbable 80-79 win against the Atlanta Dream at Gateway Center Arena on Thursday night.

Seattle trailed by a point with 11.4 seconds when coach Noelle Quinn called timeout to draw up one last play.

The Storm gave the ball to Skylar Diggins, who darted to her left around a screen and dashed ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Maybe the first quarter Thursday night was some sort of basketball hangover.

The Minnesota Lynx offense looked a little disjointed, much like it did in Tuesday’s Commissioner’s Cup loss to Indiana. Minnesota struggled to defend inside.

And then: Enough.

In a 92-75 victory over Washington on Thursday at Target Center, the ...Read more

DENVER — David Adelman has found his David Adelman.

The Nuggets are hiring Jared Dudley as their top assistant coach on Adelman’s inaugural staff, a league source told The Denver Post. Dudley, who turns 40 this month, met with the Nuggets in Denver this week after they secured permission to interview him from the Dallas Mavericks, where he ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The Lakers and free-agent center Jaxson Hayes have agreed up on a one-year contract for him to return to the team, according to people not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

With Hayes, the Lakers now have a backup center after they agreed to a two-year deal with Deandre Ayton.

Hayes became the Lakers’ starting ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — Mavericks assistant coach God Shammgod has agreed to join the Magic staff as an assistant coach under Jamahl Mosley, a league source told the Orlando Sentinel on Wednesday night.

Shammgod has worked for the Mavericks since 2016 as a player development coach while serving as the head of player culture.

A deal to head to ...Read more

NEW YORK — The Knicks have built a championship-caliber roster. Now they need to add the finishing touches.

The Knicks kept the core fresh off the franchise’s first conference finals run in 25 years intact, then added much-needed bench depth by agreeing to deals with former Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson and French national team ...Read more

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Former Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore has been found guilty of rape.

A jury in Clackamas County, Ore., on Thursday found McLemore, 32, guilty of first-degree rape, first-degree unlawful sexual penetration and one count of second-degree sexual abuse. He was acquitted of another charge of sexual abuse, according to ...Read more

DENVER — When Nikola Jokic sat on the bench, Michael Malone held his breath. Now, he must be throwing up in his mouth.

In the span of 24 hours, the Nuggets got rid of Michael Porter Jr.’s contract in exchange for a similar player in Cam Johnson, reunited with Bruce Brown, landed Tim Hardaway Jr., and added Jonas Valanciunas while discarding...Read more

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — For Bronny James, the focus over the next couple of weeks will be on his summer league play with the Lakers.

Not the growing speculation surrounding his dad, LeBron James, and his future with the franchise after comments from his agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, made it less clear how much of the elder James’ future ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Rong “Krystal” Niu, the acrobat known as Red Panda, suffered a severe fracture to her left wrist during her halftime performance at the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final Tuesday night at Target Center.

Niu’s agent, Patrick Figley, gave an update Wednesday after Niu was hospitalized after the fall at the WNBA’s midseason ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — When Thursday’s game tips off at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Fever will be down a superstar, while the Aces debut a familiar player to Indiana fans.

Guard Caitlin Clark, who was ruled out Wednesday, will miss her fourth straight game for the Fever (8-8) with a left groin strain.

NaLyssa Smith, a 6-foot-4-inch forward who was ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The Lakers finally got a center they have so desperately needed when they agreed to a deal with Deandre Ayton, according to people not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

The Lakers were able to get Ayton after he received a buyout from the Portland Trail Blazers of his $35-million contract, giving up about $10 million, ...Read more

Red Panda, the popular halftime acrobat known for balancing bowls on her head while perched high on a unicycle, fell hard to the court Tuesday night while performing at the Commissioner's Cup final between the WNBA's Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx in Minneapolis.

Riding on her custom-made unicycle at least 7 feet off the floor, Red Panda ...Read more

NEW YORK — Turn on the jets. Mike Brown is coming to Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks are expected to hire Brown to replace Tom Thibodeau and become the 32nd head coach in franchise history, league sources told the New York Daily News. Brown is one of just 11 in NBA history to win Coach of the Year honors more than once. He helped end the ...Read more

NEW YORK — Toward the end of one of the biggest news conferences of her time as WNBA commissioner, Cathy Engelbert looked across the room. A reporter she knew had been called on, and she was pretty sure she knew what was coming.

“No more questions about Philly!” she exclaimed.

There was no doubt about the magnitude of the moment when ...Read more

OAKLAND, Calif. — Damian Lillard has worn the No. 0 for his entire Hall of Fame career as an homage to Oakland, the city he still considers home.

Milwaukee will release Lillard to sign former Pacers center Myles Turner, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday morning. The move brings up a fascinating question for the Warriors.

Should ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The good news is that Tuesday’s game, despite its national broadcast, significant hype and rather large purse, won’t count in the WNBA standings.

The bad news: The Lynx chose the Commissioner’s Cup championship game against a .500 Indiana team playing without Caitlin Clark to play some of the worst basketball seen at ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — It has been more than a year since Cameron Brink suited up for the Sparks, and excitement is building around the return of one of the team’s biggest stars.

Sidelined by a torn ACL and meniscus, Brink has steadily progressed through drills and contact work since training camp.

Head coach Lynne Roberts, who spoke with her last ...Read more

DETROIT — Duncan Robinson and the Detroit Pistons have agreed to a three-year contract worth $48 million.

The move will be part of a sign-and-trade deal, which will send forward Simone Fontecchio to the Miami Heat, a source confirmed to The Detroit News following an ESPN report.

Robinson, a former Michigan standout, is a career 39.7% 3-point...Read more