TORONTO RAPTORS

Joel Embiid had 33 points and 10 rebounds, James Harden added 22 points and 15 assists and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Toronto Raptors 132-97 in Game 6 to end the first-round series Thursday night.

Siakam ended up leading Toronto by grabbing his second double-double of the series, scoring 23 points while picking up 10 rebounds. Watch the NBA Playoffs on FuboTV (7-day free trial)WESTERN CONFERENCE(1) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) New Orleans Pelicans (Suns lead 3-2)Time: 7:30 p.m. While the Pelicans showed some more fight in the second half, the Suns were able to coast their way to a 112-97 victory. (4) Dallas Mavericks vs. (5) Utah Jazz (Mavericks lead 3-2)Time: 10 p.m. Doncic’s 33 points helped lead Dallas to a rout of the Utah Jazz, where the Mavs did not trail once, with a 102-77 victory.

The Philadelphia 76ers were up 3-0 in their series against the Toronto Raptors just a few days ago.

Pascal Siakam scored 23 points, Precious Achiuwa had 17 and the Toronto Raptors forced a return home for Game 6 against the Philadelphia 76ers.

EASTERN CONFERENCE(4) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (5) Toronto Raptors (76ers lead 3-0)Time: 2 p.m ETWhere: Scotiabank Arena (Toronto, Ont.) (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Brooklyn Nets (Celtics lead 2-0)A little behind schedule are the Celtics and the Nets, as their series is finally reaching game three. Watch the NBA Playoffs on FuboTV (7-day free trial)WESTERN CONFERENCE(4) Dallas Mavericks vs. (5) Utah Jazz (Mavericks lead 2-1)Time: 4:30 p.m. (2) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (7) Minnesota Timberwolves (Grizzlies lead 2-1)It looked as if the Timberwolves were going to use home court to their advantage in game three on Thursday. D’Angelo Russell had a solid outing for the Timberwolves, as he led his team with 22 points.

EASTERN CONFERENCE(7) Brooklyn Nets vs. (2) Boston Celtics (Celtics lead 1-0)Time: 7:00 p.m. pic.twitter.com/WUr4UsaURk — Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 17, 2022Those two points were a part of Tatum’s 31 in the victory, leading Boston’s attack. Al Hofrod also had a big game, scoring 20 points whilst taking down 15 rebounds. (4) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (5) Toronto Raptors (76ers lead 2-0)The Raptors have a whole lot of work to do if they want to get back in this series. Nikola Vucevic helped lead Chicago’s near-comeback, picking up a double-double of his own, scoring 24 while picking up 17 rebounds.

Joel Embiid had 31 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 112-97 win over the Toronto Raptors in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Tyrese Maxey had the breakout game of his young career, scoring 21 of his playoff career-high 38 points in the third quarter to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 131-111 Game 1 win over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday night.

Since the trade, the 76ers went 18-9, and were able to secure home court advantage for the second season a in-a-row. Philly has to watch out for Toronto, as the Raptors won three of the four regular season meetings, including a 119-114 back on April 7. The two teams split the four-game regular season series, though the home team won each of the meetings. (7) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (2) Memphis GrizzliesMemphis comes into the playoffs following the franchise’s best regular season ever. Despite being the underdogs (no pun intended), Minnesota certainly has shown they can compete against Memphis, as the two squads split the four-game season series.

There’s no denying that the 2021 NBA rookie class was a special one. Several voters of the NBA‘s season awards have shared their ballots and the likelihood of Cade Cunningham taking home the award seems to shrink each day. On top of that, the NBA released its final rookie ladder and ranked Cunningham third behind Evan Mobley and Scottie Barnes. Mobley and Barnes, of course, are looking to help their teams navigate successful postseason runs. More:Cavaliers Evan Mobley maintains hold on Rookie of the Year odds, Cade Cunningham keeps race tightRecent odds show Cade Cunningham making up a little ground in Rookie of the Year raceWhere Pistons’ Cade Cunningham sits in NBA’s Rookie of the Year race

Saddiq Bey scored 10 of his 20 points in the final 4:23 as the Detroit Pistons pulled away down the stretch and beat the Philadelphia 76ers 102-94.

The Toronto Raptors’ game against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night was suspended in the second quarter and the arena evacuated because of a fire in a speaker hanging over the stands.

Philadelphia 76ers stars Joel Embiid and James Harden were ruled out for Monday night’s Eastern Conference showdown with the Miami Heat due to nagging injuries.

Pascal Siakam had 26 points and 10 rebounds and Precious Achiuwa scored 21 points to lead the Toronto Raptors to a 93-88 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Fred VanVleet had 26 points and the Toronto Raptors beat the San Antonio Spurs 119-104 on Wednesday night, delaying Gregg Popovich’s coronation as the winningest coach in NBA history.

If Cade Cunningham isn’t in the running for Rookie of the Year, then no one should be. The Pistons are winning games!

Cade Cunningham had 22 points and 12 rebounds, Jerami Grant scored 26 and the Detroit Pistons held on to beat Toronto 108-106 for their sixth straight victory over the Raptors.

Pickswise provides exclusive sports betting content to MLive.com, including picks, analysis, tools, games and sportsbook offers to help bettors get in on the action. One of the under-the-radar matchups that still offers plenty of intrigue is this battle between the Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors. Pistons +8.5This feels like too many points considering the Raptors have been far from consistent recently. Detroit also just beat the Hornets on the road a couple of games ago, and Saddiq Bey is in a groove. Just a couple of games ago the Raptors scored 133 against Brooklyn, so they’ve got real offensive upside as well.

The road trip continues for the Detroit Pistons, as they head to Canada for the second time this season, after a tough loss on Tuesday, as they prepare to take on the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night. Detroit found themselves in a tight battle with the Washington Wizards in the nation’s capital. Watch the Detroit Pistons on DirecTV StreamDespite the loss, Jerami Grant led all players on Tuesday night with 26 points, also leading Detroit with 36 minutes against the Wizards. The Pistons won the first meeting in Toronto back in November, before taking down the Raptors at home in mid-January. Check out more stories about the Detroit Pistons here on MLiveWhat: NBA BasketballWho: Detroit Pistons (15-47) vs. Toronto Raptors (34-27)When: Thursday, March 3Time: 7:30 p.m.

While Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley has separated himself from the pack, Cade Cunningham among several others has made a case to take it home. Cunningham, who went first overall in the NBA Draft last July had a slow start, but he managed to make up plenty of ground in January. The NBA awarded him, Rookie of the Month after he averaged 17.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. But the Pistons guard hurt his hip pointer heading into February and missed several games as a result. So here is where Cunningham sits in this week in the Rookie of the Year race.

Here’s a look at some picks for games on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022.

Former Detroit Pistons and current Toronto Raptors forward Svi Mykhailiuk released a statement on Thursday condemning the recent invasion of Ukraine. Mykhailiuk, along with Sacramento Kings center Alex Len, issued the statement on Twitter. In their joint statement, the two players said, “Ukraine is a peaceful, sovereign state inhabited by people who want to decide their own destiny.” They added that they hoped the war would end as soon as possible and offered their support to their fellow countrymen. Mykhailiuk, who played for the Pistons from 2019 to 2021, was born in Ukraine before attending Kansas for four years. Detroit traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder last March and he signed with the Raptors during the offseason.

Cory Joseph made a 14-foot jumper with 25.9 seconds remaining to cap a game-ending 11-0 run that rallied the Detroit Pistons past the Sacramento Kings 133-131.

Luka Doncic scored a season-high 41 points, including a clutch 3-pointer with 1:01 to play, and tied his season best with 14 rebounds as the surging Dallas Mavericks held off the Toronto Raptors 102-98.

Just a night removed from winning their second consecutive game, the Detroit Pistons were decimated by an old foe, and will now try and pick up the pieces and get to host the Toronto Raptors on Friday night. Detroit went down to take on the Chicago to take on the Bulls, looking to extend their winning streak to three. The Pistons suffered their worst loss of the season, losing to the Bulls by 46 points on Tuesday night. Check out more stories about the Detroit Pistons here on MLiveWhat: NBA BasketballWho: Toronto Raptors (20-18) vs. Detroit Pistons (9-31)When: Friday, January 14Time: 7:00 p.m. ETWhere: Little Caesars Arena (Detroit, Mich.)Channel: Bally Sports DetroitStream: DirecTV StreamCheck out the NBA standings and results on NBA.com

Michigan basketball was forced to cancel two games due to COVID this week, but several former Wolverines earned new opportunities due to virus protocols.

The Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors canceled their Thursday practices, citing an abundance of caution because of COVID-19 protocols.

Enes Freedom will now be linked forever to a word he says he fought for his entire life.

Goran Dragic has left the Toronto Raptors because of a personal matter. The Raptors said Sunday before their game against Boston Celtics that the 35-year-old guard — acquired along with Precious Achiuwa in the offseason deal that sent Kyle Lowry to Miami — wasn’t with the team. Dragic, from Slovenia, has played in just five games with the Raptors, averaging 8.0 points, 1.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds and 17.9 minutes.

Jerami Grant scored 24 points, Isaiah Stewart had 20 and Detroit used a big fourth quarter to beat short-handed Toronto 127-121 on Saturday night, the Pistons’ fourth straight victory over the Raptors.

After a blowout loss the night before, the Detroit Pistons turned up the intensity on the second night of a back-to-back. The Pistons (3-9) scored 78 points the night before, but the misfortunes of the night before didn’t seem to phase them. He hit three straight shots to get the Pistons a short lead before the Raptors go their rhythm going. He then scored three more layups back-to-back as the Pistons cut into the Raptors lead and pulled them within one point. Bey helped to get the Pistons scoring off in the first quarter before Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. got hot.

A rough third quarter where the Pistons only mustered up 11 points led to their ninth loss of the season. Only three Pistons hit double digits in defeat, with Jerami Grant leading the squad with 16. Detroit stays on the road to take on a rested Toronto Raptors squad who are trying to stay with the rest of the pack here in the early stages of the season. Saturday night will mark the Pistons’ first trip to Toronto since October 2019, as the Raptors had to play in Tampa last season due to travel restrictions during the pandemic. Check out more stories about the Detroit Pistons here on MLiveWhat: NBA BasketballWho: Detroit Pistons (2-9) vs. Toronto Raptors (7-6)When: Saturday, November 13Time: 7:30 p.m.

The NBA has raised the level of urgency regarding getting booster shots against the coronavirus.

After a tough opening stretch against some of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons’ schedule eases up just slightly. Many of the teams in the NBA have improved, so the Pistons still have plenty of challenging matchups ahead. Over the next few days, the Pistons will face teams that fell to the bottom of the league last season. Like The Pistons and Houston, the Cavaliers added a dynamic player to their roster in Evan Mobley. Mobley has paired well with Cleveland center Jarrett Allen, who has also had a solid start to the year.

OG Anunoby scored a career-high 36 points and the Toronto Raptors won their fourth straight by beating the New York Knicks 113-104 in the 75th anniversary of the NBA’s first game.

The Los Angeles Lakers have traded the rights to Marc Gasol back to the Memphis Grizzlies, where the 36-year-old center spent his first 11 NBA seasons.

The Detroit Pistons re-signed guard Hamidou Diallo on Thursday.

The Detroit Pistons finally lucked out in the NBA lottery, receiving the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft.

Two of the Pistons’ most promising rookies make the NBA All Rookie Team as the NBA Draft Lottery nears.

Virtually all of Canada’s top NBA players, excluding those who are injured, have accepted invitations to attend training camp next month in advance of that country’s last chance to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.

Khris Middleton's jumper with 0.5 to go in overtime lifted the Milwaukee Bucks to a 109-107 win in Game 1 against the Miami Heat.

The Indiana Pacers will be without starting forward Caris LeVert when they face the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA's first play-in game.

LeBron James will miss at least one more game to make sure his sprained right ankle is as healthy as possible.

Kyle Lowry had 37 points and 11 assists, Pascal Siakam had 39 points and 13 rebounds and the short-handed Toronto Raptors defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 121-114.

Nikola Jokic had 19 points and 11 rebounds in just three quarters to lead the Denver Nuggets past the Toronto Raptors 121-111 on Thursday night.

Orlando Magic coach Steve Clifford has tested positive for the coronavirus and will miss multiple games while going through the NBA’s health and safety protocols.

Julius Randle had 31 points and 10 rebounds, RJ Barrett had 25 points and 12 boards, and the New York Knicks beat the Toronto Raptors 120-103 for their ninth straight victory.

Kevin Durant missed his third straight game against Boston after Nets coach Steve Nash said the forward’s bruised left thigh hadn’t healed enough to play.

Overtime will use a portion of the funds to fuel its basketball league that pays 16-to-18-year-old players at least $100,000 per year.

The NBA head coach joins the board of Noah Basketball, a sports data, and tech company that tracks shooting performance.

Pascal Siakam scored 36 points in three quarters and the Toronto Raptors routed the Golden State Warriors 130-77.

The Detroit Pistons pulled off their first sweep of the season. They downed the Toronto Raptors 118-104 on Monday at Little Caesars Arena to mark the franchise’s second series sweep in the last three years. Detroit set a tone early, but it was mostly the Pistons’ young guys who helped to deliver the win. “We didn’t get to play everybody tonight but the guys that went into the game tonight, they played together,” Pistons head coach Dwane Casey said. Detroit shot 63.6 percent from long range in the first quarter.

Saben Lee scored 14 of his 19 points in the first half in his second career start, and the Detroit Pistons beat the Toronto Raptors 118-104 on Monday night. Saddiq Bey, another Detroit rookie, also scored 19 points and Hamidou Diallo added 19 of his own. OG Anunoby scored 19 points for the Raptors and Gary Trent Jr. had 15. Pistons: Detroit signed F Tyler Cook to a second 10-day contract before the game. NEW FACESDiallo was acquired by the Pistons in a recent trade, and this was only the second game he’s played for them.

DETROIT -- The Detroit Pistons swept the Toronto Raptors this season, after the Raptors did likewise to the Pistons the previous season. Detroit (13-33) put up a strong night on both ends of the floor to sweep the Raptors (18-29). The Pistons forced the Raptors to take inefficient shots as Toronto shot 35-of-86 overall and 11-of-36 from three. Despite having some shooting struggles, Raptors guard Fred Van Vleet scored 22 points on 7-of-20 shooting, including 4-of-10 shooting from three. Not only were the Pistons hot from inside the arc, but they also had a strong night from long range.

Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) celebrates a three-point basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Wednesday, March 24, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)Kyle Lowry stayed with the Toronto Raptors, and the Miami Heat got Victor Oladipo instead. And on a trade deadline day where moves were getting made right up until the last possible moment, the Denver Nuggets took a big swing at getting better for a playoff run while the Orlando Magic began a rebuild. Lowry — considered perhaps the biggest prize who was on the market — did not get traded, the Raptors apparently unable to find enough assets to their liking. Questions swirled around Lowry all the way to the 3 p.m. EST deadline, and there were signs that the Raptors were positioning themselves to make the move. “Everything will be fine," Lowry said on Wednesday, when asked about the looming deadline and incessant reports about his trade prospects.

Houston Rockets' John Wall (1) drives on Toronto Raptors' Fred VanVleet (23) during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Monday, March 22, 2021, in Houston. (Bob Levey/Pool Photo via AP)HOUSTON – The Houston Rockets ended their 20-game losing streak Monday night, as John Wall had his first triple-double in five years in a 117-99 victory over the Toronto Raptors. Houston’s skid was tied for the ninth-worst in NBA history and the longest since Philadelphia’s record-setting, 28-game losing streak across the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. But Wall had 19 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds, his first triple-double since Feb. 5, 2016. In their losing streak, Houston led after the first quarter only three times, including on Feb. 26 when they led the Raptors 31-30.

Nurse was upset at the end of Toronto's 115-112 loss to the Utah Jazz, a game in which the Jazz took 41 free throws, compared with the Raptors' 14. After the game, Nurse said it “just didn’t seem like they were going to let us win tonight,” without offering specifics. The 27-shot difference in free throw attempts between the teams was the second largest in the NBA this season, topped by the 28-shot difference Houston had over Golden State on Wednesday. Entering Sunday, the Raptors were shooting 4.5 free throws per game fewer than opponents this season, the second-largest disparity in the league. Ad___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

For the first time in over 374 days, the Detroit Pistons hosted fans at Little Caesars Arena. So the players welcomed them back with a 116-112 win over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night. On Wednesday night, Grant found himself a little tested as the Raptors put up a fight in the final seconds of the game. With seven seconds on the clock, Grant stepped back and hit a shot to put the Pistons up by five. Detroit has been in a number of close games this season and on Wednesday, Grant showed signs that he could be that closer.

NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)DETROIT – Saddiq Bey had 28 points and 12 rebounds, and the Detroit Pistons overcame Norman Powell’s 43 points to beat the Toronto Raptors 116-112 on Wednesday night, ending a four-game skid. Bey, who leads all rookies in 3-pointers with 85, was 6 of 10 from behind the arc for Detroit, which had lost 10 of 12. “That young man is already a solid pro and he's just getting started,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. TIP-INSRaptors: Toronto hadn't lost six straight games since Dec. 3-12, 2012, Casey's second year coaching the Raptors.

The Detroit Pistons completely turned the page Wednesday and took on the Toronto Raptors with energy, plenty of defense and ball movement to get the job done. The Raptors pulled themselves within three points after a layup from Chris Boucher, but that’s when Pistons guard Josh Jackson sent a message. Powell, who ended the night with 43 points and three rebounds, missed the free throw. Plumlee chipped in 10 points and 14 rebounds, while Wright scored 18 points and had 10 rebounds. Heading into the night, the Pistons averaged just 13.1 second-chance points.

(Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)DETROIT – The Pistons return to action this week to finish off their 2020-2021 season -- here’s what we’re watching. 👀 4 things to watch in 2nd halfReturn of Killian HayesThe Pistons first-round pick has been sidelined with a hip injury for the last two months and is set to return to the floor in the coming weeks. Draft positionIf all things continue on, the Pistons should have a great shot at a top-3 draft pick, if not the top pick overall. The team isn’t winning yet, but it’s very competitive, fun to watch and filled with young, high ceiling talent. The second half will be all about the young guys getting minutes and learning to compete.

NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)TAMPA, Fla. – Wayne Ellington scored 25 points and the Detroit Pistons beat the virus-depleted Toronto Raptors 129-105 on Wednesday night to snap a three-game losing streak. The Raptors played without Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby, three of their top four scorers, and reserves Malachi Flynn and Patrick McCaw because of the NBA's health and safety protocols. Toronto's scheduled Sunday night game against Chicago Bulls also was postponed. Raptors: F Yuta Watanabe got his first NBA start, but did not score.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Wayne Ellington scored 25 points and the Detroit Pistons beat the virus-depleted Toronto Raptors 129-105 on Wednesday night to snap a three-game losing streak. Ellington was 8 of 11 from 3-point range and the Pistons were 20 for 41 overall from long range. Toronto’s scheduled Sunday night game against Chicago Bulls also was postponed. The Pistons came into the game with an NBA-leading 41.9 bench points per game. Raptors: F Yuta Watanabe got his first NBA start, but did not score.

The Detroit Pistons will wait one more day to face the Toronto Raptors this season. The NBA announced that Tuesday’s game against the Raptors in Tampa Bay, FL would be rescheduled because of ongoing contact tracing within the team. The league revealed Monday night that the matchup is tentatively rescheduled for Wednesday night at 7. Detroit (9-25) has had a number of schedule changes this season as the NBA navigates the ongoing pandemic. This is the fifth game this season that the Pistons have had rescheduled.

(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)The Toronto Raptors’ issues with the coronavirus have worsened, prompting the NBA to call off their game scheduled for Sunday night against the Chicago Bulls. Toronto played Friday without head coach Nick Nurse, several other assistants and staffers and starting forward Pascal Siakam because of virus-related issues. The Raptors-Bulls game is the 30th to be postponed so far this season because of COVID-19 testing or contact tracing. All NBA players and coaches are tested daily. During the season's second half, which runs from March 10 through May 16, the Raptors and Bulls share 19 days without a game on their schedules.

Tom Moore, the 100-year-old World War II veteran who captivated the British public in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic with his fundraising efforts died, Tuesday Feb. 2, 2021. Commercial applicants will be required to provide evidence that the coronavirus pandemic caused them to lose at least 35% of revenue in 2020. ___RAMALLAH, West Bank — The Palestinian government announced a 12-day lockdown in the Israeli-occupied West Bank after a surge in coronavirus cases, including new variants. The death toll stands at 3,685, with more than a dozen deaths reported Friday. ___WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The Navajo Nation has continued on a downward trend in the number of daily coronavirus cases.

(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)TAMPA, Fla. – Norman Powell scored 30 points, Kyle Lowry had a triple-double and the depleted Toronto Raptors beat the Houston Rockets 122-111 on Friday night. AdLowry had 20 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists to help the Raptors hand the Rockets their 10th straight loss. Victor Oladipo led the Rockets with 27 points, and John Wall had 21 points and 12 assists. TIP-INSRockets: The last time the Rockets lost 10 straight games was Nov. 23-Dec. 20, 2001 during a 15-game losing streak. Raptors: The Raptors have not been involved in any of the NBA's 29 coronavirus postponements so far this season.

FILE - In this March 28, 2019, file photo, Toronto Raptors' Jeremy Lin stands on the court during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks in New York. Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr will support G League guard Lin and is hopeful of an investigation into what discriminatory act caused Lin to speak out about racism facing Asian Americans. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)SAN FRANCISCO – Warriors G League guard Jeremy Lin shared on social media that he experienced an act of racism on the court. Golden State coach Steve Kerr said he will support Lin and denounced any discriminatory act that caused Lin to speak out about racism targeting Asian Americans. Being a 9-year NBA veteran doesn’t protect me from being called ‘coronavirus’ on the court,” Lin wrote.

Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse talks to players during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, in Minneapolis. Assistant coach Sergio Scariolo was promoted to coach the team's game in Tampa, Florida, against the Rockets. Scariolo had been away from the Raptors while coaching Spain in FIBA's EuroBasket 2022 qualifiers and just cleared quarantine Friday. Ad“I don't know how many hundreds or thousands of games he's been a head coach," Raptors general manager Bobby Webster said about Scariolo. Webster said the team isn't certain if Siakam's issue is related to the issue with the coaching staff.

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) shoots against Toronto Raptors guard Norman Powell (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)WASHINGTON – NBA scoring leader Bradley Beal will be held out of a game for rest for the first time this season, sitting out Washington's matchup with the New York Knicks on Friday. Beal is averaging 32.8 points and 35.3 minutes per game for Washington (6-16), which is among the league's worst teams. The only previous game Beal missed this season was a loss to the Miami Heat on Jan. 9 because of the league's COVID-19 protocols. Washington's other starting guard, Russell Westbrook — who was acquired in a trade with Houston before the season — has missed seven games this season for rest or because of injury.

Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) passes the ball over Orlando Magic guard Terrence Ross (31) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)The Toronto Raptors aren’t going back to Toronto this season. “It took us a while to get settled in," Raptors coach Nick Nurse said Thursday before Toronto played at Boston. The Raptors are 6-5 in their “home” building this season, Amalie Arena, which they’re sharing with the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa also has the reigning Super Bowl champion Buccaneers and the Tampa Bay Rays played in the World Series last season. The Raptors tried to simulate the comforts the team has at home in Toronto, at least as much as possible.

(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)NEW YORK – Kevin Durant will miss at least three games for coronavirus health and safety protocols before being eligible to return to the Brooklyn Nets on Friday. That means the superstar's return could come next Saturday at Golden State, where Durant won two NBA titles in three seasons. Durant drove in a car with a team employee three times Friday, according to a person with knowledge of the details. Both Durant and the employee were seemingly not wearing masks, the person told The Associated Press. AdThough Durant continued to test negative, he is a close contact of the employee who tested positive and faces the mandatory seven-day quarantine.

(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)NEW YORK – Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant couldn't start a game and then couldn't finish it, removed in the third quarter because of the NBA's health and safety protocols. Durant wasn't available at the beginning of Friday night's game against Toronto, eventually being cleared to enter in the first quarter. “They just said contract tracing and I’m thinking to myself, ‘Well, if it’s contact tracing, then we’re all in the locker room together. He said someone whom Durant interacted with in the afternoon had an inconclusive test result return shortly before the game. He tested positive for the virus in March while he was recovering from Achilles tendon surgery.

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet, left, drives around Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)ORLANDO, Fla. – Fred VanVleet set a franchise record with 54 points and hit a career-best 11 3-pointers as the Toronto Raptors beat the short-handed Orlando Magic 123-108 on Tuesday night. AdNorman Powell had 23 points for Toronto, and Kyle Lowry posted a triple-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Orlando, which has lost 12 of 14, tried almost every guard on its roster against the 6-foot-1 VanVleet with little to no success. AdMagic: Orlando was without Gordon, who severely sprained his left ankle later in Sunday’s game against Toronto. Magic: Orlando hosts Chicago on Friday and Saturday in a two-game set.

Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby (3) shoots over Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis (11) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. Plus, they maintained their dominance over the Pacers, who have lost six straight season series to Toronto. He had a good night.”The Pacers played catch-up most of the game after falling behind midway through the second quarter. Toronto scored the final five points to hand Indiana its third loss in four games. Pacers: Sabonis had 10 points and 10 rebounds in the first half alone for his 16th consecutive double-double to open the season.

James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the second half of an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on December 05, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. If the Brooklyn Nets knew for sure they'd land James Harden, perhaps the club might've held off on a deal with Motorola and driven a harder bargain. And Harden is sure to give the Nets more brand appeal once he arrives on the New York City basketball scene, while the James Dolan-owned Knicks can only watch. The Nets also won in the deal as their brand increases with Harden's stardom and his massive audience he brings with to him. The Nets were already in a good position with Durant's return, paring with Irving, which helped land the Motorola patch deal.

The Toronto Raptors will start their 2020-21 regular season in Florida after the Canadian government said they can't play games in the country due to Covid-19. "Ultimately, the current public health situation facing Canadians, combined with the urgent need to determine where we will play means that we will begin our 2020-21 season in Tampa, Florida." Amalie Arena, home to the National Hockey League's Tampa Bay Lightning franchise, will serve as the likely site to host Raptors games. Tampa Bay will also host the National Football League's Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7 at Raymond James Stadium. And as an organization, we remain committed to doing all we can to promote and demonstrate public health measures to help combat the spread of COVID-19 in Canada."

It’s back to the Sunshine State for the Toronto Raptors. After finishing last NBA season in a bubble outside Orlando, the franchise will have to temporarily relocate to Tampa, as the Canadian government has denied the team’s request to host home games at Scotiabank Arena. “Ultimately, the current public health situation facing Canadians, combined with the urgent need to determine where we will play means that we will begin our 2020-21 season in Tampa, Florida.”The Toronto Blue Jays know what it feels like to be displaced. They spent the 60-game MLB season playing home games at their Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo. The Raptors are expected to play their games at the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Amalie Arena.

But she added two-thirds of the NBA clubs are still locked into jersey patch agreements with the remainder of them "actively in negotiations." The NBA generated roughly $150 million in revenue from its patch program, which was introduced for the 2017-18 season. But with the NBA's ratings decline, no matter what the reasons may be, clubs may need to take less due to fewer eyeballs. Still, with fewer people watching, NBA patch prices could be impacted. The current range is from $5 million to $20 million per season for some teams.

On what could be called Black Thursday for major sports leagues, Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League suspended play, following the National Basketball Association's lead on Wednesday. That leaves all-sports networks -- particularly ESPN, which owns more rights to live games than any other media entity -- with several unprecedented problems. In the near term, that includes NCAA conference championship games, NBA games and first-round NCAA women's basketball tournament games. Beyond that, ESPN has additional live college sports on ESPN+, its streaming service, and other linear networks including ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3. Disney makes about $11 billion annually from ESPN and its sister networks, between getting about $9 per month for all the ESPN networks in affiliate fees and earning about $2.75 billion in yearly advertising, according to research firm LightShed.

The National Basketball Association sent a memo to teams on Friday night, urging officials to prepare game contingency plans should the coronavirus continue to spread. Teams were also advised to consider payroll and benefit implications for "non-essential staff" who would not work games closed to the public. The memo also stated teams should have plans in place to communicate with ticketholders and corporate partners should games be played privately. Earlier Friday, Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta rejected the idea of playing games without fans in attendance, while also suggesting fans should stay calm. But you don't want to play games with no fans.

Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry kisses the trophy after the Toronto Raptors beat the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, Game 6 at Oracle Arena, June 13, 2019. Winning may be the best way to boost an NBA team's value, according to Forbes' franchise valuations, but nothing beats the shine of a major market. The Toronto Raptors, last season's champions, saw the biggest boost in their value, according to Forbes, which released valuations for each NBA team on Tuesday. The Raptors are now worth $2.1 billion in the latest Forbes valuations, a 25% increase over last year's figure. The Golden State Warriors, which lost to the Raptors in the NBA Finals, saw the next-highest growth, Forbes reported.

Bryant rocketed to fame as an 18-year-old rookie and played 20 years for the Los Angeles Lakers - 18 of them as an all-star - winning five NBA championships. Bryant was known to travel frequently by helicopter to avoid Los Angeles infamous traffic, dating to his playing days. ET) in hilly terrain in Calabasas, California, about 40 miles (65 km) northwest of central Los Angeles, sparking a brush fire, officials said. There were no survivors, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva told a news conference, saying the manifest showed nine people on board. Bryant played all 20 of his NBA seasons with the Lakers, winning five championships and being named an all-star 18 times.

The National Basketball Association denied the Houston Rockets' protest of their Dec. 3 contest against the San Antonio Spurs, which resulted in a 135-133 double-overtime loss, the league announced Monday. The incident that sparked the protest came with 7:50 left in the fourth quarter, with the Rockets leading the Spurs 102-89. NBA commissioner Adam Silver agreed with the Spurs' statement and determined a "game protest was not warranted." The league acknowledged that if "properly granted" the instant replay would show Harden's basket counted. The Rockets will play the Spurs again on Dec. 16 in Houston.

Toronto Raptors against the Philadelphia 76ers during Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 12, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Hong Kong pro-democracy supporters crashed the NBA's opening night party on Tuesday handing out thousands of black t-shirts as the Toronto Raptors prepared to begin the defense of their championship title against the New Orleans Pelicans. While the Raptors gifted the opening night crowd with t-shirts with a gold Raptor and replica championship rings, outside Scotiabank Arena the protesters were giving away black t-shirts with the message "The North Stand With Hong Kong" in bright yellow across the front. The North reference was a play on the Toronto Raptors slogan "We the North" that is used to market the team. One volunteer, wearing a black surgical mask and who did not want to be named, said the Toronto group raised close to $34,000 through a GoFundMe page to print 7,000 t-shirts.

California prosecutors announced Tuesday that they won't charge Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri for shoving a sheriff's deputy after the NBA championship-winning game in Oakland last June. The Alameda County district attorney's office made the announcement when the Raptors were in Toronto receiving their championship rings for defeating the Golden State Warriors . A sheriff's deputy stopped him because Ujiri didn't provide the proper on-court credential, leading to a shoving match that was partially captured on video. The office filed a report of misdemeanor battery with the district attorney's office. Messages to the Deputy Sheriffs' Association of Alameda County seeking comment from the deputy weren't immediately returned.

12 of the Brooklyn Nets shoots against Fred VanVleet No. 23 of the Toronto Raptors at Barclays Center on April 3, 2019 in Brooklyn, New York. Joseph Tsai, the billionaire co-founder of e-commerce giant Alibaba, is in talks to buy the remaining 51% of the Brooklyn Nets basketball team from Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, according to The New York Post. Tilman Fertitta, owner of restaurant chain Landry's, also paid $2.2 billion to purchase the NBA's Houston Rockets in 2017. Stuart Bryan, a spokeswoman for BSE Global, which manages and controls the Brooklyn Nets, declined to comment.

And Leonard made his decision to sign with the Clippers after the team swung the deal to land George, the person said. Leonard going to the Clippers means that for the first time, a reigning NBA Finals MVP will be changing teams before the following season. Leonard was also being pursued by the Los Angeles Lakers and the Toronto Raptors, the team he led to last season's NBA title. and providing a link to a story noting Clippers coach Doc Rivers was a big winner landing Leonard and George. "Obviously, we have the best player in the league and the best player in these playoffs in Kawhi Leonard," Raptors forward Pascal Siakam said after Toronto won the title.

NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard is reportedly headed to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers also reportedly traded for Paul George of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Yahoo Sports first reported news of Leonard's decision, which solidifies the Clippers as one of the top contenders in the league. Meanwhile, ESPN reported that the Clippers are sending five first-round draft picks and swapping two picks for George, who was a finalist for the league's 2019 MVP award. The move helps renew the rivalry between the Clippers and LeBron James' Los Angeles Lakers, who recently traded young stars and picks for super star forward Anthony Davis.