Dean Wade is making life miserable for Brandon Ingram in Cavs-Raptors series (Gift Article) "He's doing everything," Donovan Mitchell said of Wade, the co-anchor of Cleveland's defense in this first-round series.

Yes, the Cavs’ stars are balling out on Toronto. But Cleveland is ahead 2-0 in this series in no small part because of what Dean Wade is doing to Brandon Ingram. He’s finally found his place, www.nytimes.com/athletic/721...

How Cavaliers avoided a Game 1 ejection scare with help from their coach, star (Gift Article) The Cavs' Max Strus and referee Tony Brothers were getting under each other's skin. Then Donovan Mitchell intervened.

The Cavs seemed to have little trouble with Toronto in Game 1, but they nearly had a big problem with Tony Brothers. Here is how the coach and star player took risks to diffuse a potentially dangerous situation www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...

Kenny Atkinson, Donovan Mitchell played peacemakers to keep Max Strus in Game 1

In Game 1, Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson AND star Donovan Mitchell put their hands on Tony Brothers, to save Max Strus. It worked. Inside the unusual interactions to diffuse a volatile situation www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...

NBA final-day roundup: Nuggets, Raptors take charge as tumultuous regular season ends (Gift Article) The NBA's regular season is ending as playoff seeding, awards eligibility and more come into focus.

The NBA’s tumultuous, loser-centric season is over. Perhaps the conversation will turn back to winning, now at the postseason is here www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...

What every NBA team is playing for on the last day of the regular season (Gift Article) There's plenty at stake Sunday night, including playoff seeding, Play-In Tournament status and draft lottery odds.

For the, well, I don’t know how many years in a row, I’m with you on the final day of the NBA regular season. Here is a look at what’s at stake for every team today www.nytimes.com/athletic/718...

How James Harden has made the Cavaliers a ‘better team,’ on and off the court (Gift Article) The Cavs are 18-6 when James Harden plays, forming a backcourt duo with Donovan Mitchell that a rival coach called "nightmare fuel."

James Harden, with his famous, protruding beard and those dark, piercing eyes, was determined to use his star power to get his way, to bring with him a slice of comfort to a new city. What did he ask of the Cavs, and did they agree? www.nytimes.com/athletic/717...

How James Harden has made the Cavaliers a ‘better team,’ on and off the court (Gift Article) The Cavs are 18-6 when James Harden plays, forming a backcourt duo with Donovan Mitchell that a rival coach called "nightmare fuel."

James Harden made one request of the Cavs upon joining Cleveland. It gave the organization great pause before granting him what he wanted. Can you guess what it was? www.nytimes.com/athletic/717...

I once covered a political corruption trial in which the defense attorney, thanking the jury for its time in the summer, compared Cleveland to Paris

How the Cavaliers rely on meals to retain superstars, build team bonds

Why the Cleveland Cavaliers’ secret to success is gourmet meals, stir-fry, and ice cream. ‘We are elite.’ www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

Why the Cleveland Cavaliers’ secret to success is gourmet meals, stir-fry, and ice cream (Gift Article) Rather than meals at expensive restaurants that require extensive planning, Cavaliers players prefer team dinners at their hotels.

Why did Donovan Mitchell choose to make the Cleveland Cavs his long-term home? Would you believe it’s…the food? www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

NBA Europe draws host of bids, including $1 billion offers: Sources (Gift Article) Potential investors include existing European clubs, which could have major implications for the future of the continent’s top competition.

On paper, the NBA saw the numbers it wanted for Adam Silver’s European league: $1 billion, a couple times. But how real the bids were, from whom, and is a EuroLeague merger more viable are the next steps for NBA Europe www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

NBA considering harsher tanking penalties, draft lottery expansion: Sources "You have to have something in place that is so drastic, a team would actually think twice about tanking," one source told The Athletic.

The NBA lottery is going to get a lot bigger, and penalties for tanking are going to be much harsher. The only question between now and May is, how much? With @mikevorkunov.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...

Kenny Atkinson rips Cavs’ defensive effort: We’re going to have a short playoff stint’ The coach's actions in distributing playing time in the win against the Magic, though, didn't match his message

When a coach rips his players like Kenny Atkinson ripped the Cavs last night for poor defense, it gets my attention. Did his prediction of a playoff flameout get theirs? www.nytimes.com/athletic/714...

LeBron James' partner advising Project B league as it seeks to lure NBA players

Last week we learned LeBron James ended his bid to be an NBA team owner. Tonight, @mikevorkunov.bsky.social and I report LeBron's business partner is advising Project B, which now says it wants to 'lure' NBA players www.nytimes.com/athletic/714...

LeBron James 'not at all' interested in NBA ownership

After scoring 30 against the Rockets, LeBron James was asked if he remained interested in his long-stated goal of NBA ownership. His reply: ‘Not at all.’ www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...

LeBron James’ path to NBA ownership ‘less likely’ as partners pass on expansion bid: Sources LeBron James has repeatedly made it clear that he wants to own an NBA team in Las Vegas. That dream is looking more unlikely now.

LeBron James has said publicly for a decade he wanted to own an NBA team. For four years, he said he wanted the ‘Vegas team.’ Now that NBA is preparing to put a team there, James is ‘less likely’ to pursue a bid. Why? Story with @mikevorkunov.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...

LeBron James’ path to NBA ownership ‘less likely’ as partners pass on expansion bid: Sources LeBron James has repeatedly made it clear that he wants to own an NBA team in Las Vegas. That dream is looking more unlikely now.

NEWS: LeBron James’ path to NBA ownership ‘less likely’ with his business partner Fenway Sports Group set to pass on expansion bid in Las Vegas. Story with @mikevorkunov.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...

PSG, AC Milan and Newcastle owners expected to bid for NBA Europe teams

PSG, AC Milan, Newcastle owners want NBA Europe teams. How that impacts Adam Silver’s NBA expansion project at home www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...

How Cleveland’s Max Strus built a community to help children defying disease The foundation helps fund youth sports programs, cancer organizations and mental health nonprofits, delivering the message "We care."

For a little more than a year, Cleveland’s Max Strus has run a charity. He keeps it small in purpose so he can know the people he helps. These are their stories www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

How Cleveland’s Max Strus built a community to help children defying disease The foundation helps fund youth sports programs, cancer organizations and mental health nonprofits, delivering the message "We care."

You haven’t heard much about Max Strus this season. As he nears his return, read how he built a community to help children defying disease www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

Why are Celtics so good? 'Derrick White is a top-five player in this league'

‘Derrick White is a top-five player in this league’? Charla Barkley disagrees, but the analytics come very, very close to proving this surprising revelation www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

Why are Celtics so good? 'Derrick White is a top-five player in this league'

Derrick White is a ‘top 5 player in this league?’ Perhaps he is, and that’s why Boston is so good www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

TNT to broadcast FIBA World Cup games featuring stars such as Caitlin Clark

The U.S. women’s national team debuts for Clark, Bueckers, Reese to be shown on TNT as part of four-year agreement with FIBA @theathletic.com www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

Jarrett Allen knee injury compounds Cavs’ concerns with Donovan Mitchell sidelined Allen banged knees with a Pistons player and couldn't finish the game, and the Cavs are managing rest versus rust to finish the season.

Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen injuries underscore Cavaliers’ late-season balancing act. Win enough to stay the course, while balancing rest versus rust for when the games really count next month @theathletic.com www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

For James Wiseman, FIBA World Cup qualifying is a chance to show resilience

he Indiana Pacers released James Wiseman the day after Christmas. What, they wanted to wait until “A Wonderful Life” was over? But seriously, poor timing has defined much of Wiseman’s basketball career. Maybe @usabasketball.bsky.social can change that www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

James Wiseman, once a No. 2 overall pick, is staying ‘resilient’ with USA basketball Wiseman, taken second overall by the Warriors in the 2020 draft, had an injury-riddled NBA career after only playing three games in college.

James Wiseman’s story has been one of poor timing. A former No. 2 overall pick, his Journey landed him in a World Cup qualifier with USA basketball, where he hopes to change the story www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

Dominican Republic shocks USA Basketball in World Cup qualifier, raising stakes for 2027 While a disappointing loss, the U.S. remains likely to qualify for the World Cup in 2027.

These losses happen, but Dominican Republic shocking USA Basketball in World Cup qualifier is a reminder it’s way too early for players to be thinking Olympics www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

Dominican Republic shocks USA Basketball in World Cup qualifier, raising stakes for 2027 While a disappointing loss, the U.S. remains likely to qualify for the World Cup in 2027.

They were Davids hopping over a stumbled Goliath. Dominican Republic shocks USA Basketball in World Cup qualifier, raising stakes for 2027 while stars thinking about ‘28 Olympics www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

James Harden upgrades the Cavaliers, but Jarrett Allen was already surging With Evan Mobley hurt, Cleveland needed Allen to step up. He has, averaging nearly 21 points and more than 11 rebounds since Jan. 28.

Yes, James Harden upgrades the Cavaliers, and they’re breathing easier that he can play with that thumb fracture. But Jarrett Allen was already surging before Harden showed up www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

Thunder's short-handed win over Cavaliers shows NBA markets stars too much

You say it was a bad loss. I say it was a system win. Thunder’s short-handed win over Cavaliers shows NBA markets stars too much www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...