Basketball

The most thrilling time for basketball fans is finally here as the NBA playoffs are set to start on the 17th of August. A team’s form during the regular season doesn’t mean much once the playoffs begin. Low-performing players can be transformed into All-Stars, defences are getting tougher, and teamwork becomes more important. More...

When international sport is finally allowed to resume there will be an enormous amount of world titles waiting to be decided. Even without the rescheduled Olympic games, the sporting calendar will be packed, keeping us glued to our screens as all the unfinished business is resolved. More...

NBA regular-season games don't get much better than when Western Conference leaders LA Lakers entertain Milwaukee, top dogs in the East. LeBron James coming up against Giannis Antetokounmpo is just one of the sub-plots at Staples Center, in what could prove a preview of this year's finals. More...

A huge clash in the Western Conference sees two high-flyers face off as the Houston Rockets host the Los Angeles Clippers at the Toyota Center. The Clippers sit in second, behind arch-rivals the Lakers, while Houston are just three games behind their visitors in fourth in a congested table. More...

The Warriors and the Lakers are at opposite ends of the NBA's Western Conference, with Golden State rock bottom and 32 wins behind the table toppers. Los Angeles have prevailed in both previous meetings this term and there is little evidence to suggest they won't come out on top again at Chase Center. More...

Utah will aim to end a recent barren run in front of their own fans when they host Boston at Vivint Smart Home Arena, but the Celtics may scupper those hopes. The Jazz had a superb record at this venue, but they have slipped from second to fifth in the Western Conference after falling to 20-8 in Salt Lake City. More...

The NBA season gets back under way after an emotional and entertaining All-Star Weekend in Chicago, as Philadelphia 76ers host Brooklyn Nets. Team LeBron edged out Team Giannis 157-155 in the revamped All-Star Game, which included Philadelphia's Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. More...

We've got NBA All Star Weekend predictions for the big game in Chicago, plus some of the spectacular sideshows set to take place at United Center. Basketball fans will be treated to all kinds of incredible events, which will be broadcast live in the UK by Sky Sports across three action-packed nights. More...

The All-Star Weekend has gifted basketball fans numerous highlights over the years, while commemorating the end of the regular season in the most spectacular way possible. Even though the format changed last year – the Conference All-Star battle was replaced with team Giannis versus team Lebron – one contest that will always be phantasmagoric is the Slam Dunk Contest. More...

The final match before the beginning of the NBA All-Star Weekend sees Boston Celtics host Los Angeles Clippers at TD Garden, with each team placed third in their respective conferences. The visitors' away form has been shaky of late, while Boston are seeking a seventh straight home victory. More...

The top two teams in the Western Conference go head to head at the Pepsi Center, as second-placed Denver Nuggets host leaders Los Angeles Lakers. Denver have a superb home record of 21-6, while the Lakers have the second best away record in the NBA, with 22 wins from their 27 road trips. More...

Philadelphia 76ers can gain huge momentum if pulling off a victory at Eastern Conference leaders Milwaukee Bucks, but we fear that outcome is unlikely. The visitors have been in wretched form on their travels, losing on each of their last four road trips and in eight of their last 10 away from Wells Fargo Center. More...

Golden State may find it tough to extend a run of eight straight head-to-head wins over Brooklyn but the Warriors can be competitive at Barclays Center. Having struggled badly on the road for most of this season, Steve Kerr's side now travel to the Big Apple on the back of big wins in Cleveland and Washington. More...

Utah Jazz travel to the injury-hampered Denver Nuggets as these teams face off for the first time this season at the Pepsi Center. Both teams are locked on 32-15 in their battle for top spot in the Northwest division, with the winner also set to move up to third place in the Western Conference. More...

As we’re slowly approaching the end of the first half of the 2019/20 NBA season, past fan speculation has either come true or remains highly creative fiction. Let's have a look at players and teams that have surprised everyone for either the right or - occasionally - the wrong reasons. More...

Moda Center will host a potential battle between the NBA's two most in-form scoring guards as James Harden's Houston travel to Damian Lillard's Portland. Lillard poured in 50 points and 13 assists during the Trail Blazers' 139-129 victory against Indiana last time out, with CJ McCollum adding 28. More...

Los Angeles Lakers will look to return to winning ways against the struggling New York Knicks in order to strengthen their grip at the top of the Western Conference. The Lakers suffered a heavy defeat at the Boston Celtics last time out but will fancy their chances at Madison Square Garden. More...

The Eastern Conference leaders pit their wits against their third-placed rivals as the 2019-20 NBA season enters the second half of the campaign. Milwaukee Bucks sit seven games clear at the top of the table, with Miami Heat's young stars their closest rivals and Boston Celtics not far behind. More...

Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets look pretty evenly matched heading into their showdown at American Airlines Center and a tight tussle is expected. The visitors have won two more matches than their opponents in assembling a 25-11 record, but that is largely down to their impressive home form. More...

Dallas superstar Luka Doncic will again be missing when Boston visit American Airlines Center but we still feel the Mavericks are a value pick at home. The Celtics are coming off back-to-back losses to Philadelphia and Indiana, which left their record on the road this season at a moderate 7-6. More...

There is a tasty tradition in the NBA world. Christmas time doesn’t merely mean Santa Claus, wrapped gifts, and tree decorations, but also clashes between the strongest competitors. In the land where spectacle reigns supreme, it’s not surprising to find the NBA offering special surprises to its fans. More...

Miami put their perfect home record to the test when hosting Western Conference leaders Los Angeles Lakers at the AmericanAirlines Arena. The Heat have been imperious at this venue with their 11-0 record, but come up against a formidable LA side who have only tasted one defeat from 13 away matches. More...

The West was impossible to win for a long while with Golden State winning the Conference Finals five years in a row. The new season though also signifies the end of the superteam era, paving the way for a new challenger to claim the throne in the West. More...

Boston will aim to continue their flawless home record when they host fellow high-flyers Denver in a highly-anticipated clash at TD Garden. The Celtics have seen off some of the bigger hitters already at this venue, defeating defending champions Toronto, Milwaukee and, most recently, Miami. More...

Punters have the rare chance to back the Los Angeles Lakers as underdogs when they face the Utah Jazz tonight. The Lakers have the joint-best record in the NBA this season and are comfortably leading the way in the Western Conference. More...

This time around, the Eastern Conference looks ready to go head-to-head with the Western Conference. With the number of All-Stars growing in the East, it seems that teams will no longer bow down before the West - something Eastern teams did in previous years before even entering the court. Among all these strong teams emerging in the East, which will be the one to dominate the regular season, and will it be the same one to reach the Conference Finals? More...

Boston take on Brooklyn for the second time in three days as the NBA resumes after a Thanksgiving Day break. A fit-again Kemba Walker scored 39 points on Wednesday night as the Celtics eased to a 121-110 success at home, but the Nets will hope to now gain revenge in front of their own fans. More...

The Los Angeles Lakers continue to lead the way in the Western Conference and are firm favourites to extend their winning run to nine matches. It has been a more difficult start to the season for the New Orleans Pelicans, who are 11th in the same conference with only six wins from 17 matches. More...

Milwaukee will aim for their sixth successive win when they host the struggling Portland Trail Blazers. The home fans will be expecting to see a dominant Bucks side, who sit in second place in the Eastern Conference ahead of just their fifth match at the Fiserv Forum and have won nine of their last 10 games. More...

Chances are, if you’re into basketball, that you know all about the NBA All-Star weekend game, but in case you don’t, here’s a brief summary. Taking place each year just before the playoffs, it pits the best NBA players against each other. Although last year saw a change in the institution with Team Lebron competing against Team Giannis, the All-Star used to feature the best players from each Conference putting on display their impressive skills. So, what’s the All-Star game’s significance in this context? More...