Category: NBA

A potential Darvin Ham replacement is off the board

Juwan Howard, a man the Lakers wanted to be their head coach two years ago, has been hired by the Nets as an assistant coach.

By now, most fans of the Los Angeles Lakers have turned against head coach Darvin Ham, and it seems as if his players may have turned against him in earnest as well.

There is no indication, at least not yet, that Ham is truly on the hot seat in a real sense, even though his team trails the Denver Nuggets 0-3 in its first-round playoff series. But if he is to be fired, the Lakers would need to conduct a thorough coaching search.

If LeBron James sticks around past this season, they will remain in win-now mode, which means hiring someone who can get the job done right away, even if it would mean hiring another first-time NBA head coach.

Some fans have tossed Juwan Howard’s name as someone who could be a decent choice to replace Ham. But Howard, who was recently fired after five seasons as the University of Michigan’s head coach — is heading to the Brooklyn Nets as an assistant coach.

The Lakers interviewed Howard two years ago after they fired Frank Vogel. General manager Rob Pelinka was teammates with Howard at Michigan during the early 1990s as part of the school’s famed Fab Five team.

Howard was reportedly L.A.’s first choice to be its next coach at that time, but he turned down its offer.

He will now be a member of new Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez’s staff. The Nets have a young team that includes Mikal Bridges, the two-way wing acquired in last year’s Kevin Durant trade who has since emerged as a borderline star.

Kevin McCullar: NBA draft scouting report and intel

2001 | 6’7 | 6’9 WS | 212 LBS Team: Kansas Best aggregate mock draft rank: 7 / Worst rank: 35 2023-24 stats: In 2023-24, McCullar Jr. averaged 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 0.4 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game. He shot 45.4 percent from the …

2001 | 6’7 | 6’9 WS | 212 LBS

Team: Kansas

Best aggregate mock draft rank: 7 / Worst rank: 35

2023-24 stats:

In 2023-24, McCullar Jr. averaged 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 0.4 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game. He shot 45.4 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from three, and 80.5 percent from the foul line.

Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code SBWIRE1000 | Get $1000 Bonus for NBA Playoffs Odds, MLB Lines

The Caesars Sportsbook promo code SBWIRE1000 gives new customers a first-bet offer up to $1,000 as a bonus bet for NBA playoffs odds, MLB lines and much more!

We may earn a fee if you make a purchase through one of the links in this article.  The USA Today Network newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.

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This is a great weekend to set up a new account with the Caesars Sportsbook promo code SBWIRE1000 so you can enjoy a first bet up to $1,000 on Caesars. Every major sport has something big happening — the NFL Draft, the NBA playoffs, the Stanley Cup Playoffs and key Major League Baseball series — and you can use that protected first bet up to $1,000 on any of these games.

If your opening wager settles as a loss, you will get a bonus-bet refund, up to $1,000, because you used the Caesars Sportsbook promo offer to create your new account.

The NBA playoffs feature three games tonight: the Milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers, the Los Angeles Clippers at the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In MLB, pay close attention to at least two series: The Chicago Cubs open their series at Fenway Park against the Red Sox, and the Atlanta Braves welcome the Cleveland Guardians to town.

Whether you want to focus on hoops, baseball, hockey or anything else that you find on one of the best sports betting apps, the way to get started is by using the Caesars Sportsbook promo code SBWIRE1000 to open an account and get the first-bet offer up to $1,000.

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How to Sign Up & Get $1K Offer with Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code SBWIRE1000

📱 Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code SBWIRE1000
🤑 Caesars Sportsbook Bonus First-Bet Offer up to $1,000
✅ Terms & Conditions New customers 21 and over in AZ, CO, IL, IA, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, OH, NJ, NY, PA, TN, VA, WV. 18 and over in WY; first bet must be at least $10; bonus bet expires after 14 days.
✔️ Last verified April 26

Note: Bettors in the Tar Heel State can now access special North Carolina sportsbook promos as North Carolina sports betting launched in March.

It’s incredibly easy to sign up using the Caesars Sportsbook promo code SBWIRE1000 and snag the first-bet offer up to $1,000.

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Use Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code SBWIRE1000 for NBA Playoffs Odds & More

Start an account using the Caesars Sportsbook promo code SBWIRE1000 and get the first-bet offer up to $1,000. If your first bet of $10 or more settles as a loss, you’ll get a refund in the form of a bonus bet and covers up to a maximum of $1,000. You can make that first bet using one of the leading NBA betting sites to wager on the playoffs, but you can also bet on the Stanley Cup Playoffs, MLB lines and more.

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You’ll get 14 days to use your bet credit via the Caesars Sportsbook promo code SBWIRE1000. To turn your credit into cash, simply fulfill Caesars Sportsbook’s 1X playthrough requirement. This means your bet credit must win just once for you to collect the profit in cash.

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NBA Player Props, MLB Odds & More with Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code

When you start an account with the Caesars Sportsbook promo code SBWIRE1000, you’re rewarded with a first bet up to $1,000 on Caesars. While you can use your opening bet on the point spread or the moneyline on tonight’s NBA games with one of the top NBA betting apps, you can also play this bet on a prop involving Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant or dozens of other NBA studs.

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Ready to capitalize on a great welcome offer? Take two minutes to launch an account with the Caesars Sportsbook promo code SBWIRE1000 and collect your first bet up to $1,000 on Caesars.

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BetMGM Bonus Code SBWIRE | $1500 1st-Bet Offer for Clippers-Mavs, NBA Playoffs, NHL & More

BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE gives you a $1500 1st-bet offer. Redeem it right now for Timberwolves-Suns, Clippers-Mavs, Bucks-Pacers odds and NBA playoffs lines!

We may earn a fee if you make a purchase through one of the links in this article. The USA Today Network newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.

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These are the action-packed sports days that the first-bet offer up to $1,500 from the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE were made for. Whether you are a fan of the NFL, NBA, NHL, or MLB there’s something for you tonight. If your first bet settles as a loss, you’ll be refunded with bonus bets, up to a maximum of $1,500.

With the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE you can bet on one of the three NBA playoff games tonight. Make your first bet on the Bucks-Pacers, Clippers-Mavericks or Timberwolves-Suns and know, if it should happen to lose, you have first-bet protection up to $1,500.

The welcome offer means that you can make your first bet and if it loses, the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE provides a refund, in the form of bonus bets, that matches your original wager up to $1,500. That high dollar amount places BetMGM among the top sportsbook promo codes. This deal isn’t just for the NBA. You can make a first bet on one of the four Stanley Cup playoff games or one of the 14 MLB games on the schedule – or anything else you might be interested in.

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BetMGM Bonus Code SBWIRE – Get $1500 First-Bet Offer at Registration

📱 BetMGM Bonus Code SBWIRE
🤑 BetMGM Promo Offer First-Bet Offer – Up to $1500 in Bonus Bets (five equal bonus bets for losses of $50 or more; single bonus bet for losses of less than $50)
✅ Terms and conditions New customers 21 and older in AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MI, MA, MD, NJ, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA & WV. 18+ in WY; 7-day expiration and 1x playthrough on bonus bets.
✔️ Last verified April 26

The BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE can be available to you immediately. Just follow these steps to get the first-bet offer up to $1,500.

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With these steps completed, you can make an initial wager and take advantage of the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE and its first-bet offer up to $1,500.

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Terms & Conditions for BetMGM Bonus Code SBWIRE

Now it’s time to make your first bet with the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE. It’s got to be a standard odds wager. With the first-bet offer, BetMGM will cover your initial wager if it settles as a loss. Bets of $50 or more are refunded with five bonus bets, each at 20% of your original wager. Bets of less than $50 are refunded with a single bonus bet.

An example of the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE in action would be a $250 moneyline bet with one of the best NBA betting apps on the Mavericks to beat the Clippers in Game 3 tonight. If the Mavericks win at home, you will win the cash profits, get your original stake returned and move forward to more opportunities with BetMGM.

But if the Clippers win, you will receive five $50 bonus bets through using the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE. These bonus bets have a 1x playthrough, meaning with a single victory you can turn credit into cash in your account. There are no odds restrictions, and you’ll have seven days to play them before they expire.

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NFL Draft Day 2 Odds, MLB Props &More with BetMGM Bonus Code

When you check out all the options that are available after using BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE to open an account, it will immediately shoot to the top of the line among the best online sportsbooks. If you want to look at wagering opportunities for the second day of the NFL Draft, the King of Sportsbooks is full of them.

On the diamond, there are several weekend series beginning tonight. The Dodgers will cross the border to take on the Blue Jays and there is a good chance that Shohei Ohtani and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. could go deep in the same game. At BetMGM you could do a player prop parlay for that. Or maybe you are looking at odds for the Mets-Cardinals series at CitiField or the Yankees traveling to face the Brewers. Updated odds are at your fingertips when using one of the best sports betting apps on the market.

Remember it just takes a simple click of one of the BET NOW buttons to get started. And once you register with the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE, you will enjoy one of the top introductory promotions around, a first-bet offer up to $1,500.

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LeBron James sounded so defeated trying to explain the Lakers’ playoff woes

LeBron James trying to make sense of the Lakers’ playoff series doom is such a sad sight.

The Los Angeles Lakers are down so bad that LeBron James is trying to rationalize his way through the turmoil.

In the last six days, Anthony Davis dropped a mic and angrily walked out of a presser, LeBron James ripped NBA officiating in a wild rant and the Lakers lost to the Nuggets three times. WHEW.

Los Angeles’ losing streak to Denver is now at a stunning 11 games, and there is seemingly no solution to whatever is causing the team to look so discombobulated. The horrid realization that the team isn’t exactly playing up to the standard needed to beat the Nuggets — near perfection — has LeBron James attempting to quell the chaos.

Here’s what he told the media on Thursday evening:

“We know what it takes to win and how [expletive] near-perfect you gotta be. That’s not something that’s like so crazy to obtain. I’ve been a part of it four times, where you have to have almost perfect basketball to win.”

“I don’t feel a way about anybody that doesn’t want to strive to be as close to perfect as possible. And it’s just basketball at the end of the day. It’s just basketball.”

Feature image courtesy of NBA TV.

D’Angelo Russell was criticized for not joining Lakers’ huddle in another brutal Nuggets loss

Stephen A. Smith, Lou Williams, and others didn’t like what they saw from D’Lo.

During yet another loss against the Denver Nuggets in the postseason, Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell had arguably his worst game yet.

Russell finished with 0 points in 24 minutes, shooting 0-for-6 on 3-pointers in a seven-point loss. It was an embarrassing performance for the former No. 2 overall pick, who also struggled in the postseason against Denver last year as well.

What was perhaps most troubling, however was not his inability to score. Instead, it was arguably his lack of engagement down the stretch when his team needed him most.

As captured in a video by LakersAllDayEveryDay.com’s Aran Cohen, for whatever reason, Russell was not sitting with his team during an important huddle.

Instead, he was off to the side doing completely completely different.

This didn’t sit well with Stephen A. Smith, who criticized the decision:

“What a disgrace, an embarrassment … [He] showed up in a game as a starting point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers … and did a donut … LeBron James doesn’t deserve a teammate like that. Somebody like that, that [is] not that prioritized, not that focused, get rid of him.”

ESPN’s Jay Williams also went after Russell for this odd choice.

Here is what Williams said:

“I don’t know if he’s on his cell phone. I don’t know if he’s eating snacks. I don’t know what the [expletive] it is. But I’m sitting up here on national TV saying that I am a former that typically, 90 percent of the time, defends the players … For D’Angelo Russell to check out of a game that way and not be involved in a team huddle gives me major concern … That’s a sign of somebody that is checked out of what we’re trying to accomplish.”

Russell has a player option in his contract that would allow him to opt-in to return to Los Angeles or become a free agent, potentially signing a long-term deal with the Lakers or elsewhere.

Would the Los Angeles front office feel comfortable letting him walk without getting an asset back in return? Or perhaps he could find himself involved in a sign-and-trade if the Lakers decide to reconstruct the roster.

Longtime NBA veteran guard Lou Williams, who was teammates with Russell from 2015 until 2017 on the Lakers, also wasn’t happy.

“This is a bad look. No way around it. It’s bad optics. Bad timing. Bad everything. Come on. You’ve had an amazing season. You’ve been championed. You’ve been revered. You’ve been celebrated … Don’t let this be the last thing the fans and the organization thinks and remembers from you. Stay professional. Keep your head right. Keep your name straight. We’ve had these conversations. I don’t like the optics of it, especially where a game where you’ve struggled.”

While this was not good, hopefully Russell takes the advice of folks like Smith and Williams.

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NBA Twitter reacts to Lakers losing to Nuggets in Game 3: ‘I love you, but you’re not serious people’

The Denver Nuggets have taken a commanding 3-0 lead in the first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers with a 112-105 victory. Aaron Gordon led Denver with 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic almost recorded another triple-double with 24 …

The Denver Nuggets have taken a commanding 3-0 lead in the first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers with a 112-105 victory.

Aaron Gordon led Denver with 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic almost recorded another triple-double with 24 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists and Jamal Murray added 22 points and nine assists.

Anthony Davis and LeBron James combined for 59 points but D’Angelo Russell went scoreless in the game (0-7 field goals).

Here’s how NBA Twitter reacted to the Lakers being on the verge of elimination after Game 3.

FX drops star-studded trailer for ‘Clipped’ about Donald Sterling’s Clippers scandal

The new limited series about Donald Sterling’s Clippers scandal has premiered a new trailer.

A new trailer has premiered for Clipped, a limited series dramatization of the Donald Sterling scandal that led the NBA to oust him from Los Angeles Clippers ownership in 2014.

The new series stars sitcom veteran Ed O’Neill as Sterling, Laurence Fishburne as then-Clippers coach Doc Rivers, Jackie Weaver as Shelly Sterling and Cleopatra Coleman as V. Stiviano, Sterling’s personal assistant.

The trailer promises an in-depth look at how Sterling’s racist comments derailed his ownership of one of the most lucrative franchises in the NBA.

Castle Rock and Feud: Bette and Joan producer Gina Welch created the series, which is based on ESPN’s 30 For 30 podcast series The Sterling Affairs from Ramona Shelburne.

The six-episode series is slated to premiere on June 4.

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Fanatics Sportsbook Promo – Bet & Get Up to $1000 in Bonus Bets for NBA Playoffs, NHL Playoffs Odds

Use the Fanatics Sportsbook promo and get up to $1000 in bonus bets. Claim Fanatics Sportsbook bonus offer for Knicks-76ers odds, NBA playoffs lines and more!

We may earn a fee if you make a purchase through one of the links in this article.  The USA Today Network newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.

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New customers can start betting on the NBA playoffs right now by opening an account using the Fanatics Sportsbook promo, which is offering a “Bet $100, Get $100” deal for new customers. For the first 10 days after registration, just place a bet on any qualifying game. Fanatics will match your daily bet with a bonus-bet credit up to $100 a day for 10 days – giving you the opportunity to potentially get $1,000 in bonus-bet credits.

There are three games on the Thursday NBA playoffs schedule – Cavaliers-Magic, Knicks-76ers and Nuggets-Lakers – with Cleveland, New York and Denver each looking to go up 3-0. You can use the Fanatics Sportsbook promo to bet on any of the NBA playoff games or on any just about any sport in any league. For the first 10 days, Fanatics will match your initial qualifying daily bet with a bonus bet up to $100 each day.

In Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont, the Fanatics Sportsbook promo provides new users with an equally appealing no-deposit Sign Up & Get $50 in Bonus Bets registration promo. You’ll get $50 in bonus bets just for registering. These bets will be deposited into your account within 72 hours, can be broken up however you want, have a 1X playthrough and expire in seven days.

This is one of the more unique sportsbook promo codes on the market and a great opportunity to put together a 10-day plan for betting. The NBA playoffs are just the start. You can use your first bet or the bonus bets received from the Fanatics Sportsbook promo to wager on the NHL, MLB, the NFL Draft and more.

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Get Up to $1000 in Bonus Bets with Fanatics Sportsbook Promo

📱 Fanatics Sportsbook Promo Click on BET NOW
🤑 Fanatics Sportsbook Bonus Bet $100, Get $100 (Sign Up & Get $50 in Bonus Bets in CT, MA, NY, PA & VT)
✅ Terms & Conditions New customers 21 and over in CO, CT, IA, IN, KA. KY, MD, MA, MI, NC, NY, OH, PA, TN, VT, VA & WV first bet must be at least $5 with odds of -200 or greater; bonus bet expires after seven days.
✔️ Last verified April 23

It’s an easy process to register with Fanatics and with just a few steps you can enjoy the bonus-bet offer from the Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.

  1. Tap one of the BET NOW buttons on this page to be directed to the Fanatics landing page. From there click “Get Started”.
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NBA Playoffs Odds – Terms & Conditions $1000 Offer with Fanatics Sportsbook Promo

Once you complete the registration and get everything with the app set up, it’s time to make your first bet with the Fanatics Sportsbook promo. Fanatics will match your bet with a bonus bet up to $100 for the first 10 days after registration. That offer gives you the chance to accumulate up to $1,000 in bonus bets.

Just make sure your opening bet each day is worth at least $5 and is on any market of -200 odds or longer to qualify. You will be automatically entered for the promo on your first day as a new customer, but you must choose to manually opt into the offer each of the next nine consecutive days.

If you use the Fanatics Sportsbook promo to make a $100 moneyline bet on one of the first-round NBA playoff games, you will receive a bonus bet for $100 from Fanatics, no matter if your bet wins or not. The bonus bet should arrive in your account within about 72 hours of your bet settling.

You can turn the bet credit from the Fanatics Sportsbook promo into cash as well by continuing to win with one of the best online sportsbooks. Fanatics Sportsbook has a 1x playthrough that puts cash profits directly in your account after a win using a bonus bet. The bonus-bet credit will expire if it hasn’t been used within seven days.

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Bruins-Maple Leafs Odds, NHL Lines & NFL Draft with Fanatics Sportsbook Promo

Thursday’s NHL playoffs schedule features a pair of Game 3s: Panthers-Lightning and Hurricanes-Islanders. Carolina and Florida are the top two favorites in the Stanley Cup odds. After you open your account using the Fanatics Sportsbook promo offer, you will have access to live in-game betting, parlays, props and more options.

The NFL Draft begins tonight and you can wager on where every pick lands at Fanatics after signing up with the Fanatics Sportsbook promo. You can also get on board for daily MLB wagering.

There will be two months of NBA and NHL playoff action and Fanatics Sportsbook wants to match your bets for the first 10 days after you register for a new account. Just click on one of the BET NOW buttons and use the Fanatics Sportsbook promo to bet and get up to $1,000 in bonus bets!

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