DENVER — Nikola Jokic got a triple-double in his NBA Finals debut, Jamal Murray scored 26 points and the Denver Nuggets had little trouble with the cold-shooting Miami Heat on the way to a 104-93 win in Game 1 on Thursday night. Jokic finished with 27 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets, who waited 47 years to make the Finals and didn’t disappoint. Aaron Gordon added 16 points and Michael Porter Jr. scored 14 for Denver, which […]

Bookmark Offbeat news from the world of sport We have more newsletters A landlord will win £50k if Josh Tongue plays cricket for England today – after putting £100 on him when he was 11. Tim Piper, 56, is friends with the Worcestershire fast bowler's family. Seeing his potential aged just six, he tried then to back Tongue to play Test cricket for England. Tim, who runs the Cricketers Arms pub in Redditch, Worcs., was told no. But five years […]

Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Australian basketballer Jack White walks out on the Denver Nuggets’ practice court each day and knows he will see something unique from superstar teammate Nikola Jokic. In the bright lights of the NBA play-offs, Jokic, a two-time NBA MVP, performs stunning feats with his passing, shot creation and ability to influence the game from all over the court. Jack White has made the […]

ESPN.com NBA writer since 2010 Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years Author of two books BOSTON — Ten years ago, after a historically painful Game 6 loss to the Miami Heat that cost them a championship after an incomprehensible Ray Allen shot, the battle-tested San Antonio Spurs were shell-shocked. Victory party canceled, Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich famously took the team to an Italian restaurant , gave them wine and went player-to-player, trying to coax them through the emotions […]

The Miami Heat are heading back to the NBA Finals. Led by Jimmy Butler and Caleb Martin, who both had over 20 points in Game 7, Miami knocked off the Boston Celtics, 4-3. The series wasn’t short on theatrics as the Heat jumped out to a 3-0 lead, before fumbling the opportunity to sweep and allowing the Celtics to force a Game 7. But Miami managed to put together a Herculean effort when it needed it most to put away […]

Bookmark Offbeat news from the world of sport We have more newsletters Former South African rugby star Lukas van Biljon was stabbed repeatedly in the chest and his father shot three times and left for dead when six men attacked their farm at midnight. Springbok hooker Van Biljon, 47, was warned if he fought back his children – who were tied up – would be killed as the gang ransacked his farm. The controversial player – who was dropped from […]

A major crash has occurred at IndyCar 500 as both Felix Rosenqvist and Kyle Kirkwood collided with 16 laps to go in Sunday’s race. The drivers are reportedly in a stable condition, after slamming into the wall following a coming together. The 107th edition of Indy 500 has been marred by a major crash as fans ducked for cover on Sunday. Rosenqvist lost control of his car and hit the wall initially, and with his wheel now compromised his vehicle […]

Bookmark Offbeat news from the world of sport We have more newsletters Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk has hit back at French Open spectators that booed her this weekend for refusing to shake the hand of Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka. Kostyuk, 20, lost the first-round meeting at Roland Garros on Sunday (May 28) 6-3 6-2 and walked off without greeting Sabalenka in the middle of the court, as she did after her contest with Belarus' Victoria Azarenka last year. The world number 28 […]

Nick Friedell is the Chicago Bulls beat reporter for ESPN Chicago. Friedell is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and joined ESPNChicago.com for its launch in April 2009. MIAMI — Heat guard Gabe Vincent will return from a one-game absence and start in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics on Saturday night. Vincent, who is averaging 17.5 points a game during this series, missed Game 5 with a […]

Host of The Woj Pod Joined ESPN in 2017 The NBA’s Fitness to Play panel has cleared Kansas State guard/forward Keyontae Johnson, allowing for him to be selected in the June NBA draft, his agents Mark Bartelstein and Ross Aroyo of Priority Sports told ESPN on Friday. NBA teams were informed of Johnson’s clearance in a memo shared from the league office on Friday afternoon. Johnson, considered a potential late first-round pick, will now be eligible to start traveling and […]