• The Canadian Press

    Kawhi Leonard's status for Clippers' playoff opener against Mavericks remains murky

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kawhi Leonard’s status for the Los Angeles Clippers’ first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks remains murky. Leonard missed the final eight games of the regular season with right knee inflammation. The Clippers were 4-4 in that stretch, having clinched their first Pacific Division title in 10 years. They earned the fourth seed in the West. Coach Tyronn Lue said Tuesday that Leonard was participating in “a quarter” of practice. “Just bring him along slowly,” Lue

  • The Canadian Press

    Right man, wrong time: Rajakovic's positivity carries Raptors through adversity

    TORONTO — Most fans would describe the Toronto Raptors' 2023-24 season as tumultuous, even chaotic, with a series of trades significantly remaking the roster and then a raft of injuries and other issues directly contributing to a 15-game losing skid. But head coach Darko Rajakovic's lasting memory of this lost season will be how through it all, the team stuck together. "We were dealt some really tough cards this season and it was easy to point fingers and say it’s his fault, my fault, his fault,

  • The Canadian Press

    Blake Griffin retires after high-flying NBA career that included Rookie of the Year, All-Star honors

    Blake Griffin announced his retirement Tuesday after a 14-year career that included six All-Star selections, Rookie of the Year honors and a dunk contest victory. Griffin said in a social media post that he's “thankful for every single moment” of his career. He was the No. 1 overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers out of Oklahoma in 2009. He missed his first season with a knee injury, but rebounded to earn the Rookie of the Year award in 2011, when he also won the All-Star Game dunk contest. Al

  • The Canadian Press

    NBA average attendance was 18,324 this season. League says 71% of games were sellouts

    NEW YORK (AP) — Attendance was up 1.4% in the NBA this season, with the league setting a slew of records for ticket sales and sellouts. The total attendance in the regular season that ended Sunday was 22,538,518, the league said — the second consecutive season in which the NBA set that record. Other records set this season included 873 sellouts, 71% of games selling out and the average attendance of 18,324. The previous marks in those categories: 22,234,502 for total attendance, 791 sellouts, 63