NBA games are scheduled to return to wildfire-ravaged Los Angeles on Monday night, with the Clippers planning to resume their schedule when they play host to the Miami Heat and the Lakers set to host Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.

Lionel Messi, widely considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time, and NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson will be among the 19 honorees receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Saturday at the White House.

The NBA In-Season Tournament semifinals and final debuted last season in Las Vegas.

Tyronn Lue says he wants to be coach of the Los Angeles Clippers longterm and declined to address directly speculation that the Lakers would target him in their search after firing Darvin Ham.

It will be a historic night in the NBA and you can see it all on Local 10.

A strike has shut down all shipping on the St. Lawrence Seaway, interrupting exports of grain and other goods from Canada and the United States via the Great Lakes to the rest the world.

Golden State Coach Steve Kerr has said no playoff series truly begins until a team wins on the opponent’s home court.

The Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles will be renamed Crypto.

Kendrick Nunn's time with the Miami Heat is over.

The NBA playoffs should be entertaining, as they always are.

MIAMI – The Miami Heat will tip off the second half of their schedule against the same team they played to open the season. The second half will also see Miami host the defending champion Lakers in another NBA Finals rematch on April 8. The league had held off on scheduling the second half of the season as the start of the season began later than usual because of COVID-19. ORLANDO 8:00 PM FSS12 Fri. @ Chicago 9:00 PM FSSAd14 Sun. @ Orlando 7:00 PM FSS16 Tues. CLEVELAND 8:00 PM FSS17 Wed. @ Memphis 9:00 PM FSS19 Fri. INDIANA 8:00 PM FSSAd21 Sun.

James chose that year deliberately: His oldest son, LeBron James Jr., will graduate from high school in 2023. The uniqueness of 2020 has forced James and the Lakers to consider whether they should practice load management this season. James and the Lakers haven't decided on their plans for the regular season, with James saying there's “a fine line” between strategic rest and unnecessary inactivity. We think he’s going to be very effective and provide extraordinary value for every year he decides to play as a Laker. I’m sure he’ll hang many jerseys someday, but we hope one of those will be a Lakers jersey.”___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

For the first time in his long career, Rondo is the oldest guy on the team. “To be honest, I’ve been doing that for the last five or six years of my career,” Rondo said. I've been working to understand young talent, understand the (collective bargaining agreement). This is a young team with so much upside and versatility. ... We're on the the upswing for great things here in the city of Atlanta.”His future career can wait.

Through five games of the NBA Finals, the Miami Heat gave the Los Angeles Lakers all they could handle. In Sunday’s Game 6, LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Lakers were simply too much. It’s James' fourth championship, including two with Miami and another with Cleveland, and he was named Finals MVP for the fourth time. “I told [Lakers owner] Jeanie [Buss] when I got here that I was going to bring this franchise back to the condition where it belongs." The 35-year-old James turned in his 11th triple-double in an NBA Finals game.

Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat aren’t going down easily, and they can force a Game 7 of the NBA Finals if they can win Sunday night’s Game 6. DURING THE PLAYOFFS: Heat: Averaging 110.9 points, 41.4 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 7.0 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Lakers: Averaging 113.2 points, 44.0 rebounds, 25.8 assists, 8.2 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.9% from the field. INJURIES: Heat: Gabe Vincent: day to day (knee), Goran Dragic: day to day (foot). Lakers: Anthony Davis: day to day (heel), LeBron James: day to day (groin), Danny Green: day to day (finger).

The NBA says it has reviewed a play in which it appears Lakers star Anthony Davis may have taken a swing at Jae Crowder of the Heat, and it will not take any action against Davis. The play happened in the 3rd quarter of Game 5 of the finals as Duncan Robinson was hitting a Miami 3-pointer. The NBA tells Local 10 in a statement “We review every play in the games from all angles and there was nothing further to do with this.”

Jimmy Butler led the way again with another triple-double as Miami beat the Los Angeles Lakers 111-108 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Friday night, pulling to within 3-2 in the series. In a game that seemed like it was set up to be a coronation for LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Lakers, the Heat found a way to live another day. Butler played 47 of the game’s 48 minutes, making 11 of 19 shots from the floor and all 12 of his foul shots“That’s Jimmy Butler. Bam: “Thats Jimmy Butler. Ultimately, with the game on the line, the Heat won it at the line.

It’s do-or-die for the Miami Heat on Friday night as they try to extend the NBA Finals with a win in Game 5. Holding a 3-1 lead in the series, the Los Angeles Lakers are on the brink of their 17th championship, which would match the Boston Celtics for most all-time. TOP PERFORMERS: Butler leads the Heat averaging 6.0 assists while scoring 19.9 points per game. DURING THE PLAYOFFS: Heat: Averaging 110.8 points, 41.7 rebounds, 24.8 assists, 7.0 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. INJURIES: Heat: Bam Adebayo: day to day (neck), Goran Dragic: day to day (foot).

Could it be the beginning of another Miami Heat NBA Finals comeback? The Finals continue Tuesday, with the Heat getting a chance to pull back even with the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4. James leads the Lakers averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers, while scoring 25.3 points per game and shooting 34.8% from beyond the arc. DURING THE PLAYOFFS: Heat: Averaging 111.7 points, 41.8 rebounds, 25.2 assists, 7.0 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. Lakers: Averaging 114.1 points, 44.3 rebounds, 26.1 assists, 8.3 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 49.3% from the field.

With a triple-double, he joined NBA Finals lore — and the short-handed Miami Heat might have made this title matchup a series after all. The last punch went to Miami, Butler simply unwilling to let his team go down 3-0. It’s going to be a tough game, Game 4," Herro said. ... Nick Aquilino, the son of Heat neuromuscular therapist Vinny Aquilino, performed the anthem -- a recording from a Heat game with fans in Miami. BUTLER’S TRIPLE-DOUBLEButler became the 21st player to have a triple-double in the NBA Finals — and four of the 21 were part of Sunday’s game.

Jimmy Butler poured in 40 points, finished with a triple-double and did just about everything to lead the Miami Heat to a 115-104 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night. After outworking and outexecuting the Lakers throughout the night, the Heat have cut LA’s series lead to 2-1. The Heat built a lead as big as 14 points in the third quarter, ultimately taking an 85-80 lead into the fourth. LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat during the first half of Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night. “I can see the anguish literally in the eyes, both of them,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said before the game.

NBA Finals: Countdown to Tipoff : Oct 04, 2020Published: October 4, 2020, 7:22 pmGet ready for Game 3 of the NBA Finals as Will Manso and Clay Ferraro preview Heat vs. Lakers.

The NBA Finals continue Sunday night, with the banged-up Miami Heat trying to mount a comeback after dropping the first two games to the Los Angeles Lakers. Game infoNBA FINALS: Lakers lead series 2-0GAME 3: Sunday, 7:30 p.m., AdventHealth Arena, Lake Buena Vista, FloridaLINE: Lakers -10; over/under is 218.5NBA FINALS: Lakers lead series 2-0BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Lakers take on the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals with a 2-0 lead in the series. LeBron James scored 33 points to lead Los Angeles to the victory and Jimmy Butler totaled 25 points in the loss for Miami. Kyle Kuzma is third on the Lakers averaging 12.8 points and has added 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. DURING THE PLAYOFFS: Heat: Averaging 111.5 points, 42.1 rebounds, 25.2 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field.

The shorthanded Miami Heat have allowed LeBron James to get into a position where he’s never failed — a 2-0 series lead. James had 33 points, nine assists and nine rebounds, Anthony Davis added 32 points and 14 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers overpowered the Heat 124-114 in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Friday night, putting Miami in a serious hole. James has never lost a playoff series after taking a 2-0 lead — though this is his first 2-0 lead in the Finals — and now the Heat must beat him four games out of five to win their fourth championship. “I’ve had to play the role of not just head coach but almost a parent the last 24 hours,” Spoelstra said. Jimmy Butler had 25 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds to lead the Heat.

His team’s starting point guard and center are both doubtful to play in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. And his Miami Heat are coming off a one-sided loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. That, combined with Miami’s injury problems, sure seems to indicate that the Lakers have full control of this matchup. Lakers coach Frank Vogel said he’ll plan for Dragic and Adebayo to play. All three of Miami’s NBA titles came after Game 1 losses in the finals.

The Miami Heat could be without two of their most important players for Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic are each doubtful to play because of injuries, according to the team. Adebayo has been fighting injuries throughout the playoffs, but this latest ailment is a neck strain that he suffered in the team’s Game 1 loss to the Lakers on Wednesday night. Dragic reportedly suffered a torn plantar fascia in that defeat and is also unlikely to play. The Heat will try to bounce back Friday night in Game 2.

The NBA Finals continue Friday night, with the Miami Heat trying to overcome adversity and claw back even with the Los Angeles Lakers. Game infoNBA FINALS: Lakers lead series 1-0GAME 2: Friday, 9 p.m., AdventHealth Arena, Lake Buena Vista, Florida;LINE: Lakers -7.5; over/under is 216BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Lakers play the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals with a 1-0 lead in the series. LeBron James is averaging 26.9 points and 10.9 rebounds while shooting 52.4% over the last 10 games for Los Angeles. Heat: Averaging 111.3 points, 42.4 rebounds, 25.0 assists, 7.2 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.7% from the field. Pregame readingHeat are ailing, but insist NBA Finals vs Lakers aren’t overSilver: NBA still hoping to open next season in arenasJames, Herro see popularity rise in the NBA playoffs

After those two stars, the next list of top players in this series all play for the Heat. I would still take that grouping of Heat players over any of them right now. If the Heat don’t hinder LeBron and AD a bit then none of that will make a difference. Davis may be the tougher challenge because the Heat just don’t have the size to really slow him down. So why do I think Miami will win this series?

Local 10 has you covered for the entire NBA Finals, beginning with Game 1 tonight. Game infoGAME 1: Wednesday, 9 p.m., AdventHealth Arena, Lake Buena Vista, FloridaLINE: Lakers -5; over/under is 217.5BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Lakers face the Miami Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Anthony Davis leads the Lakers scoring 26.1 points per game, and is averaging 9.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists. DURING THE PLAYOFFS: Heat: Averaging 112.2 points, 42.9 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 7.5 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Lakers: Averaging 113.9 points, 43.7 rebounds, 25.9 assists, 8.5 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 49.8% from the field.

No, we won’t get to see the court at AmericanAirlines Arena all dressed up for the NBA Finals. But the floor will have a different look when the Heat and Lakers step onto it for Game 1 Wednesday night inside the Disney bubble. The NBA revealed the court design above. As has been on the floor for all of the games since the league’s restart “Black Lives Matter” will be visible front and center. As a reminder, all of the Finals games are on Local 10, with coverage of Game 1 beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

(Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The Miami Heat are facing the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2020 NBA Finals, and Local 10 has the broadcast for every game. Here’s a look at the schedule (all games in the Disney bubble):Game 1: Wednesday, Sept. 30: Miami Heat at L.A. Lakers, 9 p.m.Game 2: Friday, Oct. 2: Miami Heat at L.A. Lakers, 9 p.m.Game 3: Sunday, Oct. 4: L.A. Lakers at Miami Heat, 7:30 p.m.Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 6: L.A. Lakers at Miami Heat, 9 p.m.Game 5*: Friday, Oct. 9: Miami Heat at L.A. Lakers, 9 p.m. (if necessary)Game 6*: Sunday, Oct. 11: L.A. Lakers at Miami Heat, 7:30 p.m. (if necessary)Game 7*: Tuesday, Oct. 13: Miami Heat at L.A. Lakers, 9 p.m. (if necessary)

Get ready for the NBA Finals — a title series like none other, to end a season like none other. The Heat won the Eastern Conference title Sunday night, finishing off Boston a day after the Lakers won the Western Conference crown. So, for the first time — well, excluding the league’s inaugural season — two franchises that missed the playoffs the previous season will meet in the NBA Finals. “We know why I came here,” said Lakers All-Star forward Anthony Davis, whose first finals trip comes in his first L.A. season. The last Lakers’ championship was in 2010, when Bryant got his fifth and last title.