Hoops News Blog

It’s going to be Orlando, not Boston, in the NBA finals. Even though the opponent is different, the Los Angeles Lakers are still consumed with redeeming themselves after last year’s abject failure. Their humiliating 131-92 dismissal by the Celtics in Game 6 last year still stings. “We know what it feels like to lose and [...]

Cleveland center Ben Wallace is considering retirement following the Cavaliers’ elimination from the playoffs. Wallace, a four-time NBA defensive player of the year, said Sunday that a combination of injuries, declining production and a loss of passion for the game has him thinking about quitting. He plans to sit down with his family before deciding [...]

LeBron James finally talked about not making the NBA finals, and insists Cleveland’s loss to Orlando will not impact his future with the Cavaliers. James stormed out of Amway Arena without speaking to the media Saturday night after the Cavs were eliminated with a 103-90 loss to the Magic in Game 6 of the Eastern [...]

LeBron James finally talked about not making the NBA finals, and insists Cleveland’s loss to Orlando will not impact his future with the Cavaliers. James stormed out of Amway Arena without speaking to the media Saturday night after the Cavs were eliminated with a 103-90 loss to the Magic in Game 6 of the Eastern [...]

Orlando’s Eastern Conference championship-clinching victory over Cleveland drew more than 8.3 million viewers, capping a strong series for TNT. The network averaged 8.6 million viewers for the six-game series, a 37 percent increase over its 2008 conference finals coverage. TNT showed the West finals last year, drawing about 6.3 million per game for the [...]

Pick a moment. All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson going out with a shoulder tear in February. Dwight Howard calling out coach Stan Van Gundy for not getting the ball enough, or losing on four last-second shots in the playoffs. The Orlando Magic have survived it all to reach the NBA finals. “We’ve been through everything [...]

Orlando is evaluating All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson for a possible return to the Magic lineup for the NBA finals that begin Thursday night in Los Angeles. Magic spokesman Joel Glass said on Sunday that Nelson’s rehabilitation from a shoulder injury is ahead of schedule but that his status remains uncertain.

The Orlando Magic never gave in. They didn’t buckle when their starting point guard went down with a season-ending injury. They regrouped when their frustrated superstar called out their coach. They stood up to the Boston Celtics. They sent LeBron James home. They fought — all the way to the NBA finals.

LeBron James walked off the court, head down, brushing off a few pieces of confetti. He ignored the few taunts by Magic fans and took one last look at the crowd without muttering a word. There was nothing for him to say. A scintillating series by the NBA’s MVP was washed away by his not-so-supporting [...]

There will be no Kobe-LeBron showdown in the NBA finals — and that could make things tougher for the Lakers. Instead, Los Angeles will face Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic, who swept the Western Conference champions during the regular season. The Lakers will try to prove that means nothing when the finals begin [...]