Shakeia Taylor

4 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Shakeia Taylor

In the opening seconds against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night, fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse booed LeBron James the moment he touched the ball. In the end, though, it was James who had the last laugh. In his third game back from injury, James made the game-winning tip, off a Luka Dončić miss, to defeat the Pacers 120-119, snapping Indiana's five-game winning streak and extending a streak of his own; James hasn't scored fewer than 10 points in a game since Jan. 5, 2007.

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Shakeia Taylor

The NBA's 75 officials have to quickly trust their eyes, ears and feet while being the final arbiters of a 75-page rule book, and they have milliseconds to decide whether a player has violated a rule. A shot released with the flick of a wrist can be altered with a tap ... and whether that tap is called can alter a play, a game or even a season. Officiating a game as free flowing as basketball, no matter the level, isn't easy. Humans do the job, and they make mistakes.

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Shakeia Taylor

CHICAGO - Right now, for the Phoenix Suns, every game is a must-win. "We have to be honest," coach Mike Budenholzer said after the Suns snapped a four-game losing streak with a 121-117 win against the Bulls on Saturday. "We got to win this game tonight. We've got to build off it. We've got to find ways to get wins, and our guys know that and they think they have the right mindset."Entering the season, Phoenix looked to rebound after falling short of its championship goals.

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Shakeia Taylor |Hunter Patterson

CHICAGO - Finding the right key can open doors and for the Detroit Pistons, Ausar Thompson's maturation is unlocking their offense at the right time. One of the most sought-after draft picks of 2024, Thompson's integration into the Pistons lineup since Thanksgiving has been one of the driving forces behind the team's upswing. He's also been a boon for the team's young core as they head into the All-Star break with a winning record for the first time in 16 seasons.

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Shakeia Taylor

(Editor's note: This week, in honor of Black History Month, The Athletic will highlight the Harlem Globetrotters and their contributions to basketball, vision for entertainment and overall commitment to goodwill. This series will conclude on Sunday, Feb. 16.)While attending their first Harlem Globetrotters/Washington Generals training camp in 2022 in Atlanta, Arysia Porter and Kayla Gabor were excited to meet their new teammates. But they also received a surprise visitor.