PhotoBlog

22
May
2012
1:04am, EDT
Layne Murdoch / Getty Images
Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates in Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2012 NBA Playoffs on May 21, 2012 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City.
Lakers eliminated from the NBA playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder
The Associated Press reports:

Russell Westbrook scored 28 points, Kevin Durant added 25 points and 10 rebounds, and the Oklahoma City Thunder surged ahead in the second half to beat Los Angeles 106-90 in Game 5 on Monday night and eliminate the Lakers from the playoffs.

Westbrook had a pair of three-point plays during a 14-3 burst that put Oklahoma City ahead to stay late in the third quarter, and Durant hit two 3-pointers as the Thunder scored the first 10 points of the fourth to push their lead to 93-77.

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30
Apr
2012
12:39am, EDT
Mike Brown / EPA
Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul, left, knocks the ball loose from Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, right, of Spain, in the first half of game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinal round game at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on April 29. The winner of the best-of-seven series will go on to face either the San Antonio Spurs or the Utah Jazz in the Conference Semifinals.
Clippers overcome 27-point deficit to rally past Grizzlies
Chris Paul hit a pair of free throws with 23.7 seconds left, and the Los Angeles Clippers rallied from 27 down to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 99-98 Sunday night in the opening game of this Western Conference series.
Boxscore | NBA coverage

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26
Feb
2012
12:37am, EST
Jeff Haynes / Pool via Reuters
Utah Jazz Jeremy Evans jumps over a man sitting in a chair as he competes in the slam dunk contest during the NBA All-Star weekend in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 25.
Jeremy Evans of the Utah Jazz wins NBA Slam Dunk Contest

In a departure from past dunk competitions, fans were given complete voting power and cast their ballots by text message after each of the four participants competed in three one-dunk rounds.

Evans dunked with a camera on his head, slammed two basketballs while jumping over a seated assistant and donned a Karl Malone jersey to dunk over mailman-dressed comedian Kevin Hart.

Evans said the Jazz didn't have any input in the Malone-themed idea.

"Not at all," he said. "I was just thanking the Jazz fans. You want to do something to get them in it. So I felt that was a good way. And Dwight Howard, he helped me big time. That was huge."

-- Reported by the Associated Press
Related content: NBA All-Star Weekend slideshow
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25
Feb
2012
1:00am, EST
Kyrie Irving named MVP of the Rising Stars Challenge
Gary Bogdon / EPA
Kyrie Irving from Cleveland Cavaliers goes to the basket against Team Shaq players Ricky Rubio from Minnesota Timberwolves and Spain as well as Blake Griffin from Los Angeles Clippers (R) in the second half of the 2012 NBA BBVA Rising Stars Challenge game at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla., on Friday Feb. 24, 2012.
AP reports: Irving was a perfect 8 for 8 from beyond the arc and finished with 34 points, helping Team Chuck beat Team Shaq 146-133 in the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday.
Related content:

See images of Jeremy Lin, Kyrie Irving, John Wall and others from All-Star Game preliminary event.

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1 comment
that boy good! he real good!
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19
Feb
2012
4:08pm, EST
Adam Hunger / Reuters
New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin reacts after hitting a three-point shot against the Dallas Mavericks in the fourth quarter of their NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York, Feb. 19.
No pun Lintended: Knicks phenom has a ball against Mavericks
Jeremy Lin had 28 points and a career-high 14 assists, Steve Novak made four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, and the New York Knicks ended the Dallas Mavericks' six-game winning streak with a 104-97 victory Sunday.

-- Reported by the Associated Press

Related content: The Week in Sports Pictures
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16
Jan
2012
7:37am, EST
AFP - Getty Images
Former NBA superstar Yao Ming, center, attends as a newly elected member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) of Shanghai, and takes part in a meeting for the CPPCC in Shanghai on Jan. 15, 2011.
Retired basketball star Yao Ming goes into politics
The Associated Press reports:

Retired basketball star Yao Ming has added another line to his post-NBA resume - politician.

Since Yao announced last July that injuries had ended his career with the Houston Rockets, he has become a university student and set up a wine business to go with owning a professional basketball team in China.

Now the 31-year-old has become a member of an advisory body to Shanghai's legislature. Photos in official media on Monday showed Yao at the weekend closing ceremony for the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Shanghai Committee. Read the full story.

Related content:

China hoops star becomes pandas' pal

Yao Ming retires from basketball
3 comments
Wonder if he is now a card carrying Communist Party member, or has he always been one? Not saying this in a derogatory way. Just curious as he is from China and don't all politicians there have to be members of the party?
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15
Aug
2011
1:29pm, EDT
Chinafotopress via Getty Images
LeBron James of the Miami Heat attends a Nike promotional event at Shaanxi Normal University on Monday, August 15, in Xi An, Shaanxi Province, China.
LeBron James attends Nike event in China
Related links:

Slideshow: The Week in Sports Pictures

NBA coverage on NBC Sports
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20
Jul
2011
6:08am, EDT
Yao Ming retires from basketball
Carlos Barria / Reuters
NBA player Yao Ming reacts during a news conference to announce his retirement from basketball, in Shanghai, China, on July 20. Yao, who ignited China's interest in the NBA and became one of Asia's best-known athletes, announced his retirement from basketball on Wednesday. The 30-year-old had been widely expected to retire after he told the Houston Rockets he would not be returning next season after two years blighted by injuries.
The AP reports:

The NBA's version of the Ming Dynasty is done. After helping pro basketball gain a foothold in the world's most populous market, Chinese star Yao Ming has retired.

Yao made it official Wednesday, telling a packed news conference in his hometown that a series of foot and leg injuries forced him to end his playing career at the age of 30. Continue reading.

Read a blog post by Ed Flanagan of NBC News on Yao's legacy, and hear from some of his fans in this video:
Chinese fans of Yao Ming react to news of the basketball giant's retirement.
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28
Jun
2011
12:05pm, EDT
Dirk Nowitzki celebrated in German hometown after NBA title
Ralph Orlowski / Getty Images
Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki holds a glass of beer while he arrives at the Wuerzburg Residence on Tuesday in Wuerzburg, Germany. Nowitzki visits his hometown Wuerzburg after he and his team, the Dallas Mavericks, won the 2011 NBA title.
Frank Rumpenhorst/Pool via Reuters
NBA basketball player Dirk Nowitzki waves to fans as he arrives at the Wuerzburg Residenz during a visit to his German home town of Wuerzburg, June 28, 2011. Nowitzki became the first German to win an NBA title when his basketball team Dallas Mavericks beat the Miami Heat last weeki, giving the Mavericks their first championship in their 31 year history. Nowitzki was also named the Most Valuable Player of the Championship series.
Ralph Orlowski / Getty Images
Supporters cheer during a motorcade of Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki on Tuesday in Wuerzburg, Germany. Nowitzki visits his hometown Wuerzburg after he and his team Dallas Mavericks won the 2011 NBA title.
Frank Rumpenhorst / AFP - Getty Images
Basketballer Dirk Nowitzki speaks to the crowd from a balcony of the Wuerzburg Residence in Wuerzburg, southern Germany on Tuesday, while thousands of fans watch from the square. Dirk Nowitzki, the German playmaker who led the Dallas Mavericks to an NBA Finals victory, admitted he was 'overwhelmed' by the response as he came back to his home city on June 28.
Alex Domanski / Reuters
Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki celebrates with his fans during a welcome party in his German home town of Wuerzburg, on Tuesday. Nowitzki became the first German to win an NBA title when his basketball team Dallas Mavericks beat the Miami Heat last weeki, giving the Mavericks their first championship in their 31 year history. Nowitzki was also named the Most Valuable Player of the Championship series.
Kai Pfaffenbach / Reuters
A Dallas Mavericks fan of forward Dirk Nowitzki stands in front of the Wuerzburg Residenz as he waits to see the NBA basketball player in his German home town of Wuerzburg on Tuesday. Nowitzki became the first German to win an NBA title when his basketball team Dallas Mavericks beat the Miami Heat, giving the Mavericks their first championship in their 31 year history. Nowitzki was also named the Most Valuable Player of the Championship series.
Thomas Lohnes / dapd via AP
Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki of Germany, right, is welcomed by cheerleaders and fans in Wuerzburg, southern Germany, Tuesday, June 28. More then two weeks after winning the NBA championship basketball title Nowitzki is celebrated by fans in his hometown.

Related content:

Full story: Nowitzki's hometown in Germany throwing him parade

More NBA news on NBC Sports

Slideshow: The Week in Sports Pictures

Follow @msnbc_pictures
1 comment
Dirk's life owns. No one deserves an 'I'm that Dude' shirt more at the moment.
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13
Jun
2011
1:10am, EDT
Dallas Mavericks defeat Miami Heat in Game 6 to win NBA title, 105-95
Chris Chambers / Getty Images
Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks holds up the Larry O'Brien trophy as he celebrates with his teamates and team owner Mark Cuban after the Mavericks won 105-95 against the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the 2011 NBA Finals at American Airlines Arena on June 12, in Miami, Fla.
Read more about the game here and check out images from post-season play here.
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8
Jun
2011
5:20am, EDT
Mavs, Heat all square after Game 4 of NBA Finals
Mark Humphrey / AP
Fan Frank Perez attends Game 4 of the NBA Finals basketball game between the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks on June 7.
Mark Ralston / AFP - Getty Images
Tyson Chandler, left, and Dirk Nowitzki, right, of the Dallas Mavericks defend against Dwyane Wade, center, of the Miami Heat during Game 4 of the NBA Finals in Dallas on June 7. The Mavericks won 86-83.
The Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat are starting over in the NBA finals, their best-of-7 series reduced to a best-of-three after the Mavs won the latest encounter 86-83 on Tuesday night.
Read NBC Sports' match report and see more images in our slideshow.
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27
May
2011
6:12am, EDT
Charles Rex Arbogast / AP
Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) reacts as Miami wins Game 5 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday, May 26, in Chicago. Miami won 83-80.
LeBron James celebrates as Miami Heat reach finals
Match report: Amazing rally sends Heat past Bulls, into finals
Finals preview: Mavericks, Heat should mean fun fourth quarters
Man by man: Mavericks versus Heat - who has the edge?
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