NBA Plays of the Week: April 1-7

BROOKLYN — Brooklyn Nets forward/center Nicolas Claxton underwent successful arthroscopic labrum repair surgery today on his left shoulder. The procedure was performed by Dr. Riley Williams III at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Claxton will not join the team for the resumption of the 2019-20 season in Orlando. He is expected to make a full…

The Rockets will finally be getting some clarity on the Donatas Motiejunas situation. Five months after the forward/center became a restricted free agent, Motiejunas signed an offer sheet Friday with the Brooklyn Nets worth $37 million over four years, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. The Rockets will have 72 hours to either…

NEW YORK — The National Basketball Association announced Saturday that the Salary Cap has been set at $109.14 million for the 2019-20 season. The tax level for the 2019-20 season is $132.627 million. The Salary Cap and tax level go into effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on Monday, July 1. As announced by the league…

BOSTON – Early in the second quarter of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, Marcus Smart took a pass around the mid-court line on a fast break. He took two dribbles and pulled up for a jumper from the right side of the floor with his toes on the 3-point line. It was, for…

* Tonight on ESPN: Wolves at Warriors (10:30 ET) MILWAUKEE — Paul George thought back to his own comeback. The long, lonely hours of rehab work on the right leg he shattered in Las Vegas while playing with Team USA. And, worse, the dread that his career might be over that weighed on him mentally…

A new season awakens slowly, like newlyweds on the sixth day of the honeymoon, like campers in the midst of a morning downpour. What has happened before lays out the possible, but is not predictive. Every season develops with its own rhythm, with new storylines. A summer’s work helps lay the foundation — who used…