Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic announced in a statement obtained by ESPN on Wednesday that he will not be joining the Serbian national basketball team for at least the Olympic qualifying tournament."The simple condition of my body requires a longer absence from the field for recovery," Jokic wrote in a translated statement, adding that it was at the Nuggets' suggestion…

Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul has entered the NBA's health and safety protocols and is out indefinitely, jeopardizing the star's availability for the Western Conference finals, a source confirmed to ESPN's Malika Andrews.The NBA's rules for coronavirus-related isolation periods have evolved throughout the season in correlation with increasing vaccine numbers. If Paul is already vaccinated against COVID-19, he could…

LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is expected to miss Wednesday's Game 5 against the Utah Jazz with a right knee injury and could be out the remainder of the series, sources told ESPN.Leonard tweaked the knee on a drive late in the Clippers' Game 4 victory, grimacing in pain as he planted on way to the basket. He stayed in…

BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- On Monday evening, the Brooklyn Nets announced that Kyrie Irving and James Harden would both be sitting out Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks.When Harden woke up Tuesday morning, however, he had other ideas."[I] woke up and was like, 'You know what? Let's go,'" Harden said after finishing with five points in…