In the second night of a back-to-back, at age 34 and in his 17th season, Kobe Bryant unleashed a masterpiece Wednesday night with 47 points in 48 minutes to push the Lakers one step closer to the playoffs. ...more

In the wake of Kobe Bryant's injury, the Lakers face a difficult challenge in fending off three legitimate challengers for the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference. ...more

Engaged with multiple teams in trade talks for Josh Smith, the Hawks are struggling to get the assets they are seeking for the prospective free agent, league sources told CBSSports.com on Tuesday. ...more

New Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni is expected to reach out to fellow Team USA assistant Nate McMillan as a possible defensive assistant on his staff, a league source told CBSSports.com Monday. ...more

Off to a fast start, Portland rookie Damian Lillard is rewarding the Trail Blazers for drafting him and eyeing what he hopes is a rookie-of-the-year upset. ...more

After doing business with Masai Ujiri in the Dwight Howard trade, the 76ers tried to lure the Denver executive to Philadelphia as Rod Thorn's replacement, but were rebuffed, league sources told CBSSports.com. ...more

Former Blazer executive Tom Penn has emerged as a candidate for the day-to-day general manager position for the Philadelphia 76ers. ...more

NEW YORK -- Faced with a poisonous offer sheet from the Houston Rockets for Jeremy Lin, the New York Knicks took a step that strongly signals they won't match by acquiring point guard Raymond Felton from the Portland Trail Blazers in a sign-and-trade deal Saturday night, league sources confirmed. ...more

What to expect when the NBA's free-agent floodgates open at 12:01 a.m. ET Sunday. ...more

Four rival executives and a fifth person familiar with Deron Williams' thinking told CBSSports.com Tuesday that the Mavericks are becoming increasingly worried that the All-Star point guard will stay with the Nets when the free-agent floodgates open Sunday. ...more