Basketball

Will Caitlin Clark's star power carry over to the WNBA? One home (exhibition) game in and we have our answer. A big hell yes!

22-year-old Clark officially suited up in front of the hometown fans for the first time as an Indiana Fever player Thursday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis ... as the squad took on the Atlanta Dream, beating them 83-80.

The game didn't count ... so it's all the more astounding that 13,028 fans showed up to watch Clark and her teammates, nearly triple the Fever's regular-season attendance numbers from the 2023 season, where they averaged 4,067 a game.

Either someone was REALLY excited about the Mavericks' big win, or they forgot to clear their phone of some freaky content before Luka Doncic's postgame interview ... 'cause loud sex noises interrupted the whole presser -- and the NBA superstar's reaction was priceless!!

The hilarious moment went down just seconds into the Dallas baller's Q&A following the Mavs' Game 2 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday ... when out of nowhere, moaning rang through the room.

Doncic's eyes got super big and he put his head down to cover his face as a reporter said, "Okay, umm ... okay, moving on."

A cryptic death post, a royal public appearance and a history-making award. Check out the hottest takes from Thursday.

On "TMZ Live," Charles and Derek discuss the cryptic death post Drake put on Instagram Thursday.

No more flying with the normies for the WNBA -- the league just announced it will provide full-time charter flights for all 12 teams starting this season.

The news comes weeks after WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert revealed the league was on the verge of launching a program so players could travel more privately and comfortably.

Now, it's officially official.

1:29 PM PT -- Glen "Big Baby" Davis isn't crying over his lengthy prison sentence ... going to Instagram Live to crack jokes at his own expense -- but also pointing out there are a few positives that'll come out of his time behind bars.

Davis made the funnies in the video (watch for yourself and you'll know why we won't spell one out for you) ... while stating this is God's way of getting him to stop scarfing down hamburgers and Cheetos all day.

Sounds like we will be able to take the "Big" out of his nickname by the time he gets out of the slammer.

Patrick Beverley will be sidelined to start the 2024-25 season -- the current Bucks guard has been suspended four games for throwing a ball at fans twice during Game 6 of Milwaukee's first-round matchup against the Indiana Pacers last week.

The NBA just announced Pat Bev's punishment on Thursday ... saying he will not be paid for the four games he will miss for "forcefully throwing a basketball multiple times at spectators" with about two and a half minutes left in the 120-98 loss ... but also for his interaction with reporter Malinda Adams.

NBA spokesperson Tim Frank admonished Beverley for booting Adams from his postgame interview over not subscribing to his podcast ... saying, "Patrick Beverley’s behavior towards ESPN producer Malinda Adams was unacceptable, unprofessional and failed to meet the standard that NBA players consistently meet in their interactions with the media."

There were nearly 20,000 people screaming the f-word at Reggie Miller on Wednesday night ... but just in case he didn't hear it, Knicks star Josh Hart told him all about it -- repeating the obscenity to the Indiana legend on a hot mic!

The hilarious moment happened at the end of New York's playoff victory over the Pacers ... when fans at Madison Square Garden ribbed Miller, who was helping broadcast the game for TNT, with a "F*** you, Reggie" chant.

The Knicks supporters -- still clearly salty over the way the Hall of Famer tortured them during his playing days some three decades ago -- really let the former Pacers sharpshooter have it ... filling MSG with the shout loudly for several moments.

Action Bronson says the best way to enjoy his KnicksTape is blunted on reality ... totally enhancing his courtside experience!!! 😵‍💫

We caught Mr. Bam Bam Baklava at LAX proudly waving the NYK banner, and he owned up to his viral moments of being completely blitzed inside Madison Square Garden.

No regrets for the Queens MC ... Action tells us that being stoned while sitting so close to the team's huddle gives his brain the 3D effect -- it's like Knicks HC Tom Thibodeau is drawing up plays from a spaceship!!!

Cops are now looking into the Patrick Beverley ball-throwing incident ... confirming to TMZ Sports on Wednesday the NBA player is currently under police investigation.

A spokesperson for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department tells us ... officers did end up taking a case report on May 2 after Beverley hurled a basketball not once, but twice, at Indiana fans toward the end of the Bucks' playoff game with the Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

According to the rep, the report has since been forwarded to detectives, who are now trying to gain access to more video from the arena ... as well as interview the involved parties.

A racist posterboard featuring images of LeBron James and monkeys was somehow put on display at a school art exhibition over the weekend ... and officials are now investigating how in the world the offensive piece was allowed to make it there.

The project -- a parody of a cereal advertisement called "Monkey Premium" -- was done by a New Hartford Central School District student in New York ... and then showed off in a school gymnasium at the New Hartford Festival of the Arts event on Saturday.

It had a headline of "Eat Monkeys, Jump Like Monkeys!" ... with a picture of James mid-flight in his Lakers uniform next to a bowl of cereal.

Los Angeles Lakers big man Christian Wood's ex, Yasmine Lopez, is accusing him of brutally attacking her in a physical encounter earlier this month, TMZ Sports has learned ... but his circle is adamant she's making the whole thing up in retaliation.

Wood was recently granted a three-year restraining order and sole custody of their 10-month-old son ... after he accused Lopez of abusing and stalking him, damaging his property (including two luxury vehicles) on multiple occasions, and keeping their child from him.

The social media influencer filed for a domestic violence restraining order of her own this week ... accusing the 28-year-old pro of grabbing her by the legs and dragging her -- with their child present -- on May 2.

Antonio Brown is attempting to bury the hatchet with Caitlin Clark ... sending a heartfelt message to the WNBA star with the clear intent of moving on from their beef.

If you missed it, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout kicked off a feud with the hooper with some inappropriate posts on X last month -- forcing the Indiana Fever point guard to block him on the popular social media app.

But, AB tried to extend an olive branch her way during an appearance on "Fearless with Jason Whitlock" on Tuesday ... saying he was simply playing around.

5/8 5:55 AM -- Jamal Murray's punishment was announced on Tuesday ... and while he avoided any suspension, his outburst set him back a huge chunk of change.

The NBA fined the guard $100k for "throwing multiple objects in the direction of a game official during live play," according to Joe Dumars, Executive VP and Head of Basketball Operations.

Jamal Murray melted down on the Nuggets' bench during their blowout loss Monday night ... hurling not only a towel onto the floor during game action -- but a full-on heat pack too!

Kyrie Irving is honoring his late mom, Elizabeth, on Mother's Day this year with some special edition ANTA sneakers that pay tribute to her "wisdom and protective spirit."

The Chinese apparel company -- which famously signed Irving to a shoe deal back in July 2023 -- announced on Tuesday the kicks will drop this weekend ... and, as you can see, they feature a ton of homages to the Mavericks star's mom.

The shoe has the word "Mother" embroidered on the strap and the heel pull ... and it's got her name sketched on the outsole as well.

The Indianapolis Star columnist who had a cringe-worthy exchange with Caitlin Clark at her Fever introductory news conference last month has reportedly been suspended over the bizarre encounter.

Longtime journalist Bob Kravitz -- who used to work for the Star -- said the outlet hit Gregg Doyel with a two-week ban in the days following his strange April 17 interaction with the WNBA player.

Kravitz did not specify when exactly the punishment began for the reporter ... although he noted Doyel's last Star piece -- a Colts-related article -- was published on April 29. Kravitz added that Doyel is expected to return from the ban on May 13.

Houston Rockets star Jalen Green welcomed a baby girl to the world earlier this year ... but the mother has zero issues with the fact he's expecting another kid with his current girlfriend, Draya Michele -- 'cause TMZ Sports is told there is absolutely no bad blood in the situation.

Our sources tell us Green is, in fact, the father of a baby born on Feb. 12. The mother is 23-year-old California student Myah Iakopo.

We're told Green and Iakopo knew each other for a while ... but they were not ever in a serious relationship. Regardless, the former 2nd overall pick has vowed to be super involved in baby Peace Moira's life ... and is financially supporting the child as needed.