Basketball

Damian Lillard has been ruled out indefinitely with a serious medical issue -- a blood clot -- but the NBA superstar isn't calling it quits on the season ... we're told he hopes to return for the playoffs.

The team announced that the 34-year-old was diagnosed with a blood clot -- deep vein thrombosis (DVT) -- in his right calf and has been put on a blood-thinning medication. Serious stuff. The good news is the team says it has stabilized the clot.

But, with only 11 games left in the regular season, the timing is unfortunate for Dame and the Bucks.

The good news? Our sources tell us Lillard hopes, and plans, to return this season ... as long as he's cleared by the docs.

We're told DL will be reevaluated next week ... and there's hope he will show progress.

The entire basketball community is rallying behind JuJu Watkins after she suffered a devastating injury during the NCAA tournament on Monday ... with names like Angel Reese and Lisa Leslie wishing her a speedy recovery.

The unfortunate incident happened in the first five minutes of USC's second-round matchup against Mississippi State at the Galen Center in downtown Los Angeles.

Watkins -- the Big Ten Player of the Year -- was driving to the basket on a fast break when her knee buckled, forcing her to fall to the floor and grab her right leg in excruciating pain.

Derik Queen put the Maryland Terrapins on his back and hit a game-winning shot to punch their tickets to the Sweet 16 ... and he tells TMZ Sports the best part about it is he was there for the seniors when they needed him most.

We caught up with the star of Sunday's action after Maryland beat the Colorado State Rams in a nail-biting 72-71 victory in the second round of the NCAA tournament ... and Queen was still riding high off the outcome a day later.

In case you missed it, the 20-year-old freshman got the ball with 3.7 seconds left in the contest ... and drove to the hoop to sink a TOUGH bank shot with the entire season on the line.

An NCAA Tournament reporter says he was hit with a threat from UConn after he posted a video of Dan Hurley in a bit of an unflattering situation on Sunday night.

The footage was taken inside the bowels of the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. ... just after Hurley's Huskies dropped their second-round matchup to the Florida Gators, 77-75.

Hurley could be heard in the clip screaming about the referees ... as the Baylor Bears were gearing up to take the court for their matchup with Duke.

The busty woman who's gone viral for standing behind Rick Pitino over the weekend has just been given an opportunity further milk her 15 minutes of fame ... as TMZ Sports has learned a porn site has offered her $200,000 to reveal herself -- in more ways than one.

The unidentified New Mexico fan set the internet ablaze on Sunday night -- when she appeared behind Pitino as the TNT broadcast showed him in the stands cheering on his son, Lobos head coach Richard Pitino, against Michigan State.

While fans were happy to see the heartwarming father-son moment ... others couldn't keep their eyes off the lady clad in UNM red.

Rick Pitino made the trip to Cleveland to be a supportive papa for his son Richard's matchup in the NCAA tournament ... but a heartwarming moment was derailed by someone else in the crowd.

The 72-year-old was all smiles when cameras panned to him cheering on the New Mexico Lobos in their contest with the No. 2 ranked Michigan State Spartans in the round of 32 ... which was cool to see especially after Rick's St. John's squad was upset by Arkansas a day prior.

The touching gesture isn't what was the focus on social media, though ... as some folks admitted they didn't even realize a Hall of Fame coach was in the shot!!

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra's ex-wife, Nikki, is setting the record straight after wild rumors made rounds on social media ... adamantly denying she's hooking up with Miami hooper Jaime Jaquez Jr.

The speculation went viral on Sunday ... with internet users claiming Nikki's interactions with the 24-year-old forward/guard's Instagram page gave reason to believe she was moving on from her ex with one of his own players.

Some also pointed out one of Nikki's recent posts about dating men below 25 and how it was more beneficial because they're easier to manipulate.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have the best record in the NBA, but Norm Nixon tells TMZ Sports he's not entirely sold they're a real threat to win the championship.

We caught up with the former "Showtime" Lakers star out at LAX this week ... and he made it clear, he's got some serious questions about Cleveland's roster.

He told us he thinks the Cavs are good -- they do, after all, own the most wins in the Eastern Conference -- but he wondered out loud how they'll handle the bright lights of April, May and June.

An upstate New York high school girls’ basketball coach has been canned after he yanked a player’s hair following their team’s loss on Friday -- an appalling moment was caught on camera.

As you can see, Northville High School player Hailey Monroe was already in tears after the game, but to add insult to injury 81-year-old coach Jim Zullo appeared to viciously yanked her back by her ponytail.

In the upsetting moment -- Monroe tried to pull away as another player appeared to tell Zullo to stop, but the coach was seen berating her, wagging his finger in her face and screaming at her.

If St. John's cuts down the nets in San Antonio next month, call Rick Pitino the GOAT ... 'cause Dan Dakich says a title win for the Red Storm this year would make their head coach the best ever.

Dakich didn't mince words during his sitdown with TMZ Sports this week ... proclaiming if Pitino becomes a three-time champion with three separate programs, he would immediately vault to the top of the all-time greats list.

"Three different schools, three banners?" Dakich said. "Greatest coach in the history of college basketball."

No need to play out the NCAA women's tournament ... 'cause UConn great Jen Rizzotti tells TMZ Sports she's confident her Huskies are going all the way -- thanks to Geno Auriemma's ability to always get it done!!

Rizzotti -- currently the Connecticut Sun president -- is well aware of the legendary coach's ways ... as she played under Auriemma in the mid-'90s, winning an NCAA championship in 1995.

She sees the same fierce determination in the current Huskies, with Paige Bueckers and Sarah Strong leading the team to the women's 36th consecutive NCAA tournament.

Bill Chisholm's yet to take his seat at the top of the Celtics' organization, but Boston's soon-to-be new owner has already earned some big praise from at least one Cs great -- Cedric Maxwell!!

TMZ Sports chopped it up with the two-time NBA champ this week just after Chisholm agreed to buy the storied franchise from Wyc Grousbeck for $6.1 billion ... and he told us he was thrilled over the purchase.

First of all, Maxwell said he was happy Grousbeck was able to make some serious coin in the deal. Then, he explained he was pumped to learn Chisholm's a diehard supporter -- 'cause he had always hoped for continuity if a sale occurred.

Tracy Morgan's not going into hiding after his very public vomiting episode earlier this week ... TMZ Sports has learned he's actually trying to get out to another Knicks game as soon as he can.

As you know, the comedian was hospitalized on Monday after a bad bout with food poisoning caused him to upchuck all over the Madison Square Garden floor during New York's game with Miami.

Some had wondered if he'd just opt to catch his favorite team from the couch for the rest of the season from here ... but a source close to Morgan says he will be back at MSG despite the messy scene.

Stephen A. Smith has a message for LeBron James after Bronny's 17-point performance ... saying he's not too proud to admit his initial assessment of the Lakers rookie could very well have been off the mark.

The ESPN talent didn't shy from his previous comments about the four-time champion's son on "First Take" Friday ... in fact, he reiterated how he initially thought the 20-year-old needed to spend a year in the G League in order to reach success with the big dogs -- but Thursday's outing has him reconsidering.

Smith said he was "very impressed" with Bronny's contribution in the Lakers' loss to the Bucks ... as he looked like someone who belonged.

The University of North Carolina can show people they belong in the NCAA Tournament on Friday by beating Ole Miss ... but it's gonna be a helluva tough game, according to Tar Heels legend Rashad McCants.

But, victory is attainable ... the former All-American told TMZ Sports, ahead of tip-off, going down Friday afternoon at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.

"It's gonna be a very, very tough game," the 40-year-old former first-round draft pick said, continuing ... "I think traditionally we'll edge out, but I think if Ole Miss shows up to be who they are, they'll win."

Bronny James silenced some of his critics with his performance in the Lakers game on Thursday night ... 'cause the guard dropped 17 points in Crypto.com Arena -- a career-high for the rookie.

The 20-year-old got his opportunity to play for more than a few minutes against the Milwaukee Bucks ... thanks to several key players like LeBron, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and more out with injuries.

Despite the Lakers' 118-89 loss, Bronny had 17 points, his first career double-digit game and tying fellow rookie Dalton Knecht to lead the team in scoring. He also had five assists and three rebounds.