Basketball

AVP took on TMZ ... and it ended up being a TKO.

Volleyball superstars Chase Budinger and Brandie Wilkerson popped by the TMZ offices on Wednesday ... and to warm up for their games at the AVP League Event in Los Angeles this weekend, they played a few of our staffers on our sand court.

Budinger, a former NBA star, and Wilkerson, a Paris Games silver medalist, faced off with TMZ Sports' Edward Lewis and Conor Hurley in Game 1 ... and while the first point went the journalists' way, it was total annihilation from there.

A "Jeopardy!" contestant mistakenly identified Paige Bueckers as Caitlin Clark during a clue that also included a PHOTO of the 2024 first overall pick ... in a record scratching moment on the famed gameshow!

The moment went down on Wednesday night's "Jeopardy!" episode ... as host Ken Jennings read the clue from the "Sporty Stuff" category to the three contestants, saying ... "This UConn star had an intense spring in 2025, playing on her first national championship team, and being picked first in the WNBA draft."

To make things even easier, the clue came with a photo of Bueckers in her Huskies uniform ... but it still wasn't enough for one of the contestants, Rahul.

2:51 PM PT -- TMZ Sports has obtained more details on the split ... with docs showing March 24, 2025 for their date of marriage and June 15 for their separation.

The reason behind the divorce was listed as "irreconcilable differences."

Docs show Gelo is asking for joint custody and visitation ... and wants to terminate spousal support for both parties.

LiAngelo Ball has filed for divorce from Rashida Nicole ... just days after the influencer announced she was pregnant with the couple's child.

Court records, obtained by TMZ Sports, show the "Tweaker" rapper requested the split at a Southern California courthouse on July 3.

It's unclear when the two actually tied the knot -- though we did see the duo leaving the same SoCal courthouse back in February wearing all-white outfits and carrying a large envelope.

Former NBA player Ben McLemore was sentenced to 100 months in prison after he was convicted of raping a woman in 2021 when he was hooping for the Trail Blazers.

The more than 8-year sentence was handed down on Wednesday, a week after a jury found the former Blazers guard guilty of sexual assault and rape in a Clackamas County courtroom.

The incident happened in October 2021 at the home of former Blazer's player Robert Covington, where McLemore was accused of raping a 21-year-old woman during a party.

Larsa Pippen's got a thing for basketball players -- and apparently coaches, too -- 'cause Scottie's ex just opened up on a brief romance she had with a 47-year-old before linking up with her new boyfriend, Jeff Coby ... and he was a real whistleblower.

The reality TV star peeled back the curtain on her dating life on the latest episode of Angela Yee's "Lip Service" podcast ... when the topic of age being just a number was raised.

"I dated a guy that was 47 years old, before I dated Jeff, and he was so immature," Pippen said.

Angel Reese was pissed off to the max on Tuesday ... and she took her frustrations out on her coach's clipboard in the process -- swiping it out of her hands in the middle of the Chicago Sky's loss!!

The outburst happened with 29.9 seconds left in the game at George Mason University ... when Reese and the Sky were tied at 77-77 with the Washington Mystics.

As the Sky challenged a loose-ball foul, players headed back to the bench ... and Reese was visibly upset.

Dwight Howard's wife, Amber Rose Howard, has filed for divorce ... just six months after she tied the knot with the ex-NBA superstar.

Court documents, obtained by TMZ Sports, show the rapper and reality star -- known widely as Amy Luciani -- requested the split from the basketball player at a Georgia courthouse on July 1.

Amber wrote in the docs "The marriage is irretrievably broken," adding, "there are no prospects for reconciliation."

Kalani Brown looked ready to be pulled for a chat ahead of the Phoenix Mercury game on Monday -- channeling her inner "Love Island" bombshell as she made her way to the locker rooms!!

The WNBA center arrived in style at the Footprint Center for the showdown against Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings ... rocking a sexy, two-piece orange dress for the occasion.

Brown certainly understood the assignment ... looking stunning before throwing on her jersey and sneakers.

While NBA general managers are frantically working the phones to build championship rosters, Victor Wembanyama is continuing to knock out his side quests -- this time, he was spotted having fun at a nightclub in Japan!!

TMZ Sports obtained video of the 7'3'' center hanging out at 1OAK Tokyo early last Sunday morning ... where we're told he was chilling with some players from Japan's pro basketball league as "Get it Sexyy" by Sexyy Red blared on the speakers.

Our sources tell us Wemby was super friendly and welcoming to all the ladies and men around him ... and hung around for about 90 minutes before heading out.

Nancy Lieberman isn't taking any Detroit hate sitting down ... telling TMZ Sports Sophie Cunningham needs to get her facts right after dissing the D earlier this week.

Cunningham -- who joined the Indiana Fever this year -- took a jab at Motor City when she was asked about the WNBA's decision to expand, saying, "I don’t know how excited people are to be going to Detroit."

She didn't sound thrilled about Cleveland and Philadelphia -- the two other cities receiving WNBA teams -- all that much, either.

Shaquille O'Neal was back on the set of "Gravesend" Tuesday ... filming scenes for the mob drama while looking far more like a crime boss than a lovable basketball legend.

Check out these images TMZ Sports has obtained ... the 15-time NBA All-Star was decked out in a huge gold chain, a black track suit and some specs as cameras rolled on him for his part in the Amazon Prime series.

Playing "Mustafa," he chatted away with businessman and producer, Jas Mathur, who also has the role of "Miguel" in the hit show.

Damian Lillard's time in Milwaukee has come to an abrupt end -- the Bucks are releasing the star guard amid his torn Achilles recovery.

The surprising move occurred during the first full day of free agency on Tuesday ... when Milwaukee let go of the 9-time All-Star to financially make room to sign ex-Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner to a four-year deal worth $107 million.

The Bucks will now pay Lillard the remaining $113 million of his contract over the next five years.

Dick Vitale is taking WNBA players to task for snubbing Caitlin Clark on their All-Star Game ballots ... ripping their voting as nothing more than "PURE JEALOUSY."

It was revealed on Monday that Clark was named just the ninth-best guard when it came to the players' ASG vote ... and it didn't take long for Dickie V to go off on the league for the results.

"Absolutely PURE JEALOUSY," he wrote on his X page. "Some day they will realize what she Has done for ALL of the players in the WNBA. Charted planes - increase in salaries-sold out crowds - improved TV Ratings."

Cameron Brink has no problem strutting her stuff in the buff ... opening up on her experience going "fully naked" for a recent photo shoot -- saying she wasn't sweating it one bit!!

The Los Angeles Sparks forward talked about her time in front of the cameras for the "PLAYERS" publication with her mom, Michelle, and teammate Dearica Hamby on the latest episode of her "Straight To Cam" podcast ... and she gushed over the artistry involved in the collab.

On the cover, the 23-year-old rocked a black suit with a grey shirt and black pants ... with her upper half opened up to expose her chest.

EA Sports ... It's (Back) In the Game!

Electronic Arts revealed big news Monday morning, announcing the return of another fan favorite, their college hoops game, EA College Basketball!

"Bring the Madness. Let's run it back," the company wrote in an X post.

It's been 16 years since EA Sports last put out the last college basketball game, which featured then-Oklahoma Sooners star Blake Griffin on the cover in 2009.

Malik Beasley is the subject of a federal investigation related to gambling on NBA games and prop bets ... this according to ESPN.

The nine-year NBA veteran is facing allegations connected to the 2023-2024 season ... when he played in 79 games for the Milwaukee Bucks.

According to the outlet -- citing an anonymous source -- at least one major sportsbook detected unusual betting interest in Beasley's stats starting in January 2024.