NBA

Ashton Hall became an internet sensation with his insane daily routines, but he elected to stay out way past his early bedtime on Monday ... thanks to his courtside seats at the Miami Heat game!!

Don't worry, though -- he still got up at the ass crack of dawn for his Tuesday morning workout.

Hall -- who recently went viral for his bizarre 4 AM exercise regimen -- was captured sitting with his feet on wood at the Kaseya Center in Miami for a contest against the Philadelphia 76ers ... and his fans were shocked to see him being a night owl.

UConn is a national champion once again, and perhaps nobody was more proud of the new title than Vanessa Bryant -- whose daughter, Gianna, absolutely adored the Huskies.

Kobe's wife took to her Instagram page to congratulate Geno Auriemma and Co. after they destroyed South Carolina, 82-59, on Sunday in Tampa ... and wrote that Gigi would've been so happy with the way the women's basketball team hoisted yet another NCAA tournament.

"Gigi would've loved being there with you," she said ... before adding a quote from Gianna that read, "When you think you can't, UCONN."

Pete Davidson and Elsie Hewitt took their blossoming romance to Madison Square Garden Sunday night to watch the New York Knicks play the Phoenix Suns.

The new couple sat courtside in the packed NYC arena — and they seemed to really enjoy the game as well as each other.

Check out photos, which show the comedian and the model walking hand-in-hand through a crowd and sitting side-by-side in their seats with big smiles as the Suns beat the Knicks 112 to 98.

If Larry Johnson were in Cooper Flagg's giant Blue Devil sneakers, he tells TMZ Sports he'd forgo the NBA for one more year ... and stay put in Durham.

Flagg, of course, is the prohibitive favorite to go at the top of this year's draft ... but Johnson made it clear to us he'd like to see the 18-year-old hang around Duke a bit longer.

The College Basketball Hall of Famer said the extra year of ACC ball would help Flagg tremendously in the long run ... even though he knows it'd be difficult for the teenager to postpone his pro career another 12 or so months.

Chris Webber has some sound advice for all the young athletes suiting up for the Final Four ... telling TMZ Sports one mistake -- like, say, calling a timeout when your team doesn't have one -- won't ruin their lives!!

We ran into the former NBA star and Michigan Wolverine before Houston, Duke, Florida and Auburn take the court during the NCAA tournament's semifinals this weekend ... and he reflected on his own career before dishing out some words of wisdom.

"I wouldn't trade one moment that I had at the Final Four," Webber said. "I wouldn't trade any of the stats. I wouldn't take the timeout."

Ja Morant might not care if he gets punished for his gun-themed celebrations ... but one former NBA great is pleading with the Memphis Grizzlies star to leave the safety on his controversial gesture -- telling TMZ Sports he's "ruining his career."

We spoke with Spencer Haywood out at LAX shortly after 25-year-old Morant was fined for his on-court antics ... and he had a strong message for the two-time All-Star and his inner circle.

"The people that are around him are not advising him right," Haywood said. "He's ruining his career, he's ruining his family's life, and his team most importantly, he's letting them all down. So, I'm just disappointed in Ja."

8:55 AM PT -- The NBA just announced it's fined Ja Morant $75,000 for the finger-gun gestures.

In announcing the punishment, the league noted it warned Morant prior to Thursday's Grizzlies vs. Heat tilt that the acts "could be interpreted in a negative light."

Ja Morant made more references to firearms on Thursday night ... just hours after the NBA reportedly told him not to.

The trade that sent Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks to Los Angeles was truly historic … and now, Lakers fans have their chance to bid on a significant memento -- one of his earliest game-worn jerseys!!

SCP Auctions got its hands on the threads Luka wore for the Lakers' Feb. 12 matchup against the Utah Jazz – his second ever game for the legendary franchise.

Considering Luka is keeping his first purple and gold No. 77 top for his own collection, it's likely the earliest Luka Laker jersey that will ever hit the market!!

12:21 PM PT -- The Hawks gave an update on the fan to TMZ Sports on Wednesday ... saying, "We have reached out to the season ticket member injured last night while participating in an on-court game during a timeout."

"He is in good spirits and expects a full recovery."

An ATL fan appeared to suffer an ACL injury on Tuesday night ... going down with what seemed like a bad knee ailment during a challenge at the Hawks game.

The painful scene took place amid an intermission at the Hawks vs. Trail Blazers tilt at State Farm Arena ... when an Atlanta-backer was picked to participate in a basketball version of Tic-Tac-Toe.

The guy -- wearing a Hawks sweatshirt -- was supposed to hit a few layups before his opponent ... and score a Tic-Tac-Toe win in the process.

The NBA is, once again, looking into an incident involving Ja Morant and a possible connection to firearms.

League insider Shams Charania reported Wednesday that Association officials have launched an investigation into the Grizzlies superstar ... after he was seen making finger-gun gestures in Memphis' tilt with Golden State on Tuesday night.

Ja appeared to form his hands into mini guns ... and then aim them at Buddy Hield, who had been talking some smack to the Grizzlies guard just moments prior. The two guys both ended up getting technicals for their roles in the tiff.

Finally!!!

Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore have reportedly struck a deal to officially acquire 100% ownership of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx after more than a year of bitter negotiations with current majority owner Glen Taylor.

This deal was finalized on Wednesday, according to reports, after the MLB legend and former Walmart CEO put up $1.5 billion for the T'Wolves and Lynx in 2021.

In 2024, however, the deal fell apart after Taylor -- who owned the Minnesota franchise for 34 years -- claimed they missed a negotiated deadline.

The Dallas fan who screamed "Fire Nico" in Nico Harrison's face on Monday night says his phone was taken and thrown to the ground shortly after the incident ... and now, he tells TMZ Sports he's planning to file a police report over the whole ordeal.

Chris Taylor said the wild, phone-smashing scene went down at American Airlines Center during the Mavs' tilt with the Nets ... roughly an hour or so after he got in Harrison's grill and stated he should be canned.

Taylor told us team and arena officials approached him and were furious with him over his interaction with Harrison. He says later, a man who he believes was affiliated with them sat down behind him ... and got physical with him when he whipped out his phone to video the scene.

The NBA just handed down several punishments in relation to Sunday's Pistons vs. Timberwolves brawl ... with Detroit big man Isaiah Stewart getting the the stiffest penalty.

NBA Executive VP and head of basketball ops Joe Dumars announced the consequences of the scuffle on Tuesday ... saying Stewart is banned two games for "escalating an on-court altercation," adding his history of "unsportsmanlike acts" played a role in the length.

A handful of one-game suspensions were also shelled out for Detroit's Ron Holland and Marcus Sasser ... as well as Minnesota's Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo.

Jalen Suggs resumed his role as Hailey Van Lith's biggest cheerleader at TCU's NCAA tournament game on Monday ... this time, he rocked the hooper's jersey to further full-send their apparent relationship.

The 6'5" Orlando Magic guard was captured on video at the Horned Frogs' Elite Eight matchup against the No. 1-ranked Texas Longhorns at the Legacy Arena at the BJCC ... and his wardrobe made it clear which side he was rooting for.

Suggs was sitting near the TCU bench in a No. 10 jersey ... electing to wear it backward to show the Van Lith name.

Dallas Mavericks fans clearly still loathe Nico Harrison for trading away Luka Doncic ... one actually yelled right in the GM's face on Monday, "Fire Nico!" -- repeatedly!

The scene unfolded just before the Mavs' tilt with the Brooklyn Nets at American Airlines Center in Dallas ... as Harrison -- who jettisoned Doncic to the Lakers back on Feb. 1 -- was saying hi to some people who had shown up for the game a bit early.

The 52-year-old shook one person's hand, and then as he turned to go back to Dallas' locker room area -- a Mavs backer yelled that he should be canned.

Sweet gesture from Lakers head coach JJ Redick -- he held a special basketball clinic on his day off on Sunday for kids who have been impacted by the recent wildfires in L.A.

Los Angeles' sideline manager put on the one-of-a-kind camp in conjunction with his LA Strong Sports foundation ... inviting a bunch of little tykes to help learn ball at the Lakers' practice facility in El Segundo.

Redick spoke to the campers before giving them pointers on jump shots and defense ... and check out some of the pics the Lakers shared from the event -- everyone seemed thrilled.