NBA

Memphis Grizzlies rookie Jaylen Wells was stretchered off the court after a brutal fall during a dunk attempt in Tuesday night's game ... and while he suffered a broken wrist as a result of the tumble, he's fortunate it was not more serious.

The frightening incident happened during the second quarter of the Grizzlies' road matchup against the Charlotte Hornets ... when Wells -- averaging 10.4 points this season -- went up for a one-handed slam.

Once Wells was airborne, he took a hard foul from Hornets guard KJ Simpson ... causing him to plummet onto the Spectrum Center court and seemingly hitting his head in the process.

2:53 PM PT -- The NBA just announced it's rescinded the technical foul that sparked Tuesday night's drama.

Luka Doncic got the boot from an important Lakers game Tuesday night ... because an official with a quick whistle couldn't delineate fan trash talk from referee chirping.

The bizarre scene all unfolded in the fourth quarter of L.A.'s road tilt with Oklahoma City ... after Doncic hit a floater in the lane to give his team a 108-107 lead.

After making the basket, the 26-year-old turned toward the crowd and began mouthing off -- but a ref thought the chatter was aimed at him ... and Doncic -- who had been hit with a technical foul just a few minutes earlier for arguing a call -- was immediately ejected.

Ja Morant went to his weapon wheel for his latest celebration ... electing for a "grenade" instead of his go-to "gun" gesture in Tuesday night's game.

The Memphis Grizzlies star debuted the move against the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center ... days after he was handed a $75,000 fine for pretending to unload a firearm on multiple occasions in competition, which the NBA publicly warned him to stop doing.

Morant apparently can't help but channel his inner "Call of Duty" as he goes to war on the court ... 'cause he mimicked the explosive-tossing stunt throughout the night -- acting like he was pulling a pin with his teeth and covering his ears.

If Michael Malone is having regrets over his Nuggets tattoo now that the team unceremoniously fired him, the man who put the ink on the coach's body tells TMZ Sports he's down to cover it up.

The former Denver head man famously got the Maxie the Miner piece etched onto his shoulder after he won his first-ever NBA title two years ago ... but if he now wants it gone, Mike Diaz of Triple W Tattoos says he'll break out his needle once more.

The artist -- who designed the whimsical championship piece for Malone in June 2023 -- told us he's hopeful the 53-year-old will keep it, as it's an amazing memory for him and his city ... but he added, "If he really wanted to do that, I would help out."

Michael Malone is no longer the head coach of the Denver Nuggets, it was announced Tuesday.

The move is nothing short of shocking -- the Nuggets are a playoff team this season ... and could end up with as high as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.

Just two seasons ago, Denver won the whole damn thing under Malone's leadership.

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.