Nicolas Batum: Last News

Free agent forward Nicolas Batum intends to sign a two-year, $11.5 million deal to return to the LA Clippers, sources told ESPN.

LA Clippers forward Nicolas Batum is declining his $4.9 million player option for the 2025-26 season to become a free agent, sources told ESPN on Saturday.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — James Harden rebounded from a quiet night in Game 5 on Tuesday to score 28 points on 10 of 20 shooting. Kawhi Leonard added 27 points and 10 rebounds and the LA Clippers forced a Game 7 of their first-round NBA playoff series with a 111-105 win over the Denver Nuggets in Game 6 on Thursday night.

Kawhi Leonard recorded 21 points, 11 rebounds and six assists and the Los Angeles Clippers took a 2-1 series lead with a convincing 117-83 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night at Inglewood, CaliforniaJames Harden had 20 points – all in the first half – to go with nine assists and six rebounds, while Norman Powell also scored 20 for the fifth-seeded Clippers. Ivica Zubac registered 19 points and nine rebounds as Los Angeles won its second straight in the best-of-seven, first-round series.Denver star Nikola Jokic recorded 23 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists for his 20th career postseason triple-double. Jamal Murray also scored 23 points and Aaron Gordon added 15 points and seven rebounds for the fourth-seeded Nuggets.“We got to build off of this,” said Clippers coach Tyronn Lue.

DEFENDERS HAD SWARMED Jalen Brunson with less than 30 seconds remaining in last season's pivotal Game 6, a first-round contest that would either bring the Philadelphia 76ers even with the New York Knicks or propel New York to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

DENVER — The LA Clippers aren't the first team that has sagged off Russell Westbrook defensively, daring him to try to beat them instead of three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.

Ben Simmons has agreed to a contract buyout with the Brooklyn Nets and intends to sign with the LA Clippers after clearing waivers, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Saturday.

LA Clippers center Ivica Zubac has agreed to a three-year, $58.6 million contract extension, tying him to the franchise for $70 million through the 2027-2028 season, his agents Mike Lindeman and Jeff Schwartz of Excel told ESPN on Friday.