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Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant would like to claim a stake in the Washington Commanders should Dan and Tanya Snyder sell the NFL franchise.

"In a perfect world, I would be a part of it," he said to ESPN's Nick Friedell. "I would love to do it. I would love to give a little bit of my money to be a part of the Commanders, but we'll see. Hopefully it's somebody nice. I heard [Amazon CEO Jeff] Bezos and Jay-Z, but you never know."

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Sunday that the Commanders could sell for as high as $7 billion.

On the #Commanders possible sale: My understanding is that number could reach $7B with a timeline of the March league meeting if all goes well. https://t.co/qWa4LxE0zy

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 6, 2022

The 12-time All-Star is from Washington, D.C., and told Friedell he's "excited as a fan" for the Commanders' future.

"I feel like we drafted well the last couple years," he said. "We got some foundation pieces that can help you win football games moving forward. So yeah, I think it's an attractive destination."

The Snyders announced Wednesday they hired BofA Securities to explore the potential sale of the Commanders.

Fans have called for an ownership change for years, and the dissent has reached a fevered pitch amid a series of controversies involving the organization.

The Commanders were the subject of an investigation into their workplace atmosphere in 2021, which drew the attention of Congress as well. On the same day as the Snyders' announcement, ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr. reported prosecutors from the U.S. attorney's office were looking into alleged financial improprieties.

An earlier report from ESPN cast serious doubt on how much support from fellow NFL owners Dan Snyder even enjoys now. Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay was the first to go on record and call for his removal.

In the event the Commanders are officially put up for sale, the Snyders almost assuredly wouldn't have trouble finding bidders despite all of the recent turmoil.

People's Charlotte Triggs and Natasha Dye reported Bezos may be interested and could bring Jay-Z within his ownership group. Kamaron Leach of Bloomberg reported Entertainment Studios founder Byron Allen is laying the groundwork for a bid.

If Durant were to obtain a minority share, this wouldn't be his first foray into sports ownership. He bought a five percent stake in the MLS' Philadelphia Union in June 2020 and became a minority investor in the NWSL's NJ/NY Gotham FC in May.

Phoenix Suns forward Cam Johnson will undergo surgery to repair a torn meniscus, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

Charania and Sam Amick previously reported the Suns feared a torn meniscus as of Saturday, but he was set to undergo further testing to confirm the diagnosis.

Johnson suffered the right knee injury early in Friday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers, coming out of the game after just five minutes of action. He was inactive for Saturday's game.

The fourth-year player averaged 13.0 points and 3.4 rebounds through eight games in 2022-23, shooting 43.1 percent from three-point range.

The 26-year-old scored a season-high 29 points in Tuesday's win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, one game before suffering his injury.

Johnson is coming off a breakout year with the Suns, averaging 12.5 points with 4.1 rebounds while shooting 42.5 percent from three-point range. He started just 16 of 66 games, but he was a finalist for the league's Sixth Man of the Year while helping the Suns post the best record in the NBA.

With Jae Crowder on the trade block, Johnson moved into the starting lineup and became a key part of the team's 7-2 start, the best record in the Western Conference.

Unfortunately, he wasn't able to agree to an extension before the deadline this year and will now be a restricted free agent next offseason. The latest injury could represent a significant setback as he tries to secure a new deal.

Veteran teammate Chris Paul still provided some encouraging words for the fourth-year player:

"This ain't it. This is just a hurdle he's gonna have to overcome, and we're gonna be right there with him." - Chris Paul on Cam Johnson's knee injury pic.twitter.com/CuvCTFS9za

— PHNX Suns (@PHNX_Suns) November 6, 2022

Torrey Craig started in place of Johnson on Saturday and could see a bigger role going forward. Dario Šarić and Damion Lee should also play extra minutes at the forward spots as the Suns try to remain a team to beat in the West.

New Orleans Pelicans guard and players association president CJ McCollum condemned antisemitism while discussing the recent events surrounding Kyrie Irving.

"It's safe to say that we know that Kyrie and all of us—me specifically, I can speak for myself—specifically condemn antisemitism in any form," McCollum said, per ESPN's Andrew Lopez. "I am specifically against it. I specifically believe in promoting equality, diversity of inclusion."

Irving promoted an antisemitic film on social media before failing to say he did not have antisemitic beliefs in an ensuing interview. The Brooklyn Nets suspended him for a minimum of five games and provided a checklist he must complete before reinstatement:

Sources: Nets have delivered Kyrie Irving six items he must complete to return to team:

- Apologize/condemn movie
- $500K donation to anti-hate causes
- Sensitivity training
- Antisemitic training
- Meet with ADL, Jewish leaders
- Meet with Joe Tsai to demonstrate understanding

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 6, 2022

Irving has since apologized on Instagram:

While doing research on YHWH, I posted a Documentary that contained some false anti-Semitic statements, narratives, and language that were untrue and offensive to the Jewish Race/Religion, and I take full accountability and responsibly for my actions. I am grateful to have a big platform to share knowledge and I want to move forward by having an open dialogue to learn more and grow from this.

McCollum said it was important for Irving to apologize and use the situation as a learning experience:

"He's displayed empathy now. I think this is a learning experience in which I don't think he understood the magnitude of the movie because he didn't watch it. I don't think he understood the magnitude of the people that were affected, how they were impacted and how fast hate can spread and how this can snowball."

McCollum's words could be impactful as a veteran leader in the league, especially with few others speaking out against Irving's actions.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James also said Irving "caused some harm to a lot of people."

The Toronto Raptors announced Sunday that Pascal Siakam will miss at least two weeks because of a muscle strain.

The 2019-20 All-Star has been the team's best player to open the 2022-23 season. He's averaging 24.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 7.7 assists through nine games.

Siakam exited Toronto's 111-110 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Friday with a groin injury. A two-week recovery timeline could rule him out for the team's next eight games as well. A Nov. 23 clash with the Brooklyn Nets may be the earliest he's back on the court.

Siakam's value goes beyond the box score.

Head coach Nick Nurse began using the 6'9" forward as a center more frequently last year, and the trend has continued into the current campaign. Per Cleaning the Glass, 19 percent of Siakam's minutes came at the 5 in 2021-22, and the number is up to 24 percent in 2022-23.

His ability to not only defend the perimeter but also operate as a small-ball center is something that can't easily be replicated by another player within the squad.

On offense, Siakam has helped the Raptors cope with their dearth of playmakers behind Fred VanVleet, who has missed three games due to back trouble. Siakam, VanVleet and Scottie Barnes are the only Toronto players averaging at least two assists per game.

Two weeks isn't a long time in the grand scheme of an entire season, but top-six race in the Eastern Conference is likely to be a tight one. Siakam's injury could prove costly if only one or two games are what separates Toronto from the No. 6 seed to the play-in tournament.

The Boston Celtics defeated the New York Knicks 133-118 on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden to improve to 6-3 on the season, and it was another spectacular evening for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Brown finished with 30 points, five rebounds and three assists in 37 minutes, making 10-of-19 shots from the floor and 6-of-11 shots from deep. Tatum, meanwhile, finished with 26 points, four rebounds, five assists, one steal and two blocks in 37 minutes. He made 8-of-17 shots from the floor and 6-of-13 shots from deep.

The Celtics also set a new franchise record for the most three-pointers in the game after making 27-of-51 shots from beyond the arc against the Knicks. After the offense exploded on Saturday night, fans on Twitter were quick to praise the duo of Tatum and Brown for helping the Celtics set the record:

The #Celtics move to 6-3 overall after a 133-116 win over the Knicks in New York - with Al Horford(back) out

🏀The C's set a franchise record with 27 three-pointers
🏀Jaylen Brown had 30 pts(6 threes)
🏀Jayson Tatum added 26 pts(6 threes)
🏀Sam Hauser added 17 pts(5 threes)

— Dan Roche (@RochieWBZ) November 6, 2022

In addition to the franchise record 27 3's, the Celtics in the 133-118 win in New York...

* Scored 32+ in all four quarters
* All 9 Celtics who played made at least one 3.
* Career-high 17 for Sam Hauser (in 21 minutes)
* Snap their first 3-game losing steak at MSG in 22 years.

— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) November 6, 2022

the Celtics were amazing on defense last year

so far this year they are pretty awesome on offense

what if... and I'm just spitballing here, they put the two together right around June?

— CelticsBlog (@celticsblog) November 6, 2022

That’s a big boy win for the #Celtics tonight, no matter what you think of the Knicks. No Al Horford. In New York. Second leg of a back to back. Rolling just nine deep. Boston’s offense is a juggernaut.

— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) November 6, 2022

Celtics offense is a wagon and they are going to be even tougher to defend when they get one of the best lob threats in the league back.

— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) November 6, 2022

the Celtics already lead the league with 60.5% true shooting. They're at 71.6% true shooting in this game

— John Karalis 🇬🇷 (@John_Karalis) November 6, 2022

56 for Brown and Tatum. Best duo in the NBA

— Dan Greenberg (@StoolGreenie) November 6, 2022

Jaylen Brown loves playing at MSG

— Jack Simone (@JackSimoneNBA) November 6, 2022

Tatum and brown >>>

— kev 🎧 (@RIPkevv) November 6, 2022

https://twitter.com/abdulali_2/status/1589070543286067200

The Celtics were one of the NBA's best defensive teams last season, but this year they are one of the best offensively, entering Saturday's game with a 115.3 offensive rating, which ranks fifth in the league.

Boston's defense, meanwhile, ranks 18th at 113.

The combo of Tatum and Brown and the addition of Malcolm Brogdon has the C's firing on all cylinders, and they'll look to keep it rolling on Monday against the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Brooklyn Nets announced Thursday that they suspended guard Kyrie Irving for at least five games without pay for conduct detrimental to the team after his promotion of an antisemitic film on social media and his ensuing refusal to unequivocally say that he did not have antisemitic beliefs in numerous talks with reporters.

The Nets also stated that Irving must complete "a series of objective remedial measures that address the harmful impact of his conduct" before he could return.

Brooklyn did not make those measures publicly known, but Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports revealed them in a Saturday evening report:

"For Irving to return, he must meet with the media and issue a verbal apology that clearly states he’s sorry for sharing the film and understands the film is harmful and untrue.

"He must also share the apology on his social media accounts. Irving initially issued an apology on Instagram hours after his suspension.

"In addition, he must follow and complete sensitivity trainings determined by the team while also meeting with Jewish leaders in the Brooklyn community.

"And finally, if he meets the numerous requirements to the Nets’ satisfaction, he must meet with ownership and demonstrate this type of behavior will not occur again this season — the last of Irving’s four-year deal he signed with the Nets in 2019."

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium noted one of the action items Irving has to complete is a "$500,000 donation to anti-hate causes":

Sources: Nets have delivered Kyrie Irving six items he must complete to return to team:

- Apologize/condemn movie
- $500K donation to anti-hate causes
- Sensitivity training
- Antisemitic training
- Meet with ADL, Jewish leaders
- Meet with Joe Tsai to demonstrate understanding

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 6, 2022

On Thursday night, Irving issued a statement on Instagram with an apology to the Jewish community, stating in part that he took "full accountability and responsibly for my actions." He's since deleted the offending tweet.

Nets general manager Sean Marks called the apology a "step" in the right direction Friday and further noted that the team never considered waiving Irving before levying the suspension.

Irving and the Nets also planned to donate $500,000 each to the Anti-Defamation League, but ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt publicly stated Thursday that the organization would not accept the guard's donation, referencing the press conference that ultimately acted as the last straw before the suspension.

"We were optimistic but after watching the debacle of a press conference, it's clear that Kyrie feels no accountability for his actions," Greenblatt said on Twitter. "ADL cannot in good conscience accept his donation."

The Nets' first post-suspension game without Irving took place Friday, and Brooklyn won that one 128-86 at the Washington Wizards.

Its next four games are against the Charlotte Hornets (Saturday), the Dallas Mavericks (Monday), the New York Knicks (Wednesday) and Los Angeles Clippers (next Saturday). The next possible game Irving can play would be Sunday, Nov. 13, at the Los Angeles Lakers.

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss Saturday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder because of left knee soreness.

Any injury to the 27-year-old, big or small, is going to be a concern in Milwaukee, and for good reason. He is a two-time MVP, six-time All-Star, the 2019-20 Defensive Player of the Year and a four-time first-team All-NBA selection.

Oh, and he led the Bucks to a title in the 2020-21 season.

Antetokounmpo has also continued to improve, averaging an impressive 29.9 points, 11.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals in the 2021-22 season. It was a testament to the strong seasons of Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid that he finished a distant third in the MVP voting to that pair.

While perimeter shooting remains his one weakness—he came into this season shooting 28.8 percent from beyond the arc—Antetokounmpo showed improvement at the free-throw line last year, bumping his average back up to 72.2 percent after dipping below 70 percent the previous two seasons.

The 2013 first-round pick did give the Bucks a scare in early September, leaving a EuroBasket game for Greece with an ankle problem. While he was seen limping after that game, national head coach Dimitris Itoudis played down the injury.

"It's all good," he told reporters at the time.

Antetokounmpo is one of the truly unique players in the NBA, and his impact for the Bucks is immense, so replacing him is impossible. On Saturday, look for Bobby Portis to take his place in the starting lineup.

The Kevin Durant sweepstakes could soon be back on.

ESPN's Zach Lowe reported on the Lowe Post podcast (via HoopsHype) "the whole league is ready now to reengage" in trade discussions centered around the Brooklyn Nets star. He added at the 26:24 mark "the vultures are gonna circle on Durant" amid the Nets' ongoing turmoil.

The organization refused to acquiesce to Durant's trade request in the offseason, but so much has changed already that the front office could be more receptive to the idea.

Prior to opening night, the Nets clearly remained convinced of their ability to contend for a title with the pair of Durant and Kyrie Irving. Now, they're 3-6 and sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference.

So much of Brooklyn's championship hopes rested on a return to form by Ben Simmons. The three-time All-Star looks even more hesitant on offense—his 5.7 shot attempts per game are fewer than half of his career average (11.5)—and he's dealing with a knee problem as well.

The team's start was enough to cost head coach Steve Nash his job. Even assuming things turn around under interim head coach Jacque Vaughn or a permanent replacement to Nash, there's only so much the staff can do with a squad that's 26th in defensive rating (115.0), per NBA.com.

As that has all unfolded on the court, Irving created more drama off it by sharing a link on Twitter to an antisemitic film. After he failed to apologize or renounce the content of the movie, the Nets suspended him for a minimum of five games without pay.

Irving apologized on Instagram shortly after the suspension was issued.

It all raises the question as to whether the Nets are prolonging the inevitable by keeping Durant and avoiding the full-scale rebuild his departure would trigger. If recent history tells us anything, then the next crisis is right around the corner for Brooklyn.

Lowe said the teams that might covet Durant "expect the Nets to put on a strong face for a while, to not rush it." He also posited the 12-time All-Star may not attempt to force his way out now, either, because of how it would be viewed.

Maybe nothing materializes before the Feb. 9 trade deadline or even next summer. Still, you can't help but feel Durant's days in Brooklyn are numbered.

Jerami Grant hit a buzzer-beater to help the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Phoenix Suns on Friday night, but the NBA believes the final shot should have been called off for a traveling violation.

Grant made the go-ahead bucket off an inbound with no time remaining to complete the 108-106 win:

JERAMI GRANT FOR THE WIN 🔥 https://t.co/kx8eE8KQzG

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 5, 2022

A review confirmed Grant released the ball in time for the play to count, although the NBA's Last Two Minute Report stated there was an incorrect no call for a travel.

"Grant (POR) gathers the ball with one hand and then takes three steps before releasing the shot attempt," the report stated.

To make matters worse for Phoenix, the Trail Blazers only received the ball with one second left after Mikal Bridges was called for a travel on the other end of the court. The L2M report stated this was also an incorrect call.

"Bridges (PHX) brings two hands to the ball and gathers it on his right foot," the report said. "He then comes down on two feet for his first step and can choose either foot as his pivot foot. He establishes his left foot as his pivot by stepping with his right and then leaves the ground and releases his shot attempt."

The Suns might have had a chance to score their own go-ahead basket but instead fell to the Trail Blazers in regulation.

Portland still deserves credit for an impressive effort on the road, with Grant scoring 30 points on 10-of-17 from the field. It was enough to get to 6-2 on the season, tying the Suns for the best record in the Western Conference.

Former NBA player Ben Gordon was arrested early Friday morning and charged with two misdemeanor counts of battery causing bodily harm and battery making physical contact, according to Deanese Williams-Harris of the Chicago Tribune.

Police said they were called after security guards attempted to escort Gordon out of a McDonald's in Chicago following a disturbance. He allegedly punched one man in the face and threw another to the ground.

Gordon was arrested at the scene after 3 a.m. local time.

Gordon already faces a handful of charges after being arrested in New York's LaGuardia airport last month after allegedly punching his 10-year-old son.

According to TMZ Sports, he was charged with two counts of assault in the second degree, one count of criminal contempt, one count of assault in the third degree, one count of resisting arrest, one count of criminal contempt in the second degree, one count of endangering the welfare of a child and one count of attempted assault in the third degree.

A witness told the Port Authority Police Department that Gordon struck his son "multiple times" in the face before police got involved. He allegedly resisted arrest and injured two police officers in the struggle.

Gordon's son and both officers were taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Hours after his release from that arrest, the 39-year-old was arrested again in Harlem in connection to a 2020 robbery. A woman said Gordon stole her phone and elbowed her in the eye.

Gordon spent 11 seasons in the NBA, including five with the Chicago Bulls after being drafted No. 3 overall in 2004. He last appeared for the Orlando Magic in 2014-15.