Patty Mills' San Antonio Spurs were never in the game in the NBA Western Conference semi-final opener.

It sounds like basketball's Mission Impossible for Australia's Joe Ingles, Dante Exum and their Utah Jazz teammates when they meet the Golden State Warriors in their NBA western conference semi-final series.

Numerous former athletes have opened up about their struggle to cope with life after elite sport.

​Australians Joe Ingles and Dante Exum will face title favourites Golden State in the NBA western conference semi-finals after their Utah Jazz claimed a 4-3 playoffs series win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Her shooting radar was well off but AFLW best and fairest Erin Phillips has performed strongly in her first basketball game since winning the premiership with Adelaide.

Australia's Joe Ingles, Dante Exum and their Utah Jazz have blown an opportunity to eliminate the Los Angeles Clippers from the NBA play-offs.

Melbourne United have re-signed NBA import Josh Boone for the next NBL season.

The Capitals are on the verge of finalising a deal to recruit a rising basketball gun for the WNBL season.

Australian star Liz Cambage hopes to return to the WNBA, potentially next year.

Melbourne Boomers announce the signing of Liz Cambage for the upcoming WNBL season on Thursday.

Patty Mills put on a shooting clinic in an NBA play-offs win on Wednesday.

Fox Sports and the WNBL announced on Tuesday they would form a three-year partnership where the network would show one game a week and all finals.

Thon Maker, Matthew Dellavedova and their young, promising Milwaukee Bucks are just one loss away from being eliminated from the NBA play-offs.

Joe Ingles had a monster game to lead the Utah Jazz to a seven-point victory over the Los Angeles Clippers and lock up their NBA play-off first-round series at 2-2.

Mike Conley showed why he landed the richest contract in NBA history as he sparked the Memphis Grizzlies to a thrilling playoff series-levelling win over Patty Mills' San Antonio Spurs.

The Canberra Capitals hope Rachel Jarry's arrival will spark a recruitment spree for the WNBL club.

NBL chief executive Jeremy Loeliger says basketball is now back in the fight for elite athletes.

Australia's Joe Ingles has hit a three-pointer, a lay-up and pulled off some big defensive plays in the final minutes, but the Utah Jazz have lost to the Los Angeles Clippers in game two of their NBA playoff series.

The reigning NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers have developed a habit of giving away late-game leads but LeBron James is not losing sleep over that trend and feels his team are on the cusp of their top form.

Sandy Brondello did it all as an Australian Opals player, and now she will return to the national set-up as the head coach on the road to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Matthew Dellavedova is at the centre of a dirty play controversy for setting "hellish screens".

Joe Ingles, a key figure in the Utah Jazz's playoff hopes, is on the cusp of cashing in with a huge new NBA contract.

Danger time for the Warriors could come when Steve Kerr sends Steph Curry and Kevin Durant to the bench together - or not.

Patty Mills' San Antonio Spurs have thrashed the Memphis Grizzlies in their NBA playoff opener, continuing a successful day for Australian players.

Anneli Maley had a tough choice to make between the WNBL and US college basketball.

Tahlia Tupaea admits she was shocked to hear WNBA club Minnesota Lynx had drafted her.

Ben Simmons decided to not reveal much during his long-awaited news conference.

Monique Conti, international basketballer and inaugural AFL women's academy member, wants to play both sports at the top level.

Patty Mills has been sensational off the bench for Gregg Popovich's experienced squad, shooting 41 per cent from behind the three point line while averaging 10 points and 22 minutes per game.

Young Australian Dante Exum is expecting an impending maiden NBA playoffs series to be among the toughest challenges of his career.

North Carolina made up for last year's title-decider heartbreak by putting together a late run to overhaul Gonzaga 71-65 in the final of the NCAA men's basketball championship.

Alanna Smith was again a key contributor but her Stanford Cardinal couldn't overcome South Carolina in their Final Four clash.

Cyclone Debbie has left Marianna Tolo's family home in Mackay without power and they are fast running out of water.

Victoria's Alanna Smith is playing a key role in Stanford University's run in the NCAA Tournament and they play in the Final Four on Saturday.

Australian basketball has welcomed back Erin Phillips, confident the Opal's AFLW success won't prompt a talent drain to football as the AFL considers expansion.

Devin Booker scored 70 points, becoming the sixth player in NBA history to reach that total, but it wasn't enough to give his side a victory as the Phoenix Suns fell 130-120 to the Boston Celtics.

The Los Angeles Lakers have honoured Shaquille O'Neal with a bronze statue of the Hall of Fame centre who helped them to three consecutive NBA titles.

New Melbourne United coach Dean Vickerman is wasting no time building the roster and ethos to compete for an NBL championship.

Andrej Lemanis coached the Boomers to within seconds of a bronze medal in Rio, he will get the chance to go one better in Tokyo after being reappointed until the end of the 2020 Olympics.