Basketball: the main stories of 05.09.2026

Mali's second win in 12 World Cup outings arrived against the side that has reached three of the last four European finals. Sika Kone carried it with 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Mali saw it out 82-73 after conceding 102 to Japan in their opener. That leaves Group A in Berlin without a settled order and puts Spain in the position of needing results against sides they were expected to beat. Mali's all-time record now reads 2-10. Hungary took the other result of the session, holding off Nigeria 71-67.

Two of yesterday's stories moved on. After the NBA fined the Clippers $30m and stripped them of picks over the Kawhi Leonard endorsement arrangement, Draymond Green said he accepted Leonard's account that the forward knew nothing of the deals, and argued the fine on Steve Ballmer is not the token sum it is being called. Separately, with Cathy Engelbert due to leave the WNBA, Enes Kanter put himself forward for the job — "I will bring common sense, fairness and a dictionary", he said. Both sets of remarks come from single reports.

• Amen Thompson signed a five-year, $208m extension in Houston; Joe Johnson, by all accounts unconvinced, said the money demands a reliable jump shot on his return.
• Caitlin Clark opened the tournament with a double-double in the 94-61 win over China — the first player at a World Cup with 10 or more assists and no turnovers.
• Saki Hayashi hit 9 of 15 from three and Japan 20 of 35, both tournament records, in the 102-97 win over Mali.
• Emma Meesseman scored 27 in Belgium's 89-75 defeat of Turkey, a personal and national World Cup best.
• Branko Lazić, seven times an Adriatic League champion across 14 years at Crvena Zvezda, retired at 37.
• Olivier Hanlan, 33, joined Petkim Spor in Turkey.
• Barcelona's Toşan Ewbuomvan is out at least three weeks with a dislocated shoulder; Panathinaikos lost Nikos Rogkavopoulos for several weeks, joining Kendrick Nunn and Nigel Hayes-Davis.
• Richard Dietz blocked the sale of Maccabi Tel Aviv to the DC United owner and took control himself.
• The Athletic reports a second bidder for a Seattle NBA franchise, BlackSun Private Equity.
• Tony Parker took over at Villeurbanne with the budget cut from €59m to €24m.
• The Euroleague Super Cup stays in Abu Dhabi on 18-19 September, with Olympiacos, Real Madrid, Fenerbahçe and Dubai.
• One outlet reports Ariana Andonian has left Philadelphia to become general manager of the Sparks.
• Tonight: Germany host Japan in Berlin; Partizan play Hapoel Tel Aviv and Real Madrid face Baskonia in friendlies.