NBA

AP Sports WriterLeBron calls Barkley "a hater" fires back at TV commentatorBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) LeBron James is done bowing to Sir Charles.After he was criticized by Charles Barkley for questioning Cleveland's front office, James tore into the former NBA star and opinionated TV commentator on Monday night...

Bulls sign former Celtics first-round pick draft pick HunterCHICAGO (AP) The Chicago Bulls have signed former Boston Celtics first-round draft pick R.J. Hunter.The Bulls announced the move before Thursday's opener against the Celtics. The guard from Georgia State was let go by Boston this week.The 28th pick in...

A look inside the numbers of the NBA playoffs, as the conference semifinals resume Friday night with Cleveland at Chicago and Houston at the Los Angeles Clippers.The other semis pick up again on Saturday, with Golden State at Memphis and Atlanta visiting Washington.---3 FOR ALLMore 3-pointers are being shot...

Darryl Dawkins was once summoned in the Philadelphia 76ers' locker room to come meet a celebrity who wanted to meet the man known for dunking with backboard-breaking force.The guest was Grammy Award winner Stevie Wonder. The entertainer is blind, yet even he could tell there was something very unique...

NEW YORK (AP) - Nikola Mirotic still sometimes makes a rookie mistake.Not the kind that often trips up first-year players. There are no complaints from the Chicago Bulls about his defense or his work ethic.The problem is that Mirotic has the green light and doesn't always take it.''I hate...

SAN ANTONIO (92)Duncan 4-10 3-5 11, Leonard 7-12 3-6 18, Splitter 2-5 0-2 4, Parker 4-11 2-2 10, Green 2-11 1-2 6, Ginobili 3-10 2-4 10, Baynes 2-7 1-1 5, Diaw 2-12 1-2 5, Joseph 1-2 1-2 3, Bonner 0-1 0-0 0, Belinelli 4-7 0-0 11,...

PHOENIX (AP) NBA players Marcus and Markieff Morris go on trial Monday on felony assault charges stemming from a beating outside a Phoenix recreation center more than two years ago. The twin brothers could face a maximum of nearly four years in prison if they are found guilty. A conviction...

AP Basketball WriterAnthem singer at Heat-76ers game kneels during performanceBy TIM REYNOLDSMIAMI (AP) A woman performing the national anthem before an NBA preseason game in Miami on Friday night did so while kneeling at midcourt, and opening her jacket to show a shirt with the phrase ''Black Lives...

AP Basketball WriterEven as Knicks tumble again, Carmelo wants to be in New YorkBy BRIAN MAHONEYNEW YORK (AP) Carmelo Anthony still believes the Knicks can win and still wants to be in New York when they do.Another January collapse makes it easier to wonder if either will happen.The...

AP Basketball WriterFrom Simmons down, international players will fill NBA draftBy BRIAN MAHONEYNEW YORK (AP) Cleveland had one. So did Golden State.Both teams in the NBA Finals featured an Australian-born No. 1 draft pick: the Warriors' Andrew Bogut (2005) and the Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving (2011).Now Ben Simmons might...

NEW DELHI (AP) - It is a rare day in India when basketball makes the front page of newspapers, yet Satnam Singh Bhamara achieved that feat when he became the first Indian to be drafted to the NBA this week.The 7'2'' (2.15-meter) 19-year-old was selected by the Dallas Mavericks...

AP Sports WriterAP source: Mavericks boost Nowitzki's deal to $50 millionBy SCHUYLER DIXONDALLAS (AP) Dirk Nowitzki has signed his contract with Dallas, and a person with knowledge of the deal says it's worth more than the original agreement.The 38-year-old star who has spent all 18 of his seasons...