NBA

AP Sports WriterThunder opens road trip with 108-96 win in PortlandBy ANNE M. PETERSONPORTLAND, Ore (AP) Dennis Schroder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander each scored 21 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder opened a four-game trip with a 108-96 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night.The Thunder, who...

AP Sports WriterConnelly eager to finish what he started with NuggetsBy PAT GRAHAMDENVER (AP) The prospects of a return home to Washington were undeniably appealing to Tim Connelly.Not nearly as alluring as this: Finishing what he's started.The Denver Nuggets president of basketball operations elected to stay in town...

Suns guard Brandon Knight has knee surgeryPHOENIX (AP) Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight had surgery Thursday to repair a torn ACL in his left knee, a month after he sustained the season-ending injury in a charity game in Florida.Knight averaged 11.0 points, 2.4 assists and 2.2 rebounds in...

AP Basketball WriterPorzingis not surprised by sizzling start as Knicks main manBy BRIAN MAHONEYNEW YORK (AP) Kristaps Porzingis is neither surprised nor satisfied by his sensational start to the NBA season.He entered play Wednesday third in the league in scoring with 29.3 points per game after the best...

AP Sports WriterNBA fines Clippers $50,000 for statements about LeonardBy BETH HARRISLOS ANGELES (AP) The NBA fined the Los Angeles Clippers $50,000 on Thursday for statements made by coach Doc Rivers and others that were ''inconsistent'' about Kawhi Leonard's heath status.Leonard sat out the Clippers' 129-124 home loss...

Heat center Whiteside to miss Indiana game with bone bruiseMIAMI (AP) Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside has a bone bruise in his knee and will miss the team's home opener against Indiana.The Heat made the announcement Friday, one day before opening a six-game homestand. He was injured in...

Associated PressObama joined by Curry to tell minority boys 'you matter'By JEFF CHIU and JANIE HAROAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Former President Barack Obama and Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry told a roomful of minority boys on Tuesday that they matter and urged them to make the world a...

AP Sports WriterMike Brown still waiting on Tyronn Lue to pay up overdue betBy JANIE McCAULEYOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Mike Brown is ready for Tyronn Lue to pay up on a nearly two-decade-old bet. Yep, Lue owes him $100 and Brown plans to accept it at long last -...

AP Sports WriterAP sources: LeBron declines option, becomes prize free agentBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) LeBron James made the first move. Now what?Cleveland? Los Angeles? Philadelphia? A surprise?Stay tuned. Decision III is this summer's blockbuster, and it's coming soon.James told the Cavaliers that he is not exercising his $35.6...

AP Sports WriterCeltics: Gordon Hayward out 4 weeks with right ankle sprainBy KYLE HIGHTOWERBOSTON (AP) The Celtics say forward Gordon Hayward will be sidelined for around four weeks after suffering a severe right ankle sprain in Boston's Game 1 win over Philadelphia in their first-round playoff series.The injury...

AP Sports WriterLakers' Anthony Davis falls hard on tailbone, leaves gameBy GREG BEACHAMLOS ANGELES (AP) Anthony Davis left the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the New York Knicks in the third quarter Tuesday night after he bruised his lower back in a painful fall to the court.Davis was...

AP Sports WriterAP source: Cavs to work out free-agent guard Kirk HinrichBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) A person with knowledge of the situation says free-agent guard Kirk Hinrich will work out Wednesday in Cleveland for the NBA champion Cavaliers, who need a backup for Kyrie Irving.The person spoke to...