NBA

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) - Stan Van Gundy wants to keep expectations reasonable as the Detroit Pistons prepare to make yet another mid-level lottery pick.The Pistons have the eighth pick in Thursday night's draft, a spot that's becoming pretty familiar in Detroit. The Pistons also had the No. 8...

April 15 - Last day of regular season.April 18 - Playoffs begin.

DETROIT (98)Butler 1-3 2-2 4, Monroe 7-18 6-6 20, Drummond 11-25 0-2 22, Jackson 7-15 0-0 14, Caldwell-Pope 6-15 0-0 13, Prince 3-7 2-2 8, Martin 0-2 0-0 0, Meeks 3-4 0-0 7, Dinwiddie 3-9 0-0 8, Tolliver 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 42-100 10-12 98.GOLDEN STATE...

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook had 30 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds to lead the Thunder back from an 11-point, second-half deficit to beat Denver 122-112 on Sunday.The Thunder pushed their lead in the Northwest Division out to 7-1/2 games, while another important result saw...

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - The team coached by former NBA player Carl Herrera says his condition is improving following a shooting in Venezuela.The Gigantes de Guayana team said in a Twitter post that Herrera is no longer in critical condition and is ''completely out of danger.''Herrera was shot Saturday...

Cavaliers' Kevin Love returns to face UtahCLEVELAND (AP) Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love, who had surgery on his left knee last month, will return to the starting lineup against the Utah Jazz.Love had surgery Feb. 14 and was originally expected to miss six weeks. The defending NBA champions...

Associated PressInfluential Mormons push for church-owned BYU in Big 12By MICHELLE L. PRICE and KAREEM COPELANDSALT LAKE CITY (AP) Some of Utah's most influential Mormons, including Mitt Romney, Gov. Gary Herbert and the president of the Utah Jazz, are lobbying to get the private, Mormon church-owned Brigham Young...

NEW YORK (AP) -Michele Roberts has the team she wants in place at the NBA Players Association.On Monday, she accompanied some of them to deliver holiday gifts at a couple of sites in Harlem. In two years, the job might be much tougher: taking on the NBA in the...

DENVER (AP) The Denver Nuggets signed veteran forward Mike Miller to a one-year deal Wednesday.Miller played last season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he saw action in 52 games and averaged 13.5 minutes. The 15-year veteran has also played for Memphis, Miami, Washington, Minnesota and Orlando.Drafted fifth overall...

AP Sports WriterNewcomers to Cavs-Warriors rivalry embrace FinalsBy JOSH DUBOWOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Watching Part II of the Cavaliers-Warriors NBA Finals trilogy last spring, Kyle Korver came to a realization.''These are the two best teams and if you were on one of these two teams you were hopeful that...

AP Basketball WriterThe 'D' in 'KD' stands for Defense: Durant's D big in Gm 4By JON KRAWCZYNSKIKevin Durant was at his shot-making best in the fourth quarter of Game 4 against San Antonio, knocking down contested jumpers, scoring in transition and willing the Oklahoma City Thunder to a series-evening...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A person with knowledge of the discussions tells The Associated Press that the Timberwolves have had exploratory discussions with the Brooklyn Nets about possibly bringing back Kevin Garnett to Minnesota.The Wolves and Nets started discussing the possibility in earnest Wednesday, one day before the NBA's trade...