NBA

AP Sports WriterPistons' owner: Team 'very close' to deal to move downtownBy NOAH TRISTERAUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) The Detroit Pistons are closing in on a move downtown.Owner Tom Gores said Friday night the team is ''very close to a deal'' to leave The Palace of Auburn Hills and...

May 12-17 - NBA draft combine.May 19 - Draft lottery.June 4 - NBA Finals begin.June 15 - Draft early entry withdrawal deadline (5 p.m. EDT).June 25 - NBA draft.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Warriors reserve forward Marreese Speights has a strained right calf that could keep him out for the rest of Golden State's series with the Memphis Grizzlies.The Warriors said Sunday that Speights had an MRI exam that showed a moderate strain, and the forward will be...

AP Sports WriterWarriors center Zaza Pachulia sidelined at least a weekBy JANIE McCAULEYOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Golden State Warriors center Zaza Pachulia has a strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder and will be sidelined for at least a week.He underwent an MRI exam Tuesday and expressed his relief...

PHOENIX (AP) - The Phoenix Suns top front office people reacted with indignation to Goran Dragic's parting shot at them and elation at their ability to replace him with Brandon Knight in the team's trading deadline frenzy.The Suns pulled off three trades, sending five players away in what was...

AP Basketball WriterRubio does not practice (elbow), outlook still unclearBy JON KRAWCZYNSKIMINNEAPOLIS (AP) Ricky Rubio did not practice on Monday because of a sprained right elbow and was scheduled to meet with a doctor later in the day to try to determine the extent of his injury.Rubio was...

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - They talked about ending championship droughts, starting new traditions and building legacies.The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors met with the media Wednesday in their final practices before Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night.Here are five things that came up along the...

AP Basketball WriterJackson says that a trade might be best for Carmelo, KnicksBy BRIAN MAHONEYGREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) Phil Jackson thinks Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks might be better off going their separate ways.''We have not been able to win with him on the court at this time and...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - As he has done with everything else in his meteoric rise to NBA stardom, Anthony Davis is taking his first All-Star start in stride.Davis drew more than 1.3 million votes from fans in totals announced Thursday night. That is the third highest in the league behind...

HOUSTON (AP) - After advancing to the second round of the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2009, the Houston Rockets shifted their focus to much bigger goals.They're looking to become the first Houston team to win a Western Conference semifinal since 1997.''Everybody is locked in on what...

AP Basketball WriterAn extra rest day in NBA Finals seems timely for CavaliersBy TIM REYNOLDSCLEVELAND (AP) Under the long-used former NBA Finals format, Game 3 of this Golden State-Cleveland matchup would have been played Tuesday night.Not this year, thanks to an extra rest day.And the Cavaliers are probably...

CLEVELAND (AP) - Cavaliers All-Star guard Kyrie Irving will play against Boston after missing two games with a strained left shoulder.Irving participated in the team's shoot-around Tuesday and coach David Blatt announced he would play about 90 minutes before the game.Irving injured his shoulder in the second half of...