NBA

Bulls C Gafford leaves with right thumb injuryCHICAGO (AP) Chicago Bulls center Daniel Gafford left Wednesday night's game against Washington after he hurt his right thumb on a steal.Gafford's thumb was bent back after he picked off a pass by Ian Mahinmi early in the first quarter. The...

Hornets fire radio broadcaster after racial slur on TwitterCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) The Charlotte Hornets have fired play-by-play radio broadcaster John Focke after he used a racial slur on his Twitter account last month.The team announced on Twitter Thursday that Focke would not return due to ''a violation of...

14-second clock after offensive rebound among new NBA rulesNEW YORK (AP) The shot clock will be reset to 14 seconds after offensive rebounds next season, down from 24, and the NBA has made alterations to two other rules.The clear-path foul was simplified and the definition of a hostile...

Trail Blazers rule out Turner for Game 3 vs PelicansNEW ORLEANS (AP) Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts says forward Evan Turner is unable to play in Game 3 of Portland's first-round playoff series against the New Orleans Pelicans.Turner had been listed as questionable after injuring a toe on...

AP Sports WriterGolden State's Curry returns in Game 4 against the BlazersBy ANNE M. PETERSONPORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Reigning NBA MVP Stephen Curry will return from a right knee sprain for Game 4 of Golden State's playoff series against the Trail Blazers on Monday night.Warriors coach Steve Kerr said...

AP Basketball WriterGo West, young man: NBA stars cluster in Western ConferenceBy JON KRAWCZYNSKILAS VEGAS (AP) As star after star headed West this summer either in free agency or via trade, Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers became more and more bewildered.''I think Gordon Hayward's the smartest one....

AP Sports WriterWarriors' Curry has mild to moderate left groin strainBy JANIE McCAULEYOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Stephen Curry has a mild to moderate left groin strain and will miss Golden State's home game against Brooklyn on Saturday night.Curry underwent an MRI exam Friday but the Warriors will wait a...

UTAH (102)Hayward 10-16 4-7 27, Favors 8-18 4-7 20, Kanter 6-12 4-5 16, Exum 0-3 0-0 0, Ingles 1-5 2-2 5, Booker 3-4 0-0 6, Gobert 3-5 1-2 7, Burke 7-17 3-3 18, Millsap 1-5 0-0 3. Totals 39-85 18-26 102.PORTLAND (103)Batum 2-7 5-6 10, Aldridge 8-16...

AP Basketball WriterSummer League winds down, and now, maybe, some NBA restBy TIM REYNOLDSThey'll hand out T-shirts to the Summer League winners following the championship game between Memphis and Minnesota in Las Vegas on Monday night, and then things will finally slow down a bit in the NBA.Maybe.And probably...

Sixers' Embiid leaves game with shoulder injuryCLEVELAND (AP) Philadelphia 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid left Wednesday night's game against Cleveland with an injured left shoulder.Embiid appeared to collide with Cavaliers center Ante Zizic while being fouled late in the first quarter. The 7-footer held his shoulder when he...

CHARLOTTE (83)Kidd-Gilchrist 6-15 4-4 16, Zeller 3-5 0-0 6, Biyombo 1-2 7-10 9, Walker 4-11 3-3 12, Henderson 7-14 2-2 16, Maxiell 2-4 0-0 4, Williams 1-4 0-0 3, Neal 3-7 4-5 10, Hairston 1-6 0-0 2, Roberts 1-7 2-2 5, Vonleh 0-1 0-0 0. Totals...

Celtics' Kyrie Irving set for surgery on sore left kneeBOSTON (AP) The Celtics say All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving is set to have surgery Saturday to alleviate pain in his left knee.Irving has been out since March 11, missing the last four games.There is no timetable for his...