NBA

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...

ATLANTA (AP) - All-Star forward Paul Millsap of the Atlanta Hawks will miss at least the next two games with a right shoulder injury.The Hawks announced Monday that X-rays were negative, but an MRI showed that Millsap sprained and bruised his shoulder against Brooklyn this past weekend.He will definitely...

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...

CLEVELAND (AP) LeBron James understands what it takes to reach the NBA Finals.The route, strewn with obstacles and doubts, has become a personal path. He knows the way as well as anyone.James has been to the league's showcase event five straight years and six times in the past...

MINNESOTA (76)Wiggins 5-16 1-2 11, Payne 7-12 2-3 16, Pekovic 5-12 2-4 12, Rubio 1-8 0-1 2, Martin 2-6 5-6 10, Dieng 3-8 0-0 6, Neal 4-10 1-1 9, LaVine 1-5 0-0 3, Budinger 0-2 1-2 1, Ju.Hamilton 2-3 0-0 4, Brown 1-1 0-2 2. Totals...

AP Basketball WriterZach LaVine wins NBA Cares Community Assist award for AprilBy JON KRAWCZYNSKIMINNEAPOLIS (AP) Zach LaVine's work with a school for the deaf is bringing an added benefit he never saw coming - the chance to help a new charity dedicated to his fallen coach.LaVine was awarded...

DALLAS (115)Parsons 3-9 0-0 7, Nowitzki 7-12 6-7 22, Chandler 6-8 10-12 22, Rondo 6-14 0-0 13, Ellis 5-17 4-4 15, Villanueva 7-13 0-0 18, Jefferson 0-1 1-2 1, Harris 1-5 1-2 3, Smith 2-2 2-2 6, Barea 4-7 0-0 8, Powell 0-0 0-0 0. Totals...

BROOKLYN (91)Johnson 6-16 4-4 19, Young 1-7 0-2 2, Lopez 8-15 4-4 20, Williams 1-7 0-0 2, Bogdanovic 3-9 0-0 8, Teletovic 0-2 0-0 0, Anderson 5-7 2-3 13, Jack 9-13 3-3 23, Plumlee 2-2 0-2 4. Totals 35-78 13-18 91.ATLANTA (96)Carroll 1-8 0-0 2, Millsap 7-11...

AP Sports WriterHornets center Cody Zeller says $56M extension is 'crazy'By STEVE REEDCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Cody Zeller said he's always considered himself a simple kid from Indiana.Well, now he's a simple rich kid from Indiana.The 7-foot Zeller signed a four-year, $56 million deal with the Charlotte Hornets. The...

LeBron James labels Charles Barkley 'a hater' for criticismDALLAS (AP) LeBron James has apparently had enough of Charles Barkley's criticism.Barkley took issue last week with James' call for the Cavaliers to secure another playmaker to help contend for a second-straight NBA title. The outspoken TNT ''Inside the NBA''...