NBA

AP Sports WriterAP Source: J.R. Smith, Cavs agree to 4-year, $57M contractBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) LeBron James, Kevin Love and the rest of the Cleveland Cavaliers spent the last month lobbying for their friend and teammate J.R. Smith to get rewarded for his role in their championship run...

ATLANTA (AP) - There's nothing to indicate the Atlanta Hawks will have any trouble with the Brooklyn Nets in the opening round of the NBA playoffs.The Hawks won all four regular-season meetings by an average of 17 points. They finished a whopping 22 games ahead of the Nets in...

AP Basketball WriterCharles Barkley has something to say about race in AmericaBy BRIAN MAHONEYNEW YORK (AP) Charles Barkley calls it friendly fire.When he talks about racial issues, it isn't only whites he risks angering. Some of the biggest complaints come from fellow blacks, who figure he's too rich,...

AP Sports WriterAvery Bradley's defense has been key ingredient for CelticsBy KYLE HIGHTOWERBOSTON (AP) Avery Bradley has been doing all the little things to get the Boston Celtics over the hump this postseason.Yes, he created a buzz with his playoff-career high 29 points to give Boston a 3-2...

Nowitzki will miss Mavs' home opener with stomach illnessDALLAS (AP) Dirk Nowitzki will miss Dallas' home opener against Houston with what coach Rick Carlisle described as a stomach ailment.The 38-year-old, in his 19th season, played 38 minutes in an overtime loss to Indiana in the season opener on...

AP Sports WriterWarriors' Kerr returns to practice for 1st time in 3 weeksBy JANIE McCAULEYOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Ailing Golden State coach Steve Kerr attended the Warriors' practice Saturday morning, returning to the floor for the first time in more than three weeks.Kerr sat down and chatted with acting...

ATLANTA (96)Carroll 4-9 3-3 11, Millsap 10-18 0-0 23, Horford 5-11 2-2 12, Teague 4-13 0-0 8, Korver 5-8 1-1 14, Antic 2-6 1-2 6, Schroder 4-10 3-4 11, Bazemore 5-6 0-0 11, Brand 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 39-83 10-12 96.PHOENIX (87)Marc.Morris 7-18 1-2 18, Mark.Morris 9-18...

AP Sports WriterWestbrook set to learn if his historic season was an MVP oneBy CLIFF BRUNTOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A year ago, uncertainty surrounded Russell Westbrook.Kevin Durant stunned the league by leaving Oklahoma City for rival Golden State in free agency. The four-time scoring champion and former MVP had...

DALLAS (AP) - Tyson Chandler and Chandler Parsons will miss Monday night's game against New Orleans because of injuries, leaving the Mavericks without two of their frontcourt starters for the second straight game.Chandler has a bruised left hip that kept him out of Saturday's loss to Brooklyn, and Parsons...

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. The outlook on his injury remains unclear pending further evaluation.Minnesota Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau says Rubio will see a doctor on Monday...

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - LeBron James couldn't carry the Cavaliers on his sore back Friday night.So Cavaliers coach David Blatt put him on the bench.Blatt held the four-time MVP out of a 93-86 loss at Indiana for precautionary reasons. James had hurt his back while scoring a season-high 42 points...

PORTLAND (87)Batum 1-6 2-2 5, Aldridge 13-26 1-4 27, Lopez 5-6 2-5 12, Lillard 4-15 1-2 11, Afflalo 2-6 0-0 4, McCollum 2-6 1-4 6, Kaman 2-8 0-0 4, D.Wright 3-8 1-1 8, Blake 4-8 0-0 10, Freeland 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 36-89 8-18 87.PHOENIX (81)Marc.Morris...