NBA

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...

PORTLAND (98)Batum 6-11 4-4 20, Aldridge 12-30 5-7 29, Lopez 4-6 3-4 11, Lillard 1-13 3-4 5, Matthews 3-9 4-6 12, Afflalo 2-7 2-2 7, Kaman 4-6 0-0 8, Blake 1-1 1-2 3, Leonard 0-0 0-0 0, Wright 1-4 0-0 3. Totals 34-87 22-29 98.L.A. CLIPPERS (93)Hamilton...

WASHINGTON (AP) - Randy Wittman's patience was understandably in short supply. His Washington Wizards had just finished losing by 38 points - the team's biggest home defeat in 40 years, and its latest in a series of setbacks against top Eastern Conference opponents. So the coach allowed for all of three...

AP Sports WriterWarriors, Spurs series filled with familiar story linesBy JANIE McCAULEYOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Leave it to Gregg Popovich to play mind games ahead of the Western Conference finals.So, what will he do to prepare his defense to stop the high-flying Warriors?''Pray,'' Popovich quipped Saturday before the Spurs...

AP Basketball WriterAnthem singer at Heat-76ers game kneels during performanceBy TIM REYNOLDSMIAMI (AP) A woman performing the national anthem before an NBA preseason game in Miami on Friday night did so while kneeling at midcourt, and opening her jacket to show a shirt with the phrase ''Black Lives...

MINNESOTA (91)Wiggins 9-22 11-15 29, Payne 3-7 0-0 6, Hamilton 3-9 0-0 6, LaVine 6-12 6-7 18, Martin 5-15 6-6 17, Budinger 5-12 0-0 12, Onuaku 0-1 0-0 0, Brown 0-2 0-0 0, Hummel 1-5 1-1 3. Totals 32-85 24-29 91.PORTLAND (116)Batum 4-7 0-0 11, Aldridge 10-16...

ATLANTA (AP) - The Hawks keep reaping the rewards for their amazing season.For the first time since 1980, Atlanta will have three players in the NBA All-Star Game. Paul Millsap, Jeff Teague and Al Horford are joining their coach, Mike Budenholzer, for the Feb. 15 contest at Madison Square...

AP Basketball WriterWeber signs with Warriors, and Heat wish him wellBy TIM REYNOLDSMIAMI (AP) The Golden State Warriors are hoping to see big things from Briante Weber. So are the Miami Heat.Weber spent some time with the Heat last season, and was on Miami's NBA Development League team...

AP Basketball WriterBarkley says Warriors still a flawed team even with DurantBy BRIAN MAHONEYNEW YORK (AP) Charles Barkley didn't want Kevin Durant to join the Golden State Warriors and isn't sure Durant changes things now that he's there.In Barkley's mind, the Warriors are still a flawed team.''Let me...

Former Blazer Robinson hospitalized with undisclosed illnessPORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Former Trail Blazer Cliff Robinson has been hospitalized in Portland with and undisclosed illness.Robinson's family issued a statement confirming that the 50-year-old former forward was being treated at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.''He is grateful for the support of...

SEATTLE (AP) An investment group that wants to build a sports arena for professional basketball and possibly hockey has offered to also rebuild KeyArena, the former home of Seattle's departed NBA franchise. The move Thursday by the group led by investor Chris Hansen is the latest in the long-running debate...

AP Sports WriterWither Lob City? Clippers facing possible big changesBy BETH HARRISLOS ANGELES (AP) Together for six years now, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin have yet to make it past the second round of the playoffs. Heck, the Los Angeles Clippers haven't even gotten out of the first...