NBA

AP Sports WriterRivals and friends, LeBron and George meet in playoffs againBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) Their fierce on-the-floor rivalry blossomed into a strong friendship that will be put on hold.LeBron James and Paul George are about to face off again in the NBA playoffs.''We have a job to...

Romanian minister defends keeping Kanter at airportBUCHAREST, Romania (AP) Romania's foreign minister says his country had no choice in detaining Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter in the capital's airport.Teodor Melescanu said Romania could not ''proceed otherwise'' in comments made to news.ro. He declined to comment further.Kanter was...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Lance Stephenson doesn't regret his decision to sign with the Charlotte Hornets as a free agent, even though this season has been a huge struggle for the five-year NBA veteran.The Hornets gave Stephenson a three-year, $27 million deal this past offseason expecting him to bring...

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...

AP Sports WriterHouston's Nene suffers season-ending thigh injuryBy KRISTIE RIEKENHOUSTON (AP) Houston Rockets center Nene is out for the rest of the season, a day after he tore a muscle in his left thigh.''I hate it for Nene,'' coach Mike D'Antoni said on Monday. ''He's been so valuable...

Dwyane Wade fined $25,000 for throat slashing gestureNEW YORK (AP) Chicago guard Dwyane Wade was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Friday for making a throat slashing gesture after hitting a late 3-pointer in his Bulls debut Thursday night.Wade got the ball in the corner, took a dribble...

AP Basketball WriterFor some NBA teams, prepping for back-to-backs is importantBy TIM REYNOLDSMIAMI (AP) Players have an open disdain for back-to-back games in the regular season, even while understanding there's no way around them when trying to wedge 82 games into 170 days.So some teams are spending part...

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...

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 WriterAP source: Wizards agree to 1-year deal with Mike ScottBy HOWARD FENDRICHFree-agent forward Mike Scott has agreed to a $1.7 million, one-year contract with the Washington Wizards, according to a person familiar with the deal.The person confirmed the agreement for the veteran's minimum to The Associated Press...

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...

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...