NBA

AP Sports WriterGuarding Bucks' Giannis presents Raptors a playoff puzzleBy GENARO C. ARMASMILWAUKEE (AP) Giannis Antetokounmpo presents a defensive conundrum for the Toronto Raptors.Assign a shorter player on the 6-foot-11 Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks star can take advantage on the block. Put a taller player on him...

Pacers release Poythress, Zeisloft as preseason winds downINDIANAPOLIS (AP) The Indiana Pacers waived forward Alex Poythress and guard Nick Zeisloft on Monday.Both were undrafted rookies who had not seen much action during the preseason.The 6-foot-7 Poythress appeared in two games and scored one point. Zeisloft, a 6-5 Indiana...

AP Sports WriterAfter strange season, Hawks hope they've figured things outBy PAUL NEWBERRYATLANTA (AP) Maybe the Atlanta Hawks finally figured things out.If so, their timing is impeccable.After a regular season marked largely by perplexing inconsistency, the Hawks turned in some of their best performances over the final week.Two...

AP Sports WriterWarriors want to 'destroy everything' and limit Jazz ralliesBy KAREEM COPELANDSALT LAKE CITY (AP) ?? The Golden State Warriors have cruised so easily through the six games of the playoffs that the biggest challenge, so far, may have been themselves.The reigning Western Conference champions are a perfect...

AP Sports WriterLeBron's foundation opens institute to aid college studentsBy TOM WITHERSAKRON, Ohio (AP) LeBron James isn't just helping kids afford college. He wants them to stay there and leave with diplomas.The Cleveland Cavaliers superstar, whose foundation announced a partnership with the University of Akron last year to...

AP Sports WriterAP sources: Kyrie Irving asks Cavaliers to trade himBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) Kyrie Irving wants the stage for himself.Cleveland's All-Star point guard has asked the Cavaliers to trade him, two people familiar with the situation told the Associated Press on Friday. Irving made the request last...

NEW YORK (AP) - Brooklyn Nets forward Mirza Teletovic, out for the rest of the season after he was diagnosed with multiple blood clots in his lungs, says he expects to be able to resume playing in July once he is finished with blood-thinning medication.Teletovic was hospitalized in Los...

AP Sports WriterGreen shows range, leads Warriors past Jazz for 2-0 leadBy JANIE McCAULEYOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Now, the Golden State Warriors want Draymond Green to pack his 3-point shot for the altitude of Salt Lake City.Green showed Quin Snyder his hot hand and range up close, knocking down...

DALLAS (93)Jefferson 3-6 0-0 7, Nowitzki 4-16 3-4 12, Chandler 5-7 1-2 11, Rondo 2-4 0-0 4, Ellis 4-9 3-6 12, Aminu 3-5 4-6 10, Harris 3-8 0-0 9, Smith 1-2 1-2 3, Villanueva 7-15 0-0 20, Barea 2-10 0-0 5. Totals 34-82 12-20 93.MIAMI (72)Granger 0-6...

AP Sports WriterGreen fouls LeBron, appears to mock him for floppingBy JANIE McCAULEYOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Draymond Green and LeBron James went at it again in the first half of the Cavaliers' visit to Golden State on Monday.Their latest confrontation came with 6:55 left in the first half. Golden...

Associated PressSpurs facing tough task containing high-scoring RocketsBy RAUL DOMINGUEZSAN ANTONIO (AP) After surviving an intense, physical battle with the Memphis Grizzlies, the San Antonio Spurs now face James Harden and the freewheeling Houston Rockets.With a leading MVP candidate leading its offense in Harden, Houston averaged 112.8 points...

NBA draft draws second-largest audience on ESPNNEW YORK (AP) The NBA draft averaged more than 3.5 million viewers, the second-biggest audience ever on ESPN.The telecast Thursday peaked with 5.2 million viewers from 8:15 to 8:30 p.m. EDT, shortly after the first picks were made. Philadelphia took Markelle Fultz...