NBA

AP Sports WriterTired talk: LeBron dunks idea he's worn out guarding DurantBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) LeBron James dismissed the idea he's exhausted from guarding Kevin Durant.After the warp-speed Golden State Warriors overran the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first two games of the NBA Finals, with Durant averaging 35.5...

AP Basketball WriterButler trade sets the stage for looming free agencyBy JON KRAWCZYNSKIAs draft night approached, some of the heavy hitters in the NBA - Cleveland, San Antonio, Houston, Boston, the Clippers among them - were jockeying, making calls and looking for deals to try to position themselves to...

AP Basketball WriterAP Source: Rockets, Nene reach agreement a 2nd timeBy JON KRAWCZYNSKIThe Houston Rockets and Nene have a contract - again.A person with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press that the Rockets agreed to terms with Nene on a three-year deal worth $11 million. It comes...

AP Sports WriterNo longer NBA champions, Cavaliers are now chasing WarriorsBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) Once he congratulated Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, LeBron James left the floor following Game 5 and found Kyrie Irving waiting for him.Cleveland's two stars embraced, and as they headed toward the locker room...

AP Basketball WriterAfter rocky road in LA, Russell seeks smooth start with NetsBy BRIAN MAHONEYNEW YORK (AP) D'Angelo Russell wasn't only traded, he was insulted on the way out the door.After the Los Angeles Lakers selected Lonzo Ball with the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft, team...

AP Sports WriterHawks hire Warriors' Travis Schlenk as general managerBy CHARLES ODUMATLANTA (AP) The Atlanta Hawks hired Travis Schlenk as general manager and head of basketball operations on Thursday, giving the Golden State assistant GM control of personnel decisions.Schlenk succeeds Wes Wilcox, who resigned May 5 as part...

AP Sports WriterPaul scores 29, Clippers beat Jazz 98-93 to force Game 7By KAREEM COPELANDSALT LAKE CITY (AP) Clippers coach Doc Rivers put it simply when he said Chris Paul willed his team to victory with the season on the line.Paul scored 29 points and the Los Angeles...

AP Sports WriterCitizen/King: LeBron James wins NBA citizenship awardBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) Snubbed in the MVP voting, LeBron James received an award maybe more significant.James is this year's recipient of the Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award given annually by the Pro Basketball Writers' Association for ''outstanding service and dedication...

AP Sports WriterDefending Rockets' Harden is a chess match worth watchingBy CLIFF BRUNTOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma City swingman Andre Roberson often was praised by his coach and teammates for playing suffocating defense on James Harden during their first-round playoff series.Houston's MVP candidate still averaged 33.2 points against the...

AP Sports WriterBrewhaha: LeBron upset with brewery over photo with beerBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) LeBron James is in a bit of a brewhaha over his beer-bottle grab.On Monday night, James jokingly swiped a beer bottle from a surprised courtside server during the third quarter of Cleveland's playoff game...

Los Angeles Lakers re-sign guard Tyler EnnisEL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) The Los Angeles Lakers have re-signed guard Tyler Ennis, a late-season addition who played his way into a job.The Lakers announced the deal Wednesday.Los Angeles acquired Ennis from the Houston Rockets on Feb. 23 in a trade for...

AP Sports WriterWarriors coach Steve Kerr not yet ready to return to benchBy JANIE McCAULEYOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Steve Kerr is involved in just about everything but the actual game-day coaching for the Golden State Warriors.He's still not ready to be back on the bench with the start of...