NBA

AP Sports WriterIntensity picks up for quarterfinal round of Summer LeagueBy KAREEM COPELANDTwo weeks of NBA Summer League play in three different cities has been enough for teams to hold out many marquee players late this week, though there was plenty of intensity on the floor Saturday in the...

AP Sports WriterFor Bulls, blockbuster trade is all about directionBy ANDREW SELIGMANCHICAGO (AP) The Chicago Bulls set a clear direction by trading All-Star Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves on draft night last week.As for whether they got enough in return? Vice president of basketball operations John Paxson...

Pistons deal Hilliard to Rockets for cashAUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) The Detroit Pistons have traded swingman Darrun Hilliard to the Houston Rockets in exchange for cash considerations.Hilliard appeared in a career-high 39 games last season, averaging 3.3 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 9.8 minutes. The 6-foot-6...

AP Basketball WriterBall won't face Fox as Summer League loses marquee matchupBy BRIAN MAHONEYLonzo Ball will have to wait for another shot at De'Aaron Fox. Their summer showdown Monday was canceled.The Lakers rested their prized pick because of a groin injury, sitting him out of their NBA Summer League...

Associated PressMagic hire veteran Weltman to head basketball operationsBy TERRANCE HARRISORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Jeff Weltman is the new president of basketball operations for the Orlando Magic, who have failed to reach the playoffs for five consecutive seasons.The former Toronto general manager is a veteran NBA executive but relatively...

AP Sports WriterAllen Iverson returns home, eager to please Philly fansBy ROB MAADDIPHILADELPHIA (AP) Allen Iverson plans to run on that familiar court one more time, cup his ear the way he used to in his prime and implore his adoring fans to make more noise.AI is back...

AP Sports WriterHigher power: LeBron soaring into 7th straight NBA FinalsBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) LeBron James will one day take his final bow, the brightest spotlight moving on to someone else.There will come a time when his legs lose some explosiveness and those vicious dunks will be rendered...

AP Sports WriterAP Source: Cavs to promote Koby Altman to full-time GMBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) Koby Altman's next move with the Cavaliers will be personal.Altman, who has been serving as Cleveland's interim general manager during a strange summer of activity, will be named the team's full-time GM, a...

Lacheys, Debbie Gibson lead 'Dancing with the Stars' castNEW YORK (AP) Nick and Vanessa Lachey, retired athletes Derek Fisher and Terrell Owens, and singer Debbie Gibson headline the upcoming season of ''Dancing with the Stars.''Other cast members on the ABC reality competition include ''Malcolm in the Middle'' actor...

AP Sports WriterNBA announces 2019 All-Star game will held in CharlotteBy STEVE REEDCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) The NBA All-Star game is headed back to Charlotte in 2019, a couple of years later than anticipated.The NBA announced that the All-Star weekend will be held Feb. 15-17 in Charlotte and the...

AP Sports WriterLeBron's focus shifted from Finals to racism after vandalismBy JANIE McCAULEYOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) A day before the start of his seventh straight NBA Finals, LeBron James' mind was far from focused on basketball and the Golden State Warriors.He wanted to hug his children and wife back...

AP Sports WriterChillin': Ice Cube, Cavs still waiting on Billups' decisionBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) Ice Cube is chilling as he waits for Chauncey Billups to make a move.The rapper-turned-basketball mogul said Wednesday that he doesn't know if Billups will join Cleveland's front office and lead the Cavaliers' basketball...