NBA

Associated PressMagic bring aboard Speights, Afflalo, BirchBy TERRANCE HARRISORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Marreese Speights is finally returning home - or close to it.The Orlando Magic announced Thursday that the 6-foot-10 veteran center from St. Petersburg has signed a contract. Speights couldn't be more thrilled to between his hometown and...

AP Basketball WriterPaging LaMarcus: Ailing Spurs need Aldridge to take chargeBy JON KRAWCZYNSKIIn the summer of 2015, the San Antonio Spurs went shopping like they never have before.Long content to spend big money on their core while using free agency to sprinkle role players around them, the Spurs lavished...

Kevin Durant arrives in India as NBA tries to grow gameNEW DELHI (AP) Kevin Durant is in India to help the NBA make inroads in a nation of 1.3 billion.Durant took part in a camp in New Delhi, where the Golden State Warriors star helped set a Guinness...

AP Sports WriterHarden intent on winning title in wake of new dealBy KRISTIE RIEKENHOUSTON (AP) James Harden never wants to leave Houston and is intent on bringing another NBA title to the city the Californian now considers home.And the Rockets are doing everything possible to make sure the...

Associated PressMagic hire Weltman, who hours later names Hammond as GMBy TERRANCE HARRISORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Jeff Weltman brought in a familiar face to help him try and turn the Orlando Magic around.Hours after the Magic formally announced Weltman Tuesday morning as their president of basketball operations, he named...

McCloskey, GM who built Pistons' 'Bad Boys' teams, diesAUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) Jack McCloskey, the general manager who built the Detroit Pistons' ''Bad Boys'' championship teams, has died. He was 91.The Pistons said McCloskey died Thursday in Savannah, Georgia. He had fought Alzheimer's disease.Led by McCloskey draft picks...

AP Basketball WriterAP Source: Bucks opening up GM search after Hammond exitBy JON KRAWCZYNSKIA person with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press that the Milwaukee Bucks are opening up their search for a new general manager after John Hammond left to join the Orlando Magic.The person spoke...

AP Sports Writer49ers' Bowman remembers urging KD to shoot in middle schoolBy JANIE McCAULEYOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Imagine Kevin Durant as a skinny, timid teen being told to shoot by his middle school point guard who saw so much potential all those years ago.He needed a little urging back...

Bulls sign former LSU guard Blakeney to two-way contractCHICAGO (AP) The Chicago Bulls have signed former LSU guard Antonio Blakeney to a two-way contract.Blakeney went undrafted after averaging 17.2 points and earning All-SEC second-team honors last season.Two-way contracts are new to the NBA for the upcoming season. They...

Associated PressBig3 officials hopeful Iverson can return to court this weekBy JOE REEDYEven though their marquee name has played sparingly, the founders of the Big3 are happy that the quality of play is getting better as the league reaches the midpoint of its season.The 3-on-3 league featuring former NBA...

Warriors' Draymond Green sued over alleged assault by coupleOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green has been sued by a couple who claim he and his entourage assaulted them last year in Michigan.Jermaine Edmondson and Bianca Williams filed the lawsuit seeking unspecified monetary damages on Tuesday...

Lakers exercise David Nwaba's $1.3 million contract optionEL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) The Los Angeles Lakers have exercised their $1.3 million contract option on guard David Nwaba for the upcoming season.The Lakers announced the move Wednesday.Nwaba earned a job with the Lakers after they called him up from their...