NBA

AP Basketball WriterDoncic, Antetokounmpo the early All-Star vote leadersBy TIM REYNOLDSDallas’ Luka Doncic received fan votes than any other player in the opening week of balloting for the NBA All-Star Game.The NBA released the first voting totals on Thursday and Doncic has received 1,073,957 -- 599 more than Milwaukee’s...

AP Sports WriterLong shots: Odds against Cavs in NBA Finals against WarriorsBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) The odds are longer than a Stephen Curry 3-pointer, Kevin Durant's wingspan or Draymond Green's catalog of technical fouls.LeBron James and the Cavaliers are being given little - or no - chance of...

AP Basketball WriterJerry Sloan, coaching great of Jazz glory days, dies at 78By TIM REYNOLDSJerry Sloan walked up the steps to the stage at the Basketball Hall of Fame to give his enshrinement speech in 2009, almost as if he were dreading what the next few minutes would bring.He...

AP Sports WriterPaul, Thunder surprising league heading into stretch runBy CLIFF BRUNTOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Chris Paul gets annoyed when the topic of the Thunder’s “surprising” success comes up.Expectations for Oklahoma City were low for many after an offseason during which the Thunder collected draft picks, traded Russell Westbrook...

Guard Jordan Farmar rejoins Kings after they released himSACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Guard Jordan Farmar is back with the Sacramento Kings, signing as a free agent nine days after being cut by the team.In four preseason games for Sacramento, he averaged 6.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists. He...

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) Detroit Pistons guard Brandon Jennings will play for the team's D-League affiliate as he enters the final stages of his rehabilitation from a ruptured Achilles tendon.Jennings hasn't played since injuring his left leg in a Jan. 24 game at Milwaukee. The Pistons announced Thursday...

AP Basketball WriterNBA, union reminds players that mental health help availableBy TIM REYNOLDSMIAMI (AP) NBA players were reminded Tuesday that help for their mental wellness is available if needed, and they were urged to take advantage of that whenever necessary.A letter from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and National...

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) His battered body healed long ago. The mental scars remain raw for LeBron James.Losing for the fourth time in the NBA Finals took its toll on him.''It gets worse and worse every time,'' he said.On the eve of the Cavaliers opening training camp to begin...

AP Sports WriterThunder G Westbrook to miss game with sprained ankleBy CLIFF BRUNTOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook will miss Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers because of a sprained left ankle.A Thunder spokesman said Tuesday the team wants to see how the ankle responds...

AP Basketball WriterNBA playoffs resume Saturday as sides detail new commitmentsBy BRIAN MAHONEYLAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) NBA players want change that makes their communities safer. They want people to vote - hopefully in their home arenas.And they want to keep playing basketball.Teams returned to the court Friday...

AP Sports WriterPelicans interim GM: NBA rules compel club to play DavisBy BRETT MARTELMETAIRIE, La. (AP) When the Pelicans finished practice on Thursday, Anthony Davis went into coach Alvin Gentry's office, followed later by interim general manager Danny Ferry.As they spoke, privacy shades on windows that otherwise offer...

OAKLAND, California (AP) Klay Thompson hit his first seven shots and scored 18 of his 20 points in the opening period as the Golden State Warriors cruised past the undermanned Dallas Mavericks 116-95 in the NBA on Wednesday night. ''I feel it's coming every game, honestly,'' Thompson said. ''I won't...