NBA

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...

The Latest: AP source: Clippers give McGruder 3-year dealBy The Associated PressThe Latest on NBA free agency (all times EDT):11:10 p.m.A person with knowledge of the negotiations says Rodney McGruder will be signing a three-year deal worth roughly $15 million with the Los Angeles Clippers.The person spoke on condition...

AP Sports WriterWarriors center Zaza Pachulia sidelined at least a weekBy JANIE McCAULEYOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Golden State Warriors center Zaza Pachulia has a strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder and will be sidelined for at least a week.He underwent an MRI exam Tuesday and expressed his relief...

AP Sports WriterWarriors sign Lee to multiyear contract, bring back ChrissBy JANIE McCAULEYSAN FRANCISCO (AP) Guard Damion Lee signed a multiyear contract with the Warriors on Wednesday as expected given his time as a two-way player had expired and Golden State wanted to keep him for the remainder...

AP Sports WriterCavs' J.R. Smith struggles in Game 2 after Game 1 blunderBy JOSH DUBOWOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) J.R. Smith turned from villain to Warriors' fan favorite thanks to his memorable blunder.Unfortunately for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Smith was a nonfactor Sunday night after his late-game mistake in Game 1...

Associated PressMan testifies in trial over NBA players assaultBy CLARICE SILBERPHOENIX (AP) The man accusing NBA players Marcus and Markieff Morris of aggravated assault was pressed Tuesday by defense lawyers about his financial motives in the case.An Arizona grand jury indicted the Morris brothers on felony aggravated assault...

AP Sports WriterAP source: Kevin Durant declines to opt into contractBy JANIE McCAULEYOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) A person with direct knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press that Kevin Durant has declined to opt in for the second year of his contract with Golden State and will become...

Bucks' Antetokounmpo out for Bulls game with ankle sprainMILWAUKEE (AP) All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss the Milwaukee Bucks' home game Friday night against the Chicago Bulls with a sprained right ankle.The Bucks ruled out Antetokounmpo earlier Friday.Antetokounmpo got hurt in the second quarter of a 127-120 loss...

LeBron's new LA jersey supplants Curry's as NBA's top sellerNEW YORK (AP) Though LeBron James didn't make the playoffs in his first season in Los Angeles, his move to the Lakers paid off in jersey sales.The NBA announced Thursday that James had the most popular individual jersey during...

AP Basketball WriterNorth of border, Warriors enter new territory: 1-0 deficitBy TIM REYNOLDSTORONTO (AP) Steve Kerr has seen a little of almost everything during his wildly successful five-year run as coach of the Golden State Warriors.This, however, is something new.For the first time, Kerr and the Warriors are...

AP Sports WriterAP Source: Cavs to trade Clarkson to Jazz for Exum, picksBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) Jordan Clarkson wasn't going to be a part of Cleveland's future. Now he's in the past.The Cavaliers agreed Monday night to trade Clarkson to the Utah Jazz for guard Dante Exum and...

AP Basketball WriterWhere's the drama? Blowouts the rule in these NBA playoffsBy TIM REYNOLDSThink back to the very first game of this NBA postseason: A one-point nail-biter of a win for Cleveland over Indiana, that outcome not getting decided until the final second.Hardly any have gone like that since.Dramatic...