NBA

LeBron James and the Miami Heat didn't even give the Chicago Bulls room to breathe, practically squeezing the playoff life out of them to take a commanding lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal. Another effort like this will seal it. James scored 27 points and the Heat nearly matched a franchise...

AP Sports WriterCousins says he was ejected for using big-man fundamentalsBy BRETT MARTELMETAIRIE, La. (AP) New Orleans center DeMarcus Cousins says he was protecting a rebound the way all big men are taught when he was ejected for a flagrant foul during a game against Oklahoma City.Cousins was...

MIAMI (AP) Pat Riley played alongside Jerry West and Gail Goodrich, the guards whose exploits from the early 1970s still have the Miami Heat president saying they were the best backcourt he ever saw.His rankings might be changing.From Riley, these are ultimate compliments - comparing anyone to West...

The Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks will face each other in both teams' regular-season opener next week. But Thursday's night's preseason matchup wasn't true a preview of that game. Gian Clavell had 19 points, including five 3-pointers, and the visiting Mavericks beat the Hawks 108-94. Maxi Kleber added 16 points. The...

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) - LeBron James says he won't allow his sore body to slow his drive toward another NBA Finals.Beaten down by injuries and another grueling season, James has the Cavaliers one win from the Eastern Conference title. On Monday, a day after his 37 points, 18 rebounds...

AP Sports WriterPlayers: Kerr's marijuana admission could spark dialogueBy JANIE McCAULEYOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) David West has undergone four surgeries in his long NBA career: left knee, right elbow and right foot twice to fix a couple of toes.''I don't even like saying all that,'' he said.So, yes, just...

AP Basketball WriterDoris Burke, ESPN agree on contract extensionBy TIM REYNOLDSOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Basketball has been part of Doris Burke's life for as long as she can remember.And it's not going away anytime soon.Burke and ESPN announced Monday they have agreed on a multi-year contract extension, one that...

The Oklahoma City Thunder put their longest winning streak of the season on the line Monday, when they visit the Atlanta Hawks. With Sunday's 101-92 triumph at home over New Orleans, the Thunder have reeled off five straight victories for the first time since an eight-game run near the...

AP Basketball WriterZion Williamson out for summer league with bruised kneeBy TIM REYNOLDSLAS VEGAS (AP) Zion Williamson's summer league is over.The New Orleans Pelicans announced Saturday that the No. 1 pick in this year's NBA draft will not play any more at the Summer League in Las Vegas...

Raptors president fined $25K for walking on court to yellNEW YORK (AP) The NBA has fined Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri $25,000 for walking onto the court at halftime of Game 3 against the Cleveland Cavaliers to verbally confront officials for reversing a call.The league announced the fine...

AP Basketball WriterWe The South: The Raptors settling into their Tampa homeBy TIM REYNOLDSTAMPA, Fla. (AP) Just like last year, the Toronto Raptors are opening the season at home, against the New Orleans Pelicans, and every available ticket for the game has been sold.It's exactly the same.And entirely...

AP Basketball WriterUSA Basketball's next move hinges on new Olympic scheduleBy TIM REYNOLDSUSA Basketball is hoping that the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics will be held around the same time next year as they would have been this year.Otherwise, an already-complicated situation could get even tougher for coaches and players.USA Basketball...