NBA

TORONTO (AP) When the Toronto Raptors first gathered for training camp, Dwane Casey knew his players wanted to talk about more than basketball. Racial tension was simmering in the United States. Images of police brutality had gone viral. National anthem protests were spreading. The coach was moved by what his players...

AP Basketball WriterBig3 begins: 3-on-3 league has close games, not much IversonBy BRIAN MAHONEYNEW YORK (AP) DeShawn Stevenson nailed the shot, ran toward the sideline and slapped hands with Ice Cube.Stevenson had a winner, and Cube might, too.The only thing the rapper-actor's new 3-on-3 basketball league couldn't deliver...

AP Sports WriterPau Gasol waived by Blazers but may have new role with teamBy ANNE M. PETERSONPORTLAND, Ore. (AP) The Portland Trail Blazers have waived center Pau Gasol but his career with the team may not be over.Gasol, who never played in a game with the Blazers, announced...

Embiid fined $25,000 for criticizing refereesNEW YORK (AP) Joel Embiid has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for public criticism of referees that included profanity.The penalty was announced Wednesday by Kiki VanDeWeghe, the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations.Embiid's comments came at the end of his postgame...

AP Basketball WriterKobe Bryant's latest book to debut atop best-seller listBy TIM REYNOLDSKobe Bryant is back atop the best-seller lists, days after the late Los Angeles Lakers superstar was selected to the Hall of Fame.The latest release from Bryant's Granity Studios, ''The Wizenard Series: Season One'' will debut at...

Harden returns to Rockets, scores 12 in preseason debutBy The Associated PressJames Harden was back in a Houston uniform.It's still unclear how many more times that'll happen.The three-time defending NBA scoring champion made his preseason debut with the Rockets on Tuesday night, after starting to practice with his team...

Nowitzki's 20th season with Mavs ends early after surgeryDALLAS (AP) Dirk Nowitzki's 20th season is over a few games early after the Dallas Mavericks star had surgery on his left ankle.The team said Thursday that Nowitzki underwent a procedure to clear out unhealthy tissue, called surgical debridement. It...

AP Basketball WriterHeat wait for Wade, will look for ways to improveBy TIM REYNOLDSMIAMI (AP) If there was any reason for solace in the Miami Heat locker room after the final game of the season in Philadelphia, it was this: They knew they lost to a better team.The...

AP Basketball WriterAP Source: Winslow agrees to $39 million, 3-year extensionBy TIM REYNOLDSMIAMI (AP) Justise Winslow has agreed to a $39 million, three-year extension with the Miami Heat.A person with direct knowledge of the agreement confirmed the terms to The Associated Press on Friday night. The person spoke...

AP Basketball WriterAnalysis: Even being injured Durant leads free-agent packBy TIM REYNOLDSOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) This was already going to be a summer filled with fireworks in the NBA.Nothing has changed.Kevin Durant's Achilles injury, the severity of which isn't yet confirmed, means he probably won't be able to play...

AP Basketball WriterSilver: NBA 'can do a better job' on free agency, rulesBy TIM REYNOLDSLAS VEGAS (AP) The NBA knows its rules about when teams can negotiate with free agents are not being followed.So expect changes on that front for 2020.The NBA's board of governors discussed ways Tuesday...

Pacers re-sign Justin Holiday, keeping brother duo in tactINDIANAPOLIS (AP) Justin Holiday will continue playing for the Indiana Pacers next season after agreeing to a new deal Sunday.Terms of the deal were not immediately announced but the decision means Holiday and one of his two NBA-playing brothers, Aaron,...