NBA

Kings hire Luke Walton as coachSACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) The Sacramento Kings have hired Luke Walton as their coach just days after the Los Angeles Lakers parted ways with him following three losing seasons.The Kings announced Monday that Walton will replace Dave Joerger. Sacramento general manager Vlade Divac fired...

John MacLeod, longtime Phoenix Suns coach, dies at 81PHOENIX (AP) John MacLeod, the longtime NBA coach who led the Phoenix Suns to the 1976 NBA Finals, has died. He was 81.MacLeod's son, Matt, confirmed his father's death Sunday to The Associated Press. The elder MacLeod fought Alzheimer's disease...

John MacLeod, longtime Phoenix Suns coach, dies at 81PHOENIX (AP) John MacLeod, the longtime NBA coach who led the Phoenix Suns to the 1976 NBA Finals, has died. He was 81.MacLeod's son, Matt, confirmed his father's death Sunday to The Associated Press. The elder MacLeod fought Alzheimer's disease...

AP Sports WriterSacramento Kings hire Luke Walton as coachBy JOSH DUBOWSACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) About five minutes after hearing Luke Walton had been dismissed as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings general manager Vlade Divac called Walton's agent.Finalizing the deal that brought Walton to Sacramento as the...

AP Sports WriterDeMar DeRozan raises game another level in San AntonioBy PAT GRAHAMDENVER (AP) The thinking of DeMar DeRozan before joining San Antonio: Shoot.The mentality now: Share.Always a skilled scorer, the 29-year-old and four-time All-Star has taken his game to another level in San Antonio by taking to...

AP Sports WriterEnes Kanter making most of second chance with Trail BlazersBy ANNE M. PETERSONPORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Looking back on it now, the Trail Blazers were clearly smart to pick up Enes Kanter after he was waived by the New York Knicks.Kanter was brought aboard by Portland as...

DeMarcus Cousins injures left quadriceps early in Game 2OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Starting Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins injured his left quadriceps muscle in the first quarter of Monday night's Game 2 in the first round of the playoffs against the Clippers and was done for the night.Golden State said...

AP Sports WriterAP Source: Cavs to interview assistants Mosley, HowardBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) The first two coaching candidates set to interview with the Cavaliers have no NBA head coaching experience.That doesn't mean they're not qualified.The Cavs have scheduled meetings this week with Dallas assistant Jamahl Mosley and Miami's...

AP Sports WriterAP Source: Cavs to interview assistants Mosley, HowardBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) A person familiar with the meetings says the Cavaliers will interview Dallas assistant Jamahl Mosley and Miami's Juwan Howard for their coaching job.The interviews scheduled for this week are the only ones finalized so far,...

Associated PressPistons' Griffin out for Game 1 against BucksBy CHARLES F GARDNERMILWAUKEE (AP) Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin will not play in Game 1 of the team's first-round playoff series against Milwaukee because of a left knee injury, coach Dwane Casey said.''It's one of those things that's day-to-day...

AP Sports WriterTop-seeded Bucks start postseason journey against DetroitBy NOAH TRISTERThe Milwaukee Bucks had the best record in the NBA this season, so it would be no great surprise to see them playing for the title in June.Of course, for this franchise, advancing at all would be a significant...

AP SportsBlazers and Thunder meet in the playoffs for the first timeBy ANNE M. PETERSONWhile the Trail Blazers have something of an antagonistic relationship with the Thunder, Damian Lillard would not label it a full-blown rivalry.That could change Sunday.''This is our first time playing them in a playoff series,...