NBA

Pierce, Collins lead 1st-time nominees for basketball hallSPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce and longtime player, coach and broadcaster Doug Collins lead the first-time nominees announced Tuesday for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2021.Also making their debut as candidates are Michael Cooper,...

AP Basketball WriterNBA studying ways to bring games back overseas in futureBy TIM REYNOLDSThe NBA is still looking at scenarios that could allow teams to play in Europe and China again next season, deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said Tuesday.Tatum also said the NBA's season-opening doubleheader Tuesday night would be...

Pierce, Collins lead 1st-time nominees for basketball hallSPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce and longtime player, coach and broadcaster Doug Collins lead the first-time nominees announced Tuesday for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2021.Also making their debut as candidates are Michael Cooper,...

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 Sports WriterWizards' Rui Hachimura to miss 3 weeks with pink eyeBy STEPHEN WHYNOWashington Wizards forward Rui Hachimura will miss roughly the first three weeks of the NBA season with an eye infection commonly known as pink eye.The team announced Monday Hachimura had bilateral epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, or EKC, two...

AP Sports WriterHarden mum on future with Rockets as NBA season approachesBy KRISTIE RIEKENJames Harden remains a Houston Rocket with the start of the NBA's regular season just two days away.How he feels about that is unclear, with the superstar refusing to discuss his future or answer any questions...

Bucks lose 2022 2nd-round pick over early Bogdanovic talksNEW YORK (AP) The Milwaukee Bucks were docked a 2022 second-round pick after the NBA determined the team held discussions with Bogdan Bogdanovic or his agent before it was allowed under free agency rules.The league said Monday the Bucks' rule...

AP Basketball WriterFultz, Isaac, White, Kennard and Anunoby get extensions doneBy TIM REYNOLDSFor some young NBA players, a free-agency payday came early Monday.Orlando signed Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz to extensions, while San Antonio did the same with Derrick White, Toronto with OG Anunoby and the Los Angeles Clippers...

Wolves' Beasley pleads guilty to threats of violence chargeMINNEAPOLIS (AP) Minnesota Timberwolves guard Malik Beasley pleaded guilty Monday to using a rifle to threaten a family in his suburban Minneapolis neighborhood.Beasley pleaded guilty to a felony count of threats of violence and faces 120 days in a workhouse,...

AP Basketball WriterFultz, Isaac, White and Anunoby get contract extensions doneBy TIM REYNOLDSFor some young NBA players, a free-agency payday came early Monday.Orlando signed Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz to extensions, while San Antonio did the same with Derrick White and Toronto with OG Anunoby.All four could have been...

Clippers sign guard Luke Kennard to multiyear extensionLOS ANGELES (AP) The Los Angeles Clippers have signed guard Luke Kennard to a multiyear contract extension.Kennard was acquired as part of a three-team trade on Nov. 19. He averaged a career-high 15.8 points, 4.1 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 28...

AP Basketball WriterSilver confident that NBA season can be pulled off safelyBy TIM REYNOLDSThe NBA found a way to get through last season amid a pandemic. Adam Silver sees no reason why the same cannot ring true again this season.Silver, the the NBA's Commissioner, said Monday - one day...