NBA

AP Sports WriterHealthy Zion Williamson, new coach, give Pelicans fresh hopeBy BRETT MARTELNEW ORLEANS (AP) Zion Williamson, in the span of one pandemic-compressed offseason, has gone from being a rookie on playing-time restrictions to a New Orleans Pelicans elder statesman with no limits on his minutes.Williamson's eagerly awaited...

AP Basketball WriterEast champion Heat are thinking even bigger this seasonBy TIM REYNOLDSMIAMI (AP) They don't have banner-raising ceremonies in Miami for anything other than NBA championships and jersey retirements. Eastern Conference title banners go to the rafters quietly, without fanfare.That's fine with Jimmy Butler.Miami's run to the...

AP Sports WriterWith Curry back, Warriors try to move on from worst recordBy JANIE McCAULEYSAN FRANCISCO (AP) Don't press Steve Kerr about last season. He would rather put it out of his memory and move on for good from the Golden State Warriors' last-place finish and missing the...

AP Sports WriterFrom Process to pension, Embiid wants career as 76ers liferBy DAN GELSTONPHILADELPHIA (AP) Knocked his entire career for conditioning woes, Joel Embiid dedicated his offseason to a fitness program he vowed would keep him with the 76ers from Process to pension.Embiid kept his personal transaction wire...

AP Sports WriterClippers seek better finish under new coach Tyronn LueBy BETH HARRISLOS ANGELES (AP) Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are healthy at the same time to start the season, and that's given the Los Angeles Clippers a renewed sense of optimism.With the blockbuster additions of Leonard and...

AP Sports WriterCavaliers hoping to 'overachieve' after long 2020 lay-offBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) The NBA's interrupted season and invitation-only gathering in Florida to finish it due to the pandemic hurt every team to varying degrees.It devastated the Cleveland Cavaliers.Not only did they not get to build off some...

AP Sports WriterBorrego: Hornets have needed playmakers in Ball, HaywardBy STEVE REEDCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Hornets coach James Borrego wanted elite playmakers this offseason.He feels like his prayers were answered with the addition of veteran forward Gordon Hayward and rookie guard LaMelo Ball.''We've got two elite playmakers that can...

Zion, Paul get started, Harden expected to on TuesdayBy The Associated PressZion Williamson got to work for his new coach. Chris Paul got started with a new set of teammates.And on Tuesday, James Harden is expected to do what feels like a little of both.With a preseason that's shorter...

Magic to allow up to 4,000 fans at home gamesORLANDO, Fla. (AP) The Orlando Magic said Monday that they plan to have 4,000 fans in seats for regular season games, with strict adherence to social distancing and other health protocols.The team will build up to that 4,000 figure,...

Antetokounmpo gets scare in Bucks' loss to MavericksBy The Associated PressTwo-time reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo got a scare just four minutes into Saturday night's 112-102 exhibition loss to the Dallas Mavericks when he got popped in the eye when he collided with Dorian Finney-Smith.Finney-Smith swooped in for a...

'Explosive' Durant scores 15 in 1st preseason game with NetsBy The Associated PressKevin Durant still can score in bunches.The four-time NBA scoring champion returned from a lengthy injury absence to score 15 points in his debut with the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday night.Durant ruptured the Achilles tendon in his...

AP Basketball WriterIrving, Nets each fined $25,000 for point guard's silenceBy BRIAN MAHONEYNEW YORK (AP) The NBA is making Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets pay for the point guard's silence.The league fined Irving and the team $25,000 apiece Thursday because he has refused to speak to the...