NBA

NBA preseason wraps up, regular season starts TuesdayBy The Associated PressFrom LeBron James' arrival in Los Angeles to Jimmy Butler's desire to leave Minnesota, it's been an eventful NBA preseason.It was a rocky one for the Timberwolves, who spent most of it dealing with the Butler drama and finished...

Tex Winter, innovative basketball coach, dead at 96MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) Tex Winter, the innovative ''Triangle Offense'' pioneer who assisted Phil Jackson on NBA championship teams with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, has died. He was 96.Winter's family said he died Wednesday in Manhattan, where he began...

LeBron, Lonzo take the floor together for first timeBy The Associated PressLeBron James watched Lonzo Ball play in Las Vegas during the 2017 NBA Summer League, taking in a Los Angeles Lakers' game from a baseline seat as a spectator.He had a better view Wednesday.James and Ball were on-court...

AP Basketball WriterWith LeBron gone, Eastern Conference set for a new championBy BRIAN MAHONEYThe roadblock has been removed. With LeBron James gone, the path to the NBA Finals from the Eastern Conference is open again.Boston, Philadelphia, Toronto and more are hoping to win the race to it.James ruled over...

AP Basketball WriterKerr, Wright, McMillan to be US basketball assistant coachesBy BRIAN MAHONEYSteve Kerr and Jay Wright will be assistant coaches for the U.S. national basketball team, putting the coaches of the NBA and NCAA championship teams on Gregg Popovich's staff.Nate McMillan will be the other assistant, USA Basketball...

AP Basketball WriterNo surprise, the West title still runs through the WarriorsBy TIM REYNOLDSGolden State coach Steve Kerr is a happy man these days.He's got a new contract. He's got his son Nick, who was helping out in San Antonio, working in the Warriors' video room now. He's leading...

Quebec group taking shot at NBA expansion team for MontrealMONTREAL (AP) A Quebec group wants to bring an NBA team to Montreal even though the league has no current plans to expand.The business group is led by former federal cabinet minister and senator Michael Fortier. He said Wednesday...

Raptors rest Leonard among others, beat Pelicans 134-119By The Associated PressThe Toronto Raptors rested Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry, Danny Green and Serge Ibaka in their final game of the preseason.Their teammates made sure they could enjoy the break with a victory.Malachi Richardson and Pascal Siakim each scored 21 points,...

AP Sports WriterLeBron-less Cavaliers starting anew with Love as focal pointBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) Kevin Love wore a pair of LeBron James' signature sneakers on media day. It's the last time he'll try to fill them.Four years after aligning with James and Kyrie Irving in Cleveland to form...

AP Basketball WriterJimmy Butler to ESPN: I was 'brutally honest' with WolvesBy TIM REYNOLDSJimmy Butler is back with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and his first practice of the season had fireworks.He caused them - with his words and his play.Butler, who asked for a trade more than three weeks ago,...

LeBron, Lonzo take the floor together for first timeBy The Associated PressLeBron James watched Lonzo Ball play in Las Vegas during the 2017 NBA Summer League, taking in a Los Angeles Lakers' game from a baseline seat as a spectator.He was getting a better view Wednesday.James and Ball were...

Tex Winter, innovative basketball coach, dead at 96MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) Tex Winter, the innovative ''Triangle Offense'' pioneer who assisted Phil Jackson on NBA championship teams with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, has died. He was 96.Winter's family said he died Wednesday in Manhattan, where he began...