NBA

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant played together for only 81 seconds in the All-Star Game, just one very early stint. It was enough for a signature highlight. A give-and-go - Westbrook to Durant, back to Westbrook for a dunk, rekindling their Oklahoma City magic for a moment -...

Celtics' Marcus Smart fined $35K for pursuing Hawks playerNEW YORK (AP) Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart has been fined $35,000 for ''aggressively pursuing'' DeAndre Bembry of the Atlanta Hawks and failing to promptly leave the court following his ejection.NBA discipline executive Kiki VanDeWeghe handed down the fine Monday.It...

AP Basketball WriterLowry (thumb) withdraws from USA Basketball's World Cup teamBy TIM REYNOLDSKyle Lowry of the NBA champion Toronto Raptors says his surgically repaired thumb has not recovered sufficiently enough to allow him to participate with USA Basketball in camp for the FIBA World Cup, and is withdrawing from...

CHICAGO (AP) Forward Joakim Noah left the Bulls' game against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night after separating his left shoulder with just under 10 minutes to play in the second quarter.Noah was in his fourth game back after returning from a nine-game absence because of an injury...

Huge crowds pack downtown Toronto for Raptors paradeTORONTO (AP) Droves of jubilant Raptors fans packed downtown Toronto on Monday for a parade for the NBA champions, raising safety concerns as problems with overcrowding persisted.The parade route ends in a square outside City Hall, where police have begun to...

AP Sports WriterNuggets mired in 3-game slump with Rockets arriving in townBy PAT GRAHAMDENVER (AP) Nuggets coach Michael Malone kept the mood light at practice Monday and the lectures to a minimum.No reason to get too worked up over Denver's current three-game skid. After all, this is the...

Associated PressMagic hire Jeff Weltman to head basketball operationsBy TERRANCE HARRISORLANDO, Fla. (AP) The Orlando Magic completed their search to fill the role of president of basketball operations.It's Toronto general manager Jeff Weltman, a veteran NBA executive but relatively unknown to the casual basketball fan.Magic President Alex Martins...

AP Sports WriterPierce believes it is time for young Hawks to become winnersBy CHARLES ODUMATLANTA (AP) Lloyd Pierce sees improvement in each of the five players he calls the core of the rebuilding Atlanta Hawks.There is pressure for the coach to deliver proof of that growth. Pierce says...

AP Basketball WriterAP Interview: Wade wants to wear Heat jersey again - somedayBy TIM REYNOLDSMIAMI (AP) Dwyane Wade cannot be clearer about this: He wants to wear a Miami Heat uniform again.Someday.After signing his one-year, $2.3 million deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Wade - speaking from his new...

AP Sports WriterCavaliers in chaos after GM leaves on eve of pivotal summerBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) Nothing ever seems good enough for Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert.Not a championship. Not three straight appearances in the NBA Finals. Not a rapt fan base. Not being forgiven by LeBron James.He's demanding....

Raptors say OG Anunoby will be active for Game 2TORONTO (AP) The Toronto Raptors might be getting some bench help for Game 2 of the NBA Finals.Raptors coach Nick Nurse says OG Anunoby will be available for Sunday night's game against the Golden State Warriors. Anunoby has yet...

AP Sports WriterCavs, coach Drew part ways after challenging, 19-win seasonBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) The Cavaliers will continue to rebuild with a new coach. Larry Drew's run is over after one season.The team parted ways Thursday with Drew, who took over as the Cavs coach in October and...