NBA

AP Basketball WriterThe NBA's showcase day - Christmas - has arrivedBy TIM REYNOLDSThe MVP is playing.So are the reigning champions, north of the border.And out in L.A., the NBA's newest dynamic duos will square off as well.On the 65th day of the season, with 454 games - more than...

Associated PressBucks' Khris Middleton misses Thunder game due to sore neckBy TOM KERTSCHERMILWAUKEE (AP) All-Star forward Khris Middleton was a late scratch for the Milwaukee Bucks' game against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a sore neck.Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer said before Friday's game that Middleton showed up...

WASHINGTON (AP) Kevin Durant left at halftime with a strained left hamstring and Russell Westbrook took over, compiling a triple-double with 22 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder past the Washington Wizards, 125-101 Tuesday.Durant, second in the NBA in scoring entering the...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - DeMarcus Cousins appears ready to return from a serious bout with viral meningitis when the Sacramento Kings host the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night.The Kings upgraded Cousins' status from questionable to probable. He has been able to participate in portions of practice the past few...

AP Sports WriterSuns' Oubre has surgery on knee, out at least 4 weeksBy DAVID BRANDTPHOENIX (AP) Phoenix Suns forward Kelly Oubre Jr. had surgery Tuesday to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee and will miss at least four weeks.The 6-foot-7 Oubre has missed the past three...

Nets sign veterans Beasley, Crawford as substitute playersNEW YORK (AP) The Brooklyn Nets plugged a couple holes in their roster Thursday with a pair of well-traveled veteran scorers.The Nets signed three-time Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford and Michael Beasley as substitute players for the remainder of...

Hawks G Bogdan Bogdanovic out after fracturing right kneeATLANTA (AP) Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic could miss extended time after fracturing his right knee.The Hawks announced Sunday that MRI found Bogdanovic sustained an avulsion fracture the previous night when he went down awkwardly in a loss to Charlotte....

Longtime Phoenix sports columnist Gilmartin dead at 88PHOENIX (AP) Joe Gilmartin, a sports columnist for the old Phoenix Gazette for more than 30 years and member of the Pro Basketball Writers Hall of Fame, has died at 88.The Phoenix Suns announced Gilmartin's death on Wednesday.Gilmartin moved to Arizona...

AP Sports WriterCap-strapped T-wolves in tricky spot for summer improvementBy DAVE CAMPBELLMINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Minnesota Timberwolves made major strides this season in ending their 13-year absence from the NBA playoffs after a franchise-altering trade for All-Star Jimmy Butler.With cornerstones Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins in their early 20s...

Rockets' general manager's Hong Kong comments anger ChinaBEIJING (AP) Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tried Sunday to defuse the rapidly growing fallout over his deleted tweet that showed support for Hong Kong anti-government protesters, saying he did not intend to offend any of the team's Chinese fans...

LeBron gets first win in LA as Lakers beat KingsBy The Associated PressLeBron James is a winner for the first time as a Laker.James scored 18 points in a back-and-forth first half before resting in the second half, watching his teammates pull out a 128-123 preseason victory over the...

Warriors' McCaw cleared for limited on-court workNEW ORLEANS (AP) Golden State Warriors reserve guard Patrick McCaw has been cleared for limited on-court activities as he tries to come back from a spinal bruise that has sidelined him since March 31.The Warriors are not providing a specific timeline for...