NBA

AP Basketball WriterGame 6s on tap: LeBron, Raptors, Jazz look to advanceBy TIM REYNOLDSLeBron James saved a game. Russell Westbrook and Paul George saved a season.And now, Game 6 awaits them all.A trio of possible series-ending games are on Friday night's NBA playoff schedule: Cleveland at Indiana, Toronto at...

AP Sports WriterWizards' Lawson among late pickups helping NBA playoff teamsBy HOWARD FENDRICHWASHINGTON (AP) Less than three weeks ago, Ty Lawson was playing professional basketball in China.Nowadays, he's one of the first subs off the bench for the Washington Wizards in their Eastern Conference first-round series against the...

AP Sports WriterPacers believe LeBron goaltended on block in final secondsBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) The Indiana Pacers felt cheated - by LeBron James and the officials.Moments before James beat them with a game-winning, step-back 3-pointer at the buzzer, the Pacers were poised to take the lead in Game...

AP Basketball WriterOn Basketball: And now, Wade decides if this was the endBy TIM REYNOLDSMIAMI (AP) Dwyane Wade's first NBA game was in Philadelphia.His last NBA game may have been there as well.Retirement is a very - very - real option for Wade, who has been not-so-quietly saying...

AP Sports WriterMike Budenholzer out as coach of Atlanta HawksBy CHARLES ODUMATLANTA (AP) Mike Budenholzer wanted to coach elsewhere. The Atlanta Hawks finally agreed it's a good idea.The Hawks and Budenholzer mutually agreed to part ways Wednesday in a move announced by the team in a three-sentence statement.The...

Mike Budenholzer out as coach of Atlanta HawksATLANTA (AP) The Atlanta Hawks and coach Mike Budenholzer mutually agreed to part ways.The Hawks announced the move Wednesday night in a three-sentence statement.The decision was not totally unexpected as Budenholzer was granted permission to interview with other teams even though...

AP Sports WriterCavs guard Hill to miss Game 5 vs. Pacers with back spasmsBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) Cavaliers starting point guard George Hill will miss Game 5 against Indiana with lingering back spasms.Hill also sat out Game 4, but the Cavs were able to hold on to a...

Mike Budenholzer out as coach of Atlanta HawksATLANTA (AP) The Atlanta Hawks and coach Mike Budenholzer have mutually agreed to part ways.The team announced the move Wednesday night.Budenholzer was 213-192 in the regular season and 17-22 in the playoffs in five seasons with Atlanta. The Hawks were an...

Bledsoe, Bucks say point guard's left hand is fineMILWAUKEE (AP) Milwaukee guard Eric Bledsoe says an injury to his left hand didn't affect his play in the Bucks' Game 5 loss to the Boston Celtics.Bledsoe's left thumb and hand were wrapped after the 92-87 loss on Tuesday night....

Raptors honor victims of van attack before Game 5TORONTO (AP) The Toronto Raptors honored the victims the deadly van attack Monday with a moment of silence Wednesday night before Game 5 of their playoff series against the Washington Wizards/Players from both teams held up banners with the hashtag...

AP Basketball WriterGiannis, Bucks try to fend off elimination against CelticsBy TIM REYNOLDSGiannis Antetokounmpo was criticized after Game 5 of Milwaukee's Eastern Conference series against Boston for not doing more, particularly on the offensive end.The harshest critic: Antetokounmpo, himself.He took only 10 field-goal attempts, his third-lowest total of the...

AP Basketball WriterHeat wait for Wade, will look for ways to improveBy TIM REYNOLDSMIAMI (AP) If there was any reason for solace in the Miami Heat locker room after the final game of the season in Philadelphia, it was this: They knew they lost to a better team.The...