NBA

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...

AP Sports WriterEmbiid, Simmons led 76ers from Process to postseason successBy DAN GELSTONPHILADELPHIA (AP) Kevin Hart laughed as he tried to floss dance with a kid as they were both egged on by rapper Meek Mill. Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie awkwardly waved his arms around the way...

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...

Thunder G Westbrook gets fine, tech for confronting GobertNEW YORK (AP) Russell Westbrook has been fined $10,000 and assessed a postgame technical foul for initiating a confrontation with Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert on Monday.The league made the announcement Tuesday.The Oklahoma City Thunder guard came onto the court...

Celtics' Smart active for Game 5 against BucksBOSTON (AP) Celtics guard Marcus Smart is active for Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against Milwaukee.Smart was medically cleared by doctors and participated in the Celtics' Tuesday morning shootaround. Coach Brad Stevens says he'll come off the bench and...

Pelicans void about 2,500 improperly bought playoff ticketsNEW ORLEANS (AP) The New Orleans Pelicans say they've voided around 2,500 playoff tickets that were purchased improperly during a pre-sale event for the second round of the NBA playoffs.The club says the event was designed exclusively for season-tickets holders, but...

AP Sports WriterCavs guard George Hill (back spasms) questionable for Game 5By TOM WITHERSINDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) Cavaliers point guard George Hill is questionable for Wednesday's crucial Game 5 against Indiana because of back spasms.Hill has been dealing with back problems since the series opener, when he was flattened...

Nets hire Prigioni as assistant coach, Splitter as pro scoutNEW YORK (AP) The Brooklyn Nets have hired former NBA player and Argentine guard Pablo Prigioni as an assistant coach.The Nets also announced Tuesday that former Spurs center Tiago Splitter was hired as a pro scout.Prigioni spent most of...

AP Sports WriterCavs guard George Hill (back spasms) questionable for Game 5By TOM WITHERSINDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) Cavaliers point guard George Hill is questionable for Wednesday's crucial Game 5 against Indiana because of back spasms.Hill has been dealing with back problems since the series opener when he was flattened...

AP Sports WriterDavis, Pelicans on path to NBA's next small-market successBy BRETT MARTELNEW ORLEANS (AP) With every Anthony Davis put-back dunk, reverse alley-oop jam, step-back 3-pointer or game-sealing block in the playoffs, the New Orleans Pelicans take a step closer to becoming the NBA's next small-market success story.That...

AP Basketball writerMelting Pot: 76ers' global approach to a roster is workingBy TIM REYNOLDSMIAMI (AP) Philadelphia's six leading average scorers so far in the playoffs, in order are: Ben Simmons, Dario Saric, Joel Embiid, JJ Redick, Marco Belinelli and Ersan Ilyasova.Their homelands: Australia, Croatia, Cameroon, the United States,...

Bucks' Giannis hits big bucket but can't score lunchMILWAUKEE (AP) Giannis Antetokounmpo helped the Milwaukee Bucks win a playoff game but couldn't score a table at a Mexican restaurant.A Bucks fan posted a picture on social media of the All-Star forward waiting at BelAir Cantina on Sunday.Earlier that...