NBA

Turner returns, Harkless out for Portland in Game 4NEW ORLEANS (AP) Portland coach Terry Stotts says Evan Turner is available to play but Maurice Harkless will miss Game 4 of the first-round playoff series with New Orleans.The Trail Blazers are trying to stave off elimination Saturday, trailing the...

Curry cleared for modified practice after knee injuryOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry has been cleared to take part in modified practices but will be out at least one more week with a left knee injury.The Warriors said Curry was examined by the team's medical...

Heat's Winslow fined $15,000 for stepping on Embiid's maskNEW YORK (AP) Miami's Justise Winslow has been fined $15,000 by the NBA for attempting to damage Philadelphia center Joel Embiid's facemask during Game 3 of their playoff series.Winslow intentionally stepped on Embiid's mask after it had fallen onto the...

Associated PressAdvantage Utah? Jazz's Derrick Favors "100 percent" backBy JOHN COONSALT LAKE CITY (AP) When Derrick Favors can find ways to impose his will, good things happen for the Utah Jazz.Favors has been quietly, albeit effectively, getting it done against the Oklahoma City Thunder, playing in the shadows...

Curry cleared to take part in modified practice for WarriorsOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry has been cleared to take part in modified practices but will be out at least one more week with a left knee injury.The Warriors said Curry was examined by the...

AP Entertainment WriterShaq attacks verse in new TV series "Poetry in America"By ANDREW DALTONLOS ANGELES (AP) Shaquille O'Neal called himself ''The Big Baryshnikov'' and ''The Big Socrates'' in his days in the NBA. Now he can add ''The Big Shakespeare.''The basketball Hall-of-Famer, TNT TV analyst, commercial pitchman and...

AP Entertainment WriterShaq attacks verse in new TV series "Poetry in America"By ANDREW DALTONLOS ANGELES (AP) Shaquille O'Neal called himself ''The Big Baryshnikov'' and ''The Big Socrates'' in his days in the NBA. Now he can add ''The Big Shakespeare.''The basketball Hall-of-Famer, TNT TV analyst, commercial pitchman and...

Touchdown Bucks! Packers' Rodgers buys into NBA teamMILWAUKEE (AP) Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has joined the ownership group of the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks as a limited partner.The Bucks made the announcement Friday night between the first and second quarters of Game 3 of their Eastern Conference...

Cavaliers expect Love to play in Game 3 of Pacers seriesINDIANAPOLIS (AP) Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tryonn Lue expects injured forward Kevin Love to play Friday in Game 3 at Indiana.Love hurt his left thumb late in Wednesday's victory that evened the series at 1-1. He did not return...

Heat's Winslow fined $15,000 for stepping on Embiid's maskNEW YORK (AP) Miami's Justise Winslow has been fined $15,000 by the NBA for attempting to damage Philadelphia center Joel Embiid's facemask during Game 3 of their playoff series.Winslow intentionally stepped on Embiid's mask after it had fallen onto the...

AP Sports WriterWith new arena near, Bucks seek elusive playoff series winBy GENARO C. ARMASMILWAUKEE (AP) A billboard down the street from the Milwaukee Bucks' nearly completed new arena makes a proclamation in big, bold letters: ''The Future is Here.''The rebuilding process is over. Winning a playoff series...

NBA mourns death of Gregg Popovich's wife, a 'real star'SAN ANTONIO (AP) LeBron James fought back tears. Former President Bill Clinton offered condolences. Craig Sager's daughter tweeted that she was ''just sick'' over the news.Such is the regard that so many, from so many walks of life, have...