NBA

Leonard to start for Spurs in debut after missing 27 gamesDALLAS (AP) San Antonio Spurs star Kawhi Leonard will start in his season debut Tuesday night at Dallas after missing 27 games with a quadriceps injury.Leonard has been recovering from right quadriceps tendinopathy, a condition that causes pain...

AP Sports WriterMatt Barnes retires from NBA at 37, saying he did it his wayBy BETH HARRISLOS ANGELES (AP) Matt Barnes is retiring from the NBA after playing for nine teams over 14 years and winning a championship with Golden State last season.The 37-year-old small forward hasn't played...

Associated PressJahlil Okafor excited about fresh start with NetsBy MICHAEL SCOTTONEW YORK (AP) Jahlil Okafor finally got the fresh start he wanted.Okafor was the consensus No. 1 high school player in his class, won a national championship at Duke, and averaged 17.5 points and seven rebounds in his...

AP Sports WriterCavs center Tristan Thompson coming back in reserve roleBy TOM WITHERSINDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) Tristan Thompson's role may have changed. Not his drive.Sidelined since Nov. 1 with a calf injury he said was much more serious than a strain, Thompson could play Tuesday night when the Cleveland...

AP Sports WriterThompson set to return for Cavaliers in a reserve roleBy TOM WITHERSINDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson could play for the first time since Nov. 1 on Tuesday against Atlanta.Thompson has been sidelined with a strained left calf. The team initially said Thompson would...

Sixers' Embiid, McConnell out vs. PelicansNEW ORLEANS (AP) The Philadelphia 76ers have decided to sit out Joel Embiid against the Pelicans on Sunday night because of stiffness in the 7-foot center's back.Embiid was expected to play in New Orleans after sitting out Saturday night's loss to Cleveland to...

Leonard expected to play during Spurs' upcoming road tripSAN ANTONIO (AP) Spurs star Kawhi Leonard is expected to make his season debut during the team's upcoming three-game road trip.San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich would not confirm a report by the San Antonio Express-News that Leonard will make his...

NBA G League stars to play Mexico at NBA All-Star GameMEXICO CITY (AP) A team of top players in the NBA G League will play the Mexican national team in the NBA G League International Challenge at the NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles.NBA G League USA will...

Magic top scorer Gordon out vs Hawks because of concussionATLANTA (AP) Orlando leading scorer Aaron Gordon will miss the game against the Hawks because of a concussion, further draining the short-handed Magic.The 6-foot-9 Gordon, averaging 18.5 points per game, was injured Friday as the Magic lost to Denver....

Cavaliers' Love out with sore left hip against SixersCLEVELAND (AP) Cavaliers center Kevin Love is out against the Philadelphia 76ers because of a sore left hip.Love went through warmups Saturday before the decision to hold him out was made. He injured the hip Wednesday against Memphis, but played...

Traveling: Heat hope Mexico trip will provide a bounceBy CARLOS RODR??GUEZMEXICO CITY (AP) Maybe this trip south of the border is the start of something for the Miami Heat.They have lost four of their last five games and for the last few days the players and coaching staff...

AP Sports WriterCavs' Derrick Rose has bone spur in ankle, happy to be backBy MICHAEL MAROTINDIANAPOLIS (AP) Derrick Rose is ready to start playing basketball in Cleveland again - once he's healthy.The oft-injured point guard acknowledged Friday he has a bone spur in his left ankle that contributed...