NBA

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed free-agent forward Shawne Williams, but he won't be there long. The Wolves announced the signing on Friday. It's a procedural move because the team intends to waive him on Saturday so that Minnesota's G-League affiliate in Iowa will own his rights. Williams will...

The Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks will face each other in both teams' regular-season opener next week. But Thursday's night's preseason matchup wasn't true a preview of that game. Gian Clavell had 19 points, including five 3-pointers, and the visiting Mavericks beat the Hawks 108-94. Maxi Kleber added 16 points. The...

Jordan: Super teams hurt NBA from 'competitive standpoint'CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Hornets owner Michael Jordan says that NBA stars ganging up and playing for super teams will hurt competitive balance.Last year, Kevin Durant left the Thunder to join the already loaded Golden State Warriors. This year, Carmelo Anthony and...

AP Basketball WriterIn a watered down East, Celtics-Cavs is the best thing goingBy JON KRAWCZYNSKIAs star after star migrated from the Eastern Conference to the West this summer, the lesser of the NBA's divisions got so watered down that some spice was badly needed.Kyrie Irving delivered.The mercurial guard stunned...

Trail Blazers radio announcer taking leave of absencePORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Brian Wheeler, the longtime play-by-play radio voice of the Portland Trail Blazers, is taking a leave of absence effective immediately for undisclosed health reasons.There is no timetable for Wheeler's return. He has been a radio announcer for the...

AP Sports WriterOklahoma City's Big Three shooting for their 1st NBA titleBy CLIFF BRUNTOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony and Paul George have accomplished nearly everything in their basketball careers.Westbrook is a two-time scoring champion, two-time All-Star MVP and the reigning league MVP. Anthony is a 10-time...

AP Basketball WriterDragic getting ready for the season, by not playingBy TIM REYNOLDSMIAMI (AP) Goran Dragic usually needs to play in preseason games to get ready for the season.This year, the Miami point guard needed to not play.It has been a preseason like none other for Dragic, who...

AP Basketball WriterDragic getting ready for the season, by not playingBy TIM REYNOLDSMIAMI (AP) Goran Dragic usually needs to play in preseason games to get ready for the season.This year, the Miami point guard needed to not play.It has been a preseason like none other for Dragic, who...

AP Basketball WriterSurprise! Golden State is the team to beat out West, againBy TIM REYNOLDSAnd now we know: It worked.The big question at this time last season was about Golden State and how it would work when taking a high-octane team and adding a dynamic scorer like Kevin Durant...

Heat forward Rodney McGruder has stress fracture in left legMIAMI (AP) Rodney McGruder, who started at small forward for the Miami Heat last season and was a strong candidate to open this season in the same role, is scheduled for have surgery next week to repair a stress...

Heat forward Rodney McGruder needs surgery on legMIAMI (AP) Rodney McGruder, who started at small forward for the Miami Heat last season and was a strong candidate to open this season in the same role, will have surgery next week to repair a stress fracture in his leg.McGruder...

AP Sports WriterRooke Smith Jr. sprains ankle in Mavericks' win over HawksBy KYLE HIGHTOWERThe Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks will face each other in both teams' regular-season opener next week. But Thursday's night's preseason matchup wasn't true a preview of that game.Gian Clavell had 19 points, including five 3-pointers,...