NBA

AP Basketball WriterLakers' Isaiah Thomas: 'All you need is 1 team to love you'By TIM REYNOLDSMIAMI (AP) Isaiah Thomas still feels like there's time.He's four months away from free agency, the wheeling-and-dealing period where - the way things were looking a year ago - he would be signing...

NEW YORK (AP) - Russell Westbrook scored 41 points - one shy of Wilt Chamberlain's record - and was selected MVP of the All-Star Game after leading the West to a 163-158 win over the East on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden.Oklahoma City's flashy guard set a record...

AP Basketball WriterDel Harris receives 2020's Chuck Daly achievement awardBy TIM REYNOLDSLAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) Del Harris was a small-college player and once those days were over his life's goal was to be a successful small-college coach.He did quite a bit more than that.Harris was revealed Friday...

AP Sports WriterCeltics' Stevens remains humble as team continues to thriveBy KYLE HIGHTOWERWALTHAM, Mass. (AP) When Brad Stevens accepted the Celtics head coaching job five years ago, he didn't allow himself to get caught up in thinking about how he could add his name to the franchise's rich...

AP Sports WriterLakers play outside to lighten spirits after Bryant's deathBy GREG BEACHAMEL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) Before the Los Angeles Lakers practiced on the final day before their first game since Kobe Bryant’s death, they played.The players, their coaching staff and general manager Rob Pelinka took to the...

AP Sports WriterAP source: Grizzlies trade Conley to Jazz for 3 playersBy TERESA M. WALKERThe Memphis Grizzlies traded away the final piece of the franchise's best years on Wednesday, sending veteran point guard Mike Conley to the Utah Jazz for a trio of players, a person familiar with the...

Associated PressFamilies sue helicopter company in deadly Kobe Bryant crashBy BRIAN MELLEYLOS ANGELES (AP) Family members of four of the eight passengers killed in a helicopter crash with Kobe Bryant and his daughter have joined the NBA star's widow in filing wrongful death lawsuits against the companies that...

AP Sports WriterNowitzki soaking up retirement after 21 seasons with MavsBy SCHUYLER DIXONARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Dirk Nowitzki eventually plans on working out again. The recently retired star of the Dallas Mavericks wants to stay in somewhat decent shape.The big German hasn't put a timeline on it - he's...

TORONTO (AP) James Harden had his 10th triple-double of the season to help the Houston Rockets extend their winning streak to eight games. He still sees a lot of room for improvement. ''One hundred percent,'' Harden said after finishing with 40 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in the Rockets'...

Knicks waive group of veterans ahead of NBA free agencyNEW YORK (AP) The New York Knicks waived veterans Elfrid Payton, Taj Gibson and Wayne Ellington and declined their team option on Bobby Portis on Thursday, just a year after signing them in free agency.The Knicks signed all the...

AP Sports WriterAP Source: Lakers plan to sign Dwight HowardBy GREG BEACHAMLOS ANGELES (AP) The Los Angeles Lakers intend to sign center Dwight Howard after he completes a buyout with Memphis, a person familiar with the decision says.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday because the deal...

25 years after spurning NBA Jam, Jordan invests in esportsLOS ANGELES (AP) A quarter century after being famously excluded from the cult favorite video game NBA Jam, Michael Jordan is investing in esports.Jordan on Thursday was announced as an investor with aXiomatic, a major esports ownership group whose...