NBA

AP Sports WriterPopovich strongly supports LeBron's courage to speak outBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich hopes LeBron James never stops speaking up.Long an admirer of Cleveland's superstar, Popovich praised James for his activism and for being a role model to ''millions'' of kids. Popovich also...

AP Sports WriterAP source: Cavaliers talking contract with Derrick RoseBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) The Cavaliers could be adding another former MVP to their roster.Looking to close the gap on the champion Golden State Warriors, Cleveland is in contract talks with free agent guard Derrick Rose, a person familiar...

AP Sports WriterGuarding Bucks' Giannis presents Raptors a playoff puzzleBy GENARO C. ARMASMILWAUKEE (AP) Giannis Antetokounmpo presents a defensive conundrum for the Toronto Raptors.Assign a shorter player on the 6-foot-11 Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks star can take advantage on the block. Put a taller player on him...

Tex Winter, innovative basketball coach, dead at 96MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) Tex Winter, the innovative ''Triangle Offense'' pioneer who assisted Phil Jackson on NBA championship teams with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, has died. He was 96.Kansas State University said Winter died Wednesday in Manhattan.''I learned so...

AP Sports WriterAP source: Mavs chasing DeAndre Jordan again 3 years laterBy SCHUYLER DIXONDALLAS (AP) A person with knowledge of the situation says the Dallas Mavericks are making another run at DeAndre Jordan, three years after the center jilted them in free agency to stay with the Los...

AP Sports WriterCavaliers' Love sitting out final game before All-Star breakBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) Cavaliers forward Kevin Love sat out Wednesday night's game against Brooklyn, but plans to increase his playing time following the All-Star break.''I don't know minutes-wise what it's going to be like, but a good...

Mavs launch probe after allegations of workplace misconductDALLAS (AP) The Dallas Mavericks have hired outside counsel to investigate allegations of inappropriate conduct by former team president Terdema Ussery in a Sports Illustrated report that described a hostile workplace for women.Ussery was accused of making sexually suggestive remarks to...

Hall of Famer Tommy Heinsohn, 'ultimate Celtic,' dies at 86BOSTON (AP) Tommy Heinsohn, who as a Boston Celtics player, coach and broadcaster over more than 60 years was with the team for all 17 of its NBA championships, died Tuesday. He was 86.''This is a devastating loss,'' the...

Associated PressHarden Scores 24 as Rockets Beat Jazz for 13th StraightBy MATTHEW COLESSALT LAKE CITY (AP) James Harden had 26 points and Luc Mbah a Moute scored 15 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter to lift the Houston Rockets to their 13th straight win with a...

Nets' Atkinson fined $25,000 for outburst against officialsNEW YORK (AP) Brooklyn Nets coach Kenny Atkinson has been fined $25,000 for verbally abusing game officials and failing to leave the court quickly enough after he was ejected.The league announced the fine on Saturday.Atkinson was thrown out of the Nets'...

Hawks G Bogdan Bogdanovic out after fracturing right kneeATLANTA (AP) Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic could miss extended time after fracturing his right knee.The Hawks announced Sunday that MRI found Bogdanovic sustained an avulsion fracture the previous night when he went down awkwardly in a loss to Charlotte....

AP Basketball WriterEven as Knicks tumble again, Carmelo wants to be in New YorkBy BRIAN MAHONEYNEW YORK (AP) Carmelo Anthony still believes the Knicks can win and still wants to be in New York when they do.Another January collapse makes it easier to wonder if either will happen.The...