NBA

AP Sports WriterDavid West's reliable passing off the bench key for WarriorsBy JANIE McCAULEYOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) David West checks in to start the second quarter and the rest of the Warriors know to have their hands up and ready to catch his passes, because they will come fast...

AP Sports WriterGM Dennis Lindsey focused on Jazz retaining their ownBy KAREEM COPELANDSALT LAKE CITY (AP) The Utah Jazz took the long stride from lottery team to the No. 5 seed in the NBA Western Conference playoffs this season but general manager Dennis Lindsey knows significant hurdles remain...

AP Sports WriterLeBron, Cavs have reeling Celtics in must-win for Game 2By KYLE HIGHTOWERBOSTON (AP) LeBron James did pretty much whatever he wanted to against the Celtics in the Cavaliers' dominating win in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals.He was efficient, scoring from the outside, rolling...

AP Sports WriterJames, Love help Cavs rout Celtics 117-104 in Game 1By KYLE HIGHTOWERBOSTON (AP) LeBron James had 38 points, nine rebounds and seven assists and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Boston Celtics 117-104 on Wednesday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.Kevin Love added a...

AP Sports WriterWarriors' Kerr returns to practice for 1st time in 3 weeksBy JANIE McCAULEYOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Hearing Steve Kerr's voice again in a team meeting, talking strategy and a game plan for the Spurs, made Stephen Curry's Saturday.Seeing the reigning NBA coach of the year on the...

AP Sports WriterCavaliers practicing patience during long postseason layoffBy TOM WITHERSINDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) Kyrie Irving misses the sounds, the sights, the stress of the NBA playoffs.The All-Star point guard isn't the only one.''We're itching to play,'' Irving said.The Cavaliers are still waiting.With Washington and Boston headed to a...

AP Sports WriterWarriors' Kerr returns to practice for 1st time in 3 weeksBy JANIE McCAULEYOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Ailing Golden State coach Steve Kerr attended the Warriors' practice Saturday morning, returning to the floor for the first time in more than three weeks.Kerr sat down and chatted with acting...

AP Sports WriterCavs center Tavares breaks his hand during practiceBy TOM WITHERSINDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) Cavaliers backup center Walter Tavares broke his right hand during practice this week.While the injury isn't expected to hurt Cleveland going forward, it reinforced coach Tyronn Lue's plan not to scrimmage while the defending...

Capsule preview of the Spurs-Warriors conference finalsBy The Associated PressCapsule and prediction for the Western Conference final series between Golden State and San Antonio that begins Sunday:---No. 1 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (67-15, 8-0) vs. No. 2 SAN ANTONIO SPURS (61-21, 8-4)Season series: Spurs, 2-1. San Antonio ruined Kevin Durant's...

AP Sports WriterWall's late 3 leads Wiz past Celtics 92-91, forces Game 7By HOWARD FENDRICHWASHINGTON (AP) John Wall stood atop the scorer's table, popping his jersey, yelling and celebrating his 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds left for the go-ahead basket that put his Washington Wizards into a Game 7...

AP Sports WriterWall's late 3 leads Wiz past Celtics 92-91, forces Game 7By HOWARD FENDRICHWASHINGTON (AP) John Wall hit a 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds left for the go-ahead basket, then hopped atop the scorer's table and yelled to celebrate at the conclusion of the Washington Wizards' 92-91 victory...

AP Sports WriterWarriors, Spurs series filled with familiar story linesBy JANIE McCAULEYOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Leave it to Gregg Popovich to play mind games ahead of the Western Conference finals.So, what will he do to prepare his defense to stop the high-flying Warriors?''Pray,'' Popovich quipped Saturday before the Spurs...