NBA

AP Basketball WriterTimberwolves owner Taylor expecting big jump next seasonBy JON KRAWCZYNSKIMINNEAPOLIS (AP) Minnesota Timberwolves coach and president Tom Thibodeau is meeting with his staff to put together an aggressive game plan for the summer in hopes of adding some defensive tenacity to a young team that never...

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...

AP Sports WriterAfter strange season, Hawks hope they've figured things outBy PAUL NEWBERRYATLANTA (AP) Maybe the Atlanta Hawks finally figured things out.If so, their timing is impeccable.After a regular season marked largely by perplexing inconsistency, the Hawks turned in some of their best performances over the final week.Two...

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...

AP Sports WriterVan Gundy says Drummond needs 'sense of urgency'By NOAH TRISTERAUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) Stan Van Gundy has a reputation for candor, so when he was asked to evaluate the development of star center Andre Drummond, the Detroit coach's matter-of-fact response was no surprise.''I think that he...

AP Sports WriterWill he or won't he? Nurkic's return still uncertainBy ANNE M. PETERSONPORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Portland center Jusuf Nurkic's availability for the opening game of the Trail Blazers' playoff series against the Golden State Warriors remains uncertain.Nurkic has missed seven games with a non-displaced right leg fracture.There...

AP Sports WriterAfter strange season, Hawks hope they've figured things outBy PAUL NEWBERRYATLANTA (AP) Maybe the Atlanta Hawks finally figured things out.If so, their timing is impeccable.After a regular season marked largely by perplexing inconsistency, the Hawks turned in some of their best performances over the final week.Two...

AP Sports WriterVan Gundy says Drummond needs 'sense of urgency'By NOAH TRISTERAUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) Detroit Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy says star center Andre Drummond needs to ''have a sense of urgency'' to improve his game.Van Gundy, who is also the team president, spoke for over a...

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...

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...

AP Sports WriterThunder's Westbrook focused on playoffs, not historic seasonBy CLIFF BRUNTOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Shortly after the Thunder wrapped up their regular-season finale, Russell Westbrook grew weary of talking about individual accolades.The Thunder guard happily answered questions about Oscar Robertson's MVP endorsement , and he answered a few...

AP Sports WriterJason Terry gives young Milwaukee Bucks lift on, off courtBy GENARO C. ARMASMILWAUKEE (AP) As teammates changed around him in the locker room and made postgame dinner plans, guard Jason Terry eased forward in his seat at his locker, still in full uniform.The elder statesman of...