NBA

AP Basketball WriterKnicks bring Tom Thibodeau back to New York as new coachBy BRIAN MAHONEYNEW YORK (AP) Tom Thibodeau is back in New York as the Knicks' new coach.The former NBA Coach of the Year was hired Thursday, returning to the team he helped lead to the NBA...

AP Sports WriterHornets coach Clifford out indefinitely with 'health issue'By STEVE REEDCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Hornets coach Steve Clifford will be away from the team for an undetermined period of time to deal with a ''health issue.''The team made the announcement Wednesday in a release.The 56-year-old Clifford missed Monday...

AP Basketball WriterNot again: Rockets' Chris Paul strains another hamstringBy TIM REYNOLDSMIAMI (AP) Different leg. Same problem.Chris Paul has another hamstring issue to deal with, and the Houston Rockets are bracing for another stint without their All-Star point guard. Paul will have an MRI in Houston on Friday...

AP Sports WriterPelicans' Griffin: Gentry staying, and perhaps Davis, tooBy BRETT MARTELMETAIRIE, La. (AP) The Pelicans newly hired top basketball executive says coach Alvin Gentry will be retained and that he won't rule out the possibility of talking six-time All-Star Anthony Davis into rescinding his trade request and...

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) - Kobe Bryant will have surgery Wednesday on his torn right rotator cuff, likely ending his 19th season with the Los Angeles Lakers.The team announced Bryant's surgery Monday. He injured his shoulder last week in New Orleans.The Lakers say they'll announce a timetable for Bryant's...

Associated PressReport: Kobe Bryant pilot may have been disoriented in fogBy BRIAN MELLEYLOS ANGELES (AP) The pilot of the helicopter that crashed in thick fog, killing Kobe Bryant and seven other passengers, reported he was climbing when he actually was descending, federal investigators said in documents released Wednesday.Ara...

Giannis, George finalists for NBA MVP and defensive awardNEW YORK (AP) Giannis Antetokounmpo and Paul George have a chance to be both the NBA's MVP and its Defensive Player of the Year.Reigning MVP James Harden is the other finalist for the league's top award. The NBA announced three...

Clippers bolster supporting cast around Leonard, GeorgeLOS ANGELES (AP) The Los Angeles Clippers acquired guard Luke Kennard from Detroit, and sent guards Landry Shamet to Brooklyn and Rodney McGruder to Detroit as they attempt to improve the supporting cast around Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.In addition to Kennard,...

AP Sports WriterCavs owner gets 'vile' voicemails after LeBron's 'bum' tweetBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert received ''vile, disgusting'' voicemails after LeBron James called President Donald Trump a ''bum'' on Twitter.Gilbert said he was flooded with phone messages when the NBA's most celebrated player criticized...

AP Basketball WriterWizards cancel practice, NBA postpones 4th game amid virusBy TIM REYNOLDSThe Washington Wizards said Tuesday that two of their players are going on the NBA's health and safety protocols list and Orlando's game in Boston on Wednesday has been called off, the latest items in a wave...

AP Basketball WriterAP source: D'Antoni tells Rockets he's not coming backBy TIM REYNOLDSLAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) Mike D'Antoni has told the Houston Rockets that he will not be back as coach with them next season, and he essentially becomes a free agent, a person with knowledge of...

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Thunder guard Cameron Payne is making his season debut Saturday night against the Denver Nuggets. A Thunder spokesman confirmed the move in a text message. Payne fractured a bone in his right foot during the Blue-White Scrimmage in September, before the preseason. He had previously broken the bone...