NBA

AP Sports WriterPacers fire McMillan following 2nd straight 1st-round sweepBy MICHAEL MAROTINDIANAPOLIS (AP) Nate McMillan won dozens of regular-season games despite the Indiana Pacers' continual injuries.The playoff losses cost him his job.On Wednesday, two days after enduring a second straight first-round sweep, president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard...

AP Basketball WriterAntetokounmpo voted NBA's Defensive Player of the YearBy BRIAN MAHONEYLAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) Giannis Antetokounmpo figured somebody was in trouble.Even though the Milwaukee Bucks had just defeated Orlando for a 3-1 lead in their playoff series, Mike Budenholzer wanted to talk to them in the...

AP Basketball WriterAntetokounmpo voted NBA's Defensive Player of the YearBy BRIAN MAHONEYLAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) Giannis Antetokounmpo was voted NBA Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday, becoming the fifth player to win that award and MVP in a career.The Milwaukee Bucks All-Star, who was MVP last...

AP Basketball WriterAntetokounmpo voted NBA's Defensive Player of the YearBy BRIAN MAHONEYLAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) Giannis Antetokounmpo was voted NBA Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday, becoming the fifth player to win that award and MVP in a career.The Milwaukee Bucks All-Star, who was MVP last...

AP Basketball WriterFrustrated NBA players wonder again whether they should playBy BRIAN MAHONEYLAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) As the NBA sought to resume the season, players had to weigh whether playing basketball aided or distracted from their calls for social justice reform.Those discussions are starting again.With the second...

Blazers' Lillard out for Game 5 with a sprained right kneeLAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) Portland guard Damian Lillard has a sprained right knee and will be sidelined Wednesday when the Trail Blazers play a win-or-else Western Conference first-round game against the Los Angeles Lakers.The Blazers trail the...

AP Sports WriterSixers GM Brand says Embiid, Simmons won't be tradedBy ROB MAADDIPHILADELPHIA (AP) The next coach of the Philadelphia 76ers can count on having Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.One day after the Sixers fired Brett Brown following another early playoff exit, general manager Elton Brand said he's...

AP Sports WriterAfter another sweep, Pacers turn focus to healthy offseasonBy MICHAEL MAROTINDIANAPOLIS (AP) Myles Turner has been to the playoffs each of his first five seasons with the Indiana Pacers. He still hasn't reached the second round.''At some point, you have to get over the hump,'' the...

Mavs' Porzingis sitting again vs. Clippers with knee injuryLAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) Dallas Mavericks center Kristaps Porzingis will miss Game 5 of a first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers because of right knee soreness.It will be the second straight game the 7-foot-3 Latvian is sidelined....

AP Basketball WriterButler gets first sweep with Heat, and now some restBy TIM REYNOLDSJimmy Butler finally got to enjoy a playoff sweep.Butler's first postseason series with the Miami Heat was like none other in his career - a 4-0 win. The Heat are off to the Eastern Conference semifinals...

AP Sports WriterBrown's future in jeopardy after 76ers suffer early exitBy DAN GELSTONPHILADELPHIA (AP) A year ago against Toronto, four bounces of the basketball finished the 76ers. This season, four straight playoff losses ended Philly's season and sent the Sixers to the brink of a serious shakeup.Brett Brown...

AP Sports Writer76ers fire Brett Brown after being swept out of playoffsBy DAN GELSTONPHILADELPHIA (AP) Patient and positive, Brett Brown was the perfect coach for the Philadelphia 76ers when they set up a long-term home in the NBA basement.They'll be looking for someone else now that they want...