NBA

AP Basketball WriterPuerto Rico punches its ticket to 2nd round of World CupBy TIM REYNOLDSPuerto Rico couldn't even begin qualifying for this World Cup at home two years ago, forced to move its opening game to Florida because of the damage that Hurricane Maria inflicted on the island.They were...

The Toronto Raptors are scoring points in bunches with one of the NBA’s top offenses and look to extend their winning streak to six games when they host the struggling Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. The Raptors had no problem downing the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, rolling to a...

AP Sports WriterThompson scores 24, Warriors beat Lakers 112-107By KAREEM COPELANDNew Los Angeles Lakers NBA coach Luke Walton's first matchup against Golden State, where he won a championship as an assistant in 2015, went as expected - with a Warriors' rout.Klay Thompson scored 24 to lead the Warriors to...

AP Sports WriterHall-of-Famer Larry Bird resigns as Pacers presidentBy MICHAEL MAROTINDIANAPOLIS (AP) Larry Bird made the decision last year.After nearly 40 years in the NBA, he had started plotting an exit strategy.The 60-year-old Hall-of-Famer finally told the rest of the world Monday: He was stepping down as Indiana's...

AP Basketball WriterPelicans-Knicks game cut short by earthquakeBy TIM REYNOLDSLAS VEGAS (AP) An earthquake that struck Southern California on Friday night forced the NBA to cancel the finish of a two Summer League games, including a marquee sold-out matchup between New Orleans and New York, while engineers checked...

AP Basketball WriterFinals notebook: Around the world, fans are watchingBy TIM REYNOLDSLAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) Miami coach Erik Spoelstra makes no effort to hide his excitement or appreciation when journalists from the Philippines join virtual news conferences to ask him questions during the NBA Finals.In his mother's...

AP Sports WriterJohn Havlicek, Boston Celtics great, dies at 79By KYLE HIGHTOWERBOSTON (AP) John Havlicek's legacy was built over 16 years with the Boston Celtics, eight of them as NBA champions, making him among the best to ever play the game.One play immortalized him forever.''Havlicek stole the ball!...

Trail Blazers regroup after Nurkic's gruesome leg injuryCHICAGO (AP) The Portland Trail Blazers are trying to regroup after losing center Jusuf Nurkic to a gruesome leg injury.The 7-footer had surgery Tuesday after sustaining compound fractures to his left tibia and fibula late in a playoff-clinching, double-overtime victory over...

Curry cleared for modified practice after knee injuryOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry has been cleared to take part in modified practices but will be out at least one more week with a left knee injury.The Warriors said Curry was examined by the team's medical...

AP Sports WriterAllen, Nash, Kidd, Hill in lineup for basketball hallBy JIMMY GOLENSPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) The most prolific 3-point shooter in NBA history would like to make the case for the mid-range jumper.On the eve of his induction into the basketball Hall of Fame, Ray Allen says that...

AP Basketball WriterTimberwolves sign 3-year deal with Fitbit for jersey patchBy JON KRAWCZYNSKIMINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Minnesota Timberwolves are getting into the jersey advertisement game with a Fitbit patch in a three-year deal.The Timberwolves announced the marketing collaboration for the team's first jersey patch on Tuesday. Fitbit also will...

The PORTLAND and the GOLDEN STATE will both be gunning for a victory on 1/1/2021 at 10:30 PM when they meet in a game matchup. PORTLAND vs GOLDEN STATE When: 1/1/2021 10:30 PM Where: ROT TEAM PS OU ML 543 PORTLAND 3.5 (-110) 230.5 (-110) -165 145 544 GOLDEN STATE TV: 10:30 PM LINE: 3.5 PREDICTION: GOLDEN STATE , PORTLAND Oddsmakers currently have the GOLDEN STATE listed as 3.5...