NBA

AP Sports WriterFergie's NBA All-Star Game national anthem confuses, amusesBy GREG BEACHAMLOS ANGELES (AP) Fergie tried something different with her national anthem at the NBA All-Star Game, and not everybody was cheering.The Black Eyed Peas singer's slow, bluesy rendition of ''The Star-Spangled Banner'' on Sunday night wasn't particularly...

Dwight Howard's back problems delaying his Wizards debutBy The Associated PressDwight Howard's first preseason with the Washington Wizards is apparently over before it started.Howard needs an injection to alleviate pain in his back, and Washington coach Scott Brooks said that the eight-time All-Star has hopes of being back on...

AP Sports WriterAlarmed: LeBron, Cavs facing win-or-else Game 6 vs CelticsBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue was answering a question about Boston's defense on LeBron James during a teleconference when he tripped the security system at his home.A piercing alarm sounded.''Uh-oh,'' Lue said Thursday as he...

Chris Paul returns to Houston lineup after missing 3 gamesWASHINGTON (AP) Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul is scheduled to play Friday night against the Washington Wizards after missing three games with a strained groin, coach Mike D'Antoni said.The Rockets, who have lost four straight, are 15-1 with Paul...

There was a coaching clinic in Berlin back in 2014, when San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich paced along the sideline for a while and talked about his various philosophies and keys to basketball success. It didn't take him long to mention his disdain for the 3-point shot, which is no...

New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony missed his third straight game Saturday night against the Utah Jazz because of a lingering right knee injury, coach Mike Woodson said. Anthony first aggravated the knee in the first half of Monday's win against the Cleveland Cavaliers and hasn't been on the...

Associated PressEx-wife of slain former NBA player pleads guiltyBy ADRIAN SAINZMEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) The ex-wife of slain former NBA player Lorenzen Wright pleaded guilty Thursday to facilitation of first-degree murder in his shooting death nine years ago, a surprise development in one of Memphis, Tennessee's biggest murder cases.Sherra...

OAKLAND, California (AP) Reigning NBA MVP Stephen Curry showed he hasn't lost a step or his swagger in the offseason, scoring 40 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 111-95 victory over New Orleans as the new season began Tuesday.Curry put on a familiar shooting clinic...

AP Basketball WriterAnthem singer at Heat-76ers game kneels during performanceBy TIM REYNOLDSMIAMI (AP) A woman performing the national anthem prior to an NBA preseason game in Miami did so while kneeling at midcourt.Denasia Lawrence opened her jacket just before she started to sing, revealing a ''Black Lives Matter''...

AP Sports WriterAP Source: Grizzlies acquire Holiday from BullsBy ANDREW SELIGMANCHICAGO (AP) A person familiar with the situation says the struggling Memphis Grizzlies have acquired guard Justin Holiday from the Chicago Bulls for guards MarShon Brooks and Wayne Selden Jr.The person spoke Thursday on the condition of anonymity...

AP Basketball WriterGrizzlies' Ja Morant wins NBA's rookie of the year awardBy TIM REYNOLDSLAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) The first three baskets of Memphis' season set the tone for Ja Morant's rookie year. All were layups, all by him, the level of difficulty increasing each time.He made them...

DETROIT (91)Singler 2-9 0-0 6, Smith 4-11 0-2 8, Drummond 8-16 2-6 18, Jennings 2-6 1-1 6, Caldwell-Pope 1-5 0-2 2, Monroe 6-11 3-4 15, Meeks 5-10 7-7 20, Butler 3-4 0-0 7, Augustin 0-1 0-0 0, Jerebko 3-6 0-0 7, Dinwiddie 1-4 0-0 2. Totals...