NBA

AP Sports WriterBlazers' overall good season ends on a disappointing noteBy ANNE M. PETERSONPORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Another late-season surge, another first-round exit.The Portland Trail Blazers head into the offseason with plenty of questions, with speculation that big changes could be ahead. Minutes after the Blazers were swept by...

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) Even while emerging as one of the NBA's best teams, the Atlanta Hawks had a very glaring weakness.Rebounding.So, after setting a franchise record with 60 wins and reaching the Eastern Conference final, the Hawks got bigger.A lot bigger.Atlanta acquired 6-foot-11 Tiago Splitter from San Antonio...

AP Sports WriterAP Source: Jimmy Butler going to 76ers from MinnesotaBy DAN GELSTONJimmy Butler has his wish: He's out of Minnesota.And just like that, Philadelphia has a new Big Three - one that could make serious noise in the Eastern Conference.A person with knowledge of the situation said Saturday...

AP Sports WriterWarriors center Zaza Pachulia sidelined at least a weekBy JANIE McCAULEYOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Golden State Warriors center Zaza Pachulia has a strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder and will be sidelined for at least a week.He underwent an MRI exam Tuesday and expressed his relief...

AP Sports WriterWinless Suns fire Earl Watson after 3 games this seasonBy BOB BAUMPHOENIX (AP) The Phoenix Suns have fired coach Earl Watson just three games in to the NBA season.The Suns announced the firing Sunday night after hours of meetings at the team's headquarters.Assistant coach Jay Triano,...

AP Sports WriterAP Source: Cavs to promote Koby Altman to full-time GMBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) A person familiar with the decision says the Cleveland Cavaliers are promoting assistant general manager Koby Altman to be their full-time GM.Altman has been serving as the club's interim GM for the past...

AP Sports WriterAnthony signs 1-year, $2.4 million deal with Houston RocketsBy KRISTIE RIEKENHOUSTON (AP) Carmelo Anthony signed a one-year, $2.4 million deal with the Houston Rockets on Monday.Anthony was traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Atlanta Hawks last month before the Hawks released him.Houston general manager...

CLEVELAND (AP) The defending NBA champions just got a lot tougher to stop. Two days after agreeing to the deal, the Cleveland Cavaliers completed a trade with Atlanta for Kyle Korver, one of the league's best 3-point shooters, who will be able to spot up on the perimeter and wait...

LA Clippers sign draft pick Diamond StoneLOS ANGELES (AP) The Los Angeles Clippers signed center Diamond Stone, their 40th overall pick in this year's draft, on Thursday.He averaged 12.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in his only season at Maryland, where the 6-foot-11 center set the school...

Celtics' Hayward breaks left hand against SpursSAN ANTONIO (AP) Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward has a broken left hand after colliding with San Antonio's LaMarcus Aldridge on Saturday night.The Celtics say Hayward was sent for an X-ray that confirmed the diagnosis. Hayward will not return to the game...

NEW ORLEANS (113)Pondexter 4-5 0-0 10, A.Davis 9-15 2-2 20, Asik 4-7 0-0 8, Evans 6-10 2-2 16, Gordon 2-5 4-6 10, Cunningham 3-4 0-0 6, Ajinca 2-6 2-2 6, Cole 8-12 0-0 17, Anderson 5-11 5-6 17, Douglas 1-3 0-1 2, Withey 0-0 1-2 1,...

AP Basketball WriterMagic fire coach Frank Vogel after 6th straight losing yearBy TIM REYNOLDSFrank Vogel was brought to Orlando two years ago with hopes he could get the Magic back to the playoffs, and stop the spinning of the revolving door to their coaches' office.Neither of those things happened.Vogel...