NBA

AP Sports WriterCap-strapped T-wolves in tricky spot for summer improvementBy DAVE CAMPBELLMINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Minnesota Timberwolves made major strides this season in ending their 13-year absence from the NBA playoffs after a franchise-altering trade for All-Star Jimmy Butler.With cornerstones Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins in their early 20s...

Jazz C Rudy Gobert out with injured left kneeCLEVELAND (AP) Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert is out because of an injured left knee and will be reevaluated in two weeks.Gobert had an MRI on Saturday that revealed a sprained posterior cruciate ligament and a bone bruise. He was...

Aldridge leaves Spurs' game at Wizards with knee injuryWASHINGTON (AP) Center LaMarcus Aldridge left the San Antonio Spurs' game at the Wizards with a knee injury and will not return.The team announced the bruised left knee in the third quarter after Aldridge limped off the floor late in...

Hawks request waivers on backup forward Mike DunleavyATLANTA (AP) The Atlanta Hawks have taken a step to prepare for Saturday's start of the free agency period by requesting waivers on backup wing player Mike Dunleavy.The Hawks acquired Dunleavy as part of a package that included a protected future...

The Latest: OKC's Diallo leaps over Shaq to win dunk contestCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) The Latest on NBA All-Star Weekend (all times local):10:30 p.m.Oklahoma City's Hamidou Diallo is the NBA's slam dunk champion.Going over Shaquille O'Neal in the first round, then getting a boost from rapper Quavo in the...

AP Sports WriterRockets focused on basketball after fallout from GM's tweetBy KRISTIE RIEKENHOUSTON (AP) The Rockets are back home in Houston, looking to leave behind the distractions from their trip to Asia.Their two games in Japan were overshadowed by the aftermath of a tweet by general manager Daryl...

DENVER (98)Chandler 7-18 1-2 18, Faried 6-9 2-3 14, Nurkic 3-6 0-2 6, Lawson 7-12 5-6 19, Afflalo 8-13 0-0 18, Gallinari 3-7 0-0 8, Arthur 3-7 2-2 8, Foye 1-3 0-0 3, Hickson 1-3 0-0 2, Nelson 1-5 0-0 2, Gee 0-0 0-0 0. Totals...

AP Sports WriterRockets hope Paul can escape bad luck and help team to titleBy KRISTIE RIEKENLAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta said this week that his team was a ''hamstring'' away from the Western Conference title last season.The hamstring he was referring to was Chris...

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - The latest from Game 2 of the NBA Finals:---7:55 p.m. PDTThe NBA Finals have gone to overtime for the second game in a row.With a fantastic flurry, the Golden State Warriors tied the Cleveland Cavaliers at 87-all on Stephen Curry's basket with 7.2 seconds left....

Clippers' Leonard to sit out game against CavaliersCLEVELAND (AP) Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is out because of a sore left knee against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night.The Clippers have been monitoring the workload for Leonard, who will miss his 13th game of the season. Los...

AP Sports WriterPaul and Harden lead No. 1 seed Rockets against WolvesBy KRISTIE RIEKENHOUSTON (AP) So far the trade for Chris Paul to give the Houston Rockets another superstar to help James Harden has worked famously.Now the two, who have both had their fair share of playoff disappointments,...

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...