NBA

As preseason winds down, NBA stars are getting some restBy The Associated PressKyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward's preseasons ended early.And they weren't alone around the NBA on Saturday, either.The Boston Celtics left the biggest two stars on their roster - both of whom are coming off serious injuries, and...

AP Basketball WriterAP Interview: Heat's Leonard stands for anthem, explains whyBy TIM REYNOLDSLAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) Meyers Leonard has a brother who served two tours in Afghanistan with the U.S. Marines. He carries a military-themed backpack, wears combat boots and has a phone loaded with Navy SEALs...

AP Sports WriterJackson scores 29, outshines Young in Summer League debutBy STEVE REEDJaren Jackson Jr.'s NBA Summer League debut couldn't have gone much better.The same can't be said for Trae Young.Jackson, the fourth pick in the NBA draft, outshined No. 5 overall pick Young in their first NBA action....

Denver Nuggets promote Calvin Booth to general managerDENVER (AP) The Denver Nuggets have promoted Calvin Booth to general manager.Booth, 44, is in his third season with the Nuggets after being hired as assistant GM in 2017. He succeeds Arturas Karnisovas, who left Denver in April to become the...

Fans in Toronto gather hours before start of NBA FinalsTORONTO (AP) Fans in Toronto are ready and eager for their city to play host to its first NBA Finals game.Crowds began building outside Jurassic Park - the square outside Scotiabank Arena - shortly after sunrise Thursday, or about...

AP Basketball WriterAmericans top Antetokounmpo, Greece at World Cup 69-53By TIM REYNOLDSSHENZHEN, China (AP) The MVP was good. The USA was better.And the Antetokounmpo getting talked about most by the Americans when this much-anticipated World Cup matchup was over wasn't Giannis - but rather Thanasis, the younger brother,...

AP Basketball WriterEast champion Heat are thinking even bigger this seasonBy TIM REYNOLDSMIAMI (AP) They don't have banner-raising ceremonies in Miami for anything other than NBA championships and jersey retirements. Eastern Conference title banners go to the rafters quietly, without fanfare.That's fine with Jimmy Butler.Miami's run to the...

CLEVELAND (AP) Kyrie Irving's eyes are pointed forward, and once he's back on the floor the Cavaliers star guard intends to keep looking ahead.''I'm a Ferrari without a rearview mirror,'' he said.Irving, who hasn't played since breaking his left kneecap in the NBA Finals, is finally fully cleared...

No deal for LaMelo Ball as Colangelo buys into Aussie clubSYDNEY (AP) LaMelo Ball’s bid to be a club owner in Australia hasn't worked out. The American is expected to be a top pick in the upcoming NBA draft later this year.The Australian league - called the National...

CLEVELAND (128)James 10-20 8-10 31, Love 2-10 2-2 8, Mozgov 4-7 2-4 10, Irving 20-32 10-10 57, Smith 2-6 0-0 6, Shumpert 1-6 0-0 2, Thompson 5-9 2-2 12, Jones 0-1 2-2 2, Dellavedova 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 44-91 26-30 128.SAN ANTONIO (125)Leonard 9-14 5-8 24, Duncan...

The Latest: Day 2: Gordon Hayward visits Fenway ParkBy The Associated PressThe Latest on NBA free agency (all times Eastern):---3:45 p.m.Gordon Hayward's Tour de Free Agency continues in Boston.Hayward flew from Miami to Boston on Saturday night, and on Sunday the Celtics enlisted some help from the Boston Red...

Mavs owner Cuban questions 'hypocrisy' of Trump's orderDALLAS (AP) Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban questioned the effectiveness of President Donald Trump's executive order restricting immigration from seven countries, citing the ''hypocrisy'' of limiting immigration from some countries while not including others.''I understand safety,'' Cuban said. ''We all want...