NBA

AP Basketball WriterNBA decides to remain silent for rest of China tripBy TIM REYNOLDSThe NBA will complete its trip to China in silence.Saturday's game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets to end this year's NBA China Games series will be played as scheduled in Shenzhen, though...

MIAMI (AP) After six weeks of the season, the Eastern Conference looks better than it did a year ago.Looks messier, too.Out West, it's easy to see who stands out. Golden State's record-setting 22-0 start has the reigning NBA champions as the league's unquestioned favorites, and San Antonio is...

The Los Angeles Lakers won on Tuesday with the Orlando Magic resorting to "Hack-a-Howard" and constantly parading Dwight Howard to the foul line, but that doesn't mean coach Mike D'Antoni approves of "Hack-a-Whomever." "I'm not criticizing anybody, but it's part of the rules that's just not great," D'Antoni said...

Associated PressKings support protesters marching over man shot by policeBy MICHAEL WAGAMANSACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) The struggling Sacramento Kings find themselves in the national spotlight and it has nothing to do with another disappointing NBA season in their sparkling new 2-year-old arena.Instead of looking ahead to the draft lottery...

AP Basketball WriterHarlem Globetrotters great Curly Neal dies at 77By JOHN MARSHALLFred “Curly” Neal, the dribbling wizard who entertained millions with the Harlem Globetrotters for parts of three decades, has died. He was 77.The Globetrotters said Neal died in his home outside of Houston on Thursday morning.“We have lost...

AP Sports WriterCeltics star Hayward suffers gruesome injury in openerBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) Just five minutes into his Boston career, new Celtics star forward Gordon Hayward gruesomely broke his left ankle, an injury that may end his season.Hayward, who signed a four-year, $128 million free agent contract this...

SAN ANTONIO (AP) San Antonio built a giant 46-point lead thanks to its smothering defense before easing up to beat Utah 118-81 on Monday and extend its stellar start to the NBA season.The Spurs improved to 21-5 - the second-best start in franchise history - and retained their...

Longtime Pacers executive Donnie Walsh announces retirementINDIANAPOLIS (AP) Longtime Indiana Pacers executive Donnie Walsh, the architect of the franchise's turnaround, announced his retirement on Wednesday.The 79-year-old Walsh first told The Indianapolis Star of his intention to retire.''Over my 30-year relationship with Donnie, I have been amazed to watch...

Celtics G Kyrie Irving out vs. Kings with bruised left thighSACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving will miss the game against the Sacramento Kings with a thigh injury.The team said Irving will miss the game Wednesday night with a bruised left thigh. Irving played the previous...

Associated PressHarris, Simmons lead 76ers to 125-109 win over PistonsBy DAVE HOGGDETROIT (AP) Tobias Harris scored 35 points against his former team and Ben Simmons added a triple-double as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Detroit Pistons 125-109 on Monday night.Joel Embiid had 20 points and eight rebounds for...

AP Sports WriterNash, Kidd, Hill in 13-member Basketball Hall of Fame classBy GREG BEACHAMSAN ANTONIO (AP) Steve Nash, Jason Kidd and Grant Hill are among the 13-member class that will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in September.The Hall of Fame made the announcement Saturday before...

AP Basketball WriterHawks' Trae Young sprains ankle, leaves game in MiamiBy TIM REYNOLDSMIAMI (AP) Atlanta guard Trae Young left the Hawks' game in Miami on Tuesday night early in the second quarter with a sprained right ankle.Young was hurt on a drive about 2 minutes into the second...