NBA

AP Basketball WriterWest preview: LeBron's Lakers load up for a run at a repeatBy BRIAN MAHONEYLeBron James barely had time to put down his latest trophy before having to start defending it.It was an extremely short offseason for the Los Angeles Lakers, who won their 17th NBA championship on...

Clippers' Austin Rivers fined $25,000 for outburst at fanNEW YORK (AP) Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers has been fined $25,000 for a verbal outburst toward a fan during a loss to the Utah Jazz.The NBA announced the fine Saturday. It stems from an exchange that came with...

AP Basketball WriterRockets sign Harden to $228 million deal, NBA's richestBy JON KRAWCZYNSKILAS VEGAS (AP) The Houston Rockets have signed star guard James Harden to a four-year, $228 million contract extension, the richest contract in NBA history.The Rockets said Saturday the extension will run through 2022-23 season but...

Grizzlies exercise third-year option on F Jarell MartinMEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) The Memphis Grizzlies have exercised a third year contact option on forward Jarell Martin.Team officials announced the decision Friday.Martin played 27 regular-season games for the Grizzlies as a rookie last season and averaged 5.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and...

AP Sports WriterContract extension gives McMillan 2 more seasons with PacersBy MICHAEL MAROTINDIANAPOLIS (AP) Indiana Pacers coach Nate McMillan wasn't sure how this season would end.So before the league's teams arrived in the NBA bubble, McMillan and president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard started discussing a potential contract...

OKLAHOMA CITY (104)Durant 12-25 1-3 26, Ibaka 3-10 2-2 9, Adams 2-2 1-4 5, Roberson 2-3 0-0 4, Westbrook 11-20 9-12 32, Lamb 3-9 0-0 6, Perkins 0-2 0-0 0, Morrow 3-5 1-1 10, N.Collison 2-3 0-0 4, Jackson 3-8 2-2 8, Smith 0-0 0-0 0,...

AP Basketball WriterCourt civility: NBA plan aims to smooth player-ref relationsBy TIM REYNOLDSMIAMI (AP) Kevin Durant was steaming mad over officiating this week, then eventually apologized after realizing he could have better handled his frustrations.The NBA hopes all players and referees take the time for such reflection.The league...

The LA CLIPPERS and the MINNESOTA will both be gunning for a victory on 12/3/2017 at 7:05 PM when they meet in a game matchup. LA CLIPPERS vs MINNESOTA When: 7:00 PM  ET, Sunday, December 3, 2017 Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota ROT TEAM PS OU ML 705 LA CLIPPERS -12.5 (-110) 212.5 (-110) 600 -950 706 MINNESOTA TV: 7 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), FSN North (Minnesota) LINE: -12.5 PREDICTION: Timberwolves...

NBA urges its teams to avoid Twitter warsNEW YORK (AP) The NBA wants its teams to avoid Twitter wars.The reminder was issued in a memo from the league to all 30 teams on Tuesday. It comes about two weeks after Portland's Twitter account mocked Dallas' Chandler Parsons for...

NEW YORK (AP) -Michele Roberts has the team she wants in place at the NBA Players Association.On Monday, she accompanied some of them to deliver holiday gifts at a couple of sites in Harlem. In two years, the job might be much tougher: taking on the NBA in the...

MILWAUKEE (AP) Energetic broadcaster Gus Johnson will be calling games for the up-and-coming Milwaukee Bucks this season.A team spokesman confirmed Monday night that Johnson would call 20 Bucks contests for Fox Sports Wisconsin.Johnson is a veteran play-by-play man who is best known for his calls of college basketball...

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...