NBA

OAKLAND, California (AP) Golden State relied on its defense rather than trademark sharp-shooting in beating Cleveland 89-83 on Friday in a Christmas Day reprise of last season's NBA Finals.The Warriors won their 32nd consecutive home game and widened the gap to the next-best Western Conference team as San...

CLEVELAND -- LeBron James suffered a bloody gash on his head after colliding with a cameraman late in the second quarter Thursday in Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors. With 4:43 left in the second quarter of Cleveland's 103-82 loss, the Cavaliers...

AP Basketball WriterBelichick has quite a fan in Minnesota's ThibodeauBy JON KRAWCZYNSKITom Thibodeau has won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics, a gold medal with Team USA and been hired to take over the Minnesota Timberwolves and remake them to fit a vision he has carefully honed over...

AP Sports WriterThunder star Kevin Durant not rushing to decide on futureBy CLIFF BRUNTOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Kevin Durant has a lot to consider in the next month.The face of the Thunder franchise since its move from Seattle in 2008 is heading into free agency, and what he chooses...

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) Tracy McGrady says his wife, Clerenda, has been trying to get him to say that he deserves to be in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The seven-time NBA All-Star and two-time league scoring champion couldn't bring himself to do that, until Friday night. He went to...

Wizards re-sign guard Marcus ThorntonWASHINGTON (AP) The Washington Wizards have re-signed reserve guard Marcus Thornton.General manager Ernie Grunfeld announced the move Thursday, calling Thornton ''a proven veteran who gives us experience and scoring off the bench and will add depth at the two-guard position.''Thornton averaged 8.4 points and...

AP Sports WriterGolden State's Curry returns in Game 4 against the BlazersBy ANNE M. PETERSONPORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Reigning NBA MVP Stephen Curry will return from a right knee sprain for Game 4 of Golden State's playoff series against the Trail Blazers on Monday night.Warriors coach Steve Kerr said...

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) Detroit Pistons rookie guard Darrun Hilliard had surgery after breaking his nose playing pickup basketball last week.The team says Hilliard will be fitted with a mask for the next three weeks and will continue all basketball-related activities. The 6-foot-6 Hilliard was drafted in the...

Nets sign former No. 1 pick Anthony BennettNEW YORK (AP) Former No. 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett is getting another chance in the NBA.The Brooklyn Nets signed Bennett on Thursday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.Bennett averaged 1.5 points and 1.2 rebounds in 19 games last season...

AP Sports WriterAfter long road, Maker adds intrigue to next month's draftBy ANDREW SELIGMANCHICAGO (AP) The picture of the Larry O'Brien Trophy that is his phone's wallpaper could be Thon Maker's reminder to maintain his focus and not lose sight of his ultimate goal.Or, maybe it just looks...

Associated PressGrizzlies' Conley says big contract won't affect his playBy PHIL STUKENBORGMEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) The Memphis Grizzlies wanted to keep Mike Conley so much that they gave their veteran point guard the richest contract in NBA history.For Conley, the basketball - and pressure - is in his court...

SAN ANTONIO (AP) San Antonio Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge will be out indefinitely because of a minor heart problem.The team said Saturday he has an arrhythmia, a deviation from the normal heart rhythm. He will undergo further tests before the team determines how much time he misses. The 6-foot-11 player...