NBA

TORONTO (AP) Pelicans center Alexis Ajinca admitted he had a hard time focusing on basketball Friday night.The Saint-Etienne, France native was worried about the safety of his family in Paris, where terrorist attacks killed at least 120 people. He didn't get confirmation they were all safe until after...

Suns' Alex Len suspended for 1 gamePHOENIX (AP) The NBA has suspended Phoenix Suns center Alex Len for one game without pay for leaving the bench during an on-court altercation in a Wednesday night game against the Grizzlies in Memphis.The NBA also fined three players $15,000 each for...

AKRON, Ohio (AP) LeBron James welcomed a high-profile guest to show kids in his hometown that they can grow up to be anything they want.The NBA star appeared with first lady Michelle Obama on Wednesday to celebrate the importance of education and to challenge thousands of children in...

After a 19-year NBA career in which he twice won MVP honors, tallied the third-most assists in league history and assured his place in the Hall of Fame as one of the greatest point guards ever to play the game, Steve Nash formally announced he is walking away from...

AP Sports WriterCavaliers re-sign veteran forward Richard JeffersonBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) Richard Jefferson's planned retirement didn't last long.The valuable veteran forward, who played a critical role in Cleveland winning an NBA championship this season, re-signed with the Cavaliers on Thursday.Shortly after the Cavs rallied from a 3-1 deficit...

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) The Bismack Biyombo era in Orlando will be delayed one game. The Magic's prized free agent signee this summer is suspended by the NBA for the Wednesday night's season opener against Miami because the center exceeded the flagrant foul limit during last season's playoffs when he was...

AP Sports WriterPistons finalize new 5-year deal with DrummondBy NOAH TRISTERAUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) The Detroit Pistons have finalized their $130 million, five-year contract with NBA rebounding leader Andre Drummond.The Pistons scheduled a news conference with Drummond on Friday and sent a release shortly before it was...

The Memphis Grizzlies and the Portland Trail Blazers will both be trying to pick up a win on Saturday when they battle at Moda Center. Memphis At Portland When: 10:30 PM ET, Saturday, April 25, 2015 Where: Moda Center at the Rose Quarter, Portland, Oregon TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, SportSouth (Memphis),...

MIAMI (AP) The way Miami Heat President Pat Riley sees it, there are some real similarities between being a soldier and being a coach.And now, some former soldiers are getting a chance to prove him right.The Heat charitable fund has provided $200,000 to a program called Operation Coach,...

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Kevin Durant scored 13 points in his first home game since February, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat Fenerbahce Ulker (Turkey) 111-81 in preseason action Friday night.Durant, who missed most of last season with a broken right foot, was 6-of-10 shooting with five assists and...

AP Basketball WriterRose hoping for 'something special' after trade to New YorkBy BRIAN MAHONEYNEW YORK (AP) Derrick Rose isn't just leaving his team. He's leaving home.He was born and raised in Chicago, so it hurt when the Bulls traded him to New York. He will miss his friends...

Man starts sentence in crash that killed Miami Heat dancerFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) A man whose drunken driving crash claimed the life of a Miami Heat dancer has begun a 15-year sentence.The Miami Herald (https://goo.gl/DcFQI4 ) reports 49-year-old Mario Careaga turned himself in to authorities Monday in South...