NBA

AP Sports WriterHawks stumble through Year 1 of a painful rebuilding processBy PAUL NEWBERRYATLANTA (AP) In the final game of a forgettable season, the Atlanta Hawks got a glimpse of what the future might hold.It's going to take a while to get there.Getting starting on a painful rebuilding...

Celtics' Marcus Smart fined $35K for pursuing Hawks playerNEW YORK (AP) Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart has been fined $35,000 for ''aggressively pursuing'' DeAndre Bembry of the Atlanta Hawks and failing to promptly leave the court following his ejection.NBA discipline executive Kiki VanDeWeghe handed down the fine Monday.It...

AP Sports WriterCavaliers' Love sitting out final game before All-Star breakBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) Cavaliers forward Kevin Love sat out Wednesday night's game against Brooklyn, but plans to increase his playing time following the All-Star break.''I don't know minutes-wise what it's going to be like, but a good...

Associated PressAtlanta clothier pleads guilty in basketball corruption caseBy LARRY NEUMEISTERNEW YORK (AP) An Atlanta clothier and former NBA referee pleaded guilty in a college basketball scandal Tuesday, admitting to teaming up with ex-Auburn basketball assistant coach Chuck Person in a bribery scheme.Rashan Michel, 44, of Atlanta, pleaded...

Joel Embiid, Karl-Anthony Towns each suspended 2 gamesNEW YORK (AP) Philadelphia center Joel Embiid and Minnesota center Karl-Anthony Towns have each been suspended two games without pay for an on-court altercation and continued escalation.Kiki VanDeWeghe, the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations, announced the suspensions Thursday, a...

AP Basketball WriterAP source: NBA facilities will begin to reopen FridayBy TIM REYNOLDSMIAMI (AP) NBA players will be allowed to return to team training facilities starting Friday, provided that their local governments do not have a stay-at-home order prohibiting such movement still in place as part of the...

AP Sports WriterAP Source: J.R. Smith, Cavaliers agree to terms on contractBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) A person with direct knowledge of the negotiations says free agent guard J.R. Smith has agreed to a contract offer to return to the defending NBA champion Cavaliers.Smith has been waiting out of...

AP Sports WriterFred McLeod, broadcaster who called Cavs' title, dies at 67By TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) Fred McLeod's passion poured through the TV no matter what game he was covering.The longtime sportscaster and announcer, who called Cleveland's NBA championship in 2016 and told his cameraman to keep rolling when...

AP Sports WriterLeBron dismisses story linking him to Warriors as 'nonsense'By TOM WITHERSINDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) To LeBron James, the Golden State Warriors are a highly respected rival - nothing more.Now and forever.James strongly denounced a report that said he would consider playing for the Warriors if the NBA...

Pistons deal Hilliard to Rockets for cashAUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) The Detroit Pistons have traded swingman Darrun Hilliard to the Houston Rockets in exchange for cash considerations.Hilliard appeared in a career-high 39 games last season, averaging 3.3 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 9.8 minutes. The 6-foot-6...

AP Basketball WriterInside the bubble, NBA players have plenty of optionsBy TIM REYNOLDSLAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) Every team in the NBA bubble has played golf. Most have had at least a few players go fishing. Some have taken boats out. Bowling is available for a few...

AP Basketball WriterLonnie Walker IV settling in nicely with Spurs this summerBy TIM REYNOLDSLAS VEGAS (AP) These are highly uncertain times for the San Antonio Spurs.That's why Lonnie Walker IV might be so valuable.This is a summer when Spurs mainstay Tony Parker has already left for Charlotte, when...