OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder signed free-agent forward Markieff Morris on Wednesday.The 29-year-old Morris was traded from Washington to New Orleans two weeks ago in a deadline deal, then waived by the Pelicans. He has been cleared to play after being sidelined since late December because of a neck injury.Morris averaged 11.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 34 games this season for Washington. In eight NBA seasons with Phoenix and Washington, the former Kansas player has averaged 11.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists.He's the twin brother of Boston forward Marcus Morris.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Raptors signed guard Jodie Meeks to a 10-day contract Wednesday.While with Washington last season, Meeks was suspended 25 games after testing positive for Ipamorelin, a growth hormone prohibited under the NBA drug program. The suspension came a day before Game 1 of the Wizards' first-round playoff series against Toronto.Meeks was traded to Milwaukee during the offseason with 19 games remaining on the suspension, then waived when the ban ended.The 31-year-old former Kentucky player has appeared in 531 regular-season games with Milwaukee, Philadelphia, the Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit, Orlando and Washington, averaging 9.3 points, 2.1 rebounds and 22.6 minutes.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Hawks guard Jaylen Adams, originally signed to a two-way contract in the offseason, has agreed to a new full NBA deal.Adams signed the multi-year contract, announced by the team Wednesday, after averaging 1.3 points in 10 games with the Hawks. He is moving into a more prominent role after Atlanta waived veteran Jeremy Lin on Feb. 11. Lin signed with Toronto.The 6-foot-2 Adams, from St. Bonaventure, averaged 15.8 points and 6.3 assists in 19 starts with Erie in the G League.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — Kevin Love relaxed on the beach under the warm Caribbean sun during the All-Star break.He hopes it finally shines on him and the Cavaliers in the second half of a depressing, gloomy season.Offering optimism about his future and Cleveland's, Love returned to the practice floor with his teammates on Wednesday following the league's annual midseason celebratory interruption.The five-time All-Star recently came back after missing more than 50 games following foot surgery. He was rested for the Cavs' final game against Brooklyn — part of his recovery plan — before the break, but Love said he plans to play Thursday against Phoenix and intends to build up his minutes over the next few weeks. Cleveland has 24 games left."I think you'll see me more on a steady basis and not miss games after the break, I'm hoping," said Love, who has played in just two games since November. "So just continue to improve the minutes and make sure that I'm feeling good and go from there."With... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Goran Dragic and Derrick Jones Jr. are on their way back to the Miami Heat rotation.Both practiced Wednesday and are available for Miami's game at Philadelphia on Thursday. Dragic has played in only two of Miami's last 41 games, and underwent surgery to clean out his right knee in December. Jones got bone bruises in his right knee after a fall in a game at New York last month.Jones was originally expected to be out for at least a few more weeks. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said both have work remaining before getting back to full strength.Dragic, an All-Star last season, was averaging 15.3 points and 4.9 assists before surgery. Jones is averaging 7.4 points this season.Miami (26-30) is currently ninth in the Eastern Conference.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid will miss at least a week with a sore left knee.Embiid underwent an MRI on Tuesday, which revealed no structural damage, and he will undergo physical therapy until he is evaluated again next week.The 24-year-old Embiid is averaging 27.3 points and 13.5 rebounds in 54 games for the Sixers. He had 10 points and 12 rebounds in 23 minutes in last Sunday's All-Star game.Embiid was the No. 3 overall pick of the 2014 draft and missed his first two seasons with multiple foot and knee injuries."It's reached the stage where he just felt uncomfortable with it," Sixers coach Brett Brown said. "It's a little bit of tendinitis. It's stuff I think that's quite common, actually."Brown said he did not believe the injury was connected to the All-Star game."Nobody needs to read into anything here," he said. "This is an NBA athlete that has some soreness in the knee, has had an MRI and we all should move on. We'll miss him, obviously, playing-wise. But it's not anything that isn't completely pointed toward keeping him ready and especially ready when it matters most at the end of the year."The Sixers are 37-21 and in fifth place in the Eastern Conference heading into Thursday's game against the Miami Heat.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — D'Angelo Russell stood high above Times Square, a spot where stars are showcased in New York.He was front and center on a billboard celebrating the Nets' midseason success, pictured with three teammates who joined him in Charlotte for the NBA's All-Star festivities."Brooklyn is having an All-Star weekend," it read.Russell hopes it will turn into a playoff season.Brooklyn heads into the stretch run in good position for the first postseason berth of his career, sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference when play resumes Thursday."I think we're in a great position right now," Russell said.And after some tough times, so is Russell.The point guard Magic Johnson didn't want has become the floor leader the Nets need, raising his level of play after injuries to Caris LeVert, Spencer Dinwiddie and Allen Crabbe left them severely short-handed in the backcourt.Russell had 36 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in the final game before the break, a 148-139 triple-overtime... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — One way or another, the spotlight was always going to shine on the Boston Celtics in an Eastern Conference without LeBron James.After back-to-back losses to James' Cavaliers in the past two conference finals, his departure West to join the Los Angeles Lakers seemed to clear the path for Boston to take the reins in the East.That hasn't happened — yet.Instead of solidifying themselves as the NBA champion Golden State Warriors' chief challenger, the Celtics come out of the All-Star break still with much to figure out — and trailing Milwaukee and Toronto in the East standings."We realize that we've played well in the last month and a half," Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. "Although there have been multiple days when I'm sure it hasn't felt like it."Beginning with a win over Toronto on Jan. 16, Boston won 12 of its final 15 games before the break. It also included wins over five other teams currently in position to make the playoffs. But Boston also blew an 18-point lead in a... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — There was no social media or around-the-clock basketball coverage in October 1974, on the night when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar looked up from his dinner plate and told the Milwaukee Bucks that he would like to be traded.As such, hardly anybody knew initially about the demand.If anyone understands what Anthony Davis is thinking, asking for a trade out of New Orleans with nearly 1 1/2 seasons left on his contract, it's Abdul-Jabbar. His trade request came with two years left on his contract in Milwaukee. Eventually, he got his wish in the summer that followed his ask and got traded to the Los Angeles Lakers."I think that the players have power because they have value," Abdul-Jabbar said. "The players that teams know that they can win with are going to be in a position to dictate what they want to do."And while few people would disagree with that, the fact that Davis' request went public — and the impact it had on the both the Pelicans and the Lakers, the team that appeared to go after... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Blake Griffin doesn't need to jump over any cars to be a hit in the Motor City.A year after arriving in Detroit with his career at a crossroads, a more earthbound Griffin is doing all he can to shake the Pistons out of their decade-long malaise."He does a little bit of everything for us. Probably one of our better pick-and-roll players, passers, scorers, leader by example, just so many things," Detroit coach Dwane Casey said. "His basketball intellect, for me, is one that's been the most impressive of our players. I didn't know that about Blake, because when you think about him, you think about the high-flying dunker and the muscular guy in the post, but there's a lot more to that than just his dunking and athleticism."A month shy of his 30th birthday, there are fewer above-the-rim highlights but Griffin's first full season with Detroit has been one of his best. He's averaging a career-high 26.3 points per game while making strides as a perimeter shooter, and he earned his... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Blake Griffin doesn't need to jump over any cars to be a hit in the Motor City.A year after arriving in Detroit with his career at a crossroads, a more earthbound Griffin is doing all he can to shake the Pistons out of their decade-long malaise."He does a little bit of everything for us. Probably one of our better pick-and-roll players, passers, scorers, leader by example, just so many things," Detroit coach Dwane Casey said. "His basketball intellect, for me, is one that's been the most impressive of our players. I didn't know that about Blake, because when you think about him, you think about the high-flying dunker and the muscular guy in the post, but there's a lot more to that than just his dunking and athleticism."A month shy of his 30th birthday, there are fewer above-the-rim highlights but Griffin's first full season with Detroit has been one of his best. He's averaging a career-high 26.3 points per game while making strides as a perimeter shooter, and he earned his... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Dwyane Wade is adamant that the end of this season will be the right time for him to bid farewell to the game of basketball.The game of basketball spent the weekend disagreeing with him.Wade's final All-Star appearance as a player is now complete, a four-day trip that had testimonials, celebrations, moments with his family, countless photos and chats with some of basketball's royalty, and one more lob to LeBron James for good measure. He scored seven points in his final NBA All-Star Game, helping Team LeBron get a 178-164 victory over Team Giannis."If you could wake up and say, 'This is how I would like my perfect day to go, this is how I would like my perfect All-Star weekend to go,' then this was it for me," Wade told The Associated Press. "This was exactly what I envisioned, what I wanted when I knew I had this opportunity. And it's been even more than I thought it could be."The score and the stats from the weekend will be forgotten.The moments won't be, at least... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Sonya Curry hasn't stopped smiling all weekend.She has had quality time with her grandchildren with the entire family in town for All-Star Weekend festivities. She even hit a half-court shot at a community center her family helped refurbish.On Saturday night, she emerged from Suite 21 at the Spectrum Center beaming after spending the evening with family and watching sons Stephen and Seth and husband Dell participate in the NBA All-Star 3-point contest."It's been everything that I hoped it would be," she said of her sons' return to their hometown for All-Star weekend. "Seeing Dell out there on the court being able to share that moment with the boys was awesome. And having the family all here to watch — that's hard to beat."With remnants of half-eaten appetizers and drinks still sitting on the counter, some of the young ones were starting to fuss having grown restless after being up well past their bedtimes.Still, Sonya didn't want the night to end.Neither did her husband.Dell... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Midway through the third quarter, Giannis Antetokounmpo said he began thinking he had a chance to become the first international player to win the NBA All-Star Game MVP.But the thought was fleeting, as Team LeBron mounted a rally and came from behind to defeat Team Giannis 178-164 on Sunday night. While Antetokounmpo finished with 38 points and 10 rebounds, Kevin Durant won the award."We didn't win and that's why I didn't get it," the Milwaukee Bucks star said.He had taken some advice before the game about how to approach things from his brother, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, who has won the last two MVP awards in the Greek League.He came out aggressive.Antetokounmpo started the game with a dunk fest — five of them in the first quarter alone and finished with eight for the game. One dunk was a thing of beauty as he took a bounce pass from two-time league MVP Stephen Curry that sailed over the rim and dunked it.Curry called it a play that nobody else in the gym could have... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Latest on All-Star Weekend. (all times local)10:55 p.m.Kevin Durant had 31 points and seven rebounds, LeBron James added 19 points and Team LeBron overcame a big game from Giannis Antetokounmpo to defeat Team Giannis 178-164 on Sunday night in the All-Star game.Team LeBron trailed by 18 points in the first half, but battled back in the third quarter to take the lead behind the sharpshooting of Klay Thompson and Damian Lillard. Thompson had 20 points and Lilllard 18.James Harden sealed the win with a 3-pointer with 46 seconds left putting Team LeBron up by 16.Antetokounmpo finished with 38 points and 11 rebounds to lead his team, while Bucks teammate Khris Middleton added 20 on six 3-pointers. Stephen Curry had 17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in his return to Charlotte but was 4 of 17 from the 3-point range.__10:30 p.m.Dwyane Wade's alley-oop dunk off a pass from former Heat teammate LeBron James has helped Team LeBron rally to take a 132-131 lead over... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Latest on All-Star Weekend. (all times local)10:30 p.m.Dwyane Wade's alley-oop dunk off a pass from former Heat teammate LeBron James has helped Team LeBron rally to take a 132-131 lead over Team Giannis after the third quarter in the NBA All-Star Game.Wade, playing in his final All-Star game, flew through the air and grabbed a perfectly thrown pass from James for the dunk. That helped get his team moving as Klay Thompson and Damian Lillard combined for 15 points in the quarter helping Team LeBron erase an 18-point deficit as the teams have started to play defense.Wade and Dirk Nowitzki were presented with a commemorative All-Star jersey at the end of the third quarter and Wade told the crowd "the game is in great hands with these players and it is easy to walk away."Giannis Antetokounmpo is looking to become the first international player to win the All-Star game MVP leading all scorers with 31 points on eight dunks for Team Giannis.___10 p.m.The third quarter... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Latest on All-Star Weekend. (all times local)10 p.m.The third quarter of the All-Star game has begun after a halftime show by rapper J. Cole.Cole who wore a Hornets jacket and jeans, started his show atop a glass platform, opening with "Middle Child." He launched into "A lot" as he walked into the crowd at midcourt and then broke into "ATM" as the lights dimmed.He slowed things down with what he told the crowd was his favorite song "Love Yourz" before closing with G-rated version of his most popular hit "No Role Modelz."Team Giannis led 95-82 after the first half, highlighted by Stephen Curry bounce pass over the rim that Giannis Antetokounmpo caught high above the rim and slammed home.The big question of the second half will be which team decides to play defense first. Antetokounmpo had five uncontested dunks in the first quarter and leads all scorers with 20 points on 10 of 12 shooting.Kevin Durant has 13 points for Team LeBron, which is just 13 of 41 from 3-point... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Latest on All-Star Weekend. (all times local)9:30 p.m.Giannis Antetokounmpo has 20 points —most of those coming on dunks— to lead all scorers as his team leads Team LeBron 95-82 at halftime of Sunday night's All-Star game.Bucks teammate Kris Middleton has five 3-pointers and 17 points, while Paul George has 14 points for Team Giannis, which is threatening to challenge the NBA All-Star Game record of 196 points in a game set by the West All-Stars in 2016.Kevin Durant leads Team LeBron with 13 points but James Harden is struggling, going 1 of 7 from the field.Stephen Curry has just six points in his return to Charlotte for Team Giannis.___9:15 p.m.If this is Dirk Nowitzki's last All-Star game, he's making the most of it.The 40-year-old Nowitzki is showing that he still has the shooting touch, knocking down all three of his uncontested 3-point attempts for Team Giannis.Paul George had 360-degree dunk, but that wasn't even the best play of the second quarter.That... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Latest on All-Star Weekend. (all times local)9 p.m.Giannis Antetokounmpo is taking aim at NBA All-Star Game MVP honors, scoring 16 points on 8 of 8 shooting — including five dunks — to give his team a 53-37 lead after the first quarter over Team LeBron. He also has three rebounds, three assists and a steal.Khris Middleton is heating up too with 12 points on four 3-pointers.Team LeBron is offering little defense with Team Giannis on pace to break 200 points.Kevin Durant has 10 points to lead Team LeBron, which is just 6 of 21 from 3-point range.Dirk Nowitzki knocked down two 3-pointers late in the first quarter for Team Giannis. Dwyane Wade also has checked into the game in his last All-Star game appearance for Team LeBron.Team Giannis set an All-Star record with 23 field goals in the quarter, topping the mark of 22 set on four other occasions — by both the West and the East in the first quarter of the 2017 game, and by the West in both the second and third quarters... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Latest on All-Star Weekend. (all times local)8:30 p.m.The NBA All-Star game has tipped off with Hornets guard Kemba Walker making his first career All-Star start for Team Giannis against Team LeBron.He's the game's only first-time starter and received a huge ovation during warmups — although not quite as loud as Stephen Curry, who grew up in Charlotte and received the loudest roar from the crowd.That could make Team Giannis the crowd favorite.But Team Giannis could have a difficult time going against a stacked team that includes LeBron James, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant starting.Carley Rap Jepsen Carly Rae Jepsen sang the Canadian national anthem, while Charlotte native Anthony Hamilton sang a stirring rendition of the "Star Bangled Banner."___7:30 p.m.Joel Embiid and Stephen Curry warmed up to play basketball — by playing volleyball.Embiid and Curry passed a basketball back and forth before Sunday night's All-Star game by using... [More]