Wed Feb 13 2019 | 23:31 | Embiid fined $25,000 for criticizing referees | Joel Embiid | C | 76ers | Free Agent |
| | | Al Horford | C | Celtics | Free Agent |
NEW YORK (AP) — Joel Embiid was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Wednesday for public criticism of referees that included profanity.The penalty was announced by Kiki VanDeWeghe, the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations.Embiid's comments came at the end of his postgame interview following Philadelphia's 112-109 home loss to Boston on Tuesday."I knew what I was getting into," Embiid said. "I haven't seen the Last 2-Minute Report but I did get fouled and everybody knew that. I felt like it changed the outcome of the game. The game could have been tied and I was in the heat of the moment."The report did say Al Horford should have been called for fouling Embiid with 35 seconds remaining.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports |
Wed Feb 13 2019 | 22:00 | Blazers sign center Enes Kanter | Seth Curry | SG | Mavericks | Free Agent |
| | | Rodney Hood | SG | Jazz | Free Agent |
| | | Enes Freedom | C | Knicks | Free Agent |
| | | Jake Layman | SF | Trailblazers | Free Agent |
| | | Wesley Matthews | SF | Mavericks | Free Agent |
| | | Jusuf Nurkic | C | Trailblazers | Free Agent |
| | | Evan Turner | SF | Trailblazers | Free Agent |
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Center Enes Kanter has joined the Portland Trail Blazers.Kanter was waived by the New York Knicks along with Wesley Matthews following the trade deadline last week. Kanter announced Wednesday on Twitter that he had signed with the Blazers for the rest of the season. The deal was first reported by ESPN."I look forward to helping the Blazers achieve the ultimate goal of competing for a championship," he said on the post. "Excited to meet my new teammates, coaches, staff and most importantly the fans. It is a blessing to continue to compete at the highest level."Kanter was once a starter for the Knicks but fell out of the rotation altogether when the team — with the worst record in the league — turned its focus to younger players. The Knicks could not find a deal for Kanter before the deadline.The center from Turkey came to the Knicks from Oklahoma City in the Carmelo Anthony trade in September 2017 and averaged 14 points and 10.8 rebounds in 115 games over two seasons.... [ More] |
Wed Feb 13 2019 | 21:40 | With hip mended, Isaiah Thomas makes debut with Nuggets | Malik Beasley | SG | Nuggets | Free Agent |
| | | Monte Morris | PG | Nuggets | Free Agent |
| | | Isaiah Thomas | PG | Cavaliers | Free Agent |
DENVER (AP) — Isaiah Thomas pronounced his surgically repaired hip as fit as it's ever going to be.His confidence? Now that's as healthy as ever with the point guard making his Denver Nuggets debut Wednesday night."My job is not to fit in. It's to stand out," said Thomas, who entered to a standing ovation late in the first quarter against the Sacramento Kings, the team that picked him in the second round of the 2011 draft. "I'm going to do whatever I can to get minutes on the basketball floor and I'm going to play to win and help this team get to the next level."Thomas' last NBA game was March 22 with the Los Angeles Lakers before undergoing an arthroscopic procedure to fix his troublesome hip. The Nuggets signed him to a one-year deal in the offseason and gave him plenty of space to recover from his operation.He could provide a big boost down the stretch for the surging Nuggets, who are near the top of the Western Conference standings.His minutes, though, could come at the expense of Monte... [ More] |
Wed Feb 13 2019 | 19:50 | Embiid fined $25,000 for criticizing referees | Joel Embiid | C | 76ers | Free Agent |
NEW YORK (AP) — Joel Embiid has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for public criticism of referees that included profanity.The penalty was announced Wednesday by Kiki VanDeWeghe, the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations.Embiid's comments came at the end of his postgame interview following Philadelphia's 112-109 home loss to Boston on Tuesday.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports |
Wed Feb 13 2019 | 19:00 | Cavaliers' Love sitting out final game before All-Star break | Kevin Love | C | Cavaliers | Free Agent |
CLEVELAND (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 progression after that because I will be fully prepared to go," Love said.Love didn't play the final game before the break to get further rest following foot surgery. He has not suffered any setbacks since returning last week to play for the first time since having the operation in November. The five-time All-Star has played in two games.Love played nearly 16 minutes, scoring 14 points with nine rebounds, in Monday's win over New York. He said following the game that he thought he'd play Wednesday, but realizes it's important to not rush things."We've been every other game, so my minutes were more than double last game," said Love, who played six minutes in his return Feb. 8 against Washington, his first action since Oct. 24."He's in a really good place right now... [ More] |
Wed Feb 13 2019 | 18:10 | Blazers sign center Enes Kanter | Seth Curry | SG | Mavericks | Free Agent |
| | | Rodney Hood | SG | Jazz | Free Agent |
| | | Enes Freedom | C | Knicks | Free Agent |
| | | Jake Layman | SF | Trailblazers | Free Agent |
| | | Wesley Matthews | SF | Mavericks | Free Agent |
| | | Jusuf Nurkic | C | Trailblazers | Free Agent |
| | | Evan Turner | SF | Trailblazers | Free Agent |
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Center Enes Kanter has joined the Portland Trail Blazers.Kanter was waived by the New York Knicks along with Wesley Matthews following the trade deadline last week. Kanter announced Wednesday on Twitter that he had signed with the Blazers for the rest of the season. The deal was first reported by ESPN."I look forward to helping the Blazers achieve the ultimate goal of competing for a championship," he said on the post. "Excited to meet my new teammates, coaches, staff and most importantly the fans. It is a blessing to continue to compete at the highest level."Kanter was once a starter for the Knicks but fell out of the rotation altogether when the team — with the worst record in the league — turned its focus to younger players. The Knicks could not find a deal for Kanter before the deadline.The center from Turkey came to the Knicks from Oklahoma City in the Carmelo Anthony trade in September 2017 and averaged 14 points and 10.8 rebounds in 115 games over two seasons. He had become frustrated after first losing his starting spot and then any spot at all in recent weeks.The Blazers previously made a four-year, $70 million offer for Kanter in 2015 when he was a restricted free agent, but the Thunder matched it.Kanter will play behind Portland's starting center Jusuf Nurkic in a strong second unit that includes Seth Curry, Jake Layman, Rodney Hood and Evan Turner. |
Wed Feb 13 2019 | 17:30 | Blazers sign center Enes Kanter | Enes Freedom | C | Knicks | Free Agent |
| | | Wesley Matthews | SF | Mavericks | Free Agent |
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Center Enes Kanter has joined the Portland Trail Blazers.Kanter was waived by the New York Knicks along with Wesley Matthews following the trade deadline last week. Kanter announced Wednesday on Twitter that he had signed with the Blazers for the rest of the season.Kanter was once a starter for the Knicks but fell out of the rotation altogether when the team — with the worst record in the league — turned its focus to younger players. The Knicks could not find a deal for Kanter before the deadline.The center from Turkey came to the Knicks from Oklahoma City in the Carmelo Anthony trade in September 2017 and averaged 14 points and 10.8 rebounds in 115 games over two seasons. He had become frustrated after first losing his starting spot and then any spot at all in recent weeks. |
Wed Feb 13 2019 | 17:10 | Grizzlies sign forward Bruno Caboclo to multi-year deal | Bruno Caboclo | SF | Raptors | Free Agent |
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The Memphis Grizzlies have signed forward Bruno Caboclo (cuh-BO-clo) to a multi-year contract after having first signing him to consecutive 10-day contracts.Terms of the deal announced Wednesday were not disclosed.The 6-foot-9 Caboclo has started one of his 10 games played for Memphis averaging 6.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.40 blocks in 21.1 minutes. He has either set or tied his NBA single-game career highs for points, three-pointers made, free throws made, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks with the Grizzlies.Caboclo was the 20th pick overall in 2014 by Toronto and also has played with Sacramento. He started 23 of his 28 games with the G League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers earlier this season.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports |
Wed Feb 13 2019 | 15:30 | Thomas says hip is mended and he's nearing Nuggets debut | Malik Beasley | SG | Nuggets | Free Agent |
| | | Monte Morris | PG | Nuggets | Free Agent |
| | | Isaiah Thomas | PG | Cavaliers | Free Agent |
DENVER (AP) — Isaiah Thomas pronounced his surgically repaired hip as fit as it's ever going to be.His confidence? Now that's as healthy as ever with the point guard on the verge of his Denver Nuggets debut."My job is not to fit in. It's to stand out," said Thomas, who's looking to play Wednesday night against the Sacramento Kings, the team that picked him in the second round of the 2011 draft. "I'm going to do whatever I can to get minutes on the basketball floor and I'm going to play to win and help this team get to the next level."Thomas' last NBA game was March 22 with the Los Angeles Lakers before undergoing an arthroscopic procedure to fix his troublesome hip. The Nuggets signed him to a one-year deal in the offseason and gave him plenty of space to recover from his operation.He could provide a big boost down the stretch for the surging Nuggets, who are near the top of the Western Conference standings.His minutes, though, could come at the expense of Monte Morris and Malik Beasley,... [ More] |
Wed Feb 13 2019 | 14:00 | Thomas says hip is mended and he's nearing Nuggets debut | Malik Beasley | SG | Nuggets | Free Agent |
| | | Monte Morris | PG | Nuggets | Free Agent |
| | | Isaiah Thomas | PG | Cavaliers | Free Agent |
DENVER (AP) — Isaiah Thomas says his surgically repaired hip has mended enough to allow him to soon make his Denver Nuggets debut.The point guard's first appearance in a Nuggets jersey could be Wednesday night against the Sacramento Kings, the team that picked him in the second round of the 2011 draft. Thomas said he will be a game-time decision but feels like he's ready.Thomas, who turned 30 last week, hasn't played in an NBA game since suiting up for the Los Angeles Lakers last March.The Nuggets signed him to a one-year deal in the offseason and gave him plenty of space to recover from his hip procedure. His minutes will come at the expense of Monte Morris and Malik Beasley, two guards who have been pleasant surprises for Denver. |
Wed Feb 13 2019 | 12:01 | Cavaliers' Love sitting out final game before All-Star break | Kevin Love | C | Cavaliers | Free Agent |
CLEVELAND (AP) — Cavaliers forward Kevin Love will sit out the final game before the All-Star break to get further rest following foot surgery.Love has not suffered any setbacks since returning last week to play for the first time since having the operation in November. The five-time All-Star has played in two games.The Cavaliers have been pleased with his recovery and don't want to push things. After facing the Nets on Wednesday, Cleveland won't play again until Feb. 21.The 30-year-old Love played just six minutes against Washington in his first action since Oct. 24. He rested the following night at Indiana, then played nearly 16 minutes on Monday against the Knicks, scoring 14 points with nine rebounds.Love initially injured his foot in Cleveland's final exhibition game. He is averaging 15.7 points and 10.7 rebounds in six games.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports |
Wed Feb 13 2019 | 12:00 | BC-BKN--All-Star, ADVISORY | Giannis Antetokounmpo | PF | Bucks | Free Agent |
| | | Luka Doncic | PG | Mavericks | Free Agent |
| | | Dirk Nowitzki | C | Mavericks | Free Agent |
| | | Dwyane Wade | SG | Heat | Free Agent |
| | | Kemba Walker | PG | Hornets | Free Agent |
To help you with planning for the NBA All Star weekend, here are some of our plans. This advisory will be updated until Sunday's game. Please contact Oscar Dixon (odixon@ap.org) with any questions. All times ET.WEDNESDAYBKN--All-Star Game-Stepback 3-PointerJames Harden has relied on it to become the NBA’s most unstoppable scorer. Luka Doncic has ridden it to stardom on both sides of the Atlantic. So how come more players aren’t using the step-back 3-pointer? Well, it’s fundamentally flawed, sometimes doesn’t even look legal, and even Stephen Curry says it’s tough to make. So it’s unclear whether the shot is a luxury for some, or will become a necessity for all in today’s 3-point happy game. By Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney. Sent: 850 words, photos by 5 a.m.THURSDAYBKN--All-Star Game-Dwyane and DirkDALLAS _ Miami’s Dwyane Wade and Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki accepted honorary All-Star roles to help the NBA celebrate two long and decorated careers. It should also be a chance for the two-time... [ More] |
Wed Feb 13 2019 | 03:10 | Step-back 3 NBA's new weapon, though not a shot for everyone | Stephen Curry | PG | Warriors | Free Agent |
| | | Luka Doncic | PG | Mavericks | Free Agent |
| | | James Harden | SG | Rockets | Free Agent |
James Harden turned to it to become the NBA's most unstoppable scorer.Luka Doncic has ridden it to stardom on both sides of the Atlantic.The step-back 3-pointer is the perfect weapon for the modern NBA, practically a necessity in a game where the ability to find space to shoot from behind the arc is more valued than ever before."Things have changed and the game is so spread out," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "All over the NBA and all over the world really, everybody's stretching the range out a few feet more. The 3-point line is being covered much better than it has in the past so guys are moving back, and guys that can create space to shoot 3s unassisted have a special skill . It's going to be a necessary skill more as the game continues to evolve."But before guys who belong in the paint start hoisting them up from the perimeter, or taking balls off the rack and shooting step-backs during this weekend's All-Star 3-point contest, there a few things to consider.Even Stephen Curry said... [ More] |
Tue Feb 12 2019 | 14:00 | BC-BKN--All-Star, ADVISORY | Giannis Antetokounmpo | PF | Bucks | Free Agent |
| | | Luka Doncic | PG | Mavericks | Free Agent |
| | | Dirk Nowitzki | C | Mavericks | Free Agent |
| | | Dwyane Wade | SG | Heat | Free Agent |
| | | Kemba Walker | PG | Hornets | Free Agent |
To help you with planning for the NBA All Star weekend, here are some of our plans. This advisory will be updated until Sunday's game. Please contact Oscar Dixon (odixon@ap.org) with any questions. All times ET.TUESDAYBKN—All-Star Game-Jordan’s JourneyCHARLOTTE, N.C. _ As college roommates Michael Jordan and Buzz Peterson would spend their nights shooting pool, tossing cards and playing arcade games at the University of North Carolina. Looking back, Peterson said he never could have imagined Jordan would become so successful and wealthy that he would go on to buy an NBA franchise and have the honor of hosting an All-Star game in his home state. By Steve Reed. Sent: 900 words, file photosWEDNESDAYBKN--All-Star Game-Stepback 3-PointerJames Harden has relied on it to become the NBA’s most unstoppable scorer. Luka Doncic has ridden it to stardom on both sides of the Atlantic. So how come more players aren’t using the step-back 3-pointer? Well, it’s fundamentally flawed, sometimes doesn’t even... [ More] |
Tue Feb 12 2019 | 13:50 | All-Star game marks latest milestone for Michael Jordan | Kemba Walker | PG | Hornets | Free Agent |
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Buzz Peterson knew Michael Jordan as well as anyone when they were in college.Roommates and teammates at North Carolina, they spent countless days competing on the basketball court in practice and endless hours talking hoops. Their nights often included shooting pool and tossing cards in their Granville Towers South dorm room. There often were arcade games — before the home video game craze hit — at the Pump House on Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill.But Peterson never saw this coming: His roommate becoming an NBA owner and hosting the league's All-Star game in his home state of North Carolina."You know, staring across the dorm room at him back then, no, I never would have thought this would happen," Peterson told The Associated Press.Jordan didn't either."Frankly, no," Jordan said Tuesday in a news conference previewing the All-Star game. "Growing back up as a kid here in North Carolina, the first thing is play basketball. Then things just evolved from there."While... [ More] |
Tue Feb 12 2019 | 12:50 | Jordan: 6 NBA titles tougher than Harden, Westbrook streaks | James Harden | SG | Rockets | Free Agent |
| | | Russell Westbrook | PG | Thunder | Free Agent |
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Michael Jordan says James Harden's streak of 30 straight 30-point games and Russell Westbrook's 10 straight triple-doubles are both impressive and tough to accomplish.But the Charlotte Hornets owner said Tuesday — flashing a big grin — that there is one accomplishment tougher than both those feats: "Which is harder from the player's standpoint? Six championships by all means."Jordan praised both players for what they're doing, noting that both streaks are hard to accomplish.Jordan said the milestones show "the talent that we have within the league.""It shows progression in the league," Jordan said during an interview at his Hornets facility while discussing the upcoming All-Star weekend . "I am very proud of how both guys have done because they are making a mark for the league and I think it really helps grow the league."Harden needed a late scoring spree on Monday night to extend his streak to 30 games, scoring 11 points in the final 100 seconds as the Rockets defeated... [ More] |
Tue Feb 12 2019 | 12:30 | Jordan: 6 NBA titles tougher than Harden, Westbrook streaks | James Harden | SG | Rockets | Free Agent |
| | | Russell Westbrook | PG | Thunder | Free Agent |
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Michael Jordan says James Harden's streak of 30 straight 30-point games and Russell Westbrook's 10 straight triple-doubles are both impressive and tough to accomplish.But the Charlotte Hornets said Tuesday — flashing a big grin — that there is one accomplishment tougher than both those feats: "Which is harder from the player's standpoint? Six championships by all means."Jordan praised both players for what they're doing, nothing that both streaks are hard to accomplish.Jordan said the milestones show "the talent that we have within the league.""It shows progression in the league," Jordan said during an interview at his Hornets facility while discussing the upcoming All-Star weekend . "I am very proud of how both guys have done because they are making a mark for the league and I think it really helps grow the league."Harden needed a late scoring spree on Monday night to extend his streak to 30 games, scoring 11 points in the final 100 seconds as the Rockets defeated... [ More] |
Mon Feb 11 2019 | 19:26 | NBA says key call was missed late in Heat-Warriors game | DeMarcus Cousins | C | Pelicans | Free Agent |
| | | Kevin Durant | SF | Warriors | Free Agent |
| | | Dion Waiters | SG | Heat | Free Agent |
| | | Justise Winslow | SF | Heat | Free Agent |
MIAMI (AP) — Golden State's Kevin Durant should have been called for a discontinued dribble on the Warriors' final possession of what became their 120-118 win over the Miami Heat, the NBA said Monday in a report detailing all calls made in the last 2 minutes of the game.Golden State made a pair of free throws on that possession, the final points of the game.The league, in its Last Two Minute Report that is released after close games, said it reviewed multiple video angles to determine that Durant's dribble was not interrupted by the ball making inadvertent contact with the foot or shin of Heat defender Justise Winslow and "a discontinued dribble should have been called on Durant."Also, the league opted not to fine Heat coach Erik Spoelstra for his postgame comments about the officiating — which were prefaced by Spoelstra beginning his remarks with "Look, NBA, do not fine me. I'm allowed to say this."Spoelstra also said multiple times in his postgame news conference that he was not blaming... [ More] |
Mon Feb 11 2019 | 19:06 | Cavs sign well-traveled Stauskas for rest of season | Rodney Hood | SG | Jazz | Free Agent |
| | | Kevin Love | C | Cavaliers | Free Agent |
| | | Nik Stauskas | SG | Nets | Free Agent |
CLEVELAND (AP) — Nik Stauskas has been in Cleveland for a week. He's finally getting a chance to wear a Cavaliers uniform.The Cavaliers have signed the well-traveled guard, who was traded three times and released last week, for the rest of the season.Stauskas was briefly with the Cavs, who acquired him from Portland in the deal for forward Rodney Hood. He never appeared in a game before Cleveland sent him two days later to Houston, which promptly traded Stauskas at the deadline to Indiana. The Pacers then waived the 25-year-old, allowing the rebuilding Cavs to scoop him up.And while being traded twice and then waived, Stauskas never left Cleveland."It's crazy," he said. "I flew to Cleveland. I was able to practice once with the team. I got traded to Houston, but no one ever booked me a flight to Houston. They were thinking they were still going to make some moves and I was possibly going to be traded again. So I stayed in Cleveland, got traded to Indiana, the same thing happened."Stauskas... [ More] |
Mon Feb 11 2019 | 17:36 | Jeremy Lin gets bought out, plans to sign with Raptors | Chris Boucher | PF | Warriors | Free Agent |
| | | Danny Green | SG | Spurs | Free Agent |
| | | Kyle Lowry | PG | Raptors | Free Agent |
| | | Jeremy Lin | PG | Nets | Free Agent |
| | | Fred VanVleet | PG | Raptors | Free Agent |
MIAMI (AP) — Jeremy Lin is on the move again, with the veteran guard getting waived by the Atlanta Hawks and intending to sign later this week playoff-contending Toronto Raptors.The Hawks waived Lin on Monday and Jim Tanner, one of his agents, confirmed Lin's plan to join Toronto, which was first reported by ESPN.Lin and the Hawks worked out a buyout agreement."The future is bright for Atlanta!!! I truly mean that!" Lin posted Monday on Instagram . "Everyone who knows me knows how big my dreams are and that I have so much left to give to the game. Hyped to join the Raptors!!"Lin thanked the Hawks, saying they helped him "become myself again on the basketball court and allowed me to experience the joy of hoops again!"Toronto will become Lin's eighth NBA franchise, after stints with Golden State, New York, Houston, the Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte, Brooklyn and this season Atlanta. He appeared in 51 games for the Hawks, all but one of those as a reserve, averaging 10.7 points this season... [ More] |