The Oklahoma City Thunder have waived guard Alex Abrines.The team announced the move Saturday.Abrines missed much of his third NBA season because of personal reasons. He played only twice since Dec. 23, and neither of those appearances lasted more than 10 minutes. The Thunder offered few clues why Abrines had not been playing. He played 31 games this season, with two starts, and averaged 5.3 points and 1.5 rebounds.Abrines' primary tool was his 3-point shooting, but he was shooting just 32 percent from long range this season after shooting 38 percent in each of the past two seasons. With guard Terrance Ferguson emerging as a legitimate 3-point shooter, Abrines became expendable.Oklahoma City didn't make much noise in the days leading up to Thursday's trade deadline. The team announced on Feb. 1 that it sent reserve guard/forward Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and cash considerations to the Chicago Bulls for a protected 2020 second-round draft pick.The Thunder won nine of 10 heading into Saturday night's game at Houston.___Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis Grizzlies coach J.B. Bickerstaff says Chandler Parsons will be treated like any other player amid reports that the forward will rejoin his teammates after the All-Star break.The comments come a month after general manager Chris Wallace said Parsons had chosen to continue his rehabilitation in Los Angeles, putting his future with Memphis in doubt.Bickerstaff said Saturday at morning shoot-around that when Parsons comes back, "he's a part of the team like anybody else." Bickerstaff added, "he's still a part of the team and we'll treat him that way."Parsons, who has had knee issues, told ESPN he is "ready to get back to Memphis and help my team win any way I can."The 30-year-old forward remains on Memphis' roster after the Grizzlies made three different trades at the deadline Thursday, dealing away Marc Gasol, Garrett Temple, JaMychal Green and Shelvin Mack. Memphis also waived Omri Casspi.Parsons last played for Memphis on Oct. 22, going scoreless in just over... [More]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis Grizzlies coach J.B. Bickerstaff says Chandler Parsons will be treated like any other player amid reports that the forward will rejoin his teammates after the All-Star break.The comments come a month after general manager Chris Wallace said Parsons had chosen to continue his rehabilitation in Los Angeles, putting his future with Memphis in doubt.Bickerstaff said Saturday that when Parsons comes back, "he's a part of the team like anybody else." Bickerstaff added, "he's still a part of the team and we'll treat him that way."Parsons, who has had knee issues, told ESPN he is "ready to get back to Memphis and help my team win any way I can."Parsons remains on Memphis' roster following a trade deadline in which the Grizzlies dealt Marc Gasol and three other players.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Even with one foot out the door, Anthony Davis is showing he can still produce prolific statistics for the New Orleans Pelicans.He only needed 25 minutes to score 32-points in his first game for New Orleans since requesting a trade nearly two weeks ago. Davis also had nine rebounds and three blocks in a 122-117 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.Whether his presence in the lineup is sustainable for a club that is trying to move on without him — and protect his trade value by keeping him healthy — remains to be seen. But for now, coach Alvin Gentry and other Pelicans veterans sound inclined to try to make it work."He's obviously made it known that he won't sign back, but he still loves the game of basketball. I know that he loves us as players, and he's going to go out there and play as hard as he can," Pelicans point guard Jrue Holiday said. "If Anthony's out there, that's the best chance of us winning."The Pelicans entered their game at Memphis on Saturday... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Kevin Love's return to the Cleveland Cavaliers' lineup after missing 50 games following surgery on his left foot was a brief one.Love started and played the first six minutes in the Cavaliers' 119-103 loss to the Washington Wizards on Friday night. He scored four points.He shot 1 for 5 from the field and missed all three of his 3-point attempts. Love made two free throws and had a rebound and an assist. He left the game midway through the first period and did not return."I was moving well," Love said. "Just rushed a couple of my shots, but just felt really good to be back out there. Our plan all along was to give me one quick blow and get me out of there."Love won't play in the second half of a back-to-back against Indiana on Saturday."Kevin got a quick burn," Cleveland coach Larry Drew said. "The plan all along was to play him about six or seven minutes, and we knew coming into this game that that was going to be the plan and now we see how he responds tomorrow."Love... [More]

DALLAS (AP) — Khris Middleton thought Nikola Mirotic tilted a playoff series in Chicago's favor nearly four years ago when the Bulls beat his Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.Mirotic will be on Middleton's side for the postseason this time around.The Bucks had already surged to the NBA's best record when general manager Jon Horst got the 6-foot-10 Mirotic, an adept 3-point shooter, in a three-team trade that sent Milwaukee's Jason Smith and Detroit's Stanley Johnson to New Orleans. The Pistons got Thon Maker from Milwaukee.The Pelicans made a similar move to add Mirotic last February, and he helped them rally to make the playoffs and advance to the second round after a season-ending injury to DeMarcus Cousins."Another guy that has playoff experience, one," Middleton said. "Two, he can stretch the floor and he knows how to play. I remember back when we played him in the Chicago series ... and how he changed that series for them, the way he knocked down shots."The Bucks are among the more... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — John Wall has a history of trying to play through pain. His latest setback is forcing the Washington Wizards guard to take a different approach."I guess God is telling me something," Wall said Friday night about the ruptured Achilles tendon that will force him to miss at least the majority of the 2019-20 season. "To sit down and get yourself fully healthy. I've played through injuries my whole career. I know a lot of people who played through injuries and don't sit down. That's one thing I don't like to do. If something that's nagging or not broken, I want to play. I guess it kind of caught up to me."Wall was already out for the season after having surgery to repair bone spurs in his left heel. The rupture in his tendon was discovered by a team doctor during a follow-up procedure to clean out an infection. His recovery time has been estimated at 11 to 15 months."I didn't want to hear it," Wall said of the diagnosis. "I'm kind of glad it happened now instead of when I'm... [More]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade cleared the concussion protocol and avoided a serious injury after crashing hard to the floor at the end of the first quarter against Sacramento on Friday night.Wade landed awkwardly while going for a rebound with 15 seconds left in the first quarter. Wade's head bounced off the floor and he immediately grabbed the back of his head, and then rolled onto his stomach, where he lay while being checked by a team trainer.Wade was eventually helped to his feet and walked off the court. He was examined by a team trainer and was checked for a possible concussion before returning with 4:35 remaining in the first half.This is Wade's 16th and final NBA season, and Commissioner Adam Silver made him a special addition to the roster for next Sunday's All-Star Game in Atlanta, which would be Wade's 13th All-Star appearance. He has announced he plans to retire at the end of the year, and received a standing ovation from the Golden1 Center crowd when he checked into the game.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade has been taken to the locker room after crashing hard to the floor at the end of the first quarter against Sacramento.Wade landed awkwardly while going for a rebound with 15 seconds left in the first quarter. He immediately grabbed the back of his head, and then rolled onto his stomach, where he lay while being checked by a team trainer.Wade was eventually helped to his feet and walked off the court.This is Wade's 16th and final NBA season, and Commissioner Adam Silver made him a special addition to the roster for next Sunday's All-Star Game in Atlanta, which would be Wade's 13th All-Star appearance. He has announced he plans to retire at the end of the year, and received a standing ovation from the Golden1 Center crowd when he checked into the game.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — General manager Rob Pelinka hopes the Los Angeles Lakers will come out of a tumultuous trade deadline period with more mental toughness for the stretch run.After 10 days of team-wide uncertainty during their widely reported pursuit of disgruntled New Orleans superstar Anthony Davis, Pelinka said he believes the Lakers will bounce back strongly.Pelinka already saw signs of it Thursday night, when Los Angeles beat Boston on Rajon Rondo's dramatic winning basket just a few hours after the deadline passed and Davis remained with the Pelicans."What I've come to learn is that any time in life you face a challenge or a moment of adversity, you have to look at that as an opportunity," Pelinka said Friday. "When you go through anything as a team, if you go through adversity, you can choose how to respond. Does it draw you closer together, or does it push you further apart?"Pelinka and his boss, Magic Johnson, also remain confident in the Lakers' ability to end the franchise's... [More]

DALLAS (AP) — The Mavericks have waived Zach Randolph two days after acquiring the forward while sending Harrison Barnes to Sacramento in a trade designed to give Dallas salary-cap relief.Randolph and young forward Justin Jackson were sent to the Mavericks in a deal that came together while Barnes was playing for Dallas in a 99-93 win over Charlotte on Wednesday. Jackson was active for Friday night's game against Milwaukee.The 37-year-old Randolph never played for the Kings in his second season with them. He was a frequent Dallas foe during his eight seasons with Memphis. A day after the trade, Mavericks president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said he didn't expect Randolph to play for the club.Randolph has averaged 16.6 points and 9.1 rebounds in 17 seasons with five teams.By trading Barnes, the Mavericks put themselves in position to acquire another front-line player to go with rookie sensation Luka Doncic and 2018 All-Star Kristaps Porzingis.Dallas traded for Porzingis last week in a seven-player deal with New York that starters Dennis Smith Jr., Wesley Matthews and center DeAndre Jordan to the Knicks. Porzingis won't play this season as he continues to recover from a knee injury sustained last February.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — Kevin Love returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers' lineup on Friday after missing 50 games following surgery on his left foot.Love started and played the first six minutes against the Washington Wizards, scoring four points. He shot 1 for 5 from the field, missing all three of his 3-point attempts. Love made two free throws and had a rebound and an assist."There's definitely going to be a minute restriction. It's been a few months since I've been out there playing," Love said at Friday's shootaround. "More than anything, it will be great to blow it out."Love did not return after exiting the game midway through the first quarter.Love signed a four-year, $120 million extension with the Cavaliers in July. He played the first four games of the season, averaging 19 points and 13.5 rebounds, before undergoing surgery.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) — Ed Stefanski can maintain a sense of humor about the challenges facing the Detroit Pistons."I wouldn't be here if things were rosy, is the way I look at it," said Stefanski, a senior executive with the Pistons. "And I tell that in our meetings when people want to say, oh, you know, this and that. I said, 'You guys wouldn't be here if things were good.'"Stefanski arrived as part of a front office overhaul last offseason, and this week was his first trade deadline with Detroit. The Pistons acquired guard Svi Mykhailiuk from the Lakers and center Thon Maker from the Bucks, giving up Reggie Bullock and Stanley Johnson in the process. The moves netted Detroit a couple young players but did little to change the overall outlook for the franchise.The Pistons have a lot of money tied up in Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson, and although Griffin has remained healthy and played like a star this season, Detroit was 24-29 heading into Friday night's matchup... [More]

The latest episode of "Survivor: NBA" was quite a cliffhanger.All kinds of intrigue. A hefty dose of griping. Some thoroughly unexpected plot twists.Now that's a reality show worth watching."They always catch me by surprise," said Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse, whose team had a major role in the plotline. "There's so much going on all the time."Despite complaints from the likes of Kevin Durant and LeBron James, the league's off-the-court drama leading up to Thursday's trade deadline was a welcome respite from the long, sometimes dreary regular season — enhancing all the compelling story lines (and there are plenty) while highlighting a system that really works well for everyone.KD may choose to rip the media for its infatuation with what the future holds for him, but we're guessing the Golden State star doesn't mind cashing those checks (worth $30 million this year) or that he'll be too upset this summer when he can opt out of his contract and decide where he wants to play for a deal... [More]

Milwaukee didn't get out of the first round of the playoffs last year. Denver didn't even get into the first round of the playoffs, its postseason hopes thwarted by a loss in the last game of the regular season.As such, few may have seen this coming.The perk of getting to coach the All-Star Game goes to the staffs of the teams with the best records in the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference two weeks before the matchup — which this year meant the Bucks' Mike Budenholzer and the Nuggets' Michael Malone got the jobs.So for only the second time in the last 35 seasons, the All-Star coaches are people who weren't participants in the previous year's NBA playoffs. Malone missed by a game, and Budenholzer was coaching Atlanta to a 24-58 record. Yet on Feb. 17 in Charlotte, Budenholzer and Malone will be front and center with their chance to strategize for one night with the best players in the world."I feel like me and Mike are cut from the same cloth," Budenholzer said. "We want to be... [More]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A day after trading Marc Gasol to Toronto, the owner of the Memphis Grizzlies says the franchise will retire the center's No. 33 jersey some day in the future.Owner Robert Pera issued a statement Friday morning after the franchise confirmed the trade netting Memphis a trio of players and a second-round draft pick in the 2024 draft.Pera praised Gasol as a pillar of the Grizzlies for 11 seasons and part of the core that shaped the franchise's identity on and off the court. Pera thanked Gasol , saying they look forward to one day welcoming the center back with his jersey hanging in the FedExForum rafters next to those of Zach Randolph and Tony Allen.The Grizzlies traded Gasol, 34, on Thursday at the NBA trade deadline with the center holding a $25 million option he can exercise this summer.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks have acquired forward Nikola Mirotic from the New Orleans Pelicans in a three-team deal.The Bucks made the announcement in a news release on Thursday. Milwaukee also will send forward Thon Maker to the Detroit Pistons and center Jason Smith and four future second-round draft picks to the Pelicans. Detroit will send forward Stanley Johnson to New Orleans to complete the deal.Mirotic is averaging career-highs of 16.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game this season. He is shooting 44.7 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from 3-point range. The Montenegro native has averaged at least 10 points per game in each of his five seasons and earned All-Rookie after the 2014-15 season.He now joins a Milwaukee squad that has the best record in the NBA."We are thrilled to add such a talented player in Nikola Mirotic to our roster," Bucks general manager Jon Horst said in a statement. "He is a skilled, two-way player who fits extremely well into our system. He shoots... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Clippers have waived guard Milos Teodosic, who made his NBA debut with the team last season.Teodosic was limited to 15 games this season because of knee tendinitis after starting 36 of 45 games last year, his first in the NBA. He previously had a decorated 13-year career in Serbia, Greece and Russia.Teodosic, who helped Serbia to the 2016 Olympic silver medal, averaged eight points, four assists and 2.4 rebounds in two seasons in L.A.Earlier Thursday, the Clippers waived veteran big man Marcin Gortat.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — After Anthony Davis found out he wouldn't be traded Thursday, the six-time All-Star learned the New Orleans Pelicans will let him suit up for the remainder of the season.While Davis had stated publicly that he's ready to move on from New Orleans, he also had said he was prepared to play for the Pelicans as long as he remained under contract with them."Ultimately, Anthony made it clear to us that he wants to play and he gives our team the best opportunity to win games. Moreover, the Pelicans want to preserve the integrity of the game and align our organization with NBA policies," Pelicans general manager Dell Demps said in a statement. "We believe Anthony playing upholds the values that are in the best interest of the NBA and its fans. We look forward to seeing Anthony in a Pelicans uniform again soon."The Pelicans initially appeared inclined to move on without Davis and focus on the players who might help them going forward. Davis' image has been removed from promotional... [More]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — After Anthony Davis found out he wouldn't be traded this season, the six-time All-Star learned the New Orleans Pelicans will let him suit up for the remainder of the season.While Davis had stated publicly that he's ready to move on from New Orleans, he also had said he was prepared to play for the Pelicans as long as he remained under contract with them."Ultimately, Anthony made it clear to us that he wants to play and he gives our team the best opportunity to win games. Moreover, the Pelicans want to preserve the integrity of the game and align our organization with NBA policies," the Pelicans said in a statement Thursday night. "We believe Anthony playing upholds the values that are in the best interest of the NBA and its fans. We look forward to seeing Anthony in a Pelicans uniform again soon."The Pelicans initially appeared inclined to move on without Davis and focus on the players who might help them going forward. Davis' image has been removed from promotional materials,... [More]