Denver Nuggets power forward Aaron Gordon had a great game on Friday against Chicago, scoring a season-high 28 points on 10-for-12 shooting in a 114-108 loss. He was 1-for-2 with the three-ball and 7-for-9 at the foul line with nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 37 minutes. The Nuggets played their second game of the season without Nikola Jokic (wrist) and had to rely on others to lead the offense, which Gordon did well. Head coach Mike Malone is unsure when his star man will be back, so Gordon could continue crushing it in the upcoming games. The next outing is a tough one for Denver against Phoenix, but Sunday's battle will be followed by a trip to Portland to meet up with the Blazers, who are ranked 27th in defensive efficiency.

Denver Nuggets power forward Aaron Gordon maneuvered his way to his first double-double of the season in Monday's loss to the Grizzlies, scoring 15 points on 6-for-12 shooting and notching a game-high 10 rebounds. He also picked up one assist with one turnover in 28 minutes. Gordon has been awful from downtown so far but shot a nice 2-for-5 behind the arc on Monday. The former Orlando player struggled to make an impact in Denver last season but has put in improved performances this term, averaging 13 points with seven rebounds and 1.7 assists. He gets to see the Grizzlies again on Wednesday and it's a good matchup for Gordon, with Memphis giving up 22.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per 48 minutes to the power forward position this season.

Jamahl Mosley first got noticed as someone with NBA coaching potential when he was hired by the Denver Nuggets as a development coach 16 years ago. Also in Denver at the time: an assistant general manager named Jeff Weltman, now the basketball operations president of the Orlando Magic. And Weltman never forgot the impact that Mosley had on players back then. “Jamahl made you take note,” Weltman said. Fast-forward to Monday, when Weltman formally introduced Mosley as coach of the Magic. It’s Mosley’s first time as an NBA head coach, a hiring that many people around the league had expected to see happen somewhere for years. “We just have to work on getting better,” Mosley said. “I think we just have to continue to grow and build and keep these guys at a level that they just want to keep coming in every single day to get better and better and better. I think that’s the important part of what this journey is going to look like.” Mosley is inheriting a rebuilding project in Orlando, which was... [More]

Jamahl Mosley has agreed to become the new coach of the Orlando Magic, the team announced Sunday, giving the longtime NBA assistant his first chance at running his own club. Mosley replaces Steve Clifford, who left Orlando by mutual agreement after three seasons and two playoff appearances. He becomes the 14th coach in Magic history — 15th if including Billy Donovan, who was hired by the Magic but never coached a game, instead returning to his job at the time with the Florida Gators. The 42-year-old Mosley has spent the last 15 years as an assistant in Denver, Cleveland and Dallas. The last seven seasons were with the Mavericks, and his name has been discussed as a candidate in coaching searches for some time. “Congrats my guy," Mavericks star Luka Doncic tweeted. Most recently, Mosley was with USA Basketball last week in Las Vegas as an assistant coach for the national Select Team — the group brought in to practice against the team that will represent the U.S. at the Tokyo Games. Mosley... [More]

Jamahl Mosley has agreed to become the new coach of the Orlando Magic, the team announced Sunday, giving the longtime NBA assistant his first chance at running his own club. Mosley becomes the 14th coach in Magic history. He replaces Steve Clifford, who left Orlando by mutual agreement after three seasons and two playoff appearances. The 42-year-old Mosley has spent the last 15 years as an assistant in Denver, Cleveland and Dallas. The last seven seasons were with the Mavericks, and his name has been discussed as a candidate in coaching searches for some time. Most recently, Mosley was with USA Basketball last week in Las Vegas as an assistant coach for the national Select Team — the group brought in to practice against the team that will represent the U.S. at the Tokyo Games. Mosley worked in Las Vegas under Miami coach Erik Spoelstra; they’ll now become division rivals in the NBA with Mosley taking over the Magic. “We would like to welcome Jamahl and his family to the Magic family,” said... [More]

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets' season came to an ignominious end with Jamal Murray looking on from the bench and newly crowned league MVP Nikola Jokic watching from the locker room. The Phoenix Suns completed their second-round sweep with a 125-118 win Sunday night in Denver, holding off an inspired effort by the Nuggets following Jokic's stunning third-quarter ejection. Long have the Nuggets chafed at the lack of respect and calls that Jokic gets, particularly this season as the 7-foot Serbian blossomed into the NBA's runaway best player. Frustration boiled over 48 hours after Jokic humbly accepted the Maurice Podoloff Trophy that he dedicated to his teammates, coaches, trainers, front office and family. Infuriated at no whistle for the contact on his one-handed runner that bounced off the rim with the Nuggets down seven late in the third quarter, Jokic gestured at the official before racing to Cameron Payne, whom he swatted across the face as he took a hard swipe at the ball. That... [More]

Steve Clifford and the Orlando Magic took some time after the season to rest, recover and contemplate the future. And after a couple weeks, they decided the fit wasn't right anymore. Orlando's rebuilding project will no longer include Clifford, after he and the Magic completed an agreement Saturday to end his three-year run with the club. Magic President Jeff Weltman stressed that it was a mutual decision and he respected Clifford for being able to “assess where he is in his career." “Obviously, we've repositioned our team," Weltman said. “And so, there has to be alignment. There has to be alignment in everything you do in this league. And if there's not alignment, it'll undermine everything." That alignment clearly didn't seem to be there. Weltman indicated that Clifford — who will turn 60 before next season starts — decided he wasn't the right coach to lead the Magic through what may be serious growing pains with a young group. “The ‘why' is quite simple here: alignment," Weltman said.... [More]

The Orlando Magic's rebuilding project will not include Steve Clifford, with the team and their coach announcing Saturday that his three-year run there is over. Clifford was 96-131 in those three seasons, though that record is a bit misleading given how many injuries the team dealt with this season. Orlando went to the playoffs in 2019 and 2020 under Clifford, its first postseason trips since a run of six straight ended in 2012. But this season was trying in no shortage of ways. Injuries gutted the Magic, and then the team's core — All-Star forward Nikola Vucevic, guard Evan Fournier and forward Aaron Gordon — were all moved at the trade deadline as Orlando went younger and stockpiled draft picks for the rebuild. “It’s the toughest season I’ve ever been through,” Clifford said as the season ended. The team said it was a mutual decision. Orlando was 21-51 this season, and Magic President Jeff Weltman indicated Saturday that Clifford might not have wanted to be part of a long rebuild around... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Already a triple-double threat on the floor, Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic is prepared to raise his game in yet another category — leadership. Anything to help out after losing point guard and vocal leader Jamal Murray for the season due to a torn ACL in his left knee. Jokic's first decree to his teammates: Concentrate on the task at hand. Because nothing changes, even if the odds may say so. The Nuggets’ stock as a contender in the Western Conference took a hit in the wake of Murray’s knee injury. Once +1400 favorites to win the West, the Nuggets are now +1600, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. They were a +1400 bet to capture their first NBA title, too, only to slip to +3000. Go ahead and count them out, Jokic said. They relish this sort of role. “I’ve been an underdog my whole life,” Jokic said after a 123-106 win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday in their first game after Murray tore his ACL. “I’m kind of used to it. It’s a normal position for me. “We’re going to miss... [More]

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets will be without Jamal Murray indefinitely after the dynamic point guard suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. The Nuggets announced the diagnosis in a statement Tuesday. It's a big blow to a team coming off a season in which it advanced to the Western Conference finals and is hoping to make another deep postseason run. Murray was hurt late in a loss at Golden State on Monday night. He drove the lane, tried to elevate off his left foot and fell to the ground, instantly grabbing his knee in pain. Coach Michael Malone expressed immense concern soon after Murray's injury. Same with his teammates and players around the league, who posted their well-wishes on social media. Before Monday, the 24-year-old Murray had missed four games with a sore right knee. He is averaging 21.2 points and 4.8 assists this season as the Nuggets sit in fourth place in the West. Murray drew rave reviews for his postseason performance inside the NBA bubble in Florida last season. He... [More]

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets will be without Jamal Murray indefinitely after the dynamic point guard suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. The Nuggets announced the diagnosis in a statement Tuesday. It's a big blow to a team coming off a season in which it advanced to the Western Conference finals and is hoping to make another deep postseason run. Murray was hurt late in a loss at Golden State on Monday night. He drove the lane, tried to elevate off his left foot and fell to the ground, instantly grabbing his knee in pain. Coach Michael Malone expressed immense concern soon after Murray's injury. Same with his teammates and players around the league, who posted their well-wishes on social media. Before Monday, the 24-year-old Murray had missed four games with a sore right knee. He is averaging 21.2 points and 4.8 assists this season as the Nuggets sit in fourth place in the West. Murray drew rave reviews for his postseason performance inside the NBA bubble in Florida last season. He... [More]

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets bolstered their backcourt by signing guard Shaquille Harrison to a two-way deal. Harrison played sparingly for Utah this season, averaging 3.3 minutes over 17 appearances. In addition, Denver waived forward Greg Whittington on Friday and guard Gary Clark, who was acquired as part of the deal with Orlando that landed Aaron Gordon. The 27-year-old Harrison wasn't selected in the 2016 NBA draft after a career at Tulsa in which he averaged 11.1 points and 3.5 assists. He signed a deal with the Phoenix Suns in September 2016. Over 156 games with Phoenix, Chicago and Utah, he's averaged 5.5 points and 2.4 rebounds. His most productive season was 2018-19 in Chicago when he played in 73 games and averaged 6.3 points. Whittington played in four games, a total of 12 minutes, after signing a two-way deal with Denver on Nov. 24. Clark played in two games with Denver since the March 25 deal with the Magic. ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Andre Drummond is joining the Los Angeles Lakers for the playoff push. The Lakers announced the signing of the two-time All-Star center less than an hour before Sunday night's game against the Orlando Magic. Drummond announced his decision with a post on his Instagram account earlier in the day, writing “Back to work” underneath an illustration of himself in a Lakers uniform. Drummond agreed to a buyout Friday from the Cleveland Cavaliers, who acquired the four-time NBA rebounding champion last year after nearly eight seasons in Detroit. He had to clear waivers before he could join a team of his choosing, and Drummond chose to link up with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the defending NBA champions. “We’re all thrilled. He’s one of the best centers in the league and someone every defensive coordinator is going to have to account for while trying to slow down LeBron, AD and our guards when we get going," Lakers coach Frank Vogel said after Sunday's 96-93 victory over the... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Andre Drummond is joining the Los Angeles Lakers for the playoff push. The Lakers announced the signing of the two-time All-Star center less than an hour before Sunday night's game against the Orlando Magic. Drummond announced his decision with a post on his Instagram account earlier in the day, writing “Back to work” underneath an illustration of himself in a Lakers uniform. “Andre Drummond gives us powerful, anchor-point skills on both ends of the court,” general manager Rob Pelinka said in a statement. “We feel extremely fortunate to add a player of his caliber and magnitude to our core group at this stage of our journey to defend the NBA title.” Drummond agreed to a buyout Friday from the Cleveland Cavaliers, who acquired the four-time NBA rebounding champion last year after nearly eight seasons in Detroit. He had to clear waivers before he could join a team of his choosing, and Drummond chose to link up with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the defending NBA champions.... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Andre Drummond says he's joining the Los Angeles Lakers for the playoff push. Drummond announced his decision with a post on his Instagram account Sunday, writing “Back to work” underneath an illustration of himself in a Lakers uniform. Coach Frank Vogel said Sunday night before the Lakers' home game against Orlando that he could not comment on the signing of the two-time All-Star center because it wasn't oficial yet. Drummond agreed to a buyout Friday from the Cleveland Cavaliers, who acquired the four-time NBA rebounding champion last year after nearly eight seasons in Detroit. He had to clear waivers before he could join a team of his choosing, and Drummond chose to link up with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the defending NBA champions. Drummond is almost certain to get his first significant NBA postseason playing time with the Lakers after appearing in only eight playoff games — and losing all eight — in two postseason trips with the Pistons. When Drummond gets... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Andre Drummond says he's joining the Los Angeles Lakers for the playoff push. Drummond announced his decision with a post on his Instagram account Sunday, writing “Back to work” underneath an illustration of himself in a Lakers uniform. The defending NBA champions didn't immediately confirm the signing of the two-time All-Star center several hours before a home game against Orlando. Drummond agreed to a buyout Friday from the Cleveland Cavaliers, who acquired the four-time NBA rebounding champion last year after nearly eight seasons in Detroit. He had to clear waivers before he could join a team of his choosing, and Drummond chose to link up with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Lakers. Drummond is almost certain to get his first significant NBA postseason playing time with the Lakers after appearing in only eight playoff games — and losing all eight — in two postseason trips with the Pistons. When Drummond gets up to playing speed after sitting out the past six weeks,... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Among the topics JaVale McGee considers himself well-versed: Netflix shows, cryptocurrency, investments and technology as it relates to the new iPhone. “I’m really versed in the world of a lot of things,” he said. Go ahead and add winning NBA rings to that list, too. The 7-footer has been a part of three championship teams over the past four seasons. McGee believes his newest Denver Nuggets castmates have that possible championship makeup, especially with the additions of athletic forward Aaron Gordon and himself at the trade deadline. “This team has all the pieces,” McGee said Saturday as he prepares for his second stint with the Nuggets after being acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers. "A lot of things have to go right, but I feel like we have all the pieces for it to go right.” First order of business — meshing. Time is of the essence, too, for McGee and Gordon to get on the same page with All-Star center and MVP candidate Nikola Jokic, along with point guard Jamal Murray.... [More]

The NBA called this season’s trade deadline the busiest in the last 35 years, with 46 players from 23 teams involved in 16 different deals. What’s unclear is how many of those deals will have an impact on this season. Face it: Some will not register much of a blip. Brad Wanamaker getting moved to Charlotte by Golden State for a draft pick that will probably never change hands, that’s not exactly swinging a balance of power. Same goes for the Warriors sending Marquese Chriss to San Antonio, and Toronto trading Matt Thomas to Utah and Terence Davis to Sacramento — getting second-round picks back in both cases. Those Raptors moves were almost certainly made to clear roster spots for a Kyle Lowry trade that never happened. And it says something about the busiest trade deadline in 35 years when the biggest news of the day was a trade that didn’t happen, in Lowry’s case. That said, there were some moves that have potential to affect the postseason races. Here are some of the teams that benefited... [More]

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets made another aggressive move at the trade deadline by acquiring forward Aaron Gordon from the Orlando Magic. The Nuggets officially announced the deal for Gordon late Thursday night. In exchange, the Magic receive veteran shooting guard Gary Harris, rookie R.J. Hampton and a future first-round draft pick. Denver also is receiving forward Gary Clark as part of the trade package. Earlier in the day, the Nuggets acquired backup center JaVale McGee from the Cleveland Cavaliers for Isaiah Hartenstein and two second-round picks. The 25-year-old Gordon averaged 14.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Magic this season. He was the fourth overall pick by Orlando in the 2014 draft. Gordon could find himself in the running to be in Denver's starting rotation — possibly in place of veteran Paul Millsap. He would join a lineup that includes Michael Porter Jr., Jamal Murray, Will Barton and All-Star big man Nikola Jokic as the Nuggets chase after their first... [More]

Kyle Lowry wound up staying with Toronto after all. Victor Oladipo is finally in Miami, a destination he's eyed in the past. And Rajon Rondo is headed back to Los Angeles, though not with the team he helped win the NBA title last season. The trade deadline has come and gone. And now, playoff pushes can really begin. Miami, Denver, the Clippers, Portland, Dallas, Boston and Atlanta were likely among the teams feeling convinced that they improved on deadline day after a flurry of moves Thursday, though the best player — at least this season — might have been landed by the Chicago Bulls. They got All-Star forward Nikola Vucevic from Orlando, a move that ushered in the start of a big-time rebuild by the Magic. “Anytime you trade a player like Nikola, it is a tough decision to make," Magic President Jeff Weltman said. Vucevic is the only player from this season's All-Star Game to be traded at the deadline. It was a steep price; Vucevic and Al-Farouq Aminu went to the Bulls for Otto Porter, Wendell... [More]