OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Learn from your mistakes, Golden State.Learn from how one got away in 2016. Learn from how sleepwalking through the third quarter on Sunday night made Game 2 of this series much more interesting than it ever should have been, at least until Stephen Curry went wild in the fourth quarter. Learn from Boston, both this year and six years ago. Learn from what cost San Antonio a title in 2013, too.Don't give LeBron James hope.Or else.Golden State leads these NBA Finals 2-0, after a 122-103 win put the defending champions two wins away from what would be their third title in the last four seasons. Only four teams have ever wasted a 2-0 lead in the finals — and Golden State is one of them, letting a championship ring slip away against James and the Cavaliers two years ago.The series shifts to Cleveland for Game 3 on Wednesday night. James looked exhausted when Game 2 was over, but he'll be somewhat rested by then. And he will most definitely be fueled by a boisterous home... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Learn from your mistakes, Golden State.Learn from how one got away in 2016. Learn from how sleepwalking through the third quarter on Sunday night made Game 2 of this series much more interesting than it ever should have been, at least until Stephen Curry went wild in the fourth quarter. Learn from Boston, both this year and six years ago. Learn from what cost San Antonio a title in 2013, too.Don't give LeBron James hope.Or else.Golden State leads these NBA Finals 2-0, after a 122-103 win put the defending champions two wins away from what would be their third title in the last four seasons. Only four teams have ever wasted a 2-0 lead in the finals — and Golden State is one of them, letting a championship ring slip away against James and the Cavaliers two years ago.The series shifts to Cleveland for Game 3 on Wednesday night. James looked exhausted when Game 2 was over, but he'll be somewhat rested by then. And he will most definitely be fueled by a boisterous home... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Kevin Durant drove coast-to-coast just before halftime for a monster two-handed slam.Klay Thompson swished a turnaround fadeaway as the halftime buzzer sounded and scurried for the tunnel hands raised high in triumph. Stephen Curry, in street clothes, hopped up and down on his injured left knee celebrating wildly with his Splash Brother.Draymond Green pounded the glass at every chance for another spectacular rebounding night.The defending champions are back, all right. They are rolling. And Curry could be close to putting on a uniform again."I hope, but I'm not going to expect it because I don't want to get my hopes up and not have them fulfilled," Thompson said. "If he doesn't play, we're prepared. If he does play, hallelujah."Golden State has endured barely a blip so far, losing only Game 4 of its first-round series against San Antonio before closing out the Spurs with Tuesday night's 99-91 victory.They will open the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinals against... [More]

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The Latest on the San Antonio Spurs and coach Gregg Popovich, whose wife died at 67 (all times local):___11:05 p.m.The San Antonio Spurs have lost to the Golden State Warriors, 110-97 in Game 3 of their best-of-seven NBA playoff series.San Antonio played without coach Gregg Popovich, who was at home mourning the death of his 67-year-old wife, Erin. She died on Wednesday.Winning one for Pop was too difficult for the Spurs, who trailed by 12 entering the fourth quarter. They briefly narrowed the gap to single digits early in the quarter, but the Warriors quickly regained control.Golden State leads the series 3-0, placing the Spurs at the brink of elimination.___10:35 p.m.Winning one for Pop will be an uphill climb for the San Antonio Spurs.They trail Golden State 84-72 heading to the fourth quarter.San Antonio is playing without coach Gregg Popovich, whose wife Erin died Wednesday.A win by Golden State will give the Warriors a 3-0 lead and place the Spurs at the brink of... [More]

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The Latest on the San Antonio Spurs and coach Gregg Popovich, whose wife died at 67 (all times local):___10:35 p.m.Winning one for Pop will be an uphill climb for the San Antonio Spurs.They trail Golden State 84-72 heading to the fourth quarter.San Antonio is playing without coach Gregg Popovich, whose wife Erin died Wednesday.A win by Golden State will give the Warriors a 3-0 lead and place the Spurs at the brink of elimination in the best-of-seven NBA playoff series.___10:00 p.m.The Golden State Warriors lead the San Antonio Spurs 52-46 at halftime behind 17 points from Kevin Durant.The Spurs are playing without coach Gregg Popovich, whose wife Erin died Wednesday.The team did not air a video tribute or hold a moment of silence for Erin Popovich in an apparent attempt to make the game as routine as possible for its players, but that was impossible.The Spurs had an emotional start as the sold-out crowd at AT&T Center attempted to invigorate the home team with some... [More]

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The Latest on the San Antonio Spurs and coach Gregg Popovich, whose wife died at 67 (all times local):___10:00 p.m.The Golden State Warriors lead the San Antonio Spurs 52-46 at halftime behind 17 points from Kevin Durant.The Spurs are playing without coach Gregg Popovich, whose wife Erin died Wednesday.The team did not air a video tribute or hold a moment of silence for Erin Popovich in an apparent attempt to make the game as routine as possible for its players, but that was impossible.The Spurs had an emotional start as the sold-out crowd at AT&T Center attempted to invigorate the home team with some of the most deafening cheers of the season.Already on the edge of their seats for the first home game of the playoffs, the fans erupted when Rudy Gay threw down a one-handed dunk over Golden State's JaVale McGee. The cheering was nearly constant as the Spurs scored the game's first six points before the Warriors began to settle in.___9:20 p.m.The San Antonio Spurs trail... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Kevin Durant is confident Golden State's struggles down the stretch might be just what makes the defending champions dominant on the postseason stage again.Maybe not quite 16-1 this time around, sure, yet plenty capable of another remarkable run."I always knew everybody on our team had a good spirit, a good energy for the game," said Durant, the reigning NBA Finals MVP. "We might have lost some games and had some tough stretches but that doesn't define everybody here as an individual player. I'm kind of positive on, optimistic on each of these guys and how we approach the game no matter what the score of some of those games. I'm glad we can kind of learn from those tough times and continue to move forward."The Warriors have been hurt and humbled. Beaten handily and beat up hard. Two-time MVP Stephen Curry is expected to be sidelined the entire first round with a knee injury. Four All-Stars — Curry, Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson — were out together at times,... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Stephen Curry on the sidelines again, this time with a hurt knee. No longer the sure-thing No. 1 seed. Steve Kerr piecing together rotations based on who's available through illness and injury.It hasn't exactly been an easy course this season for the defending NBA champions.The Golden State Warriors are used to being the best out West, a top target that everyone in the NBA seeks to unseat.It's just a little different this time.Not that Kerr is overly concerned. Golden State's coach thinks the Warriors will be just fine when they open their best-of-seven series against No. 7 seed San Antonio at home Saturday afternoon."We're going to have new life when the playoffs start. And I'm well aware of what a long, difficult season it's been," he said. "So many things have been thrown at us here the last month, especially all the injuries, which have really shaken up our rotation. That's made it difficult on everybody and our players. But they're fighting and that's the main... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Stephen Curry on the sidelines again, this time with a hurt knee. No longer the sure-thing No. 1 seed. Steve Kerr piecing together rotations based on who's available through illness and injury.It hasn't exactly been an easy course this season for the defending NBA champions.The Golden State Warriors are used to being the best out West, a top target that everyone in the NBA seeks to unseat.It's just a little different this time.Not that Kerr is overly concerned. Golden State's coach thinks the Warriors will be just fine when they open their best-of-seven series against No. 7 seed San Antonio at home this weekend."We're going to have new life when the playoffs start. And I'm well aware of what a long, difficult season it's been," he said. "So many things have been thrown at us here the last month, especially all the injuries, which have really shaken up our rotation. That's made it difficult on everybody and our players. But they're fighting and that's the main thing."We're... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Optimistic as always, Stephen Curry is ready to prove Steve Kerr wrong and return from a left knee injury for the first round of the playoffs.Not that it's entirely up to him. Kerr on Sunday ruled out the two-time MVP for the best-of-seven Western Conference first round. The Warriors are expected to be the No. 2 seed."There's no way he's playing in the first round," Kerr said.An MRI exam Saturday showed a Grade 2 sprain of his medial collateral ligament and the team said Curry would be re-evaluated in three weeks — that would be April 14 and a possible Game 1 of the playoffs for Golden State.On Sunday, Curry limped up a couple of stairs to the podium for his news conference but didn't need crutches, saying, "It's nice that I'm walking and not limited with crutches or anything like that, so that's a positive."Based on what I've been told, three weeks is a good kind of benchmark to re-evaluate and re-assess kind of where I'm at in my progress and whatnot, so mentally... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Stephen Curry will miss the first round of the playoffs next month because of a sprained left knee.Coach Steve Kerr on Sunday ruled out the two-time MVP for the best-of-seven first round in the Western Conference playoffs. The Warriors are expected to be the No. 2 seed.An MRI exam Saturday showed a Grade 2 sprain of his medial collateral ligament and the team said Curry would be re-evaluated in three weeks — that would be April 14 and a possible Game 1 of the playoffs for Golden State."There's no way he's playing in the first round," Kerr said.Curry had returned from a six-game absence after his latest right ankle injury Friday night only to injure his left knee. In the third quarter of a victory against Atlanta, center JaVale McGee fell into him. Curry hobbled off the court grimacing, sat on the bench and put his head down.Kerr expects Kevin Durant to return this coming week from fractured rib cartilage, while Draymond Green had been set to return Sunday from a pelvic contusion before being ruled out with flu-like symptoms."Well, we've got to hold down the fort," Kerr said. "We've got enough. We're blessed with a great roster, a lot of depth and so let's get going. Let's play and let's compete and hold down the fort. There's no reason why we can't come out and really play well down the stretch and be ready for the playoffs and then maybe we get Steph back and we'll see what happens."___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Stephen Curry will miss at least three weeks with a sprained left knee, meaning the Golden State Warriors will be without their do-everything point guard and second-leading scorer for the rest of the regular season.Curry could be back at the start of the playoffs next month if all goes well in rehabbing his latest injury. An MRI on Saturday showed a Grade 2 sprain of his medial collateral ligament and the team said Curry would be re-evaluated in three weeks — that would be April 14 and a possible Game 1 of the playoffs for Golden State.The two-time MVP had returned from a six-game absence after his latest right ankle injury Friday night only to injure his left knee. In the third quarter of a victory against Atlanta, center JaVale McGee fell into him. Curry hobbled off the court grimacing, sat on the bench and put his head down.The defending champions were already without their three other All-Stars: Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson. Green is likely to... [More]

The NBA playoffs start in three weeks. Whether Boston's Kyrie Irving and Golden State's Stephen Curry will be ready when the postseason starts seems doubtful, at best.The Celtics said that Irving will need at least three and possibly as many as six weeks to recover from a procedure performed to relieve irritation on his left knee Saturday, that news coming almost simultaneously with the word that Curry has a Grade 2 sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee.The Warriors said Curry will be evaluated again in three weeks.Based on those timetables, it would appear that both the Celtics and Warriors will not only be without their All-Star point guards for the rest of the regular season — but very easily could still be without them for Game 1s of their respective first-round matchups."It could be a lot worse," Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters just before Curry's MRI results were revealed. "You think about some of the other guys in the league that have suffered injuries... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Stephen Curry will miss at least three weeks because of a sprained left knee, meaning he is out for the rest of the regular season for the Golden State Warriors.He could be back for around the start of the playoffs next month if all goes well in rehabbing his latest injury.An MRI on Saturday showed a Grade 2 sprain of his medial collateral ligament and the team says Curry would be re-evaluated in three weeks — that would be April 14 and a possible Game 1 of the playoffs.The two-time MVP had returned from a six-game absence with a right ankle injury Friday night only to injure his left knee in the third quarter of a victory against Atlanta when center JaVale McGee fell into him.The defending champions were already without their three other All-Stars: Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.Curry scored 29 points before his knee injury, which coach Steve Kerr called, "kind of a strange, cruel twist of fate."___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

C JaVale McGee came off the Warriors' bench to score 10 points.

C JaVale McGee has re-signed with the NBA champion Golden State Warriors. Although terms of the agreement were not released, multiple media outlets reported last week that McGee would sign for a minimum contract. The 29-year-old appeared in 77 games last season, averaging 6.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and just under a block a game. He shined in a first-round Western Conference playoff game against the Portland Trail Blazers, shooting 7-for-7 from the floor while scoring 15 points and blocking four shots in 13 minutes.

The NBA champion Golden State Warriors re-signed free agent center JaVale McGee on Tuesday.Although terms of the agreement were not released, multiple media outlets reported last week that McGee would sign for a minimum contract.The 29-year-old appeared in 77 games last season, averaging 6.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and just under a block a game. He shined in a first-round Western Conference playoff game against the Portland Trail Blazers, shooting 7-for-7 from the floor while scoring 15 points and blocking four shots in 13 minutes.McGee's signing fills out the Warriors roster at the maximum of 15 players. Coming off its second championship in three seasons, the team re-signed Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, Zaza Pachulia and David West earlier this summer while adding Omri Casspi and Nick Young in free agency.A first-round draft pick of the Wizards in 2008, McGee played for Washington, the Denver Nuggets, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Dallas Mavericks before joining Golden State last season.

Center JaVale McGee will re-sign with the NBA champion Golden State Warriors on a one-year deal, multiple outlets reported on Thursday.Four weeks into free agency, McGee reportedly agreed to a minimum contract.The 29-year-old appeared in 77 games last season, averaging 6.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and just under a block a game. He shined in a first-round Western Conference playoff game against the Portland Trail Blazers, shooting 7-for-7 from the floor while scoring 15 points and blocking four shots in 13 minutes.The San Francisco Chronicle reported that McGee drew interest from the Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings.The McGee signing fills out the Warriors roster at the maximum of 15 players. Coming off its second championship in three seasons, the team re-signed Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, Zaza Pachulia and David West earlier this summer while adding Omri Casspi and Nick Young in free agency.A first-round draft pick of the Wizards in 2008, McGee played for Washington, the Denver Nuggets, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Dallas Mavericks before joining Golden State last season.

C JaVale McGee will re-sign with the Warriors on a one-year deal, multiple outlets reported on Thursday. Four weeks into free agency, McGee reportedly agreed to a minimum contract.The 29-year-old appeared in 77 games last season, averaging 6.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and just under a block a game. He shined in a first-round Western Conference playoff game against the Trail Blazers, shooting 7-for-7 from the floor while scoring 15 points and blocking four shots in 13 minutes. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that McGee drew free agent interest from the Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings.

C JaVale McGee hit for 16 points (all in the first half) as the Warriors rolled to a Game 3 win at San Antonio on Saturday.