INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — As the Cavaliers experience growing pains with four new players, relief might be ahead: Kevin Love.The All-Star forward, sidelined since Jan. 29 with a broken left hand, said Friday he could return sooner than expected. The initial timetable was for him to be out two months."If I can get back before eight weeks, great," he said. "So I'm hoping that that is the case."Love's recovery has picked up speed in recent days. He's now able to catch the ball with a padded glove to protect his left hand, and the progress is such that there's less risk for re-injury."One of the things I can do now is kind of catch the ball, guide it and shoot it within 12-15 feet so that feels good to do something other than run on the treadmill or run on the bike so it's nice," he said.The Cavaliers have been transformed since the last time Love played, with their roster overhauled by three trades before the deadline. Cleveland is just 3-4 since adding guards George Hill, Jordan Clarkson... [More]

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — Chicken noodle or tomato? J.R. Smith didn't serve up any explanation.Cleveland's mercurial shooting guard declined an interview request Friday, a day after the Cavaliers suspended him one game for throwing a bowl of soup at assistant coach Damon Jones.The soup toss came following Thursday's shootaround at the team's training facility, hours before the Cavs played the Philadelphia 76ers, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not disclosed details.Smith was with his teammates Friday — the Cavs didn't practice, but watched film — and after getting in some extra shots, he told a team spokesman he will address the media at Saturday's shootaround before the Cavs play Denver.Until then, what triggered his brothy outburst remains a mystery.ESPN.com first reported the reason for Smith's suspension.Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said Smith did not address the team over the... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cavaliers starting guard J.R. Smith was suspended one game by the team for throwing a bowl of soup at assistant coach Damon Jones.The soup tossing happened after the team's morning shootaround, and Smith sat out Thursday night's loss against Philadelphia, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not disclosed details.Smith, who had a history of fines and other issues before coming to Cleveland in 2014, is expected to practice Friday and play Saturday when the Cavs host the Denver Nuggets.Cavs coach Tyronn Lue did not provide any specifics about Smith's one-game ba on Thursday.ESPN.com first reported the reason for his suspension.In 56 games, Smith is averaging 8.3 points and shooting 39 percent. Rodney Hood started against the Sixers in place of Smith, who has played a key role in the Cavs making the NBA Finals the past three seasons.Smith may have arrived in Cleveland with a checkered past, but he's mostly been a good citizen and has endeared himself to Cleveland fans with his hustle and knack for knocking down big shots.Jones previously played for the Cavs and is in his second season as an assistant on coach Lue's staff. Jones played in the NBA for 11 seasons for 10 teams.Before Thursday's clash with Smith, the talkative Jones engaged in a lively shooting contest with point guard George Hill.

CLEVELAND (AP) — A person familiar with the situation says Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith was suspended one game for throwing a bowl of soup at assistant coach Damon Jones.Several hours later Thursday, the Cavs announced the suspension and Smith sat out the team's loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Smith is expected to practice Friday.The person spoke to The Associated Press on Friday on condition of anonymity because the team is not divulging specifics of Smith's punishment. ESPN.com first reported the reason for Smith's suspension.Cavs coach Tyronn Lue refused to reveal any details Thursday.Rodney Hood started in place of Smith, who has struggled in his fourth season with the Cavs.Jones previously played for the Cavs and during Thursday's shootaround he engaged in some trash talk with George Hill during a shooting contest.

CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James moved on quickly.A day after the Cavaliers overhauled their roster with a tornado of trades that ripped through the NBA, James didn't dwell on what's lost, who's no longer around or how much time Cleveland has left to salvage its season."It is what it is, so let's get it going," he said Friday following the team's shootaround in Atlanta. "The front office made changes that they felt best fit this franchise. It's time to go to work."In the hours before Thursday's trading deadline, the Cavs unloaded six players, including Isaiah Thomas and Dwyane Wade, James' best friend, in three separate deals designed to make the team younger, more athletic and as general manager Koby Altman put it, to revitalize a team he felt was "marching a slow death."Cleveland added guards George Hill and Jordan Clarkson as well as forwards Larry Nance Jr. and Rodney Hood, and all will have to take a crash course in Cavaliers 101. The team sent some of medical staff to Atlanta in hopes... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Once summer rolls around, LeBron James stars on a different stage.All eyes in the NBA and across the sports world will focus on James during free agency.There are already teams lining up for an audience with The King, should he opt out of his contract. On Thursday, the Cavaliers turned their roster upside down in hopes of convincing James he doesn't have to go anywhere.And just like that, another chapter was added to a chaotic season in Cleveland.With an unexpected flurry of moves before the NBA trade deadline, the Cavs unloaded six players to change their identity and culture while moving back into title contention. They also showed James, who can be a free agent in July, they're willing to do whatever's necessary to help him win another championship."He's the guy that is going to take us back to the promised land," Cavs general manager Koby Altman said, "so you want to put the right pieces around him."All it took was a massive makeover.Altman ended an experiment doomed... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — With their NBA title hopes fading fast, the Cavaliers got aggressive at the trading deadline.They swapped teams.Cleveland completely changed its look — and perhaps its chances of winning a championship this season — on Thursday with a stunning sequence of deals. General manager Koby Altman traded six players, including Isaiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose, and two future draft picks in moves designed to not only help them in the short term but could potentially help keep LeBron James beyond this season.Just like that, the Cavs traded nearly half their roster, got substantially younger and more athletic and wedged themselves back into contention to make a fourth straight Finals appearance against Golden State.Following a long day that left him "numb," Altman said his main objective in making the deals was to alter the chemistry of a team that was no longer playing with joy."We were really worried that what was going on the floor and sort of our culture in the building... [More]

From Isaiah Thomas to Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose, the Cleveland Cavaliers loaded up on big names last summer.None will be there if the Cavaliers get back to the NBA Finals.In what felt like an unprecedented do-over for a contending team, the Cavaliers simply changed the pieces that weren't fitting for new ones on Thursday at the trade deadline.Fans who usually marvel at LeBron James were instead praising his general manager, as Koby Altman used a series of swaps to strengthen a sputtering team and leave open the possibility for more moves."They got better. They made the moves they wanted to make and I'm sure they're going to make it work over there," Golden State's Kevin Durant said. "It's fun for all the fans and the media to kind of see what's going on with the trade deadline."Cavs' fans probably had the most fun, and for good reason. Cleveland was the story Thursday .The Cavaliers acquired Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. in the deal with Los Angeles, which also got Channing Frye... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — With their NBA title hopes fading fast, the Cavaliers got aggressive at the trading deadline.They swapped teams.Cleveland completely changed its look — and perhaps its chances of winning a championship this season — on Thursday with a stunning sequence of deals. The Cavs traded six players, including Isaiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose, and two future draft picks in moves designed to not only help them in the short term but could potentially help keep LeBron James beyond this season.Just like that, the Cavs traded nearly half their roster, got younger and maybe wedged themselves back into contention to make a fourth straight Finals appearance against Golden State.Watching from the West Coast, the defending champions took notice."It's interesting, really interesting," Warriors forward Draymond Green said of Cleveland's drastic midseason renovation. "It's probably obviously something that they felt was needed. I feel like they made some good moves. I don't know, we'll... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — With their NBA title hopes fading fast, the Cavaliers got aggressive at the trading deadline.They swapped teams.Cleveland completely changed its look — and perhaps its chances of winning a championship this season — on Thursday with a stunning sequence of deals. The Cavs traded six players, including Isaiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose, and two future draft picks in moves designed to not only help them in the short term but could potentially help keep LeBron James beyond this season.Just like that, the Cavs traded nearly half their roster, got younger and maybe wedged themselves back into contention to make a fourth straight Finals appearance against Golden State.Watching from the West Coast, the defending champions took notice."It's interesting, really interesting," Warriors forward Draymond Green said of Cleveland's drastic midseason renovation. "It's probably obviously something that they felt was needed. I feel like they made some good moves. I don't know, we'll... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — With their NBA title hopes fading fast, the Cavaliers got aggressive at the trading deadline.They swapped teams.Cleveland completely changed its look — and perhaps its chances of winning a championship this season — on Thursday with a stunning sequence of deals. The Cavs traded six players, including Isaiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose, and two future draft picks in moves designed to not only help them in the short term but could potentially help keep LeBron James beyond this season.Just like that, the Cavs traded nearly half their roster, got younger and maybe wedged themselves back into contention.The Cavs began their shocking overhaul by sending the disappointing Thomas along with forward Channing Frye and one of their two first-round picks to the Los Angeles Lakers for point guard Jordan Clarkson and forward Larry Nance Jr.Thomas, who came over in last summer's blockbuster trade with Boston for Kyrie Irving, played in just 15 games and wasn't fitting in with... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — With the stunning force of a LeBron James dunk, the Cavaliers shattered their roster.Cleveland completely changed its look — and perhaps its chances of winning an NBA title this season — on Thursday with a stunning sequence of trades before the deadline, a person with direct knowledge of the deals told The Associated Press.The Cavs began their overhaul by sending disappointing guard Isaiah Thomas to the Los Angeles Lakers, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams are awaiting league approval to finalize all the deals. Thomas played in just 15 games as he returned from a hip injury and struggled to fit in, so the Cavs dealt him along with forward Channing Frye and one of their two first-round picks to the Lakers for point guard Jordan Clarkson and forward Larry Nance Jr.As the Thomas swap was being digested around the league, the Cavs completed a three-team deal with Utah and Sacramento. The Cavs sent guard Derrick Rose and forward Jae Crowder... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — A person with direct knowledge of the trades says the Cleveland Cavaliers have overhauled their roster with three deals, including one that sends Dwyane Wade back to Miami.Moments after they agreed to trade Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye and a first-round pick to Los Angeles Lakers, the Cavs completed a three-team deal with Sacramento and Utah, said the person who spoke Thursday on the condition of anonymity because all the transactions have to be approved by the league.The Cavs sent guard Derrick Rose and forward Jae Crowder to the Jazz for forward Rodney Hood. They'll receive guard George Hill from the Kings in exchange for guard Iman Shumpert.Also, the 36-year-old Wade is returning to the Heat for a protected second-round pick. Wade played 13 seasons in Miami, winning three NBA titles — two of them with LeBron James.Wade signed a one-year deal with the Cavs, but has said he wanted to retire with Miami.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was asked in London last week about fining misbehaving players, and even he acknowledged the penalties aren't much of a deterrent."More symbolic than anything," Silver said.It might be time for the league to change that.At least based on what's happened in the NBA the past couple days. The postgame locker-room incident that involved some players from the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday — the holiday celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., no less — was a bad look for the league, as was the wild swing that Orlando's Arron Afflalo threw at Minnesota's Nemanja Bjelica on Tuesday.The James Johnson-Serge Ibaka dustup during the Miami-Toronto game last week earned those players one-game suspensions that cost them a total of about $300,000. Utah's Rodney Hood might have been lucky to have been fined only $35,000 for slapping a phone out of a fan's hand. Ben Simmons and Kyle Lowry were probably smart to just talk about taking their... [More]

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood has been fined $35,000 by the NBA for slapping a phone out of a fan's hand.Hood was forced to leave Wednesday's game against the Washington Wizards after receiving a second technical foul. He knocked the phone out of a fan's hand while walking past the man who was sitting courtside and looked to be recording Hood exiting the court.The incident took place with 2:21 left in the third quarter of a 107-104 Jazz victory at Washington.The 6-foot-8, 206-pound sharpshooter has averaged a career-high 16.5 points per game this season as the Jazz have struggled to a 17-24 record. He picked up the second technical foul while lamenting a non-call to an official following a missed jump shot over John Wall.

CLEVELAND -- LeBron James scored 34 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers outlasted the Chicago Bulls 115-112 on Thursday night.Kevin Love added 27 points and seven rebounds for Cleveland, which doesn't play again until their NBA Finals rematch with Golden State on Christmas. They've won 19 of 21 games and have scored at least 100 points in 26 straight.Chicago, led by Lauri Markkanen's 25 points, had a seven-game win streak halted. There were 24 lead changes by the end of the third quarter and 26 in the game. James scored 11 in the fourth quarter, and his two free throws with 11.1 seconds left put the Cavaliers ahead by three.Raptors 114, 76ers 109PHILADELPHIA -- DeMar DeRozan scored a career-high 45 points, including five in a pivotal 10-2 flurry late in the game, as Toronto rallied for a victory over short-handed Philadelphia.DeRozan was 6 of 9 on 3-point attempts. His six triples were a career high.Kyle Lowry added 23 points for the Raptors, who erased a 22-point third-quarter deficit to... [More]

PHILADELPHIA -- Eric Gordon nailed a 3-pointer from the left corner at the buzzer as the Houston Rockets defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 105-104 on Wednesday night.Gordon notched 29 points to lead Houston, which scored the last nine points. James Harden added 27 points and 13 assists for the Rockets, and Clint Capela contributed 16 points, a career-high 20 rebounds and four blocked shots.J.J. Redick poured in 22 points to pace Philadelphia, which did not score in the final 3:05. Joel Embiid added 21 points, and Robert Covington chipped in 20 for the 76ers.Nets 112, Cavaliers 107NEW YORK -- Spencer Dinwiddie scored a career-high 22 points and hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 43 seconds remaining as Brooklyn overcame a triple-double by LeBron James to defeat Cleveland.Dinwiddie made his 20th career start and first in place of D'Angelo Russell (right knee sprain). He shot 7-for-13, with his biggest basket coming after the Nets blew a 12-point lead. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Allen Crabbe added... [More]

Hood racked up 21 points (7-16 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 4-4 FT) and three assists in Tuesday's preseason win over the Lakers.

As would be expected in the extensive time Hood logged in an exhibition, much of his production came against scrubs, so it's difficult to glean too much from his performance. Moreover, Alec Burks, Hood's chief competition for minutes at shooting guard, had a solid game of his own, scoring a game-high 27 points on 9-for-14 shooting from the field and 8-for-14 shooting from the charity stripe. Both players should continue to battle for a starting role throughout camp, with Burks' seniority perhaps giving him the edge in the competition.

Hood averaged 20.5 points (55% FG, 14% 3Pt, 67% FT), 2.5 assists, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.0 steal in 28 minutes per game through two Summer League games.

Hood was able to play in two games for Utah Summer League, but missed Las Vegas Summer League due to a left shoulder injury. He should be fine for the regular season, and figures to compete with Alec Burks for the starting shooting guard spot. Regardless, Hood should see solid minutes in the backcourt, and looks to improve in his sophomore campaign.

Hood (shoulder) won't play in Saturday's Las Vegas Summer League game against the Heat.

Hood has dealt with a minor shoulder injury throughout the summer but he played with the injury during the Utah Summer League and the Jazz are likely just playing it safe with Hood during the offseason by holding him out Saturday. His next chance to play is against the Timberwolves on Monday.