CLEVELAND (AP) — The Detroit Pistons will rest star forward Blake Griffin for at least one game this week to keep him as fresh as possible for their final postseason push.Griffin will sit out Monday's game against the Cavaliers after scoring 25 points in 33 minutes in Sunday's win over Toronto. Coach Dwane Casey doesn't want to overload Griffin as the Pistons (36-33) fight to hang on to a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.While the Pistons sit Griffin, the Cavs will be without forward Kevin Love, who is sidelined with a sore back. He took a hard fall in Saturday's loss at Dallas.Casey wants to avoid having Griffin play in back-to-back games. After facing the Cavs, the Pistons will play four more games on this trip. Detroit is at Phoenix on Thursday, followed by games at Portland on Saturday and at Golden State on Sunday."It's prudent to do," Casey said. "We'll give him a couple days to get his juices back going for the final stretch. We feel like this will be good for him."The 30-year-old... [More]

In this era of players wanting to join up with other players, or even just being friendlier with some opponents than guys on their own teams, it's nice to know there is still some good, old-fashioned hatred in the NBA.Yes, Joel Embiid hates the Celtics.He hates Boston so much that he got fined $25,000 last time the 76ers played them because he was so sick of losing to the Atlantic Division foes that he lost his cool afterward.On Wednesday, he gets his last chance during this regular season to beat Boston.The 76ers host the Celtics, who knocked them out of the playoffs last season, spoiled their opening game in this one, and then ruined their Christmas with another nationally televised victory.A long-time rivalry that delivered a famous fight between Hall of Famers Larry Bird and Julius Erving has become so one-sided that Embiid declared earlier this season that it wasn't even a rivalry anymore, because the Celtics always win.Boston has won 17 of the last 19 regular-season meetings, the... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Detroit Pistons will rest star forward Blake Griffin for at least one game this week to keep him as fresh as possible for their final postseason push.Griffin will sit out Monday's game against the Cavaliers after scoring 25 points in 33 minutes in Sunday's win over Toronto. Coach Dwane Casey doesn't want to overload Griffin as the Pistons (36-33) fight to hang on to a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.Casey wants to avoid having Griffin play back-to-back games. After facing Cleveland, the Pistons will play four more games on this trip. They're at Portland on Saturday and visit Golden State on Sunday.The 30-year-old Griffin is averaging 24.7 points and 7.6 rebounds.While the Pistons sit Griffin, the Cavs could be without forward Kevin Love, who is questionable with a sore back. He took a hard fall in Saturday's loss at Dallas.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Rockets are finally healthy and have won a season-high nine straight heading into their final regular-season meeting against the Golden State Warriors.Despite the surge, James Harden & Co. still trail first-place Golden State, which has lost six of 10 capped by a loss to the lowly Suns, by 3½ games in the Western Conference standings. Houston has won all three games against the Warriors this season, but win or lose on Wednesday night, the Rockets have much bigger goals."We beat them four times or three times in the regular season ain't nobody going to remember in about a month," Chris Paul said.Indeed.The Rockets not only want to finish out the season strong to try to pass Golden State and second-place Denver for the top seed in the West. They also have their eyes on finally toppling the Warriors after Golden State has eliminated Houston from the playoffs in three of the last four seasons. They've twice lost to them in the Western Conference finals, including... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA has fined Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook $25,000 for the language he directed toward a fan in Utah.Meanwhile, the Jazz have banned the fan from all events at their arena permanently and effective immediately.Westbrook says the fan made racial comments toward him during the Jazz-Thunder game on Monday night. The NBA and the Jazz both investigated the matter and released decisions Tuesday afternoon. Westbrook was fined for using both profanity and threatening language, which he did from the sideline.The Jazz say that the fan was banned for "excessive and derogatory verbal abuse" during the game.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA has suspended Toronto's Serge Ibaka for three games and Cleveland's Marquese Chriss for one game for their involvement in an on-court fight.Chriss will sit out Cleveland's game Tuesday in Philadelphia. Ibaka will miss Toronto's games against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, at Detroit on Sunday and against New York on Monday.The NBA says Ibaka drew the stiffer penalty for several reasons. The league found he was the instigator and threw a punch at Chriss. The league also cited his history of fighting during games. Chriss' suspension was for throwing a punch at Ibaka.The suspensions are without pay. Ibaka will lose about $448,000 and Chriss about $22,000.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Russell Westbrook confronted a man and his wife during a game after the Oklahoma City star says the two racially taunted him.The heated exchange came early in the second quarter of the Thunder's 98-89 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday night.Westbrook was on the bench and stood when he heard what the fans said. He said they told him to "get down on my knees like I used to." After that, Westbrook was seen on video cursing at the man and threatening him and his wife.After the game, Westbrook spoke of verbal abuse he and teammates hear from spectators on the road. Much of it has been directed at their families, according to Westbrook. He said he will no longer tolerate such disrespect."There's got to be something done," Westbrook said. "There's got to be some consequences for those type of people that come to the game just to say and do whatever they want to say. I don't think it's fair to the players."Westbrook recently objected to a young fan touching him on the sideline... [More]

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Russell Westbrook got into a heated verbal altercation with a fan and the man's wife during the second quarter of Oklahoma City's 98-89 victory over Utah on Monday night.Early in the quarter, Westbrook stood up from the bench when he felt both fans directed a racial taunt at him. According to the Thunder guard, they told him to "get down on my knees like I used to." After that, Westbrook was seen on video cursing at the man and threating him and his wife.Westbrook expressed concern following the game with the verbal abuse he and teammates have received from fans on the road. Much of it has been directed at their families, according to Westbrook. He said he is done tolerating their disrespect."There's got to be something done," Westbrook said. "There's got to be some consequences for those type of people that come to the game just to say and do whatever they want to say. I don't think it's fair to the players."Westbrook recently objected to a young fan touching him... [More]

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Russell Westbrook got into a heated verbal altercation with a fan and the man's wife during the second quarter of Oklahoma City's 98-89 victory over Utah on Monday night.Early in the quarter, Westbrook stood up from the bench when he felt both fans directed a racial taunt at him. According to the Thunder guard, they told him to "get down on my knees like I used to." After that, Westbrook was seen on video cursing at the man and threating him and his wife.He expressed concern following the game with the verbal abuse he and teammates have received from fans on the road. Much of it has been directed at their families, according to Westbrook. He said he is done tolerating their disrespect."There's got to be something done," Westbrook said. "There's got to be some consequences for those type of people that come to the game just to say and do whatever they want to say. I don't think it's fair to the players."Westbrook recently objected to a young fan touching him on the... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Steve Kerr acknowledged using an expletive to air his frustrations with Draymond Green when speaking to assistant coach Mike Brown during Sunday's 115-111 loss to the lowly Suns. The moment was caught on video and, while it wasn't audible, viewers could read Kerr's lips.Kerr wouldn't go into details regarding any discussion he had with Green on Monday, saying "that's private."The two-time defending champions didn't hold a formal practice and Kevin Durant was listed as day-to-day with a bruised right ankle he injured midway through the fourth quarter of the embarrassing defeat, which snapped an 18-game winning streak against Phoenix — longest in the NBA against a single opponent. The Warriors play again Wednesday at Houston to begin a tough four-game road trip."I'm so ... tired of Draymond!" Kerr said in the video.Kerr joked that he didn't say what he appeared to say."No, the lip-readers were wrong," he said. "What I said was, 'I beg to differ with Draymond's approach... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Toronto Raptors star Kawhi Leonard is returning for Monday night's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers after sitting out Sunday.Leonard, who is averaging 27.1 points per game, which is tied for sixth in the NBA, missed Toronto's victory in Miami as the Raptors continue to manage his workload.The 27-year-old Leonard hasn't appeared in more than two consecutive games since playing in five straight from Jan. 25 through Feb. 5. The Raptors have one more set of back-to-back games against Detroit on Sunday and next Monday against New York.Toronto rolled to 125-104 win over the Heat without Leonard, tying a franchise record with 21 3-pointers and outscoring Miami 63-24 from beyond the arc.Entering Monday night's game, Toronto (48-19) trails Milwaukee by two games for the best record in the league and has won 11 of 14.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

The year was 2005. No one had an iPhone. No one had tweeted. Facebook wasn't part of the mainstream.And it was the last time the NBA playoffs didn't have LeBron James.The Los Angeles Lakers aren't mathematically eliminated from postseason consideration yet, but it's only a matter of time. For the first time in 14 years, the postseason will begin without James — and for the first time in nine years, the NBA Finals will be played without him.It will be a very long offseason for James.It is not what he envisioned, either."It's challenging," James said of the current state of the Lakers. "But I kind of knew what I was getting myself into."That's not entirely true. He knew it would be difficult but he couldn't have foreseen anything like this, since the only other losing season of his life came when he was a rookie in 2003-04.Thing is, he doesn't possibly know what comes next. No one does. The offseason will see roster change, top free agents to play alongside James will be pursued hard by Rob... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — An MRI on Karl-Anthony Towns' sore right knee came back normal, providing some relief for the worried Minnesota Timberwolves.Towns limped off the court in the final seconds of regulation during Saturday night's 135-130 overtime victory over Washington. He finished with 40 points and 16 rebounds.Towns was ruled out for Sunday's game against the New York Knicks with knee inflammation. But it could have been much worse.Towns is averaging 24.5 points and 12.3 rebounds this season. The two-time All-Star missed two games in February after suffering a concussion in a traffic accident — the first games he had missed in his four-year career.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid is starting for the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday after missing the last eight games with a sore left knee.Embiid was declared good to go against the Indiana Pacers and was playing for the first time since the All-Star Game. The 24-year-old Embiid is averaging 27.3 points and 13.5 rebounds in 54 games for the Sixers. Embiid and the Sixers have dismissed any connection between his soreness and playing 23 minutes in the All-Star Game.Embiid underwent physical therapy at the 76ers' complex while the team was on the road. The Sixers went 4-4 without him and lost two straight headed into the game against the Pacers.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram will miss the rest of the season after being diagnosed with a deep venous thrombosis in his right arm, the team announced Saturday.Ingram has missed the Lakers' past two games after he reported shoulder pain following a morning shootaround last Monday. Lakers coach Luke Walton said earlier this week that Ingram had pain whenever he attempted to lift his arm.A deep venous thrombosis is a condition caused by a blood clot, frequently accompanied by swelling and pain in a limb. The condition usually occurs in legs, but can occur in the upper body.Walton did nothing to quell Lakers fans' concerns about the seriousness of the 21-year-old Ingram's health problem when he pointedly refused to provide any details while speaking to reporters before Los Angeles' home game against Boston."We've released what he's got going on, but I'm not going to get into all the details," Walton said. "I'm just finding out a lot of it myself. All I'm going... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram will miss the rest of the season after being diagnosed with a deep venous thrombosis in his right arm.The Lakers announced their decision on the former No. 2 overall draft pick Saturday.Ingram has missed the Lakers' past two games after he reported shoulder pain following a morning shootaround last Monday. Lakers coach Luke Walton said earlier this week that Ingram had pain whenever he attempted to lift his arm.A deep venous thrombosis is a condition caused by a blood clot, frequently accompanied by swelling and pain in a limb. The condition usually occurs in legs, but can occur in the upper body.Walton did nothing to quell Lakers fans' concerns about the seriousness of the 21-year-old Ingram's health problem when he pointedly refused to provide any details while speaking to reporters before Los Angeles' home game against Boston."We've released what he's got going on, but I'm not going to get into all the details," Walton said.... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Saturday for public criticism of the officiating.George made his comments to the media after the Thunder's 118-110 road loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night."We're getting scratched, clawed, held, shoved, and there's nothing for it," George said. "The officials just get to walk out and there's nothing that penalizes them for not officiating the game the right way."

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram will miss the rest of the season after being diagnosed with a deep venous thrombosis in his right arm.The Lakers announced their decision on the former No. 2 overall draft pick Saturday.Ingram has missed the Lakers' past two games after he reported shoulder pain following a morning shootaround last Monday. Lakers coach Luke Walton said earlier this week that Ingram had pain whenever he attempted to lift his arm.A deep venous thrombosis is a condition caused by a blood clot, frequently accompanied by swelling and pain in a limb. The condition usually occurs in legs, but can occur in the upper body.Blood clots have affected several prominent athletes including Chris Bosh and Serena Williams in recent years. Bosh eventually retired due to blood clotting issues, but many other athletes have continued to play.Inram is averaging a career-best 18.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game along with 3.0 assists.The lanky swingman's chemistry... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram will miss the rest of the season after being diagnosed with a deep venous thrombosis in his right arm.The Lakers announced their decision on the former No. 2 overall draft pick Saturday.Ingram has missed the Lakers' past two games after he developed shoulder pain following a morning shootaround last Monday. The swingman is averaging a career-best 18.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, along with 3.0 assists.Lakers coach Luke Walton said earlier this week that Ingram had pain whenever he attempted to lift his arm.Los Angeles also might be without Lonzo Ball for the rest of the season with a sprained ankle.The Lakers (30-35) are in 10th place in the Western Conference.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

HOUSTON (AP) — James Harden will play on Sunday night when the Houston Rockets visit the Dallas Mavericks after X-rays on his injured right wrist were negative.Harden first injured it last Sunday in a win over Boston and aggravated it on Friday night in a fall in the first half of a victory over Philadelphia. The win extended Houston's winning streak to a season-high seven games.Harden leads the NBA in scoring with 36.6 points a game. He said when he fell on Friday night that he was worried the injury was worse than it was.He says: "I was. But I'm happy it's not."As for what he can do to protect his wrist, Harden says: "Just try to not fall on it. That's the only thing I can do. Keep icing it, keep getting treatment on it. But when you keep falling on it, it keeps aggravating it and it keeps getting worse."Houston's recent surge has the team in third place in the Western Conference behind Golden State and Denver. After Sunday's trip to Dallas, the Rockets play four straight home games, highlighted by a visit from the Warriors on Wednesday night.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports