So much changed after Kawhi Leonard crashed to the Oracle Arena floor on May 14, 2017.The San Antonio Spurs had a 23-point lead on the Warriors in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals when Leonard departed with 26 points, poised to take away home-court advantage in the series between teams who won more than 60 games.Leonard injured his ankle when he landed on Zaza Pachulia's foot after taking a jump shot, and things were never the same again for the Spurs or Leonard. The Spurs couldn't hold on to win that game or any other in the series without their All-Star forward, whose ankle injury would be followed by a lingering thigh injury that would limit him to just nine games the following season and strain relations between the team and player. Leonard was ultimately granted his desire to leave San Antonio when he was traded to Toronto in the offseason.If Leonard doesn't go down, maybe the Spurs win that game, maybe the series and maybe another championship. Maybe Leonard wouldn't have wanted... [More]

The three-time NBA champion Golden State Warriors are the fourth team to be honored as Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year .The Warriors join the 1980 U.S. hockey team, the 1999 U.S. Women's World Cup soccer squad and the 2004 Boston Red Sox as the other team honorees.Sports Illustrated announced the winner Monday, and editor-in-chief Chris Stone said they have been thinking of some way to honor the Warriors during their run of three titles in four years. He also acknowledged that there were a couple years where Steph Curry has been in the conversation."There is something transcendent about the team where the sum of their parts was apparent from the beginning," Stone said. "What they have built into a dynasty is a function of empirical success. They're really a generational team. I don't know if, in my lifetime, there has been a team where the pieces have blended so beautifully together."Stone also said that the Warriors' honor is more about the celebration of the organization... [More]

So much changed after Kawhi Leonard crashed to the Oracle Arena floor on May 14, 2017.The San Antonio Spurs had a 23-point lead on the Warriors in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals when Leonard departed with 26 points, poised to take away home-court advantage in the series between teams who won more than 60 games.Leonard injured his ankle when he landed on Zaza Pachulia's foot after taking a jump shot, and things were never the same again for the Spurs or Leonard. The Spurs couldn't hold on to win that game or any other in the series without their All-Star forward, whose ankle injury would be followed by a lingering thigh injury that would limit him to just nine games the following season and strain relations between the team and player. Leonard was ultimately granted his desire to leave San Antonio when he was traded to Toronto in the offseason.If Leonard doesn't go down, maybe the Spurs win that game, maybe the series and maybe another championship. Maybe Leonard wouldn't have wanted... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Matthew Dellavedova is coming back to the Cavaliers. He won't recognize them.Cleveland re-acquired the popular, scrappy guard on Friday in a three-team trade with the Milwaukee Bucks and Washington Wizards.The Cavaliers also received forward John Henson and 2021 first- and second-round picks from Milwaukee, and a 2022 second-rounder from Washington. The Cavs sent guard George Hill and a 2021 second-round selection to the Bucks, and forward Sam Dekker to the Wizards. Milwaukee also got forward Jason Smith from Washington.Affectionately known to Cleveland fans as "Delly," Dellavedova was a key member of the Cavs' 2016 title team before he signed with the Bucks later that summer. He's not the same player, and the Cavs are far from being the same team, but his return will soften what has been a difficult season.Cleveland is just 5-20 and rebuilding in the wake of LeBron James' departure last summer."I'm glad my Aussie brother is back," Cavs center Tristan Thompson said following... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Matthew Dellavedova is coming back to the Cavaliers. He won't recognize them.Cleveland re-acquired the popular, scrappy guard on Friday in a three-team trade with the Milwaukee Bucks and Washington Wizards.The Cavaliers also received forward John Henson and 2021 first- and second-round picks from Milwaukee, and a 2022 second-rounder from Washington. The Cavs sent guard George Hill and a 2021 second-round selection to the Bucks, and forward Sam Dekker to the Wizards. Milwaukee also got forward Jason Smith from Washington.Affectionately known to Cleveland fans as "Delly," Dellavedova was a key member of the Cavs' 2016 title team before he signed with the Bucks later that summer. He's not the same player, and the Cavs are far from being the same team, but his return will soften what has been a difficult season.Cleveland is just 5-20 and rebuilding in the wake of LeBron James' departure last summer."I'm glad my Aussie brother is back," Cavs center Tristan Thompson said following... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dwyane Wade never thought he would play 1,000 games.And he's unsure what the milestone will mean.Wade is in line to become the 15th active player to appear in 1,000 regular-season games, the milestone he'll hit assuming he plays Saturday night when the Miami Heat visit the Los Angeles Clippers."I don't even know the significance of 1,000 games," Wade said. "I don't know if it's a big deal. I think it's just another number."The Heat might disagree with that.Heat coach Erik Spoelstra didn't know Wade was nearing the milestone until earlier this week, and got wide-eyed when told that Wade had appeared in so many games."That's crazy to think about," Spoelstra said.Nobody has played in 1,000 regular-season games for the Heat — Wade has played the most, 893 after Friday's game in Phoenix. But he'll be the fourth person to play career game No. 1,000 while wearing a Miami uniform, joining Rashard Lewis in 2013, Shaquille O'Neal in 2007 and Danny Schayes in 1996."He's showed an... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Matthew Dellavedova is coming back to the Cavaliers. He won't recognize them.Cleveland re-acquired the popular, scrappy guard on Friday in a three-team trade with the Milwaukee Bucks and Washington Wizards.The Cavaliers also received forward John Henson and 2021 first- and second-round picks from Milwaukee, and a 2022 second-rounder from Washington. The Cavs sent guard George Hill and a 2021 second-round selection to the Bucks, and forward Sam Dekker to the Wizards. Milwaukee also got forward Jason Smith from Washington.Affectionately known to Cleveland fans as "Delly," Dellavedova was a key member of the Cavs' 2016 title team before he signed with the Bucks later that summer. He's not the same player, and the Cavs are far from being the same team, but his return will soften what has been a difficult season.Cleveland is just 5-20 and rebuilding in the wake of LeBron James' departure last summer."I'm glad my Aussie brother is back," Cavs center Tristan Thompson said following... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Matthew Dellavedova is coming back to the Cavaliers. He won't recognize them.Cleveland re-acquired the popular, scrappy guard on Friday in a three-team trade with the Milwaukee Bucks and Washington Wizards. The Cavs also are getting forward John Henson and two draft picks in 2021 from the Bucks in exchange for George Hill. Also as part of the deal, the Cavs traded a 2021 second-round pick to the Washington Wizards, who sent forward Jason Smith and cash considerations to the Bucks and a 2022 second-round draft pick to Cleveland.The Cavs are receiving Milwaukee's 2021 first- and second-round picks.Affectionately known to Cleveland fans as "Delly," Dellavedova was a key member of the Cavs' 2016 title team before he signed with the Bucks later that summer. He's not the same player, and the Cavs are far from being the same team, but his return will soften what has been a difficult season.Cleveland is just 5-20 and rebuilding in the wake of LeBron James' departure last summer."We're... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Another popular Cavaliers player is coming "home."LeBron's gone. Delly's back.The Cavaliers have agreed to a trade with Milwaukee that will return fan favorite Matthew Dellavedova to Cleveland along with forward John Henson and a pair of draft picks in 2021. The Bucks will get veteran point guard George Hill and forward Sam Dekker from the Cavs, a person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press. Milwaukee has agreed to trade Dekker to the Washington Wizards for center Jason Smith and a future second-round pick.The deals are pending league approval and could be finalized Friday night, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams have not yet had the mandatory conference call with NBA officials.The first-round pick in 2021 is protected, the person said.There was an urgency to get the deal agreed to before 6 p.m. on Friday because only players on rosters by then can be re-packaged in other trades before February's deadline.Hill recently returned... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Another popular Cavaliers player is coming "home."LeBron's gone. Delly's back.The Cavaliers have agreed to a trade with Milwaukee that will return fan favorite Matthew Dellavedova to Cleveland along with forward John Henson and a pair of draft picks in 2021. The Bucks will get veteran point guard George Hill and forward Sam Dekker from the Cavs, a person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press. Milwaukee has agreed to trade Dekker to the Washington Wizards for center Jason Smith and a future second-round pick.The deals are pending league approval and could be finalized Friday night, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams have not yet had the mandatory conference call with NBA officials.The first-round pick in 2021 is protected, the person said.There was an urgency to get the deal agreed to before 6 p.m. on Friday because only players on rosters by then can be re-packaged in other trades before February's deadline.Hill recently returned... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Another popular Cavaliers player is coming "home."LeBron's gone. Delly's back.The Cavaliers have agreed to a trade with Milwaukee that will return fan favorite Matthew Dellavedova to Cleveland along with forward John Henson and a pair of draft picks in 2021. The Bucks will get veteran point guard George Hill and forward Sam Dekker from the Cavs, a person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press.The swap is pending league approval and could be finalized Friday night, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams have not yet had the mandatory conference call with NBA officials.The first-round pick in 2021 is protected, the person said.There was an urgency to get the deal agreed to before 6 p.m. on Friday because only players on rosters by then can be re-packaged in other trades before February's deadline.Hill recently returned after missing 11 games with a shoulder injury, and the Cavs have been shopping him around for a deal. Dekker, who... [More]

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Brandon Ingram is staying home from the Los Angeles Lakers' upcoming two-game road trip due to his sprained left ankle.Ingram will have a precautionary MRI exam Thursday night.Ingram injured his ankle early in the Lakers' 121-113 victory over San Antonio on Wednesday night when Spurs center LaMarcus Aldridge flagrantly fouled him.Ingram is the Lakers' starting shooting guard and their third-leading scorer with 15.2 points per game. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft also averages 4.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists.The Lakers (15-9) visit San Antonio on Friday night and Memphis on Saturday before returning home to face Miami on Monday.The Lakers have won 13 of their last 17 during their first season with LeBron James.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — A person familiar with the deal says the Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to trade veteran forward Kyle Korver to the Utah Jazz.Korver, one of the best long-distance shooters in NBA history, is going to the Jazz in exchange for guard Alec Burks and two future second-round draft picks, said the person who spoke Wednesday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the swap has to be approved by the NBA. The trade might not become official until Thursday.ESPN first reported the swap.The 37-year-old Korver is going back to Utah, where he played from 2007-10. He became expendable this season in Cleveland as the Cavs are in rebuilding mode after losing LeBron James as a free agent and are acquiring assets.Cleveland is just 4-15 entering Wednesday's game at Oklahoma City.Korver joined the Cavs in 2017, coming over in a trade from Atlanta. He's been on the trading block for most of the season and had drawn interest from several teams. The Cavs are also looking to move forward J.R. Smith, who is not currently with the team after being disappointed by his reduced role this season.The Jazz have been a disappointment so far, and Korver fills the club's need for an outside shooter.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Under the former NBA schedule, the first month of the season would just be coming to a close this week.The earlier start that the league went to last year, with the regular season beginning two weeks sooner, means some teams are now already more than a quarter of the way through their 82-game schedules.The extra time doesn't make it any easier to explain things so far.The Clippers and Nuggets are up. Houston and Boston are down. Golden State has already been both, flying out to a fast start that quickly came to a halt after Stephen Curry was hurt.The restructured schedule, done to build in more opportunities for rest and fewer back-to-back games, trimmed the preseason and reduced the number of exhibition games, in some cases forcing coaches to continue tinkering around Thanksgiving when they'd prefer to be done with it by Halloween."Just like every team in the league, in November you're not going to be the same team as you are in April or May," Portland coach Terry Stotts said. "So you... [More]

There was a two-season stretch during which JaVale McGee scored a total of 141 points. He was a target of jokes, wildly misunderstood by many in the NBA, almost an afterthought of sorts whose career seemed to be closer to flaming out than taking off.And in those darkest days, McGee kept asking himself the same question."Is it over?"The answer now is obvious: No, it wasn't over. Fast forward, and it may just be getting started.He's living the life that few in the NBA get to experience. He's teamed up with the best players of this generation — Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, LeBron James. He's won two championships, part of Golden State's back-to-back titles over the last two seasons. And now he's the starting center for the Los Angeles Lakers, getting a chance to play big minutes and put up numbers for the first time in nearly a decade.In his 11th season, McGee has basically gotten a basketball rebirth."I played against him in the last two NBA Finals and I wanted him on this team because I... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cavaliers All-Star forward Kevin Love may not be back until sometime in 2019 following foot surgery.Love had an operation on Nov. 2 to relieve pain and pressure in his big left toe, which he injured in the club's preseason opener. At the time, the team said Love would be out at least six weeks and his status would be updated in "approximately" when that period ended.On Tuesday, Love said in an interview on ESPN that he expects "to be back sometime after the new year." Love said he's going to in a restrictive boot for two more weeks."There's just no telling at this time with the weight-bearing injury what it is going to be like moving forward," he said.Love's loss was a devastating blow for the reeling and rebuilding Cavs, who are a league-worst 2-13 heading into Wednesday's game against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.A five-time All-Star, Love signed a four-year, $120 million contract extension this summer.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cavaliers All-Star forward Kevin Love may not be back until sometime in 2019 following foot surgery.Love had an operation on Nov. 2 to relieve pain and pressure in his big left toe, which he injured in the club's preseason opener. At the time, the team said Love would be out at least six weeks and his status would be updated in "approximately" when that period ended.On Tuesday, Love said in an interview on ESPN that he expects "to be back sometime after the new year." Love said he's going to in a restrictive boot for two more weeks."There's just no telling at this time with the weight-bearing injury what it is going to be like moving forward," he said.Love's loss was a devastating blow for the reeling and rebuilding Cavs, who are a league-worst 2-13 heading into Wednesday's game against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.A five-time All-Star, Love signed a four-year, $120 million contract extension this summer.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — The air was heavy, heaving with hatred.And when LeBron James skipped onto the Quicken Loans Arena floor on Dec. 2, 2010, with his Miami teammates, scorned Cleveland fans aimed their fury at one of their own, the kid from Akron who was shaken by the experience.James was profanely taunted, booed and mocked. It was vile. It was personal.Eight years later, he'll feel loved.James returns to Cleveland on Wednesday night for the first time since leaving as a free agent last summer and signing with the Los Angeles Lakers. He's coming back to a city still grappling with losing him again and wondering what might have been had the world's best all-around player stayed.But unlike his previous comeback, the 33-year-old is coming home to be saluted for what he did during 11 years with the Cavaliers.He revived a franchise, lifted an entire region and brought a championship."It's going to be fun," said Cavs forward Kyle Korver, who spent two seasons with James. "LeBron had an incredible... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — J.R. Smith's bumpy-but-never-boring stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers is over.The team said Tuesday that the disgruntled forward, who had requested to be traded earlier this season, "will no longer be with team as the organization works with JR and his representation regarding his future."The Cavaliers will try to trade Smith. He will make $14.7 million this season, and $3.8 million of his $15.6 million salary for next season is guaranteed.For now, the 33-year-old Smith is without a team and that seems to suit him just fine. He has been dismayed with his reduced role as the Cavaliers rebuild in their first season since LeBron James left for the second time as a free agent.Smith's unhappiness had created another distraction in a stormy season for Cleveland, which is a league-worst 2-13 and has been blown out numerous times.The Cavaliers fired coach Tyronn Lue last month following a 0-6 start, and the team has been riddled with injuries, the most prominent to All-Star forward... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Disgruntled Cavaliers forward J.R. Smith has gotten his wish: He is parting ways with Cleveland.The Cavaliers announced Tuesday that Smith "will no longer be with team as the organization works with JR and his representation regarding his future."Smith requested a trade earlier this season. The 33-year-old has been dismayed with his role and the team's direction in the first season since LeBron James left for the second time as a free agent.Smith's departure is the latest upheaval in a stormy season for Cleveland, which is league-worst 2-13. Coach Tyronn Lue was fired last month and All-Star forward Kevin Love is sidelined indefinitely following foot surgery.Smith came to the Cavaliers in a trade from the Knicks in 2015. While his play has been inconsistent, Smith was a major contributor on Cleveland's 2016 championship team.The Cavs wished Smith and his family well and thanked him for his contributions.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports