LOS ANGELES (AP) — The NBA's All-Star version of a pickup game is taking center stage in Hollywood.The 67th version of the All-Star Game on Sunday night features teams picked by captains LeBron James and Stephen Curry. Dispensing with the usual East vs. West format, the league is creating a new look to its annual showcase with teams picked regardless of geography.That's how Curry and Golden State teammates Klay Thompson and Draymond Green will be going against Kevin Durant, and how James will play alongside Oklahoma City duo Russell Westbrook and Paul George.Boston teammates Kyrie Irving and Al Horford are on opposing teams. Irving is on the same team as James, several months after Irving broke up their Cleveland partnership by forcing a trade.___More AP basketball: www.apnews.com/tags/NBAbasketball

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Latest from Sunday's NBA All-Star Game and events around the league's annual showcase (all times local):2:05 p.m.NBA Commissioner Adam Silver doubled down on his support of players speaking out on social and political issues, opening his comments at the Legends Brunch by thanking the veterans for setting the tone for current players."Bill Russell was recognized before, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, I could go down the list of so many others here who created that tradition for the players in the NBA, who gave them the safety and comfort to speak out on issues that are important to them as they do today," Silver said Sunday."I'm so proud of that legacy," added the commissioner, who praised the current players on Saturday . "So thank you to all of the people in this room."The issue of players publicly speaking out on various issues surfaced during All-Star weekend after Fox News host Laura Ingraham criticized three-time NBA champion LeBron James for his recent comments. James... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Second-year Warriors guard Patrick McCaw will miss at least four weeks after breaking a bone in his left wrist.Golden State announced that McCaw had a non-displaced fracture in the wrist. The injury occurred Sunday when McCaw was with the G League's Santa Cruz Warriors, the team said.The Warriors were playing Wednesday at Portland to conclude the schedule before the All-Star break. McCaw will wear a cast for 10 days then be re-evaluated in four weeks.Last weekend, McCaw bounced between Golden State and Santa Cruz to get more playing time.McCaw is averaging 3.7 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 15.6 minutes for the defending NBA champions.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

CHICAGO (AP) — Guard Kris Dunn is back in the Chicago Bulls' lineup after missing 11 games because of a concussion.The second-year pro was starting Wednesday night against the Eastern Conference-leading Toronto Raptors. Coach Fred Hoiberg said Dunn would probably play about 20 minutes and sit the fourth quarter.Dunn is averaging 13.7 points and 6.4 assists. He was injured making a fast-break dunk against the Golden State Warriors on Jan. 17. He landed awkwardly and his face slammed into the floor, resulting in a concussion and two dislocated front teeth.Dunn was acquired along with Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen from Minnesota in the draft-night trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves. He is expected to compete in the Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star weekend.___More NBA basketball: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Summer was coming into bloom, and Flip Saunders had an extra bounce in his step as he departed Minnesota's arena with his wife that night of the 2015 draft.The Timberwolves were finally on the verge of flourishing again after so many lost seasons. They took future All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns with the first overall pick and followed with a trade for hometown point guard Tyus Jones later in the first round."I remember walking down First Avenue and him saying, 'We're going to be good,'" said Debbie Saunders, his widow who continues to attend nearly every home game more than two years after his death of complications from cancer. "The future was looking so bright, and he really felt it that night. He was so happy."Saunders would surely be smiling about the tribute in his honor at Target Center on Thursday night before Minnesota's game against the Los Angeles Lakers."I'm not saying this because he's my husband. I think Flip deserves this. He would be so proud of that,"... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia center Joel Embiid sat out the 76ers' game Wednesday night against Miami because of soreness in his right ankle.Scheduled to start for the Eastern Conference in the All-Star game this weekend, Embiid had 17 points in a victory over New York on Monday night. Also Monday, the 7-footer was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week after averaging 26.7 points, 15 rebounds and 2.3 blocks last week as the 76ers went 3-0.Embiid is averaging 23.7 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks.The 76ers entered Wednesday in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, 1 1/2 games ahead of the eighth-place Heat.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Second-year Warriors guard Patrick McCaw will miss at least four weeks after breaking a bone in his left wrist Monday night against the Suns.Golden State announced that McCaw had a non-displaced fracture in the wrist. The Warriors were playing Wednesday at Portland to conclude the schedule before the All-Star break. McCaw will wear a cast for 10 days then be re-evaluated in four weeks.Last weekend, McCaw bounced between Golden State and the G League Santa Cruz Warriors to get more playing time.McCaw is averaging 3.7 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 15.6 minutes for the defending NBA champions.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Standing in the rain seven stories above concrete, construction workers, steel and mud, Rick Welts is beaming at an arena project that is absolutely his baby."It's real," Welts says, wearing a bright yellow jacket and hard hat for the work site tour. "It's happening."After years in the making, too.The chief operating officer of the Golden State Warriors has been entrusted by team owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber to be the unofficial foreman as Chase Center goes up in the Mission Bay district of San Francisco for a scheduled opening of late summer 2019. The goal is to build one of the top entertainment venues in the world, right up with The O2 in London and Madison Square Garden for attracting the best music shows.Welts has been an NBA junkie since his early days growing up in Seattle, where he got his start as a SuperSonics ball boy at 16. Later, he got the keys to the Seattle Center Coliseum and, specifically, the laundry room.Welts, who turned 65 in January and is... [More]

The NBA will reach the All-Star break with conference races that are too close to call.In fact, they could be closer than ever at the league's showcase event.The Toronto Raptors take a one-game lead over Boston in the Eastern Conference into Wednesday, the last full night of play before a week off. In the West, the Golden State Warriors' lead is down to a half-game over the surging Houston Rockets, who have won nine in a row.Unless those leads grow after those four teams play Wednesday, it will be the first time in NBA history that both conference leaders are ahead by one game or less at the All-Star break, according to the league.If Houston beats Sacramento and Golden State loses to Portland, it will also mean both All-Star coaches warrant their spots because of their records, instead of the rules.Toronto's Dwane Casey, who will coach Team LeBron, and Houston's Mike D'Antoni, who will lead Team Stephen, clinched the coaching positions even though their teams didn't lead the conferences... [More]

OSHKOSH, Wis. (AP) — The developmental league affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks has acquired former Bucks first-round draft pick Brandon Jennings off waivers.The Wisconsin Herd announced that it had picked up Jennings on Tuesday.Jennings was the 10th overall pick by the Bucks in the 2009 NBA draft, averaging 17.0 points over four seasons in Milwaukee. He was traded to Detroit in July 2013 in a deal that sent Khris Middleton to the Bucks.The 28-year old Jennings played two-plus seasons in Detroit before making stops with the Magic, Knicks and Wizards. He most recently played professionally in China.___More NBA basketball: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Thunder stars Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony will return to action Tuesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers after recovering from sprained ankles.Thunder coach Billy Donovan made the announcement during his pregame media session Tuesday.Westbrook had been nursing a sprained left ankle. He missed Oklahoma City's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 8 and the win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday. The All-Star point guard leads the Thunder with 25.5 points, 10.3 assists and 9.3 rebounds per game.Anthony sprained his right ankle early in Oklahoma City's win over Golden State on Feb. 6, and he sat out against the Lakers and Grizzlies. The veteran forward ranks third on the team with 17 points per game.Donovan said both will start and there will be no restrictions on either player.

CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James is going old school to make a new movie.The Cavaliers star and business partner Maverick Carter are producing a new version of "House Party," the comedy featuring hip-hop duo Kid 'N Play that debuted in 1990.James' SpringHill Entertainment production company described the project as a "fresh re-imagining" of the original. The new film is being written by Stephen Glover and Jamal Olori from the FX series "Atlanta.""It's an honor when I got the opportunity to produce it, reboot the whole movie," James said Tuesday in Oklahoma City. "When I was growing up as a youngster I was like, 'Man, I hope I get an opportunity to throw one of these house parties, where it's just a lot of fun, a lot of joking around, dancin', people just having a good time.'"James noted some of his Cavs teammates weren't born when the original film came out. He may make a cameo in the new film.

NEW YORK (AP) — All-Star forward Kristaps Porzingis of the New York Knicks has undergone surgery for a torn ligament in his left knee.The team says the repair of his anterior cruciate ligament was a success. He is expected to be sidelined for much of next season. The operation Tuesday was at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan.Porzingis was hurt Feb. 6 when he landed after a dunk and crashed to the court against Milwaukee. The 7-foot-3 Latvian was averaging 22.7 points and an NBA-leading 2.4 blocked shots. He had been chosen for his first All-Star Game.

When LeBron James stepped on the court wearing mismatched sneakers in the nation's capital, it wasn't a fashion statement by the NBA's most popular athlete. The message was clearly emblazed in gold on the back of his kicks, one white and one black: Equality.Sneaker enthusiasts around the world eagerly await NBA All-Star weekend when new and limited editions of the latest shoes make their debut, but the month leading up to the highly anticipated shoepalooza is often used to make a social statement.Starting with Martin Luther King Day and coinciding with Black History Month, players and companies honor the past and create dialogue about the future through footwear."I just think it's more of a paying homage to people that paved the way before me," Warriors forward Kevin Durant said. "It's much more than just shoes. It's more so of a memorial more than anything."Nike, which started building Black History Month campaigns in 2005, has created an entire theme around equality.Kyrie Irving's fourth... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The 76ers have signed veteran 3-point specialist Marco Belinelli, whose contract was bought out by the Atlanta Hawks.Philadelphia announced the move on Monday ahead of the Sixers' matchup with the Knicks.Belinelli was averaging 11.4 points in 23.3 minutes per game with the Hawks, who bought him out to allow him to join a contending team. The Sixers held the eighth playoff position in the Eastern Conference entering Monday night's game.The 31-year-old said he chose Philadelphia over Oklahoma City, Toronto, Milwaukee and Portland largely because he believes the 76ers are a team on the rise and wants to help their playoff push. He's also looking forward to playing alongside Ben Simmons and All-Star Joel Embiid."I trust the process," Belinelli said. "I was lucky to watch a couple of games. They play real well together on offense and defense. I want to help this team make a run. I'm really happy."Philadelphia coach Brett Brown said it shows how far the team has come that... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The 76ers have signed veteran 3-point specialist Marco Belinelli, whose contract was bought out by the Atlanta Hawks.Philadelphia announced the move on Monday ahead of the Sixers' matchup with the Knicks.Belinelli was averaging 11.4 points in 23.3 minutes per game with the Hawks, who bought him out to allow him to join a contending team. The Sixers held the eighth playoff position in the Eastern Conference entering Monday night's game.An 11-year veteran, Belinelli has made 945 3-pointers in his career and has made 37.7 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc. The Sixers will be the ninth team for the 31-year-old Italian, who had one of his best seasons in 2013-14 with San Antonio, when he made 43 percent of his 3-point attempts and helped the Spurs to the NBA title. He also won the 3-point contest at All-Star Weekend that year.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves have recalled center Justin Patton from their NBA G League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves.The move was made on Monday. Patton has averaged 11.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 20.1 minutes over 25 games for Iowa, after being assigned there on Dec. 27.The 6-foot-11 Patton broke his left foot during a workout last summer and needed surgery to repair the fifth metatarsal bone, so there's no guarantee he'll get in a game with the Wolves this season.He has yet to be cleared to play a full game without restriction. The 16th overall pick in the draft last year out of Creighton, Patton has yet to appear in an NBA game."Everything's pointing in the right direction. We just want to be sure," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "The biggest thing for Justin is the health part of it. It's better for him to develop playing down there, so I think he's gotten a lot out of it."The Timberwolves and the Washington Wizards are the only teams in the league this season that have yet to play a rookie.___For more AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

CLEVELAND (AP) — Nick Gilbert, the son of Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert who became a good-luck charm during the NBA lottery, will undergo major brain surgery this week.A team spokesman said the 21-year-old Michigan State student will have the operation in Detroit.Gilbert was born with neurofibromatosis, a nerve disorder that causes tumors. He has undergone previous surgeries for the genetic illness.In 2011, the younger Gilbert endeared himself to Cavs fans when he represented the team at the draft lottery.Cleveland won the No. 1 overall pick, which the team later used to select All-Star guard Kyrie Irving and help offset the loss of LeBron James as a free agent. Wearing a bowtie and dark-rimmed glasses at the event, the then-14-year-old Gilbert cracked "What's not to like?" when asked how it felt that his dad considered him his "personal hero."Dan Gilbert, who has five children, serves on the board for the Children's Tumor Foundation, which is trying to find a cure for his son's condition.Following Monday's practice in Boston, Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said players and coaches sent a video to "Gillie" to wish him well."We're all praying for him and wish him the best," Lue said. "Hate to see a young guy go through that, let alone anyone, but being so young and having that spirit that he has is great. We hope everything works out."

CLEVELAND (AP) — Nick Gilbert, the son of Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert who became a good-luck charm during the NBA lottery, will have brain surgery this week.The team says the 21-year-old Michigan State student will have the operation in Detroit.In 2011, the younger Gilbert endeared himself to Cavs fans when he represented the team at the draft lottery. Cleveland won the No. 1 overall pick, which the team later used to select All-Star guard Kyrie Irving. Wearing a bow tie and dark-rimmed glasses, the then 14-year-old Gilbert was asked how it felt that his dad considered him his "personal hero." The youngster replied: "What's not to like?"Nick Gilbert was born with a nerve disorder that causes tumors. He has undergone previous surgeries for the genetic illness.Dan Gilbert has five children. He serves on the board for the Children's Tumor Foundation, which is trying to find a cure for his son's condition.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Nick Gilbert, the son of Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert who became a good-luck charm during the NBA lottery, will undergo major brain surgery this week.A team spokesman said the 21-year-old Michigan State student will have the operation in Detroit.In 2011, the younger Gilbert endeared himself to Cavs fans when he represented the team at the draft lottery. Cleveland won the No. 1 overall pick, which the team later used to select All-Star guard Kyrie Irving. Wearing a bow tie and dark-rimmed glasses at the event, the then-14-year-old Gilbert cracked "What's not to like?" when asked how if felt that his dad considered him his "personal hero."Nick Gilbert was born with neurofibromatosis, a nerve disorder that causes tumors. He has undergone previous surgeries for the genetic illness.Dan Gilbert, who has five children, serves on the board for the Children's Tumor Foundation, which is trying to find a cure for his son's condition.