CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James emerged from a chaotic, complex season unscathed — better than ever.Still the NBA's undisputed king.Despite no longer having Kyrie Irving at his side. Despite an injury-riddled season in which the Cavaliers' roster morphed twice and despite being surrounded by a supporting cast that included rookies and just three holdovers from Cleveland teams he dragged to three straight NBA Finals, James played every game and powered through his 15th pro season like it was another helpless defender in the lane.By investing millions into maintaining his body and with a work ethic that has pushed him since childhood, James seems intent on challenging basketball's natural cycle of aging.At 33, and on the eve of making a run at his eighth straight Finals, James is not slowing down. He remains the game's best all-around player, most dominant force. Still, the one to beat. Still, the player most capable of carrying a team to playoff victories. Still, the most likely player — sorry... [More]

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Thunder television play-by-play man Brian Davis has been suspended for Game 1 of the playoff series against Utah on Sunday for a comment he made about star Russell Westbrook during Oklahoma City's regular-season finale against Memphis.Davis said Westbrook was "out of his cotton-pickin' mind," an exclamation that came after the Oklahoma City guard made an assist in Wednesday's game on his way to setting an NBA record for averaging a triple-double in multiple seasons.Cotton picking was the primary responsibility for black slaves in the South, so the term can be offensive when used by a white person to describe a black person. Many took to social media to complain about Davis' choice of words. Davis is white and Westbrook is black.Dan Mahoney, the Thunder's vice president of broadcasting and corporate communications, said the team considered the comment "inappropriate.""It is with great remorse and humility that I accept this suspension for the insensitive words I used... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly says contract extensions for center Nikola Jokic and guard Will Barton are among his offseason priorities and he hinted coach Michael Malone might be in line for one, too.The Nuggets have increased their win totals from 30 to 40 to 46 under Malone but they extended their playoff drought to five years when they lost in overtime at Minnesota in the season finale this week."This is the most confident I've been in our core group since I've been here," said Connelly, who's been in his post in Denver since 2013. "I think we have the makings of a team that can enjoy sustainably high levels of success."I think there's going to be some pretty interesting financial decisions we'll make this offseason."Jokic was drafted in the second round in 2014 and signed a three-year, $4 million deal a year later. The Nuggets have a $1.6 million fourth-year option, which they can decline this summer and instead give Jokic a max contract.While that would crimp... [More]

Over the course of Donovan Mitchell's outstanding rookie season with Utah, Portland star Damian Lillard has become something of a mentor, regularly sending texts of encouragement.So Lillard really didn't mind when Mitchell was the one who broke his rookie 3-point record."He's had a great season, not just for a rookie but for a guard in the NBA. I'm really happy for him," Lillard said. "We've had some communication throughout the season. I like to see a guy that's humble, a guy that works hard. Not many people were talking about him coming out of the draft. He wasn't the talk of the draft."But he just came out and he just showed. That's what makes me a fan of him."Mitchell surpassed Lillard's mark of 185 3-pointers on Tuesday night in Utah's 119-79 victory over the Golden State Warriors.The next night, the two players were face-to-face in the final regular-season game. Portland claimed a 102-93 win on its home court, sending the Trail Blazers into a first-round playoff series against the... [More]

With the NBA playoffs starting Saturday, here's 10 things to know:LEBRON'S STREAKPacers fans, avert your eyes.LeBron James hasn't experienced losing a first-round game in nearly six years.James' teams have won 21 consecutive opening-round contests, a streak that started in Game 5 of the Miami-New York series in 2012. Combining his Cleveland and Miami years, James' teams have won 46 of their last 51 first-round games.James and the Cavs play Indiana in the first round this season.MORE LEBRONJames could set a slew of NBA records in these playoffs.He's already the all-time postseason leader in points, is seven steals from passing Scottie Pippen (395) for the playoff record in that department, is four shots from passing Kobe Bryant (4,499) for another career postseason mark.Depending on how long Cleveland's postseason lasts, James also has a shot at passing Ray Allen (385) for career postseason 3-pointers; he's 55 shy of taking over the No. 1 spot there. And if the Cavs make a deep run James... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo's meme-worthy scowl started with a look in the mirror.The Milwaukee Bucks All-Star was an NBA rookie then, trying to come up with a look he could flash after making a big play. Antetokounmpo thought about the glare his mother would throw his way when he misbehaved as a child. It took about a week to perfect as he struck poses in front of the mirror."Now it comes easy. You've just got to put your nose up like this," said Antetokounmpo, wrinkling his face after a recent practice.It can look so much more intimidating on the court.As Antetokounmpo's skills reach new heights, so does his confidence as he enters his third career postseason. The Bucks open their first-round series against the Celtics on Sunday in Boston."You don't think. It's just second nature. You're just playing now," Antetokounmpo said. "There are points when you're young, you're scared to make the wrong decision late."This is no longer the gangly, 6-foot-11 forward who would defer during... [More]

Over the course of Donovan Mitchell's outstanding rookie season with Utah, Portland star Damian Lillard has become something of a mentor, regularly sending texts of encouragement.So Lillard really didn't mind when Mitchell was the one who broke his rookie 3-point record."He's had a great season, not just for a rookie but for a guard in the NBA. I'm really happy for him," Lillard said. "We've had some communication throughout the season. I like to see a guy that's humble, a guy that works hard. Not many people were talking about him coming out of the draft. He wasn't the talk of the draft."But he just came out and he just showed. That's what makes me a fan of him."Mitchell surpassed Lillard's mark of 185 3-pointers on Tuesday night in Utah's 119-79 victory over the Golden State Warriors.The next night, the two players were face-to-face in the final regular-season game. Portland claimed a 102-93 win on its home court, sending the Trail Blazers into a first-round playoff series against the... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — The last time Wayne Ellington played any meaningful minutes in a postseason game was nine years ago.At the Final Four.Ellington was the Most Outstanding Player of the 2009 NCAA Tournament after leading North Carolina to the national title. But since turning pro, postseasons have marked the start of vacations for Ellington, who has been in only two NBA playoff games, logging 13 1/2 minutes — all in the fourth quarters of blowouts.That's about to change.Coming off a record-setting regular season, Ellington will play a vital role for No. 6 seed Miami in an Eastern Conference quarterfinal series that starts Saturday in his hometown of Philadelphia against the third-seeded 76ers."It's so sweet the way it's coming," Ellington said. "I don't want to get religious, but I really feel like it's God's plan the way that everything's worked out, where I ended up at and where I'm headed to. I'm appreciative. After all this time, now to be here, I don't think a player could be more grateful.... [More]

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — And now the real season begins for the Los Angeles Lakers.At least that's what the fans of the 16-time NBA champions repeatedly have been told while Los Angeles missed the playoffs and finished with a losing record for the fifth consecutive year.Ever since they took over the Lakers' basketball operations a year ago, Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka have founded their rebuilding project around the acquisition of one or two elite free agents this summer — or next summer, they've recently amended.Magic firmly believes the Lakers' championship pedigree, glamorous location and salary cap room for two enormous contracts can attract superstars near the primes of their careers to lift one of the NBA's cornerstone franchises back to its accustomed heights. The Lakers had only missed the playoffs five previous times in their first 65 years of existence before they doubled that number during this dismal half-decade.But while the pursuit of Paul George and LeBron... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Clippers are finally out of their misery, a long season marred by significant injuries coming to an end just short of the playoffs.They finished with a winning record of 42-40, but their streak of consecutive postseason appearances ended at six. They closed out the season Wednesday night with a 115-100 loss to the Lakers, dropping their last four games in a row.They kept their playoff hopes alive until the final week of the regular season despite the injuries. Eleven players missed a total of 265 games.Coach Doc Rivers started an NBA-leading 37 different lineups because of the injuries. The Clippers were forced to dip into the G League for starters, most notably C.J. Williams (who was signed to a multi-year deal) and Tyrone Wallace.The season began with nine new players on the roster after the offseason departures of Chris Paul, J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford.But injuries soon befell the newcomers. Point guard Patrick Beverley was lost for the season after right knee... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jeremy Lin didn't even make it through one full game this season.He plans to return next season playing a different way so he can stay on the floor and help the Brooklyn Nets keep building.Lin played in just 36 games in 2016-17 due to hamstring injuries and ruptured his right patella tendon in a loss at Indiana on opening night of this season. His plan to stay healthy focuses on ditching all the on-court motor skills that started Linsanity six years ago across the city with the New York Knicks in exchange for a new range of motion."So, like, at every level of ability to be more dynamic, I'm not just looking at whether my knee will hold up. I'm looking at whether I have done enough to completely change pre-existing movement patterns," Lin said Thursday, a day after the Nets finished 28-54, their third consecutive 50-loss season after three straight playoff appearances.The Nets won seven of their last 13 games after losing 19 of 22.The 29-year-old Lin spent a large chunk of... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic only had a basic outline of his offseason plans: Rest, work out in Denver, return home to Serbia and rest some more.It's not more elaborate since the Nuggets big man figured he'd be working for a while longer.The Nuggets won six more games than a year ago and yet finished in the same position — a spot out of the playoffs. This season even came down to a winner-take-all scenario in Minnesota, where the Nuggets came up short in overtime to miss out on the playoffs for a fifth straight season."I'm not mad. I'm not sad, because I think we played good," Jokic said Thursday. "We're not making the playoffs because we were not focused the whole season, every game."Still, the Nuggets won six straight down the stretch to climb into contention for a spot, before losing to the Timberwolves in a spirited game."If we play with that sense of urgency that we did at the end, then we wouldn't have even been in this position," Will Barton said. "It's all a part of growing."Veteran... [More]

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — With the playoffs just days away, Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue typically would have his lineup rotations set by now.Nothing has been typical about this season for the Cavs.Lue said Thursday that he plans to use a 10-player rotation for Cleveland's opening-round series against the Indiana Pacers, but that things could change depending on injuries, matchups and performances."I will play 10," Lue said after the Cavaliers watched film on the Pacers, who went 3-1 against Cleveland this season. "We'll just see how it looks and if one guy is not great this round, then it might be nine."Lue and his staff have been juggling lineups and using different combinations on the floor for months, forced to adjust and re-adjust, first because of injuries and then by a slew of trades that transformed the team.Lue refused to name his full starting lineup for Sunday's Game 1. He revealed previously that four of them will be LeBron James, Kevin Love, Jeff Green and George Hill.... [More]

DALLAS (AP) — Dirk Nowitzki plans to become the first player to spend all 21 seasons with the same NBA franchise.Dennis Smith Jr. will be half the German star's age when the Dallas Mavericks open next season looking to end the first two-year playoff drought in nearly two decades. The team posted its worst record since 1997-98, the year before Nowitzki arrived.The No. 9 overall pick who turned 20 early in what ended up as a solid rookie season, Smith figures to have a new teammate facing high expectations the way he did. Dallas will pick no lower than seventh in June.Smith will have at least one thing in common with Nowitzki, who turns 40 this summer. They want the Mavericks to be regulars in the postseason again, the way they were before the current swoon."I've been in a couple of arenas that are playoff teams, and I just witnessed the atmosphere," Smith said. "I can only imagine how it is playoff time."It's certainly better than 24-58, tied with Atlanta for the league's third-worst record.... [More]

Maybe this is the year.Maybe the Golden State Warriors, opening the postseason without Stephen Curry or any momentum, won't be the best of the West, where there's a Houston team that can run and gun as well as they do.Maybe the Cleveland Cavaliers, starting from the middle of the pack in the East, just have too big a hill to climb, even with LeBron James carrying them.Or perhaps none of that matters, and the NBA is headed toward Round 4 of its reigning rivalry.The postseason opens Saturday and it's far from a guarantee it ends with a record fourth straight NBA Finals matchup between the Warriors and Cavaliers. Neither was the best team in its conference during the regular season — the Cavaliers were only No. 4 in the East — and it's not hard to envision a Houston to Toronto trip replacing what's become an annual Oakland, California, to Cleveland itinerary.Then again, the Warriors could be as dangerous as ever once Curry returns from a knee injury that could have him back for the second... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Pistons can certainly attest to how long the NBA season is.For two months, they looked like a team on the rise in the Eastern Conference during a 19-14 start that included victories at Golden State, Minnesota, Oklahoma City and Boston. Then an ankle injury to point guard Reggie Jackson derailed Detroit's season, and even a bold trade for Blake Griffin wasn't enough to push the Pistons to the playoffs.Detroit's promising start now feels like a long time ago, and the big question for this offseason is the status of Stan Van Gundy, who has just one playoff appearance in four seasons as coach and president of basketball operations."I think we have to make changes," owner Tom Gores said earlier this week.It's not clear if those changes will involve moving on from Van Gundy, who never had much of a chance to coach the Pistons at full strength after Jackson's ankle injury Dec. 26. He didn't come back until the latter half of March.After faltering badly following Jackson's... [More]

Frank Vogel was brought to Orlando two years ago with hopes he could get the Magic back to the playoffs, and stop the spinning of the revolving door to their coaches' office.Neither of those things happened.Vogel was fired by the Magic on Thursday about 10 hours after the team wrapped up a 25-57 season, its sixth consecutive losing year. Vogel, who had one year left on his contract, went 54-110 in his two years with Orlando.The Magic haven't been to the playoffs since Stan Van Gundy's final season with the team in 2012. Vogel, who had some successful years coaching the Indiana Pacers before going to Orlando, simply didn't have the roster to change that."I have nothing but the utmost respect for Frank Vogel as a coach and a person," said Magic basketball operations president Jeff Weltman, who met with Vogel to deliver the news. "I know he'll be a head coach again shortly."Weltman didn't give a timetable for finding a new coach."We just have to find that right guy," he said.Clearly, another... [More]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Coach Dave Joerger strongly believes Sacramento's commitment to youth this season will pay off down the line in helping develop the Kings into a playoff contender.How soon that happens remains an open question."It can be frustrating because we're a society that wants a quick change and we want it right now," Joerger said after the final game of his second season in Sacramento. "It just takes time together to get that chemistry. We all want it to happen as fast as possible and we're doing everything we can for that."The Kings took a step back in the standings this season, winning five fewer games on the way to a 27-55 record that left them out of the playoffs for the 12th straight season, the longest active drought in the NBA.But with most of Sacramento's key players age 25 or younger, there might be some reason for optimism for a franchise that seems to be in perpetual rebuilding mode."They've seen enough to know how to react now," veteran Vince Carter said. "They... [More]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Coach Dave Joerger strongly believes Sacramento's commitment to youth this season will pay off down the line in helping develop the Kings into a playoff contender.How soon that happens remains an open question."It can be frustrating because we're a society that wants a quick change and we want it right now," Joerger said after the final game of his second season in Sacramento. "It just takes time together to get that chemistry. We all want it to happen as fast as possible and we're doing everything we can for that."The Kings took a step back in the standings this season, winning five fewer games on the way to a 27-55 record that left them out of the playoffs for the 12th straight season, the longest active drought in the NBA.But with most of Sacramento's key players age 25 or younger, there might be some reason for optimism for a franchise that seems to be in perpetual rebuilding mode."They've seen enough to know how to react now," veteran Vince Carter said. "They... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — John Paxson insisted the Chicago Bulls are in a good position. And the Bulls' top executive hopes they are never in this spot again."We did this year what we felt was in the long-term best interests of the Bulls," Paxson said Thursday. "It's not a situation that any of us want to ever be in again. It goes against everything as a competitive person that you believe in, but it's the way the system is set up. To be very honest, we believe we've done it the right way."The Bulls went 27-55, their worst record since the 2003-04 season, and missed the playoffs for the second time in three years. But they are staying the course after going all-in on rebuilding.Paxson, Chicago's executive vice president of basketball operations, praised coach Fred Hoiberg and said he will "absolutely" return for a fourth season. He said most of the roster will be back "because we're headed in the right direction" and called this "as important a summer as we've had in a very long time."Here are some... [More]