WASHINGTON (AP) — For a team that entered the season thinking it was ready to win 50 games and reach the Eastern Conference finals, John Wall's Washington Wizards sure did lose a lot of games against teams that didn't even make the playoffs.And everything revealed by those defeats against the likes of the Hawks and Magic, or the Mavericks and Suns, or the Nets and Bulls — a lack of consistency, for example, or an inability to close out opponents — were the same sorts of problems that failed the Wizards in their first-round exit as the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference."We had some great moments. Then we showed bad moments," Wall said Saturday, the day after a 102-92 loss in Game 6 against the No. 1 seed Toronto Raptors ended Washington's season. "Just kind of not respecting some of the opponents that we went against."Asked why that happened, forward Markieff Morris said: "Sometimes it felt like it was immaturity. ... Not coming in and doing our job."The issue might have been as much... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — For a team that entered the season thinking it was ready to win 50 games and reach the Eastern Conference finals, coach Scott Brooks' Washington Wizards sure did lose a lot of games against teams that didn't even make the playoffs.And everything revealed by those defeats against the likes of the Hawks and Magic, or the Mavericks and Suns, or the Nets and Bulls — a lack of consistency, for example, or an inability to close out opponents — were the same sorts of problems that failed the Wizards in their first-round exit as the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference."I don't know if we're too casual or something that was keeping us from being able to compete at the high level against all teams," Brooks said Saturday, the day after a 102-92 loss in Game 6 against the No. 1 seed Toronto Raptors ended Washington's season. "Got to figure that out."They sure do."Sometimes it felt like it was immaturity," forward Markieff Morris said. "It's not coming in and doing our job."The issue... [More]

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Pacers look loose and sound confident.They were laughing, smiling and joking around at practice Thursday as turned to a new task — protecting their home court this weekend against LeBron James.Sure, his sensational 46-point, 12-rebound effort in Game 2 exposed flaws in Indiana's defense and allowed Cleveland to even the series, but it sure didn't shake the faith of the fearless Pacers."It's a good sign when you lose by three and the best player in the world has a game like that," Indiana point guard Darren Collison said.The Pacers shouldn't be rattled.They are 4-2 against the three-time defending Eastern Conference champs this season, fought back from an early 18-point deficit Wednesday with Victor Oladipo in foul trouble and still had a chance to tie the score on Oladipo's wide-open 3-pointer with 27 seconds left.They still can seize control of the series by winning the next two in Indianapolis.To avoid such a plight, the Cavs could give their star player... [More]

The Portland Trail Blazers fought their way through a pressure-packed playoff race to earn home-court advantage in a series, then lost it in one game.The Toronto Raptors know that problem all too well, so they want to take advantage of playing from ahead for a change.They try for their first 2-0 playoff series lead ever Tuesday night against Washington, while the Trail Blazers try to even things up in against the New Orleans Pelicans.Boston and Milwaukee play the other Game 2 on Tuesday after the Celtics pulled out a 113-107 overtime victory on Sunday.The No. 3 Trail Blazers were the highest-seeded team to lose so far, falling 97-95 on Saturday. Anthony Davis was dominant, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum were slow-starting, and the Pelicans got a couple big defensive plays down the stretch from Jrue Holiday to hold on after the Blazers nearly came back from a 19-point deficit."I think it puts some pressure on us," Lillard said. "You know, you come in with home court, the first two games... [More]

The Portland Trail Blazers fought their way through a pressure-packed playoff race to earn home-court advantage in a series, then lost it in one game.The Toronto Raptors know that problem all too well, so they want to take advantage of playing from ahead for a change.They try for their first 2-0 playoff series lead ever Tuesday night against Washington, while the Trail Blazers try to even things up in against the New Orleans Pelicans.Boston and Milwaukee play the other Game 2 on Tuesday after the Celtics pulled out a 113-107 overtime victory on Sunday.The No. 3 Trail Blazers were the highest-seeded team to lose so far, falling 97-95 on Saturday. Anthony Davis was dominant, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum were slow-starting, and the Pelicans got a couple big defensive plays down the stretch from Jrue Holiday to hold on after the Blazers nearly came back from a 19-point deficit."I think it puts some pressure on us," Lillard said. "You know, you come in with home court, the first two games... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — A "culture reset" carried the Toronto Raptors to the top of the Eastern Conference for the first time this season.Next, the Raptors will try to hit reset on their playoff history with the Washington Wizards.After Cleveland swept the Raptors in the second round last spring, team president Masai Ujiri promised to change the culture surrounding the club.That meant greater emphasis on ball movement and 3-point shooting, something the Raptors were able to execute immediately. Toronto had 67 games with at least 20 assists, up from 34 the previous year, and averaged 33 shots a game from beyond the arc, third most in the NBA."We won 59 games," All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan said. "I think that speaks for itself. We know what works for us, what got us here, and what's going to take us even further."Thanks to the offensive overhaul, this Raptors team is far removed from the one swept in the first round in 2015, a series in which the Wizards won by an average of 14 points."That's old... [More]

F Mike Scott returned to the team Sunday after missing the Friday win over the Houston Rockets for the birth of his second child. He scored 17 points against Chicago.

F Mike Scott had 19 points off the bench for the Wizards in Sunday's loss to the Cavaliers.

F Mike Scott started in place of F Markieff Morris (sore right hip) and scored 10 points in Wednesday's win over the Memphis Grizzlies. It was his first start of the season.

F Mike Scott scored 10 points in Tuesday's 106-92 victory at Portland.

F Mike Scott has scored in double figures in six of the last nine games.

F Mike Scott signed a contract with the Washington Wizards, the team announced Sunday. The team did not disclose terms of the deal for the free agent, but earlier in the week multiple media outlets reported it is a one-year, $1.7 million contract for the fifth-year pro. The 6-foot-8 Scott was limited to 18 games last season with the Hawks because of a knee injury. He was traded to the Phoenix Suns and was waived, last playing in a game on Feb. 15. He averaged 2.5 points and 2.1 rebounds in 2016-17.

F Mike Scott was acquired by the Phoenix Suns from the Atlanta Hawks for cash and a heavily-protected second-round pick Thursday. Scott was the 43rd overall pick in 2012 draft by the Hawks and his role has varied throughout his career. He has career averages of 7.1 points and three rebounds while shooting 46 percent in 281 regular season games for the Hawks. This season, he was limited to 18 games and averaged 2.5 points and 2.1 rebounds while also spending some time in the D-League.

F Mike Scott was sent to a D-League assignment with the Long Island Nets. It's the fourth D-League trip for Scott, who is trying to recover from a knee injury.

F Mike Scott was assigned to the Long Island Nets of the NBA Development League on Sunday. Scott, 28, will be making his third D-League stint as he returns from a knee injury that cost him training camp and the beginning of the season. The 6-foot-8, 237-pound Scott averaged 14.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in his four D-League games.

F Mike Scott, was recalled from his D-League assignment. .

F Mike Scott, who has appeared in only three games for the Hawks because of knee issues, will play for Long Island on Wednesday in his second NBA Development League assignment

F Mike Scott was recalled from Delaware of the D-League Friday, where he appeared in two games after being reassigned on Dec. 6.

F Mike Scott was sent the Delaware 87ers of the NBA Development League, the Atlanta Hawks announced Tuesday. Scott has played sparingly for the Hawks since returning from a knee injury and this assignment is an effort to give Scott more playing time. He is expected to play two games for the 87ers before returning to the Hawks. Scott has played in just three games for the Hawks this season and averaged 9.3 minutes.

F Mike Scott (knee) isn't expected back until December.