OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Steven Adams is invaluable to the Oklahoma City Thunder.He's also a reminder: Big men in the NBA are still vital.The imposing 7-foot center from New Zealand is helping change the recent narrative that NBA centers are an endangered species, something that — based on spending and drafting this summer — is evidently not the case.The perimeter-oriented and defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors landed All-Star DeMarcus Cousins this summer, albeit on a $5.3 million bargain deal. NBA teams went big at this year's 2018 draft, with Deandre Ayton and Marvin Bagley going No. 1 and No. 2 and centers taking four of the first seven spots. And this summer, $285 million worth of contracts went to three centers — Nikola Jokic, Clint Capela and Jusuf Nurkic.Not bad for often underappreciated guys."I just think guys are just getting more opportunities to play their game, play outside the box," Detroit's Andre Drummond said.Adams is a great example.He doesn't get many, if any, plays... [More]

Editors:To help you plan for the upcoming NBA season, here are some of AP's plans before games begin Oct. 16. Please contact Oscar Dixon (odixon@ap.org) with any questions. All times Eastern. This advisory will be updated and is subject to change.PRESEASONThe AP is providing a daily roundup of preseason games, leading with the top angle of the night.UPCOMING STORIES:BKN--Magic-CliffordORLANDO, Fla. — Steve Clifford is sleeping more every night now, part of his commitment to health after a huge scare last season. But he knows that taking over as coach of the Orlando Magic and starting a rebuilding job will be an enormous challenge nonetheless — no matter how much more sleep he gets. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 2 p.m. Oct. 8BKN--NBA Diversity-Front OfficesThe NBA usually gets high marks for its diversity efforts and is widely viewed as a leader on social issues. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver believes the league needs to be better, and he made his feelings... [More]

Paul George can count.That's what we forgot.Everyone knows that the lure of home is strong for George, a Los Angeles kid who took countless jumpers as a youngster while pretending to be Kobe Bryant and wearing purple and gold. And players tend to go home: Paul Pierce played in LA toward the end of his career, Dwyane Wade briefly played in Chicago, Chauncey Billups had stints in Denver.So while diving into the magnitude of the numbers in George's soon-to-be-official deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder — four years at an average of $34 million a season, a contract that sure seems like it will help push the OKC payroll and luxury tax bills for next season alone to perhaps well over $200 million — there was one number that seems to have mattered most.It is 28.His age.He's still a young man, even by NBA standards. Consider this: George might not even be at his NBA peak yet. Barring an extension, which is possible, he could exercise his option to become a free agent again in the summer of 2021... [More]

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Paul George said all the right things when asked if he'd consider staying with the Oklahoma City Thunder instead of leaving in free agency this summer."They honestly check the boxes where I needed those boxes to be checked from what a player wants and needs out of a front office, out of a medical group, out of teammates, out of a coaching staff," George said Saturday, a day after the Thunder lost their first-round playoff series to Utah 4-2. "I mean, honestly, I can't say it any more than that. They checked the boxes on what needs to be checked."George's decision will largely determine if a rare gamble by general manager Sam Presti pays off. The Thunder bucked their tendencies and went for big splashes before this season, trading for George and Carmelo Anthony to join Russell Westbrook in hopes of rejoining the NBA's elite.It didn't work — or at least, it hasn't yet. Now, the Thunder and their fans are in an eerily familiar position. Kevin Durant had good things to... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The first taste of the NBA playoffs for Timberwolves All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns has been rather bitter, thanks to the 3-point-happy Houston Rockets.The two-game totals tell a frustrating story for the 22-year-old: just 13 points, 5 for 18 shooting and a 2-0 deficit in the series against the Rockets. Towns has found himself the subject of pointed criticism from analysts, fans and even his own team.The switch-heavy Rockets have double-teamed Towns to a stifling effect, and the Timberwolves sure haven't helped their 7-footer out by getting him the ball in favorable situations in the post."They're coming to double. He knows that. He has to face up, be strong with the ball, make quick moves," point guard Jeff Teague said. "But we have to figure out how to get him running, get him some easy buckets."The team's struggles have taken a little luster off Minnesota's first postseason home game in 14 years, but the fans who remember the Timberwolves reaching the Western Conference... [More]

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The last time Carmelo Anthony was in the playoffs, he was with the New York Knicks facing rising star Paul George and the Indiana Pacers back in 2013.Now, Anthony and George are teammates with the Oklahoma City Thunder. They join Russell Westbrook in a quest for their first NBA title, starting Sunday when the Thunder host the Utah Jazz in Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series.Because it's been so long, Anthony appreciates the opportunity to play in the postseason. He came to Oklahoma City in a trade before training camp expecting to compete for an NBA title."It's important," he said. "I'm here now, so ain't no looking back. I'm here. It's important, it's exciting. At the same time, I'm not here just to say I made it back to the playoffs. I'm here to make a statement as a team and prove why we put this team together. This is the place where I belong, we belong, and we have an opportunity to start something good on Sunday."Westbrook became the... [More]

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Carmelo Anthony has been the No. 1 option for whatever team he has played on during most of his basketball career.He knew that wasn't going to be the case when he arrived in Oklahoma City, though it's safe to say things haven't gone as he expected when he signed up to be part the league's next Big Three.Playing alongside Russell Westbrook and Paul George, Anthony and the Thunder are headed to the playoffs . He is the Thunder's third-leading scorer, yet at times it feels like he the fourth option behind center Steven Adams.Anthony isn't complaining."Acceptance of what I have to do here and what is needed of me," Anthony said. "I think the other guys on the team, after they started playing with each other more and more, we started figuring out each other's game. We figured out what each other brings to the game."He has said he wants to win, and he is not just talking the talk.Late in a critical game against the Denver Nuggets a few weeks ago , Anthony chose not to re-enter... [More]

C Steven Adams had 18 points as Oklahoma City's starting five shot 63 percent from the field.

C Steven Adams scored 15 points -- 12 in the first quarter and all by halftime.

C Steven Adams returned to the starting lineup after missing the past two games in concussion protocol. He pulled down nine rebounds and scored 11 points in 26 minutes.

C Steven Adams missed his second consecutive game due to a concussion. Adams went through some workouts Monday morning but remains in the league's concussion protocol.

C Steven Adams enjoyed another big night Wednesday in a 100-95 win at Indiana when he scored 23 points on 11 of 16 shooting. He also grabbed 13 rebounds, including nine offensive boards. "He was great," Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. "He kept fighting for offensive rebounds and kept so many plays alive. He rim-protected and rolled to the basket. Those guys have confidence throwing the ball to him. Steven has gotten better finishing, but he's also gotten better at passing the ball out."

C Steven Adams scored 20 points in Tuesday's 100-94 victory over Utah. It was his third consecutive game with 19 or more. Adams, who had nine rebounds, made his first seven shots from the field and was 9 of 10 from the floor.

C Steven Adams added 19 points and 10 boards -- his third double-double in five games. Adams is 19 of 24 from the floor in the past two games.

C Steven Adams missed his third game Wednesday with a right calf contusion.

C Steven Adams missed Friday's game with the Clippers after suffering a right calf contusion late in Thursday's loss at Denver.

C Steven Adams missed his second consecutive game with a right calf contusion.

C Steven Adams notched his third double-double of the season on Tuesday night, scoring 14 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.

C Steven Adams started the night by hitting his first eight field goals. It's the best start from the field in a game in Adams' career. The Thunder record is 12 for 12 from Serge Ibaka in 2014.

F Steven Adams contributed 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Thunder in a win over the Pacers on Wednesday.