DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Pistons have waived veteran Joe Johnson.The Pistons announced the move Monday, setting their 15-man roster for Wednesday night's season opener at Indiana.Detroit signed Johnson last month, but the Pistons maintained that he would be competing for a roster spot, and there was no guarantee of that. The seven-time All-Star did not play in the NBA at all last season and came to Detroit after being named MVP of the BIG3 3-on-3 basketball league.Johnson appeared in four preseason games, averaging 3.8 points.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DETROIT (AP) — Blake Griffin was asked to recall the early stages of Derrick Rose's career, when the dynamic point guard won an MVP for the Chicago Bulls at age 22."His run in Chicago was special," Griffin said. "I don't want to say it caught us off guard, because it was kind of a nice natural progression for him, but just everything he did was at a higher level than anybody else. He was great for the game of basketball — is great for the game of basketball."The Detroit Pistons are hoping Griffin was right to use the present tense after signing Rose as a free agent this offseason. Now 31, Rose is far removed from his days as an MVP, but the Pistons saw enough upside to bring him in. Detroit also added 38-year-old Joe Johnson.The Pistons now have the top picks from the 2008 and 2009 drafts in Rose and Griffin. Rose, Griffin and Johnson have combined for 16 All-Star selections, although the last time they made it at the same time was in 2012. How this trio will do in 2019 is anyone's guess.Detroit's... [More]

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) — Blake Griffin worked so hard to lift the Detroit Pistons to the playoffs, then couldn't contribute as much once they were there.That's what coach Dwane Casey would like to avoid this season."I've said too many times, being from Kentucky, we rode him like a cheap horse last year," Casey said at media day Monday. "If we didn't, I don't think we would have made the playoffs, because he was that special to us, but again, with addition of some other talented guys on our team, hopefully we don't have to use him as much. I'm not going to put that in concrete, but I have to be smarter as far as the usage, because he takes a beating."Griffin averaged 35.0 minutes per game last season, his most since 2014-15, while also achieving the highest scoring average (24.5) of his career. He played 75 regular-season games, his most since 2013-14, but he missed two of the four games when the Pistons were swept by Milwaukee in the first round of the playoffs.Griffin ended up having... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Pistons have signed 38-year-old swingman Joe Johnson.Detroit announced the move Thursday.The 17-year NBA veteran did not play in the league last season. He was recently named MVP of the BIG3 3-on-3 basketball league.Johnson averaged 6.8 points in 55 games for Houston and Utah during two seasons ago. The seven-time All-Star has also played for Boston, Phoenix, Atlanta, Brooklyn and Miami, averaging 16 points over his career with 15 double-digit scoring seasons.The Pistons previously signed 30-year-old guard Derrick Rose, a former NBA MVP, and 30-year-old forward Markieff Morris this offseason. They are shooting to make the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since earning a spot in eight straight postseasons from 2002 to 2009.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DETROIT (AP) — A person with knowledge of the agreement says the Detroit Pistons have reached a deal with 38-year-old swingman Joe Johnson.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday night because the deal had not been announced. Johnson's most recent NBA season was 2017-18, when he played for Houston and Utah. He was recently named MVP of the BIG3 3-on-3 basketball league.Johnson averaged 6.8 points in 55 games in that 2017-18 season. He has also played for Boston, Phoenix, Atlanta, Brooklyn and Miami in an NBA career that began in 2001-02.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving gave the Brooklyn Nets two big victories in one night."They hit the Mega Millions and the Powerball," former NBA star Charles Oakley said.In the first hours of free agency, the Nets added two of the best players available to a young roster that made the playoffs, giving them hope of not only contention for an NBA title, but to be the biggest basketball team in New York.The Nets have gone after both before and gotten neither.There was the 2012 acquisition of Joe Johnson to play with point guard Deron Williams, a pairing that was touted as "Brooklyn's Backcourt."Then there was the trade the next year for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, a megadeal that landed the Nets the cover of "Sports Illustrated."It didn't get them anywhere close to a title, though.So it would be easy to mix caution in with optimism, but former Nets who were back at Barclays Center on Sunday to play in the BIG3 think things can be different this time."I think they're going... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Three days after being acquired at the trade deadline, Joe Johnson was waived by the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.Sacramento announced the move before their game against the Timberwolves on Sunday night. The 36-year-old Johnson was acquired along with guard Iman Shumpert, a 2020 second-round draft choice, the rights to forward Dimitros Agravanis and cash in a three-team trade involving the Cleveland Cavaliers and Utah Jazz.The Kings sent guard George Hill to Cleveland in the deal.Johnson appeared in 32 games for Utah and averaged 7.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 21.9 minutes per game. In 16 NBA seasons, Johnson has averaged 16.2 points per game and been named an All-Star seven times.

From Isaiah Thomas to Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose, the Cleveland Cavaliers loaded up on big names last summer.None will be there if the Cavaliers get back to the NBA Finals.In what felt like an unprecedented do-over for a contending team, the Cavaliers simply changed the pieces that weren't fitting for new ones on Thursday at the trade deadline.Fans who usually marvel at LeBron James were instead praising his general manager, as Koby Altman used a series of swaps to strengthen a sputtering team and leave open the possibility for more moves."They got better. They made the moves they wanted to make and I'm sure they're going to make it work over there," Golden State's Kevin Durant said. "It's fun for all the fans and the media to kind of see what's going on with the trade deadline."Cavs' fans probably had the most fun, and for good reason. Cleveland was the story Thursday .The Cavaliers acquired Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. in the deal with Los Angeles, which also got Channing Frye... [More]

F Joe Johnson, a former Celtic, returned, playing his first game since Oct. 30. "I'm just glad to be out there on the court," Johnson said before playing 15 minutes. "I didn't have an injury to my lower extremities, so it was just about getting rest and getting strength in my wrist."

F Joe Johnson missed his 21st straight game with wrist tendon instability, but went through Wednesday's shootaround and felt comfortable in 1-on-1 drills, but remains out. Coach Quin Snyder said Johnson still can't take contact in practice, but is close to returning.

F Joe Johnson did not play Wednesday after sustaining a tendon injury in his right wrist against Dallas on Monday. Johnson is expected to be sidelined at least two weeks.

G/F Joe Johnson scored four points and passed Tom Chambers for 40th on the NBA's career scoring list.

F Joe Johnson had a chance to tie it for Utah in the closing seconds but missed a 3-pointer with 3.9 seconds remaining.

F Joe Johnson delivered 10 of his 14 points in the second half for the Jazz.

F Joe Johnson scored 13 of his game-high 28 points over the final seven minutes Sunday to lead the Utah Jazz to a 105-98 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 4 of their Western Conference first-round series.Utah evened the best-of-seven series at two games apiece. It was the first home playoff win for the Jazz in seven years. Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday in Los Angeles.Just as in the opening game of the series, when Johnson stepped up after Rudy Gobert exited with a knee injury, Johnson came to the rescue once again when Gordon Hayward succumbed to food poisoning. Johnson did a bit of everything, from hitting floaters in the lane to dropping 3-pointers, to keep the Clippers' defense on its heels.The veteran forward scored or assisted eight of Utah's final nine field goals.

G Joe Johnson added 13 points for the Jazz.

G Joe Johnson channeled C Rudy Gobert's injury into a game-winning shot. Johnson's runner in the lane as time expired lifted the Jazz to a 97-95 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 1 of the Western Conference playoffs on Saturday at Staples Center.Johnson scored a team-high 21 points off the bench for the Jazz, who lost Gobert less than 20 seconds into the game after sustaining a sprained left knee.

G Joe Johnson became the 42nd player to score 20,000 career points. "It's representative of who Joe is, his consistency and his excellence," coach Quin Snyder said before the game.

G/F Joe Johnson added 22 points off the bench. Johnson needs seven points to become the 42nd NBA player to score 20,000.

G/F Joe Johnson collected 17 points Saturday,