WASHINGTON (AP) — Forward Otto Porter Jr. missed a must-win Game 6 for the Washington Wizards in their playoff series against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night because of an injured left leg."It's hard on him," Washington coach Scott Brooks said. "It's hard on all of us."The No. 8 seed Wizards entered Friday trailing 3-2 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series. They announced a few hours before the scheduled tipoff that Porter is sidelined indefinitely after having a medical procedure earlier Friday to prevent permanent damage to muscles in the leg because of compartment syndrome.Porter has averaged only 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists while making just five 3-pointers during the playoffs.He was Washington's third-leading scorer during the regular season, behind John Wall and Bradley Beal, averaging a career-high 14.7 points, along with 6.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He was third in the NBA in 3-point field-goal percentage at 44.1, another personal best."He... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Less than three weeks ago, Ty Lawson was playing professional basketball in China.Nowadays, he's one of the first subs off the bench for the Washington Wizards in their Eastern Conference first-round series against the Toronto Raptors.Lawson is hardly the only player who went from not having a spot on an NBA roster to getting some run, and maybe even filling a key role, during these playoffs. As much as teams develop plans for acquiring talent via the draft, free agency or trades, sometimes a late pickup can become a piece that completes the puzzle."It's not ideal," Wizards coach Scott Brooks said about adding someone on short notice. "It (requires) a lot of work that has to be done in trying to figure it out and try to incorporate him and integrate him into our offense and defensive schemes."With Lawson, though, Brooks added, "It probably is not as much of a disadvantage because he's been in the league, understands the NBA and understands the schemes. A lot of the schemes... [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]

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA has suspended Washington Wizards guard Jodie Meeks 25 games without pay for using a banned substance.The league announced the suspension Friday, a day before Game 1 of the Wizards' first-round playoff series against the East's top-seeded Toronto Raptors. The NBA says Meeks tested positive for Ipamorelin, a growth hormone that's prohibited under the league's drug program.Meeks' suspension makes Washington's signing of guard Ty Lawson just before the playoffs make more sense. Lawson replaces Meeks on the Wizards' bench behind starting guards John Wall and Bradley Beal.In his first season with the Wizards and ninth in the NBA, the 30-year-old Meeks averaged 6.3 points off the bench and was shooting just under 40 percent.___More NBA basketball: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

WASHINGTON (AP) — Free agent guard Ty Lawson has signed a contract with the Washington Wizards, giving them additional depth heading into their first-round playoff series against the Toronto Raptors.The Wizards announced the move Thursday, a day after they wrapped up the regular season with a 101-92 loss to the Orlando Magic and finished with the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.Wizards point guard John Wall sat out the game because it was the second of a back-to-back set. He returned March 31 after missing more than two months because of surgery on his left knee.The 30-year-old Lawson played most recently in the Chinese Basketball Association. He hasn't been in the NBA since last season, when he averaged 9.9 points and 4.8 assists for the Sacramento Kings.He has played eight seasons in the NBA, spending time with four teams.Washington plays Game 1 of its series at No. 1 seed Toronto on Saturday.___More AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

G Ty Lawson recorded his first career triple-double Tuesday, finishing with 22 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds against the Suns.Lawson, who had six rebounds in the first quarter, is one of three unrestricted free agents whose futures for the Kings remain in limbo, and he has proved to be as significant as any of them. Primarily a backup for starting PG Darren Collison, Lawson has averaged 9.9 points and 4.8 assists in 25 minutes per game. He had posted consecutive double-doubles in his previous two games.

G Ty Lawson added 20 points and 11 assists in the Kings' loss to the Rockets on Sunday.

G Ty Lawson, C Kosta Koufos and F Arron Afflalo each were given a night off for a planned rest Monday.

G Ty Lawson's attorney denied published reports on Wednesday that a bench warrant was issued for the arrest of his client.Multiple media outlets reported that Lawson violated terms of his probation by failing three court-ordered sobriety tests, prompting the bench warrant. The Denver Post, citing Denver County Court records, reported that Lawson tested positive for alcohol on three separation occasions -- Sept. 27, Sept. 29 and Oct. 2 -- during his court supervision. However, Harvey Steinberg, Lawson's attorney, released a statement disputing the report of a bench warrant.

G Ty Lawson scored 19 points and hit a collection of big shots to pace the Kings (25-37), but Sacramento lost its fourth consecutive game. The Kings have not produced a 20-point scorer in any of them.

G Ty Lawson missed his third game Tuesday due to a left groin strain.

G Ty Lawson (strained left hamstring) sat out for the second game Sunday as the Kings' posted a win over the Pelicans.

G Ty Lawson missed Friday's game with a strained left hamstring and remains day to day. .

G Ty Lawson, who exited with a left leg injury in the second quarter Wednesday, is doubtful for the Kings' Friday game against the Hawks. An MRI exam showed a strained left adductor muscle.

G Ty Lawson exited with a left hamstring injury in the second quarter Wednesday, and he will undergo an MRI exam Thursday.He walked straight to the locker room shortly after taking a jumper, and television cameras showed him in the tunnel clutching his left hamstring. The team diagnosed the injury as a strain."I did a step-back jump shot and felt a pinch," he said. "I've never really pulled my hamstring before so I ran down the court and tried to stop again, and I felt the same thing. I just eased up and walked off. ... It's not bad."Lawson's status for Friday's home game against the Atlanta Hawks will be updated Thursday.

G Ty Lawson scored 22 points off the bench in the Kings' loss to the Bulls on Monday.

Ty Lawson scored 18 off the bench for a Kings team that was playing short-handed. Already without forwards Rudy Gay and guard Omri Casspi, the Kings played without guards Garrett Temple (partially torn hamstring) and small forward Arron Affalo (stomach illness).

G Ty Lawson tied his season high with 19 points as the Kings' bench produced 52 points in a 109-104 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Monday at The Palace.

G Ty Lawson missed the game because of a left ankle sprain sustained late in Sacramento's loss to Oklahoma City on Sunday. Lawson might be back to start the road trip.

G Ty Lawson (sinus fracture) missed his first game since getting injured Saturday.