NEW YORK (AP) — Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Saturday for intentionally making contact with a game official.Upset after a turnover he thought should have been a foul call on Cody Zeller late in the third quarter of the Thunder’s 104-102 overtime victory in Charlotte on Friday night, Schroder approached referee CJ Washington at mid-court when play was stopped and grabbed at the official's wrist to demonstrate what Zeller had done to him.Washington immediately gave Schroder a technical foul.Charlotte guard Terry Rozier also was fined $25,000 for throwing the game ball into the stands at the end of regulation. He was assessed a technical foul.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal is out for Saturday's game with the New York Knicks due to soreness in his right leg. Beal, who suffered the injury in Thursday's loss at Detroit, ends his consecutive games streak at 194. He last missed a game on April 12, 2017. Beal, an All-Star the last two seasons, is fifth in the league in scoring at 27.8 points per game. Wizards coach Scott Brooks said the injury was “nothing serious. Hopefully, he'll be back next game, but don't know that. Day-to-day from today. He feels better today.” Washington's next game is Monday against Miami. Gary Payton II, signed on Dec. 23, will start in Beal's place. Brooks said that forwards Davis Bertans (quad), Rui Hachimura (groin) and center Mo Wagner (ankle) would all be out for at least the next week. ___ More AP NBA: www.apnews.com/NBA and www.twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Saturday for intentionally making contact with a game official.Upset after a turnover he thought should have been a foul call on Cody Zeller late in the third quarter of the Thunder’s 104-102 overtime victory in Charlotte on Friday night, Schroder approached referee CJ Washington at mid-court when play was stopped and grabbed at the official's wrist to demonstrate what Zeller had done to him.Washington immediately gave Schroder a technical foul.

ATLANTA (AP) — Hawks guard Trae Young sprained his right ankle Friday and will miss at least one game.Young had to be helped off the floor and was ruled out for the rest of the night late in the second quarter of a 112-86 loss to Milwaukee. He said after the game that he will not make the trip to Chicago for Saturday's game against the Bulls.“I rolled it pretty bad," Young said. “It hurts pretty bad right now, but that's to be expected. I'm getting treatment on it and iced it already."Young was dribbling when he went down in the lane. He wasn't able to put much weight on his right leg while Kevin Huerter and John Collins lifted his arms over their shoulders and escorted him to the sideline.From there, Vince Carter and a team trainer helped him into the locker room.Young began the game ranked fourth in the NBA with 29 points per game. He scored 12 points Friday.Young missed an Oct. 31 home loss to Miami with a right ankle sprain, but returned for the next game five nights later to score 29 points in a win over Sacramento.“It was bad the first time, but the pain was bad this time as well," Young said. “It hurt really bad, especially when it happened, but I don't really know a comparison."___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ATLANTA (AP) — Hawks guard Trae Young had to be helped off the floor and was ruled out for the rest of the game after spraining his right ankle late in the second quarter Friday night.Young was dribbling when he went down in the lane against Milwaukee. He wasn't able to put much weight on his right leg while Kevin Huerter and John Collins lifted his arms over their shoulders and escorted him to the sideline.From there, Vince Carter and a team trainer helped him into the locker room.Young began the game ranked fourth in the NBA with 29 points per game. He scored 12 against the Bucks.Atlanta trailed 63-40 at halftime.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ATLANTA (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo sat out the Milwaukee Bucks' game at Atlanta on Friday night because of back soreness.Coach Mike Budenholzer ruled out Antetokounmpo, last season's NBA MVP and the second-leading scorer this season, before league-leading Milwaukee faced the Hawks. “His back is something I guess would be in that category of something we manage and keep our eyes on, and sometimes it flares up," Budenholzer said. “Today it’s enough that he can’t play. But you’re hopeful that it’s not anything significant even though it is something that we kind of monitor on a regular basis."Ersan Ilyasova started in Antetokounmpo's spot. It was too early to tell if Antetokounmpo also will sit out Saturday at Orlando.Antetokounmpo was favoring his back while scoring 18 points and getting 14 rebounds in a loss Wednesday night at Philadelphia, but Budenholzer said the decision to hold out him was mostly precautionary.“Except for that he’s out tonight, I think he’s been doing really well," Budenholzer said. “I think he’s felt good and looked strong just even to kind of to the general eye test."Antetokounmpo has missed one game this season, a home victory over New Orleans on Dec. 11 because of right quad tendon soreness. He is averaging 30.1 points and 12.9 rebounds.Milwaukee leads the NBA with a 27-5 record.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic returned to the Dallas Mavericks’ lineup Thursday night against the San Antonio Spurs after missing four games because of a sprained right ankle.Doncic leads the NBA this season with eight triple-doubles. The reigning rookie of the year entered the game averaging 29.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.9 assists.The injury occurred Dec. 14 against the Miami Heat after Doncic played only 1:40. Dallas lost that game and was 2-2 in the four games he missed entirely. The Mavericks lost their most recent game Sunday at Toronto after blowing a 30-point lead.Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said there would be no restriction on minutes for Doncic.“We’ll see how things go,” Carlisle said. “With it being a national (television) game and longer timeouts, that helps. He practiced (Tuesday) without issue.”___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DETROIT (AP) — Detroit Pistons guard Luke Kennard is expected to be out of the lineup for two weeks because of knee tendinitis.The team made the announcement Thursday, saying Kennard will be evaluated again before returning to play in early January.The third-year pro is averaging nearly 16 points per game, tied with Blake Griffin and trailing only Andre Drummond in scoring on the team. Kennard is making a team-high 2.6 3-pointers per game and 4.1 assists to rank second on the team.The former Duke star averaged fewer than 10 points per game during his first two NBA seasons after Detroit drafted him No. 12 overall in 2017.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets have signed coach Michael Malone to a contract extension through the 2022-23 season.Malone has steadily helped build the Nuggets into a Western Conference contender since taking over in 2015-16. Denver advanced to the second round of the playoffs last season. "His tireless work ethic and passion are clearly reflected in the continued improvement of our roster,” Nuggets president of of basketball operations Tim Connelly said Tuesday in a statement. “We are all extremely excited for him to continue to lead our team as we try to build a championship level organization.”Malone guided the Nuggets to 33 wins in his first season at the helm. They jumped to 40 wins, then 46 and 54 last season, including the league’s best home record. Denver is off to a 21-8 start this season behind the play of versatile big man Nikola Jokic and point guard Jamal Murray.Malone also had his contract extended with Denver on Oct. 17, 2018. He has a 194-163 record with Denver. That puts... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cavaliers traded Jordan Clarkson before he could walk away.Cleveland dealt the veteran backup guard to the Utah Jazz for guard Dante Exum and two future second-round draft picks on Tuesday. The teams agreed to terms of the deal shortly before their games in Cleveland and Miami tipped off on Monday, and the NBA approved it Tuesday.Clarkson was in the final year of his contract and was unlikely to re-sign with the Cavaliers as a free agent, so the club made a move to add a young player and future assets to help Cleveland rebuild.The Cavaliers will get San Antonio's second-round pick in 2022 and Golden State's in 2023. The Jazz acquired those selections in other trades.Clarkson could be the first of several veterans moved by the Cavs, who have reportedly been open to receiving offers for star forward Kevin Love. Following Monday's 121-118 victory over Atlanta, Love posted a message on Instagram, saying he would miss Clarkson.“This one hurt!!!” Love wrote. “JC really became... [More]

Giannis Antetokounmpo had become such an attraction after just a few seasons in the league that ABC analyst Jeff Van Gundy said a couple years ago he wanted to see the Milwaukee Bucks on Christmas, even if it was just a practice.The jump out of the gym explosiveness, the ability to go end to end — or until wherever he decides to leap for a dunk — in just a few strides made Antetokounmpo a highlight waiting to happen. The league took notice and put the Bucks on the Dec. 25 schedule last year, their first appearance since 1977.The Bucks are back this year, bringing the NBA's best record to Philadelphia powered by a much more complete MVP.The athleticism that helped the Greek Freak score a career-best 52 points against the 76ers last March is still there, now bolstered by emerging leadership and outside shooting skills that might just make Milwaukee (27-4) the team to beat this season.Things like sugar and soda are absent from his diet, with Antetokounmpo, who turned 25 this month, having... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Jordan Clarkson wasn't going to be a part of Cleveland's future. Now he's in the past.The Cavaliers agreed Monday night to trade Clarkson to the Utah Jazz for guard Dante Exum and two future second-round draft picks, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.Cleveland will get a pick in 2022 and one in 2023, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams have not yet had the required conference call with the NBA to approve the swap.The deal came together shortly before the Jazz played in Miami and the Cavs hosted Atlanta. Clarkson warmed up on the floor at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse before he was informed of the trade.Clarkson figured to be on his way out of Cleveland. He's in the final year of his contract and had been coming off the bench behind Collin Sexton and rookie Darius Garland, a backcourt the Cavs hope to keep together for years.Clarkson, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, scored a season-high 33 points... [More]

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Terrence Ross made some shots and his Orlando teammates blocked a bunch of them.Ross scored a season-high 26 points Monday night and the Magic rejected 13 shots to break a three-game losing streak with a 103-95 victory over the Chicago Bulls.Mo Bamba came off the bench to block four shots, and Jonathan Isaac and Aaron Gordon blocked three apiece.“That's who we have to be,” Magic coach Steve Clifford said. “We're long, we have size, we have versatility. “The other guys did great things, but without (Ross), we would have been playing from eight, 10 behind there in the third quarter. He kept us in the game and made shot after shot.” Zach LaVine led Chicago with 26 points on 8-of-26 shooting, but the Bulls managed only 14 points in the fourth quarter. Tomas Satoransky added 20 points and was 4 of 5 on 3-point shots.“It's very difficult to win a road game when you have 17 turnovers and they have 13 blocks,” Bulls coach Jim Boylen said.Nikola Vucevic had 21 points and seven... [More]

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Terrence Ross scored a season-high 26 points Monday night to help the Orlando Magic break a three-game losing streak with a 103-95 victory over the Chicago Bulls.Zach LaVine led Chicago with 26 points on 8-of-26 shooting, but the Bulls managed only 14 points in the fourth quarter. Tomas Satoransky added 20 points and was 4 of 5 on 3-point shots.Nikola Vucevic had 21 points and seven rebounds for Orlando, which blocked 13 shots and held the Bulls to 31 percent shooting in the second half. Jonathan Isaac finished with 13 points, nine rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocks.Ross, who made six 3-pointers, hit a short jumper and a 3-pointer on a 7-0 Magic run early in the fourth quarter to put Orlando ahead to stay.With LaVine hitting two free throws and a 3-pointer, the Bulls scored the first nine points of the game.Lauri Markkanen and LaVine made two 3-pointers apiece in the last 4:15 of the first half to leave Chicago with a 54-51 lead at the break.TIP-INSBulls:... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Jordan Clarkson wasn't going to be a part of Cleveland's future. Now he's in the past.The Cavaliers agreed Monday night to trade Clarkson to the Utah Jazz for guard Dante Exum and two future second-round draft picks, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.Cleveland will get a pick in 2022 and one in 2023, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams have not yet had the required conference call with the NBA to approve the swap.The deal came together shortly before the Jazz played in Miami and the Cavs hosted Atlanta. Clarkson warmed up on the floor at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse before he was informed of the trade.Clarkson figured to be on his way out of Cleveland. He's in the final year of his contract and had been coming off the bench behind Collin Sexton and rookie Darius Garland, a backcourt the Cavs hope to keep together for years.Clarkson, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, scored a season-high 33 points... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations says the Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to trade guard Jordan Clarkson to the Utah Jazz for guard Dante Exum and two future second-round draft picks.Cleveland will get a pick in 2022 and one in 2023 in the deal, the person told The Associated Press on Monday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams have not yet had the required conference call with the NBA to approve the swap.The deal came together shortly before the Jazz played in Miami and the Cavs hosted Atlanta.Clarkson was in his third season for the Cavs. He had been coming off the bench behind Collin Sexton and rookie Darius Garland, Cleveland's likely backcourt of the future.Clarkson averaged 14.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 29 games with the Cavs, who are rebuilding.Exum had fallen out of Utah's rotation and the Jazz had been looking to move the No. 5 overall pick in the 2014 draft. The native of Australia is averaging just 2.2 points and 7.5 minutes this season.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter says he will be able to play in his team's Christmas Day game in Toronto against the Raptors after discussions with the Canadian government.In a column published Monday by The Globe and Mail, the native of Turkey thanked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government as well as other officials from Canada and the U.S. for getting him the green light to cross the border to play in the NBA's first Christmas game in Toronto.Kanter, an outspoken critic of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an's government for its treatment of residents, has not traveled outside the United States for years. Kanter has said his passport was revoked by the Turkish government in 2017.The Globe's headline reads, "Thank you, Canada, for letting me play basketball — despite Turkey’s threats against me."The Celtics already were short-handed at center with Vincent Poirier and Robert Williams nursing injuries.Kanter, 27, is averaging 7.8 points and 7.3 rebounds for the Celtics this season."I want to thank Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government, U.S. and Canadian law enforcement, U.S. Senator Ed Markey, the Celtics, the NBA and my managers for working diligently to make my Christmas game against the Raptors possible and ensuring my safety there," Kanter writes in the Globe. “And, on Christmas night, I will play in my first game as a Celtic outside the U.S. when I take the court against the Raptors.”___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Billy Donovan challenges Oklahoma City’s young players to slow down and consider their strengths, focus first on defense and always think about whether the best decision is to shoot or pass.Then, just be patient and teach the rest of the game’s nuances over time.It can be a painful process for NBA coaches — and a costly one.Many coaches are striking the delicate balance between pushing inexperienced players enough for the players and team to succeed while realizing that the learning curve in the league can be a long one.The pace of the NBA can be daunting for newcomers. There is typically little time for extensive practices, so players must make strides on the fly and are thrown into the fire to learn as they go.“The more you play, the more the game slows down and you understand situations. Like I know what I’m capable of but I also know paying attention to their coverage, what they’re going to do,” Thunder guard Chris Paul said. “I always say this, ‘At the end of the day, it’s a game.’... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James won't play for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Denver Nuggets, the first game he's missed this season.The 34-year-old superstar sat out Sunday night because of a thoracic muscle strain. He's listed as day-to-day and coach Frank Vogel had no estimate on how long James would be out. He was hurt in a loss at Indiana on Tuesday and then played through it in a defeat at Milwaukee two nights later.James has averaged nearly 35 minutes this season, helping the Western Conference-leading Lakers to a 24-5 start. He's averaging 25.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 10.6 assists in his 17th season.Last season, his first with the Lakers, James was limited to 55 games because of a groin injury. Forward Kyle Kuzma returned Sunday for the Lakers after missing five games with a sprained left ankle. He also missed four games in October with a stress reaction in the same ankle.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Washington guard Isaiah Thomas was suspended for two games without pay by the NBA on Sunday for entering the spectator stands late in the Wizards' loss at Philadelphia on Saturday night.The NBA said the fans involved have been banned by the 76ers for one year from Wells Fargo Center events and the ticket-holders’ seats have been revoked.Thomas is averaging 1.6 points and 4.8 assists in his first season with Washington.