NEW YORK (AP) — It's been seven years since the Nets crossed over the Hudson River and took up residence in the Knicks' city.A real rivalry might finally arrive Sunday.Rarely relevant at the same time on the basketball court, the Knicks and Nets are front and center in the free agency race, two of the teams best positioned to make a splash when the market opens.Both can afford two top players, with hopes of landing not only a Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving, but possibly both. New York, home of the worst team in the NBA in two of the last seasons, could be the epicenter of the league in early July.After years of bad play, bad trades and often bad basketball, at least one team in the city could look really good in a few days.The Nets seem confident. The Knicks sound cautious.Game on.Brooklyn is feeling good about its chances of winning it. Having recovered from an ill-fated trade with Boston in 2013 that cost the Nets years of high draft picks, Brooklyn has constructed a team that surprisingly... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — D'Angelo Russell was an All-Star and the Brooklyn Nets became a playoff team. Neither looked likely four months ago.So it was a surprisingly successful season, though there's plenty of work left for the Nets to do — including deciding whether Russell will have a role.Nets players were proud of their accomplishments but realistic about the future Wednesday, a day after they were routed by the 76ers in Game 5 of their return to the postseason.Changes are necessary if the Nets want to contend with a team like Philadelphia. So players heading into free agency can't be certain of their futures in Brooklyn.Not even Russell, the former No. 2 pick, who had a breakout season."Hell yeah, I definitely want to be here," he said. "But I also know it's a business too, so I'm not going to play that role like I don't know what could possibly happen."Early in the season, Caris LeVert was the Nets' best player and Russell sometimes sat on the bench in the fourth quarter. But with the Nets... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — D'Angelo Russell was an All-Star and the Brooklyn Nets became a playoff team. Neither looked likely four months ago.So it was a surprisingly successful season, though there's plenty for the Nets to build on — including a decision on whether Russell will have a role.Nets players were proud of their accomplishments but realistic about the future Wednesday, a day after they were routed by Philadelphia in Game 5 of their return to the postseason.Changes are necessary if the Nets want to contend with a team like Philadelphia. So players heading into free agency can't be certain of their futures in Brooklyn.Not even Russell, the former No. 2 pick, who had a breakout season."Hell yeah, I definitely want to be here," he said. "But I also know it's a business too, so I'm not going to play that role like I don't know what could possibly happen."Early in the season, Caris LeVert was the Nets' best player and Russell sometimes sat on the bench in the fourth quarter. But with the Nets... [More]

DENVER (AP) — In response to an early call, Toronto coach Nick Nurse formed the perfect "O'' with his mouth and held it for a dozen or so seconds.Oh, these playoffs. They can leave your mouth agape — just like Nurse's gone-viral expression on the bench during a win Sunday in Orlando.Now leading 3-1, Nurse and the Raptors look to close out their series with the Magic at home Tuesday. The same goes for Philadelphia against Brooklyn and Portland against Oklahoma City.The second-seeded Denver Nuggets return home Tuesday following their first victory in San Antonio since 2012. Tied at 2, they've reclaimed home-court advantage as Nuggets coach Michael Malone finds himself in quite a chess match with his counterpart Gregg Popovich."He's Bobby Fischer," Malone said, in comparing Popovich to the chess prodigy. "He's a savant. So I'm not worried about matching wits with Gregg Popovich. I'm worried about helping our team."Face it, this was comical: The look of Nurse, who instantly became a meme with... [More]

DENVER (AP) — In response to an early call, Toronto coach Nick Nurse formed the perfect "O'' with his mouth and held it for a dozen or so seconds.Oh, these playoffs. They can leave your mouth agape — just like Nurse's gone-viral expression on the bench during a win Sunday in Orlando.Now leading 3-1, Nurse and the Raptors look to close out their series with the Magic at home Tuesday. The same goes for Philadelphia against Brooklyn and Portland against Oklahoma City.The second-seeded Denver Nuggets return home Tuesday following their first victory in San Antonio since 2012. Tied at 2, they've reclaimed home-court advantage as Nuggets coach Michael Malone finds himself in quite a chess match with his counterpart Gregg Popovich."He's Bobby Fischer," Malone said, in comparing Popovich to the chess prodigy. "He's a savant. So I'm not worried about matching wits with Gregg Popovich. I'm worried about helping our team."Face it, this was comical: The look of Nurse, who instantly became a meme with... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Nets general manager Sean Marks was suspended one game without pay and fined $25,000 by the NBA on Sunday for entering the referees' locker room after Brooklyn's loss to Philadelphia in Game 4 of their playoff series.The Nets lost 112-108 on Saturday in a game in which Brooklyn's Jared Dudley and Philadelphia's Jimmy Butler were ejected after a scuffle broke out following Joel Embiid's flagrant foul against Jarrett Allen in the third quarter.The Nets were already angry about a flagrant foul Embiid committed against Allen in Game 2, believing it should have warranted an ejection, and coach Kenny Atkinson complained that the 76ers held Allen before he turned the ball over on the Nets' last chance to tie Saturday's game. Atkinson said coaches were told that wrapping players as they tried to roll to the basket would be a point of emphasis this season.The NBA agreed with Atkinson on Sunday in its Last 2 Minutes report, determining that Tobias Harris should have been called for... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Nets general manager Sean Marks was suspended one game without pay and fined $25,000 by the NBA on Sunday for entering the referees' locker room after Brooklyn's loss to Philadelphia in Game 4 of their playoff series.The Nets lost 112-108 on Saturday in a game in which Brooklyn's Jared Dudley and Philadelphia's Jimmy Butler were ejected after a scuffle broke out following Joel Embiid's flagrant foul against Jarrett Allen in the third quarter.The Nets were already angry about a flagrant foul Embiid committed against Allen in Game 2, believing it should have warranted an ejection, and coach Kenny Atkinson complained that the 76ers held Allen before he turned the ball over on the Nets' last chance to tie Saturday's game. Atkinson said coaches were told that wrapping players as they tried to roll to the basket would be a point of emphasis this season.The NBA agreed with Atkinson on Sunday in its Last 2 Minutes report, determining that Tobias Harris should have been called for... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Nets general manager Sean Marks was suspended one game without pay and fined $25,000 by the NBA on Sunday for entering the referees' locker room after Brooklyn's loss to Philadelphia in Game 4 of their playoff series.The Nets lost 112-108 on Saturday in a game in which Brooklyn's Jared Dudley and Philadelphia's Jimmy Butler were ejected after a scuffle broke out following Joel Embiid's flagrant foul against Jarrett Allen in the third quarter.The Nets were already angry about a flagrant foul Embiid committed against Allen in Game 2, believing it should have warranted an ejection, and coach Kenny Atkinson complained that the 76ers held Allen before he turned the ball over on the Nets' last chance to tie Saturday's game. Atkinson said coaches were told that wrapping players as they tried to roll to the basket would be a point of emphasis this season.The NBA agreed with Atkinson on Sunday in its Last 2 Minutes report, determining that Tobias Harris should have been called for a foul for wrapping his arm around Allen and restricting his movement with 12 seconds remaining.Marks' penalty was announced by Byron Spruell, the NBA's president of league operations. He will serve his suspension Tuesday, when the 76ers try to wrap up the series in Game 5 in Philadelphia.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Nets general manager Sean Marks has been suspended one game without pay and fined $25,000 for entering the referees' locker room after Brooklyn's loss to Philadelphia in Game 4 of their playoff series.The Nets lost 112-108 on Saturday in a game in which Brooklyn's Jared Dudley and Philadelphia's Jimmy Butler were ejected after a scuffle broke out following Joel Embiid's flagrant foul against Jarrett Allen in the third quarter.The Nets were already angry about a flagrant foul Embiid committed against Allen in Game 2, and coach Kenny Atkinson complained that the 76ers held Allen before he turned the ball over on the Nets' last chance to tie the game.The penalty was announced Sunday by Byron Spruell, the NBA's president of league operations.Marks will serve his suspension Tuesday, when the 76ers try to wrap up the series in Game 5 in Philadelphia.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Nets general manager Sean Marks has been suspended one game without pay and fined $25,000 for entering the referees' locker room after Brooklyn's loss to Philadelphia in Game 4 of their playoff series.The Nets lost 112-108 on Saturday in a game in which Brooklyn's Jared Dudley and Philadelphia's Jimmy Butler were ejected after a scuffle broke out following Joel Embiid's flagrant foul against Jarrett Allen in the third quarter.The Nets were already angry about a flagrant foul Embiid committed against Allen in Game 2, and coach Kenny Atkinson complained that the 76ers held Allen before he turned the ball over on the Nets' last chance to tie the game.The penalty was announced Sunday by Byron Spruell, the NBA's president of league operations.Marks will serve his suspension Tuesday, when the 76ers try to wrap up the series in Game 5 in Philadelphia.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Jared Dudley didn't like the way Joel Embiid has been delivering fouls.Jimmy Butler didn't like the way Dudley tried to show it.They both ended up getting ejected Saturday after their reactions led to a scuffle.Butler and Dudley were thrown out in the third quarter of the Philadelphia 76ers' 112-108 victory over the Brooklyn Nets after pushing and shoving that spilled into the stands.Dudley reacted to Embiid's hard foul on Jarrett Allen, bumping the 76ers' All-Star center. Butler then shoved Dudley from behind to start the scrum.Dudley had been inserted into the starting lineup in Game 4 and was agitating the 76ers with his defense and his talking to Ben Simmons."I don't be paying attention to him too much," Butler said. "I just don't think you should run up on anybody like that.""Especially because the foul was actually all ball," Embiid interjected.That's not the way the referees saw it, with crew chief Ed Malloy saying they ruled it a flagrant 1 after a video review because... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jared Dudley didn't like the way Joel Embiid has been delivering fouls.Jimmy Butler didn't like the way Dudley tried to show it.They both ended up getting ejected Saturday after their reactions led to a scuffle.Butler and Dudley were thrown out in the third quarter of the Philadelphia 76ers' 112-108 victory over the Brooklyn Nets after pushing and shoving that spilled into the stands.Dudley reacted to Embiid's hard foul on Jarrett Allen, bumping the 76ers' All-Star center. Butler then shoved Dudley from behind to start the scrum.Dudley had been inserted into the starting lineup in Game 4 and was agitating the 76ers with his defense and his talking to Ben Simmons."I don't be paying attention to him too much," Butler said. "I just don't think you should run up on anybody like that.""Especially because the foul was actually all ball," Embiid interjected.That's not the way the referees saw it, with crew chief Ed Malloy saying they ruled it a flagrant 1 after a video review because... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jimmy Butler and Jared Dudley were ejected Saturday in the third quarter of Game 4 between Philadelphia and Brooklyn after a scuffle that spilled into the stands.Dudley reacted to Joel Embiid's hard foul on Jarrett Allen, bumping the 76ers' All-Star center. Butler then shoved Dudley from behind to start the pushing and shoving, with Ben Simmons and Dudley — who had exchanged words earlier — tumbling into the front row as referees rushed in to intervene.After a lengthy video review, Embiid's foul was ruled a flagrant one, and Butler and Dudley were given technicals and thrown out.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — D'Angelo Russell stood high above Times Square, a spot where stars are showcased in New York.He was front and center on a billboard celebrating the Nets' midseason success, pictured with three teammates who joined him in Charlotte for the NBA's All-Star festivities."Brooklyn is having an All-Star weekend," it read.Russell hopes it will turn into a playoff season.Brooklyn heads into the stretch run in good position for the first postseason berth of his career, sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference when play resumes Thursday."I think we're in a great position right now," Russell said.And after some tough times, so is Russell.The point guard Magic Johnson didn't want has become the floor leader the Nets need, raising his level of play after injuries to Caris LeVert, Spencer Dinwiddie and Allen Crabbe left them severely short-handed in the backcourt.Russell had 36 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in the final game before the break, a 148-139 triple-overtime... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Philadelphia's Ben Simmons, Utah's Donovan Mitchell and Dallas' Luka Doncic were among the 20 players announced Tuesday as participants in this year's Rising Stars game at All-Star weekend.Simmons is the reigning rookie of the year, and Doncic is the favorite to win that award this season.For the fifth straight year, the game that features rookies and second-year players will use a U.S. vs. World format.The U.S. team includes Mitchell, Jarrett Allen of Brooklyn, Marvin Bagley III and De'Aaron Fox of Sacramento, Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma of the Los Angeles Lakers, Jayson Tatum of Boston, Jaren Jackson Jr. of Memphis, and John Collins and Trae Young of Atlanta.The world team has Doncic, Simmons, Cedi Osman of Cleveland, Josh Okogie of Minnesota, Lauri Markkanen of Chicago, Rodions Kurucs of Brooklyn, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Los Angeles Clippers, Deandre Ayton of Phoenix, OG Anunoby of Toronto and Bogdan Bogdanovic of Sacramento.Bogdanovic was the game's MVP last year when the World team beat the U.S. 155-124. The World team is 3-1 in the current format of what was once called the rookie-sophomore game.The game is Feb. 15. Boston's Kyrie Irving and Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki will be honorary members of the coaching staffs.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — All the makings of another lost season in Brooklyn were there.The Nets had lost their leading scorer and then eight straight games. Talk of tanking was growing louder.Just two weeks ago, a lottery appearance seemed a certainty.Maybe the Nets are headed to the playoffs instead.An out-of-nowhere turnaround that started when they stunned the top team in the league and really gained attention when they beat LeBron James and the Lakers has given the Nets seven consecutive wins, the longest current streak in the league and matching their best run since moving to Brooklyn six years ago.Ten games under .500 when they took the floor to host league-leading Toronto on Dec. 7, the Nets (15-18) have risen within a half-game of eighth place and the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference."It's really encouraging," center Jarrett Allen said. "It's showing all the hard work we put in during the summer is now paying off."Allen authored the signature highlight during the streak when... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — For the Brooklyn Nets, familiarity breeds continuity.They hope that will lead to a few more wins.Growth was the overarching theme during media day at the Nets' practice facility Monday. Entering its third season under general manager Sean Marks and coach Kenny Atkinson, Brooklyn has won 48 of 164 games. In the first season under the new regime, the Nets won 20 games. Last year, that number increased to 28.So the goal for this season is progression."Knowing how the rebuild process goes, we're going to have to slowly get back," Jarrett Allen said. "It's just small steps we're taking."Ten of the 19 players the Nets have on their preseason roster have five or fewer years of NBA experience, including five rookies.But there are questions about how long and how many of the Nets' young pieces will remain in Brooklyn. The Nets will have plenty of money for free agency next summer, but they may not want to wait if they could trade for Minnesota's Jimmy Butler or another All-Star player.Spencer... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jeremy Lin didn't even make it through one full game this season.He plans to return next season playing a different way so he can stay on the floor and help the Brooklyn Nets keep building.Lin played in just 36 games in 2016-17 due to hamstring injuries and ruptured his right patella tendon in a loss at Indiana on opening night of this season. His plan to stay healthy focuses on ditching all the on-court motor skills that started Linsanity six years ago across the city with the New York Knicks in exchange for a new range of motion."So, like, at every level of ability to be more dynamic, I'm not just looking at whether my knee will hold up. I'm looking at whether I have done enough to completely change pre-existing movement patterns," Lin said Thursday, a day after the Nets finished 28-54, their third consecutive 50-loss season after three straight playoff appearances.The Nets won seven of their last 13 games after losing 19 of 22.The 29-year-old Lin spent a large chunk of... [More]