MILWAUKEE (AP) — A new nickname for Brook Lopez started floating around Twitter after the Milwaukee Bucks 7-footer had a career night from the 3-point line."Splash Mountain ." How appropriate for a self-described Disney aficionado who is quickly developing a reputation as one of the best-shooting big men in the NBA."I'm pretty partial to that honestly," Lopez said with a laugh about the moniker this week. "I'm a pretty big Disney geek ... I wear it with pride on my sleeve."Keep shooting the way he did on Sunday against the Nuggets and he might challenge the "Splash Brothers" in Golden State for 3-point supremacy.Lopez hit a career-best eight 3s and scored 28 points to help the Bucks beat Denver to split a four-game Western Conference road trip.This wasn't just a one-night-only performance, either.Entering the Bucks' game on Wednesday night against Memphis, Lopez was tied for seventh in the league in made 3s (39) and was 14th in attempts (93), shooting 41.9 percent from behind the arc.A... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Nuggets coach Michael Malone kept the mood light at practice Monday and the lectures to a minimum.No reason to get too worked up over Denver's current three-game skid. After all, this is the same bunch that began 9-1 for one of the best starts in franchise history.Malone's missive to his team: Rediscover that resolve."It's too early in the season to have their heads down and have it be gloom and doom," said Malone, whose team hosts James Harden, Chris Paul and the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night. "We're young. Some of these guys are in moments they haven't been in before. That's my job, to teach and keep this team moving along in the right direction."Given their recent history, there's a sense of early season urgency. That's understandable since the Nuggets missed the playoffs by a game in each of the last two years. They don't want piled-up losses in November to come back and haunt them in April.Especially since everything was going so smoothly out of the gate. But the Nuggets... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks' key free agent acquisition is a big man who could have an impact from the perimeter.Brook Lopez started at center in the Bucks' preseason opener against the Chicago Bulls, the first basketball game at Milwaukee's new Fiserv Forum.Lopez scored six points on 3-of-8 of shooting, missing all three 3-point attempts, in 15 minutes as the Bucks rolled to a 116-82 victory on Wednesday night at their new home arena.It was a milestone moment for a team featuring All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo that hopes to secure a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs this year."I think the stars have really aligned. We have all the talent in the world on the floor," Lopez said.The 10th overall pick by the Nets in 2008, Lopez averaged 13.0 points per game last season, matching his career low, in 74 games with the Los Angeles Lakers, after spending his first nine season with the New Jersey-Brooklyn franchise.But Lopez averaged more than 20 points a game in... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo was all smiles but had no jokes.The Milwaukee Bucks' All-Star forward was more business this time around: While he didn't indulge reporters by opening his media day session on Monday with a gag, as he had done in previous years, Antetokounmpo still flashed an infectious grin.Things are looking up for the Milwaukee Bucks as they move into a new arena this fall, with a new coach leading a team headlined by one of the NBA's bright, young stars.The organization once had billboards around the city that read "Own the Future." That future is here."You could make an argument that we're number 1, 2, 3, or 4" in the Eastern Conference, co-owner Marc Lasry said when asked about where the Bucks might fit in the conference picture. "I mean I think if we stay healthy and we play to our potential, we'd be one of the top two or three teams, so I think we're there."The Bucks have made slow, steady progress since an ownership group including Lasry bought the team in... [More]

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Rob Pelinka says the Los Angeles Lakers aren't trying to beat the Golden State Warriors at their own game.Instead, they're building a team around LeBron James to do something different.Pelinka spoke publicly Wednesday for the first time since the Lakers' remarkable offseason overhaul began, and the irrepressibly optimistic former agent radiated excitement about the future for a team that hasn't made the playoffs in five seasons."To get the commitment from LeBron James to come to the Lakers for four years was really the culmination of everything we've been working towards," Pelinka said. "When LeBron chose to come here, it was the ultimate validation for the moves we've made and what we've been building since we started."The longest postseason drought in franchise history could be finished after James chose the Lakers in free agency. The club also added veterans Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee and Lance Stephenson alongside their young core while parting ways with Julius... [More]

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Lance Stephenson always felt his famed rivalry with LeBron James was rooted in mutual respect.When James called Stephenson last week to pitch him on teaming up with the Los Angeles Lakers, Stephenson's feelings were confirmed — and he quickly accepted the invitation.The Lakers formally announced the signings of Stephenson, center JaVale McGee and second-round draft pick Svi Mykhailiuk on Tuesday.Coming off a productive season in his latest stint with the Indiana Pacers, Stephenson agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million deal to join James, McGee and Rajon Rondo in the Lakers' influx of veteran talent.Stephenson has been one of James' most famed antagonists during their careers, and even Stephenson is surprised they've become teammates. But it only took a phone call from LeBron to persuade Stephenson to join the Lakers."I was actually surprised he made the move to LA," Stephenson said. "I guess he needed a new look, and I just feel like him reaching out and showing he... [More]

An NBA free-agent class with a little something for everyone hits the market on July 1. The group includes an array of superstars, big men, glue guys and sharp-shooters.Here's a look at some of the players to follow when the action begins:THE SUPERSTARS— Kevin Durant (player option): Has expressed his desire to remain with the Warriors. He's in the middle of his prime as one of the game's premier players.— Paul George (player option): He has one of the best all-around games in the league and is still fairly young at 28.— LeBron James (player option): Still the free-agent grand prize at age 33, James has shown few signs of wear and tear despite 15 stellar seasons in the league.— Chris Paul (unrestricted): Among the league's best point guards even at 33, but he's struggled some with injuries over the years, including a hamstring issue in last year's playoffs.BIG MEN— Clint Capela (restricted): He's emerged as one of the league's top young big men after averaging 13.9 points, 10.8 rebounds... [More]

An NBA free-agent class with a little something for everyone hits the market on July 1. The group includes an array of superstars, big men, glue guys and sharp-shooters.Here's a look at some of the players to follow when the action begins:THE SUPERSTARS— Kevin Durant (player option): Has expressed his desire to remain with the Warriors. He's in the middle of his prime as one of the game's premier players.— Paul George (player option): He has one of the best all-around games in the league and is still fairly young at 28.— LeBron James (player option): Still the free-agent grand prize at age 33, James has shown few signs of wear and tear despite 15 stellar seasons in the league.— Chris Paul (unrestricted): Among the league's best point guards even at 33, but he's struggled some with injuries over the years, including a hamstring issue in last year's playoffs.BIG MEN— Clint Capela (restricted): He's emerged as one of the league's top young big men after averaging 13.9 points, 10.8 rebounds... [More]

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — And now the real season begins for the Los Angeles Lakers.At least that's what the fans of the 16-time NBA champions repeatedly have been told while Los Angeles missed the playoffs and finished with a losing record for the fifth consecutive year.Ever since they took over the Lakers' basketball operations a year ago, Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka have founded their rebuilding project around the acquisition of one or two elite free agents this summer — or next summer, they've recently amended.Magic firmly believes the Lakers' championship pedigree, glamorous location and salary cap room for two enormous contracts can attract superstars near the primes of their careers to lift one of the NBA's cornerstone franchises back to its accustomed heights. The Lakers had only missed the playoffs five previous times in their first 65 years of existence before they doubled that number during this dismal half-decade.But while the pursuit of Paul George and LeBron... [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]

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball and center Brook Lopez have been cleared to return to practice after recent injury absences.Ball and Lopez are both questionable for the Lakers' next game against Oklahoma City on Wednesday.Ball has been out with a sprained left shoulder since Dec. 23, missing five consecutive games. The rookie No. 2 overall draft pick is averaging 10.0 points, 7.1 assists and 6.9 rebounds per game.Lopez has missed eight games since spraining his right ankle Dec. 18. The veteran big man is averaging 12.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game in his first season with Los Angeles.The Lakers (11-25) have lost seven straight games to fall back into last place in the Western Conference standings.___More AP NBA: www.apnews.com/tags/NBAbasketball

C Brook Lopez has a moderate right ankle sprain and will be re-evaluated in three weeks, the Los Angeles Lakers announced on Tuesday. Lopez rolled his ankle while contesting a shot from behind in the second quarter of Monday's 116-114 overtime loss to the Golden State Warriors. X-rays were negative and an MRI exam confirmed the severity of the injury for Lopez, who exited Staples Center wearing a walking boot and using crutches. Lopez is averaging 12.8 points and 4.3 rebounds in 28 games this season since being acquired in a trade from the Brooklyn Nets in June.

C Brook Lopez sprained his right ankle while defending Kevin Durant's drive with 1:43 left in the first half Monday. X-rays were negative, but Lopez did not return. Kyle Kuzma started the second half in his place.

C Brook Lopez put up 21 points for the Lakers on Sunday in a win over the Nuggets.

C Brook Lopez added 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers (6-8), who ended a three-game losing streak in a game where neither team had a double-digit lead until 2:30 remained.

C Brook Lopez was a cornerstone for the Nets' organization for almost a decade, but in a 124-112 Los Angeles Lakers win at Staples Center on Friday night, he was Brooklyn's biggest problem. Lopez connected on 6-of-9 3-point attempts en route to a season-high 34 points, 23 of which came in the second half, and he added 10 rebounds for Los Angeles. Friday was Lopez's first game with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds since November 2016 -- when he did it against the Lakers.

C Brook Lopez scored 27 points Thursday in the Lakers' 113-110 loss at Portland.

C Brook Lopez was 3 of 31 from 3-point range in his first eight seasons in the NBA before going 134 of 387 last season (34.6 percent). He was 2 of 6 from 3-point range in Tuesday's win over Detroit and is 7 of 27 (25.9 percent) for the season.

C Brook Lopez led the Lakers with 20 points on Thursday. Lopez, who made 134 3-pointers for the Brooklyn Nets last season after combining for three in his first eight NBA seasons, shot 1 of 5 from beyond the arc.

Brook Lopez played in three arenas, for nine coaches and with numerous teammates.He also survived numerous trade rumors.On Thursday, his nine-year career with the Brooklyn Nets officially ended when he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for guard D'Angelo Russell and center Timofey Mozgov.Russell was the second pick of the Lakers two years ago out of Ohio State. He averaged 13.2 points as a rookie and improved to 15.6 points last season as the Lakers won 26 games."We are extremely excited to welcome D'Angelo and Timofey to our Brooklyn Nets family," Nets general manager Sean Marks said in a statement released by the team. "D'Angelo is a versatile young guard with a bright future and we are enthusiastic about continuing his development along with our young nucleus, while Timofey will provide a veteran presence who can contribute on both ends of the floor. Both are great fits within Kenny's system."Also going to the Lakers are the rights to forward Kyle Kuzma, who was drafted with the 27th... [More]