INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — LeBron James knows the Cavaliers have a proven vaccine that could cure them of this midseason malaise: a larger dose of him."I gotta be much better," he said.As Cleveland has staggered to a 3-9 record since it lost at Golden State on Christmas and fallen behind Boston and Toronto in the Eastern Conference standings, its decline has run parallel to a statistical drop-off by James, who was considered the front-runner in the MVP race before the calendar changed to 2018."My numbers are down, the team's numbers are down and we're not playing well, so obviously it's a direct correlation of all of those things," James said Monday before the team traveled to San Antonio. "I could care less about me individually, but when I'm not playing to my standard and we're losing, then I have to do a better job as well, so I gotta figure that out, too."Over his last 12 games, James is averaging 22.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 4.4 turnovers. He is making 21 percent of his... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Cleveland Cavaliers guard Isaiah Thomas has been fined $20,000 by the NBA for striking Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins in the throat.The punishment was announced Wednesday by Kiki VanDeWeghe, the league's executive vice president for basketball operations.The incident occurred with 6:47 remaining in the third quarter of the Cavaliers' 127-99 loss to the Timberwolves on Monday night in Minneapolis.Thomas clotheslined Wiggins in the jaw as he drove to the basket. He was ejected for a flagrant-two foul. He said afterward it was an accident and that he was glad Wiggins was all right.Wiggins had 25 points in three quarters. Thomas, still on a playing-time restriction coming off a hip injury, had nine points in 19 minutes.___For more NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

Isaiah Thomas' debut with Cleveland last week came with the same rules as when Kawhi Leonard rejoined the Spurs.His coach could use him, just not too much.Both were playing under the dreaded minute restrictions, which coaches learn to accept but will never learn to love."It really is a pain in the neck," San Antonio's Gregg Popovich said.Popovich has dealt with it this season with Leonard, Tony Parker and Danny Green. In their cases, as well as Thomas, Philadelphia's Joel Embiid and others returning from injuries, the team's medical staff gives the coach guidelines for how much workload they can handle and how often — a challenge even for a coach who's been at the forefront of resting players."It's difficult because it's very strange to try to figure out rotations. You can't do it," Popovich said. "You want to put somebody on the court, but you can't because of minutes, so you put somebody else on the court that shouldn't be on the court based on matchups or what you're trying to do defensively... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Isaiah Thomas wanted to make thing one perfectly clear during his return to Boston: He isn't holding onto any hard feelings about the way he left.Thomas returned to TD Garden on Wednesday night for the first time since he was dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers in August as part of the blockbuster trade that brought Kyrie Irving to the Celtics.It was the lowest point of a whirlwind summer for Thomas, which was compounded by his ongoing recovery from the hip injury that cut short his postseason run with Boston last season.The injury sidelined him for Cleveland's season opener against his former team back in October. He missed the Cavs' first 36 games before returning to action against Portland on Tuesday night, scoring 17 points in 19 minutes.For now, his minutes are restricted, and he isn't playing on back-to-back nights. So he returned to action Tuesday knowing that he'd sit against the Celtics."I was out seven months. There's no way I was gonna come back against Boston and... [More]

Gregg Popovich was the coach nobody wanted.It's hard to fathom now, after five NBA championships as coach of the San Antonio Spurs and with him now alone in fifth place on the league's all-time victory list. But it's true — Popovich's decision to fire Bob Hill and make himself coach and general manager in December 1996 was horribly received at first, leaving even some of his own players baffled.The San Antonio Express-News took a poll after that season and found that 92 percent of Spurs fans wanted Popovich fired.As Popovich would suggest now (on politics, one of his favorite topics), sometimes voters get it wrong."The pressure is always there for any coach," Popovich said. "You've got to get the job done. If you don't, you're not there. If you do get it done, you get to stay."He said those words in 1997. He was right.Popovich now has 1,176 wins. He's 34 away from No. 4 Pat Riley, 45 shy of No. 3 Jerry Sloan, and should catch both next season. He would need 156 to catch No. 2 Lenny Wilkens,... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Isaiah Thomas is back on the court doing what he does best.The All-Star point guard made his long-awaited debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night, his first action since re-injuring his right hip on May 19 in the Eastern Conference finals.With the crowd stirring, Thomas sat at the scorer's table before checking in to a loud ovation with 4:33 left in the first quarter of the Cavs' game with the Portland Trail Blazers.It didn't take long for the 5-foot-9 Thomas to get involved in the action as he quickly picked up an assist on a pass to Jae Crowder, who came along with him from Boston in a blockbuster trade last summer.Wearing his familiar headband and No. 3, the playmaker missed his first shot and got fouled on a drive to the basket. Moments later, Thomas dropped a 14-foot pull-up jumper to pull the Cavs within 28-25.Then, Thomas drove the lane and scooped in a left-handed layup while being fouled, the type of play he perfected in Boston. As he picked himself... [More]

WALTHAM, Mass. (AP) — When Brad Stevens studied the video of Boston's last game against Cleveland, he skipped over a handful of plays and put the sound on mute."I didn't want to watch the injury or what happened after it," the Celtics coach said on Tuesday, a day before his team was to play the Cavaliers for the first time since Gordon Hayward broke his leg in the season opener. "I just didn't want to rehash that moment, obviously."Boston's top free agent acquisition last summer, Hayward went down in a heap in the first quarter of the first game and is expected to be lost for the season. The gruesome injury cast a pall on the opener and upended the Celtics' plans to supplant the Cavaliers as Eastern Conference champions."It was the first game of the season," forward Jaylen Brown said. "When Gordon went down, it was a traumatic moment for everybody."But the game — and the season — went on.The demoralized Celtics erased an 18-point, third-quarter deficit in the opener before losing by three.... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The agonizing wait to play again is over for Isaiah Thomas. Vengeance on the Celtics is still on hold.Thomas, sidelined with a hip injury since last season's Eastern Conference finals, will make his debut for the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night against the Portland Trail Blazers.After months of rehab, the All-Star point guard will take the floor for the first time with the Cavaliers, who acquired him last summer in the blockbuster trade that sent Kyrie Irving to the Celtics."It's been a long process for me," Thomas said Monday following practice. "It's been a frustrating and tough process, but at the same time you got to trust it. I just attacked it every day to try to get better and now that day is here. I haven't played in so long, so man it's going to be a weird feeling tomorrow, but I'm happy. I'm happy it's here."Coach Tyronn Lue said Thomas will come off the bench and initially will play limited minutes. Also, he will not play in back-to-back games as he builds... [More]

PG Isaiah Thomas was officially ruled out of Cleveland's Christmas tilt with the Warriors by coach Tyronn Lue on Thursday. Thomas, a two-time All-Star, has yet to play for Cleveland because of hip injuries suffered last season with the Celtics, but is nearing his debut. He was assigned to the Cavs' G League affiliate to practice Thursday.

G Isaiah Thomas was assigned to the Canton Charge of the G League, the Cleveland Cavaliers announced Thursday. Thomas is expected to practice with the Charge as he continues to work his way back from a hip injury that caused him to sit out each of the Cavaliers' games this season.

G Isaiah Thomas and C Tristan Thompson played in a four-on-four scrimmage Wednesday after the team's shootaround. Coach Tyronn Lue said Thompson would hopefully play this week and offered no new information on Thomas' return. Thompson injured his left calf Nov. 1, and Thomas has yet to play this season because of hip injuries.

G Isaiah Thomas, who helped recruit F Gordon Hayward to Boston before he was dealt to Cleveland, visited the injured Hayward in the locker room Tuesday.

G Isaiah Thomas is expected to return from his hip injury in January, the Cavaliers announced on Monday. Thomas was acquired last month from the Boston Celtics in a trade for Kyrie Irving. Thomas suffered a torn labrum in his right hip last season that caused him to sit out the last three games of the Celtics' loss to the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.

PG Isaiah Thomas was introduced during a Thursday news conference, but the team went to great lengths to avoid shedding much light on the All-Star guard's injured right hip. "To be fair to Isaiah, we're not going to address any specifics on his hip injury," Altman said of Thomas, who joined Jae Crowder and Ante Zizic in being introduced as the newest members of the Cavaliers on the heels of the summer's blockbuster trade that sent Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics. "We're also not going to put a timetable on it," Altman said. "... We're not going to rush it, at all." Thomas said that he is "just getting treatment each and every day" and working in the weight room. The 28-year-old Thomas suffered the injury during this year's playoffs while playing for the Celtics. He finished third in the NBA with an average of 28.9 points in 2016-17.

The Cleveland Cavaliers put the spotlight on newly acquired Isaiah Thomas during Thursday's news conference, but the team went to great lengths to avoid shedding much light on the All-Star guard's injured right hip.General manager Koby Altman implored reporters to avoid asking questions about Thomas' hip, but they asked anyway."To be fair to Isaiah, we're not going to address any specifics on his hip injury," Altman said of Thomas, who joined Jae Crowder and Ante Zizic in being introduced as the newest members of the Cavaliers on the heels of the summer's blockbuster trade with the Boston Celtics."We're also not going to put a timetable on it," Altman said. "... We're not going to rush it, at all."Altman reiterated versions of that statement numerous times with Thomas sitting nearby.Questions following Thomas' physical examination and his recovery from a postseason hip injury served as a significant hiccup to completing the deal that sent fellow All-Star guard Kyrie Irving to the Celtics.... [More]

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics plan to discuss the status of their blockbuster trade apparently because there are questions following Isaiah Thomas' physical examination and his recovery from a postseason hip injury.The deal sending Cleveland's four-time All-Star guard Kyrie Irving to the Celtics for Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and a 2018 first-round pick via Brooklyn now has uncertainty with medical questions surrounding Thomas' injured hip, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.The Cavs and Celtics are planning a telephone call on Saturday, according to the ESPN report. Thomas took the exam in Cleveland on Friday.There is a possibility that Cleveland could request further compensation from Boston before approving the trade, league sources told ESPN. The Cavs have until Thursday to make a final decision on approving the trade.Cleveland also can veto the deal based on a failed physical, sending players back to their respective teams.Thomas suffered the injury during this year's playoffs and is rehabbing the hip but reportedly has not begun running.Boston general manager Danny Ainge acknowledged Thomas' hip injury played a factor in the Celtics seeking the trade.Irving, who had requested a trade from Cleveland, is scheduled to take his physical with the Celtics on Saturday, according to ESPN.

G Isaiah Thomas was examined in Cleveland on Friday and apparently there are questions about his recovery from a postseason hip injury. Cavaliers officials are looking at the test results, ESPN.com reported, and how it might affect the trade that shipped Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics earlier this week. There is speculation that the condition of his injured hip could void the deal. Tuesday's trade included Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the Brooklyn Nets' 2018 first-round draft pick going to the Cavaliers for Irving. There's also the possibility that rather than voiding the deal the Cavaliers could ask for additional compensation such as another draft pick. Thomas suffered the injury during the playoffs this year and is rehabbing the hip. ESPN reported that he has not begun running. Celtics general manager Danny Ainge acknowledged that the hip injury played a factor in the Celtics seeking the trade.

As the dust begins to settle from Tuesday's blockbuster trade that sent Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics and Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the Brooklyn Nets' 2018 first-round pick to Cleveland, the larger picture for both teams starts to come into focus. The breakup of the partnership of Irving and LeBron James seemed inevitable after the former said he wanted to be traded. James offered nothing but respect to Irving in his Twitter message in response to the trade:"That's the only way to be to the kid! Special talent/guy! Nothing but respect and what a ride it was our 3 years together."James will now try to blend his skills with Thomas, a point guard who likes to have the ball in his hands.The question surrounding Thomas concerns his hip. Thomas' season ended following Game 2 of the conference finals because of a torn labrum and aggravation of a previous injury.The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that Celtics general manager Danny Ainge speculated on a conference call on... [More]

G Isaiah Thomas was acquired by the Cavs from the Celtics in exchange for a package led by fellow All-Star G Kyrie Irving on Tuesday.The teams confirmed the Celtics also sent F Jae Crowder, C Ante Zizic and the rights to the Brooklyn Nets' 2018 first round pick to the Cavaliers.Thomas, a 28-year-old who finished third in the NBA with an average of 28.9 points in 2016-17, will be a free agent after the 2017-18 campaign.

The Cleveland Cavaliers agreed to trade All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics in exchange for a package led by fellow All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas on Tuesday.The teams confirmed the Celtics also sent forward Jae Crowder, center Ante Zizic and the rights to the Brooklyn Nets' 2018 first round pick to the Cavaliers."Kyrie is one of the best scorers in the NBA," Celtics president Danny Ainge said in a prepared statement. "He has proven that on the biggest stage, the NBA Finals, the last three years. He's been an NBA Champion, an Olympic Gold Medalist, and a four-time All-Star. For all he's accomplished, we think his best years are ahead of him."Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman said in a statement, "This trade needed to include both players and assets that we felt strongly could help us continue to compete for championships, and we believe it does. We look forward to Isaiah, Jae and Ante joining us and also felt that the unprotected first-round pick in the deal... [More]