Boston Celtics shooting guard/small forward Josh Richardson (migraine) will be unavailable for the team's season opener Wednesday vs. the Knicks due to a migraine. Richardson was acquired during the off-season and promptly given a contract extension, but his debut in Celtic green will be put on ice for the time being. His absence on the wing figures to funnel more usage in the direction of Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart, although facing New York's stout defensive unit figures to temper expectations for even Boston's top tier talent. Richardson's next opportunity to take the floor comes Friday against Toronto.

Boston Celtics guard Josh Richardson agreed to a one-year extension on Monday. Richardson opted into his player option before being traded by the Dallas Mavericks in July, so he'll get paid $24 million throughout the next two seasons. The 27-year-old averaged 12.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.0 steals throughout 59 games during the 2020-21 campaign. While he should get plenty of minutes in Boston, his rough shooting percentages and questionable health over the years are a cause for concern.

The Mavericks traded forward Josh Richardson to the Celtics, who also picked up his $11.6 million player option. The 27-year-old averaged only 12.1 points throughout 59 games in Dallas last season, his worst scoring output since the 2016-2017 campaign. Although Richardson may get a substantial role in Boston this year, especially if the team can't bring back Evan Fournier, he doesn't add much value in fantasy formats. However, he is still worth keeping an eye on, primarily if he gets more chances on the offensive end.

DETROIT (AP) — Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic is out for Thursday night's game at Detroit because of a left elbow issue. Coach Rick Carlisle said Dorian Finney-Smith (left leg) is also out, but Kristaps Porzingis (left ankle) and Josh Richardson (right hamstring) are available. Detroit is without several players, including Jerami Grant (right knee), Mason Plumlee (rest) and Wayne Ellington (calf). Doncic is third in the NBA in scoring at 28.6 points per game. He is coming off a 39-point performance in a win over Golden State on Tuesday night. This will be the sixth game he's missed this season. ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Like any top NBA executive this time of the season, Daryl Morey is trying to better his roster. Sure, NBA Top Shot — sort of a collectible highlight reel — is in its infancy, but Morey is all in on the frenzy stirred by digital dunks and nonfungible fast breaks. “I just grabbed all the Sixers,” Morey said. “Well, I don’t have all of them because they’re hard to get. But I’ve got Joel (Embiid), I’ve got Ben (Simmons), I’ve got Tobias (Harris), I’ve got (Tyrese) Maxey, I’ve got (Matisse) Thybulle. “Some of the players need to complain and say, ‘Where are my highlights?’” Say, for example, Seth Curry. So Morey juggles answering questions over Zoom about his first season running the Philadelphia 76ers with a Top Shot search on his laptop for clips of their starting shooting guard. Morey needs patience completing his digital lineup. He can revel that the real one on the court has been about as good as it gets in the NBA. The Sixers (26-12) have the best record in the Eastern... [More]

DALLAS (AP) — Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 20 of his 29 points while Dallas built a big first-half lead without much help from Luka Doncic, and the Mavericks returned from a weather-induced break with a 102-92 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night. Dallas was playing for the first time in eight days after two postponements because of a wintry weather blast in Texas. Kristaps Porzingis didn't play after showing up on the injury report the day of the game with back stiffness. “I guess those eight days really helped,” Hardaway said after going 7 of 11 from 3-point range. “We didn’t know when we were going to play leading up to this point. Everybody just made sure they stayed locked in, made sure they took care of their bodies.” Doncic scored 14 of his 21 points after halftime in his first game since the soon-to-be 22-year-old became the first Dallas player to be voted an All-Star starter in consecutive seasons. The Slovenian star's franchise record of 14 consecutive games with at least... [More]

DALLAS (AP) — Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 20 of his 29 points while Dallas built a big first-half lead without much help from Luka Doncic, and the Mavericks returned from a weather-induced break with a 102-92 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night. Dallas was playing for the first time in eight days after two postponements because of a wintry weather blast in Texas. Kristaps Porzingis didn't play after showing up on the injury report the day of the game with back stiffness. Doncic scored 14 of his 21 points after halftime in his first game since the soon-to-be 22-year-old became the first Dallas player to be voted an All-Star starter in consecutive seasons. The Slovenian star's franchise record of 14 consecutive games with at least 25 points ended. Two nights after falling behind by 31 at halftime in a 31-point loss to Phoenix, the Grizzlies were down 23 in the second quarter after scoring a season low for any quarter and trailing 26-13 after the first. Ja Morant had 22 points and... [More]

DALLAS (AP) — Michael Porter Jr. tied his season high with 30 points and the Denver Nuggets overcame Jamal Murray's ejection for a shot to the groin of Dallas guard Tim Hardaway Jr. to beat the Mavericks 117-113 on Monday night. Porter was 6 of 10 from 3-point range, including a go-ahead bucket to start a decisive 7-0 run late in the fourth quarter after the Mavericks had rallied immediately following the incident involving Murray and Hardaway. Luka Doncic had 35 points, 11 rebounds and a season-high 16 assists for his league-leading sixth triple-double. The Dallas star broke a tie for the NBA lead with Nikola Jokic, who had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets. The Nuggets improved to 3-0 on a five-game road trip with their fourth straight victory and are 7-2 since an overtime loss to the Mavericks in Denver. It was the third game in four days, and the first two went to overtime in Phoenix. “This was character,” coach Mike Malone said. “Coming off two overtime games in Phoenix. And... [More]

DALLAS (AP) — Michael Porter Jr. tied his season high with 30 points and the Denver Nuggets overcame Jamal Murray's ejection for a shot to the groin of Dallas guard Tim Hardaway Jr. to beat the Mavericks 117-113 on Monday night. Porter was 6 of 10 from 3-point range, including a go-ahead shot to start a decisive 7-0 run late in the fourth quarter after the Mavericks had rallied immediately following the incident involving Murray and Hardaway. Luka Doncic had 35 points, 11 rebounds and a season-high 16 assists for his league-leading sixth triple-double. The Dallas star broke a tie for the NBA lead with Nikola Jokic, who had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets. Denver was setting up on offense early in the second half when Murray stumbled backward after colliding with Hardaway. Murray got up and reached between Hardaway’s legs with his right arm, prompting Hardaway to double over. The official closest to the contact blew the whistle to stop play with 4:51 left in the third quarter and... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The idea of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid as a modern-day odd couple bunking together in a Center City condominium trash-talking during games of “FIFA 21” after playing taxing real NBA games momentarily got a rise out of 76ers fans. Alas, Simmons was just joking when he said he moved in with Embiid -- who welcomed his first son with his girlfriend in September -- so the Philadelphia 76ers’ All-Stars could tighten their bond. Simmons is good with Embiid, the max-contract cornerstones of a franchise that has not yet reached the championship heights so many expected when they were drafted two years apart. As for the rest of the team, the Sixers are ready to hit the reset button in coach Doc Rivers' first season running a team that netted them just the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and a first-round exit. Former Sixers guard Josh Richardson, traded to Dallas in the offseason, lamented in August the underachieving season could be pinned on a lack of accountability from... [More]

Luka Doncic's first experience with the playoffs ended with questions about whether Marcus Morris of the Los Angeles Clippers was intentionally trying to hurt the young Dallas sensation in a first-round series won by LA. The Mavericks might have hinted at what they thought through trades and draft picks during this abbreviated offseason. Dallas acquired James Johnson and his black belt in karate from Oklahoma City in a three-team trade after using the club's first-round draft choice at No. 18 overall on Josh Green, who was a strong defender in his only season at Arizona. The Mavericks also sent their best 3-pointer shooter in Seth Curry to Philadelphia for Josh Richardson, described by coach Rick Carlisle as an “edgy guy who is a terrific defender.” “I don’t really take well to my brothers being messed with, but I’m not an instigator in situations so I’m not going to be out there just trying to get in people’s faces and do a lot of extra stuff,” Richardson said on the opening day of training... [More]

Trevor Ariza is on the move for the third time this week, going to Oklahoma City from Detroit along with Dallas' Justin Jackson in a three-team trade. Also in the deal, the Mavericks sent Delon Wright to the Pistons for James Johnson, a person with knowledge of the details said early Saturday. Ariza was sent from Portland to Houston two days before the draft, then shipped to the Pistons on draft night Wednesday. The 35-year-old has already played for 10 teams. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn't been announced. It was first reported by the New York Times. The Mavericks added Johnson to provide some toughness around young stars Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. Dallas was defensive-minded on draft night, taking Arizona's Josh Green in the first round and trading for Philadelphia's Josh Richardson. Point guard Trey Burke and the Mavericks agreed on a $10 million, three-year contract for the free agent to return after a strong showing... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Doc Rivers takes over a team tasked not with leading a Process-type rebuild or massaging the egos of two talented — yet frustrating — All-Stars. He's in Philadelphia to bring accountability to an oft-apathetic roster — and win big. Rivers brings his NBA championship credibility to the 76ers to resuscitate a franchise that entered this season with title expectations and ended it with grim concerns over its bloated payroll, incompatible mix of talent, and doubts that Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons can truly co-exist and lead the Sixers to their first title since 1983. Enter Rivers, the 58-year-old former NBA guard who coached the Boston Celtics to the championship in 2008 and another NBA Finals appearance in 2010. Just two days after he split with the Los Angeles Clippers, Rivers was in Philadelphia with ownership and general manager Elton Brand, and on Thursday he accepted the job to succeed Brett Brown. “Welcome to the city of Brotherly Love Coach @DocRivers !!!! Excited... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The next coach of the Philadelphia 76ers can count on having Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.One day after the Sixers fired Brett Brown following another early playoff exit, general manager Elton Brand said he’s evaluating the front office and considering more changes but doesn’t plan to trade either of his two top stars.“I’m not looking to trade Ben or Joel,” Brand said Tuesday. “I’m looking to complement them better. They are 24 and 26 years old, respectively. You try to make that fit as long as you can. They want to be here, they want to be with our organization and I see them here for a long, long time.”Simmons was sidelined for Philadelphia’s first-round sweep against Boston.“That’s a huge key to us getting swept,” Brand said. “I would love to see this group with Ben Simmons, but I don’t want to make any excuses. But I think that attention to detail, that energy level, that certain push that we didn’t have at times.”The Sixers underachieved after reaching the Eastern... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Patient and positive, Brett Brown was the perfect coach for the Philadelphia 76ers when they set up a long-term home in the NBA basement.They'll be looking for someone else now that they want to be on top.The 76ers fired coach Brown on Monday, a day after his seventh season ended in a first-round postseason sweep.The 76ers were 43-30 this season and had woefully underachieved in a year when they were expected to be serious contenders in the Eastern Conference.After the sixth-seeded Sixers were swept by the Boston Celtics, the move was expected.“I have a tremendous level of respect for Brett both personally and professionally and appreciate all he’s done for the 76ers organization and the city of Philadelphia,” general manager Elton Brand said in a statement. “He did many positive things during his time here, developing young talent and helping position our team for three straight postseason appearances. Unfortunately, we fell well short of our goals this year and I believe... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers fired coach Brett Brown on Monday, a day after his seventh season ended in a first-round postseason sweep.The 76ers were 43-30 this season and had woefully underachieved in a year when they were expected to be serious contenders in the Eastern Conference.Instead, they weren't close, and the move was expected after the sixth-seeded Sixers were swept by the Boston Celtics.Brown had guided the 76ers back from the bottom of the NBA, but now someone else will try to take them further.“I have a tremendous level of respect for Brett both personally and professionally and appreciate all he’s done for the 76ers organization and the City of Philadelphia,” general manager Elton Brand said in a statement. “He did many positive things during his time here, developing young talent and helping position our team for three straight postseason appearances. Unfortunately, we fell well short of our goals this year and I believe it is best to go in a new direction."Brown... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A year ago against Toronto, four bounces of the basketball finished the 76ers. This season, four straight playoff losses ended Philly’s season and sent the Sixers to the brink of a serious shakeup.Brett Brown has but a slim chance of a return after seven seasons on the bench where he endured a 10-win season and losing streaks of 28 and 26 games. But, of most recent importance, Brown failed to mold the team out of the growing pains of the “Process” into championship contenders, with a mismatched roster that included All-Stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. The Sixers were swept out of the postseason by Boston with Simmons sidelined with a knee injury and Embiid tasked with carrying the franchise toward an unlikely title.Much like every season since 1983, it was never going to happen.Brown will likely pay the price. He seemed resigned to his fate after Game 4 and said Philly never got him at his best, mostly from the ugly mix of years of rebuilding, injury-prone players... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A year ago against Toronto, four bounces of the basketball finished the 76ers. This season, four straight playoff losses ended Philly’s season and sent the Sixers to the brink of a serious shakeup.Brett Brown has but a slim chance of a return after seven seasons on the bench where he endured a 10-win season and losing streaks of 28 and 26 games. But, of most recent importance, Brown failed to mold the team out of the growing pains of the “Process” into championship contenders, with a mismatched roster that included All-Stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. The Sixers were swept out of the postseason by Boston with Simmons sidelined with a knee injury and Embiid tasked with carrying the franchise toward an unlikely title.Much like every season since 1983, it was never going to happen.Brown will likely pay the price. He seemed resigned to his fate after Game 4 and said Philly never got him at his best, mostly from the ugly mix of years of rebuilding, injury-prone players... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons will miss at least two more weeks with nerve issues in his lower back.The All-Star played just a few minutes in Saturday's loss to Milwaukee before leaving with the back injury. He will undergo daily treatment for his nerve impingement and be evaluated in two weeks.The Sixers are 36-22 as they head down the stretch without one of their best players. They are 27-2 but just 9-20 at home — and leave this week for a four-game West Coast trip that starts Sunday.The 23-year-old Simmons averaged 16.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists in 54 games.Shake Milton started at point guard for Simmons in Monday's victory over Atlanta. Shooting guard Josh Richardson also played the point and both players will be needed again when the Sixers play Wednesday at Cleveland. ___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid needs more surgery, this time for a torn ligament in a finger in his left hand, the latest setback in the injury-riddled career of the Philadelphia 76ers' All-Star center.Embiid, averaging 23.4 points and 12.3 rebounds in 31 games this season, will have surgery Friday and will be evaluated in one to two weeks.He has never played more than 64 games in a season and won't again this season after he was hurt Monday night in a victory over Oklahoma City. Embiid injured the radial collateral ligament in the ring finger in the first half, a grotesque injury that made teammate Ben Simmons say “I nearly threw up" when he saw the finger.Embiid's finger overlapped his pinkie to the point that it seemed he had his fingers crossed. He played most of the game with his finger taped and said he "couldn't go up with two hands.""There were a couple of times I could have grabbed with both hands but I just couldn't. I just kept tapping it," Embiid said Monday.The Sixers had... [More]