NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Anthony Davis missed the second half of New Orleans' game against Oklahoma City on Thursday night with what the Pelicans said was a left shoulder injury.It is unclear how the injury might affect Davis' availability for this weekend's NBA All-Star festivities. Davis was selected for the All-Star Game for the sixth straight season. But if he plays, he'll represent a team he has no plans to remain with long term.Davis announced on Jan. 28 that he won't sign an extension with New Orleans and wants to be traded to a contending team. However, he was not traded by the Feb. 7 deadline for this season.Davis was in the starting lineup against the Thunder and played 16 minutes during the first half. He scored 14 points, grabbed four rebounds, assisted on two baskets and blocked a shot in 16 minutes on the court. His performance helped New Orleans take a 66-63 lead into halftime. But in the final seconds of the half, Davis fouled Nerlens Noel while trying to block the Thunder forward's shot with his left hand.As Davis walked to the locker room for halftime, he appeared to keep his left arm still while his right arm swayed normally.Davis did not emerge from the locker room to start the second half and the club announced his injury status shortly afterward.Davis has averaged 28.5 points and 13.1 rebounds this season.___More AP NBA: www.apnews.com/NBA and www.twitter.com/AP_Sports

To help you with planning for the NBA All Star weekend, here are some of our plans. This advisory will be updated until Sunday's game. Please contact Oscar Dixon (odixon@ap.org) with any questions. All times ET.THURSDAYBKN--All-Star Game-Dwyane and DirkDALLAS _ Miami’s Dwyane Wade and Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki accepted honorary All-Star roles to help the NBA celebrate two long and decorated careers. It should also be a chance for the two-time Finals foes to go out on amicable terms after a shared history that Nowitzki acknowledged was “frosty” at times. Wade has already said this is his final season, and all signs point to Nowitzki hanging up his sneakers after setting a league record by spending all 21 of his seasons with the same franchise. By Schuyler Dixon. Sent: 800 words, photosFRIDAYBKN--All-Star-Curry Family WeekendCHARLOTTE, N.C. _ Stephen and Seth Curry are returning to their hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina for the NBA All-Star weekend. Stephen, a two-time league MVP, will join... [More]

DALLAS (AP) — Of all the opposing jerseys Dwyane Wade has collected through swaps during his final NBA season, Dirk Nowitzki's was among those the Miami star wanted the most and somehow seemed worried he wouldn't get.Maybe it had something to do with the "frosty" phase of their relationship, as the Dallas icon described the strain following the Heat's six-game win over the Mavericks in the 2006 NBA Finals. Maybe Wade thought such a display wouldn't be possible on Dallas owner Mark Cuban's court.In reality, Wade didn't need to worry about Nowitzki turning him down.The two-time Finals foes are elder statesmen in their league now, a co-existence better defined by sharing honorary All-Star status for the NBA's biggest party than bitterness over a championship lost to a rival."You appreciate having someone like that that's a part of your journey, that pushes you," Wade said, a few hours before that jersey swap took place near midcourt following Miami's 112-101 victory in Dallas on Wednesday.... [More]

DALLAS (AP) — Of all the opposing jerseys Dwyane Wade has collected through swaps during his final NBA season, Dirk Nowitzki's was among those the Miami star wanted the most and somehow seemed worried he wouldn't get.Maybe it had something to do with the "frosty" phase of their relationship, as the Dallas icon described the strain following the Heat's six-game win over the Mavericks in the 2006 NBA Finals. Maybe Wade thought such a display wouldn't be possible on Dallas owner Mark Cuban's court.In reality, Wade didn't need to worry about Nowitzki turning him down.The two-time Finals foes are elder statesmen in their league now, a co-existence better defined by sharing honorary All-Star status for the NBA's biggest party than bitterness over a championship lost to a rival."You appreciate having someone like that that's a part of your journey, that pushes you," Wade said, a few hours before that jersey swap took place near midcourt following Miami's 112-101 victory in Dallas on Wednesday.... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Joel Embiid was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Wednesday for public criticism of referees that included profanity.The penalty was announced by Kiki VanDeWeghe, the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations.Embiid's comments came at the end of his postgame interview following Philadelphia's 112-109 home loss to Boston on Tuesday."I knew what I was getting into," Embiid said. "I haven't seen the Last 2-Minute Report but I did get fouled and everybody knew that. I felt like it changed the outcome of the game. The game could have been tied and I was in the heat of the moment."The report did say Al Horford should have been called for fouling Embiid with 35 seconds remaining.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Center Enes Kanter has joined the Portland Trail Blazers.Kanter was waived by the New York Knicks along with Wesley Matthews following the trade deadline last week. Kanter announced Wednesday on Twitter that he had signed with the Blazers for the rest of the season. The deal was first reported by ESPN."I look forward to helping the Blazers achieve the ultimate goal of competing for a championship," he said on the post. "Excited to meet my new teammates, coaches, staff and most importantly the fans. It is a blessing to continue to compete at the highest level."Kanter was once a starter for the Knicks but fell out of the rotation altogether when the team — with the worst record in the league — turned its focus to younger players. The Knicks could not find a deal for Kanter before the deadline.The center from Turkey came to the Knicks from Oklahoma City in the Carmelo Anthony trade in September 2017 and averaged 14 points and 10.8 rebounds in 115 games over two seasons.... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Isaiah Thomas pronounced his surgically repaired hip as fit as it's ever going to be.His confidence? Now that's as healthy as ever with the point guard making his Denver Nuggets debut Wednesday night."My job is not to fit in. It's to stand out," said Thomas, who entered to a standing ovation late in the first quarter against the Sacramento Kings, the team that picked him in the second round of the 2011 draft. "I'm going to do whatever I can to get minutes on the basketball floor and I'm going to play to win and help this team get to the next level."Thomas' last NBA game was March 22 with the Los Angeles Lakers before undergoing an arthroscopic procedure to fix his troublesome hip. The Nuggets signed him to a one-year deal in the offseason and gave him plenty of space to recover from his operation.He could provide a big boost down the stretch for the surging Nuggets, who are near the top of the Western Conference standings.His minutes, though, could come at the expense of Monte... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Joel Embiid has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for public criticism of referees that included profanity.The penalty was announced Wednesday by Kiki VanDeWeghe, the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations.Embiid's comments came at the end of his postgame interview following Philadelphia's 112-109 home loss to Boston on Tuesday.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cavaliers forward Kevin Love sat out Wednesday night's game against Brooklyn, but plans to increase his playing time following the All-Star break."I don't know minutes-wise what it's going to be like, but a good progression after that because I will be fully prepared to go," Love said.Love didn't play the final game before the break to get further rest following foot surgery. He has not suffered any setbacks since returning last week to play for the first time since having the operation in November. The five-time All-Star has played in two games.Love played nearly 16 minutes, scoring 14 points with nine rebounds, in Monday's win over New York. He said following the game that he thought he'd play Wednesday, but realizes it's important to not rush things."We've been every other game, so my minutes were more than double last game," said Love, who played six minutes in his return Feb. 8 against Washington, his first action since Oct. 24."He's in a really good place right now... [More]

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Center Enes Kanter has joined the Portland Trail Blazers.Kanter was waived by the New York Knicks along with Wesley Matthews following the trade deadline last week. Kanter announced Wednesday on Twitter that he had signed with the Blazers for the rest of the season. The deal was first reported by ESPN."I look forward to helping the Blazers achieve the ultimate goal of competing for a championship," he said on the post. "Excited to meet my new teammates, coaches, staff and most importantly the fans. It is a blessing to continue to compete at the highest level."Kanter was once a starter for the Knicks but fell out of the rotation altogether when the team — with the worst record in the league — turned its focus to younger players. The Knicks could not find a deal for Kanter before the deadline.The center from Turkey came to the Knicks from Oklahoma City in the Carmelo Anthony trade in September 2017 and averaged 14 points and 10.8 rebounds in 115 games over two seasons. He had become frustrated after first losing his starting spot and then any spot at all in recent weeks.The Blazers previously made a four-year, $70 million offer for Kanter in 2015 when he was a restricted free agent, but the Thunder matched it.Kanter will play behind Portland's starting center Jusuf Nurkic in a strong second unit that includes Seth Curry, Jake Layman, Rodney Hood and Evan Turner.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Center Enes Kanter has joined the Portland Trail Blazers.Kanter was waived by the New York Knicks along with Wesley Matthews following the trade deadline last week. Kanter announced Wednesday on Twitter that he had signed with the Blazers for the rest of the season.Kanter was once a starter for the Knicks but fell out of the rotation altogether when the team — with the worst record in the league — turned its focus to younger players. The Knicks could not find a deal for Kanter before the deadline.The center from Turkey came to the Knicks from Oklahoma City in the Carmelo Anthony trade in September 2017 and averaged 14 points and 10.8 rebounds in 115 games over two seasons. He had become frustrated after first losing his starting spot and then any spot at all in recent weeks.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The Memphis Grizzlies have signed forward Bruno Caboclo (cuh-BO-clo) to a multi-year contract after having first signing him to consecutive 10-day contracts.Terms of the deal announced Wednesday were not disclosed.The 6-foot-9 Caboclo has started one of his 10 games played for Memphis averaging 6.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.40 blocks in 21.1 minutes. He has either set or tied his NBA single-game career highs for points, three-pointers made, free throws made, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks with the Grizzlies.Caboclo was the 20th pick overall in 2014 by Toronto and also has played with Sacramento. He started 23 of his 28 games with the G League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers earlier this season.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DENVER (AP) — Isaiah Thomas pronounced his surgically repaired hip as fit as it's ever going to be.His confidence? Now that's as healthy as ever with the point guard on the verge of his Denver Nuggets debut."My job is not to fit in. It's to stand out," said Thomas, who's looking to play Wednesday night against the Sacramento Kings, the team that picked him in the second round of the 2011 draft. "I'm going to do whatever I can to get minutes on the basketball floor and I'm going to play to win and help this team get to the next level."Thomas' last NBA game was March 22 with the Los Angeles Lakers before undergoing an arthroscopic procedure to fix his troublesome hip. The Nuggets signed him to a one-year deal in the offseason and gave him plenty of space to recover from his operation.He could provide a big boost down the stretch for the surging Nuggets, who are near the top of the Western Conference standings.His minutes, though, could come at the expense of Monte Morris and Malik Beasley,... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Isaiah Thomas says his surgically repaired hip has mended enough to allow him to soon make his Denver Nuggets debut.The point guard's first appearance in a Nuggets jersey could be Wednesday night against the Sacramento Kings, the team that picked him in the second round of the 2011 draft. Thomas said he will be a game-time decision but feels like he's ready.Thomas, who turned 30 last week, hasn't played in an NBA game since suiting up for the Los Angeles Lakers last March.The Nuggets signed him to a one-year deal in the offseason and gave him plenty of space to recover from his hip procedure. His minutes will come at the expense of Monte Morris and Malik Beasley, two guards who have been pleasant surprises for Denver.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cavaliers forward Kevin Love will sit out the final game before the All-Star break to get further rest following foot surgery.Love has not suffered any setbacks since returning last week to play for the first time since having the operation in November. The five-time All-Star has played in two games.The Cavaliers have been pleased with his recovery and don't want to push things. After facing the Nets on Wednesday, Cleveland won't play again until Feb. 21.The 30-year-old Love played just six minutes against Washington in his first action since Oct. 24. He rested the following night at Indiana, then played nearly 16 minutes on Monday against the Knicks, scoring 14 points with nine rebounds.Love initially injured his foot in Cleveland's final exhibition game. He is averaging 15.7 points and 10.7 rebounds in six games.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

To help you with planning for the NBA All Star weekend, here are some of our plans. This advisory will be updated until Sunday's game. Please contact Oscar Dixon (odixon@ap.org) with any questions. All times ET.WEDNESDAYBKN--All-Star Game-Stepback 3-PointerJames Harden has relied on it to become the NBA’s most unstoppable scorer. Luka Doncic has ridden it to stardom on both sides of the Atlantic. So how come more players aren’t using the step-back 3-pointer? Well, it’s fundamentally flawed, sometimes doesn’t even look legal, and even Stephen Curry says it’s tough to make. So it’s unclear whether the shot is a luxury for some, or will become a necessity for all in today’s 3-point happy game. By Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney. Sent: 850 words, photos by 5 a.m.THURSDAYBKN--All-Star Game-Dwyane and DirkDALLAS _ Miami’s Dwyane Wade and Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki accepted honorary All-Star roles to help the NBA celebrate two long and decorated careers. It should also be a chance for the two-time... [More]

James Harden turned to it to become the NBA's most unstoppable scorer.Luka Doncic has ridden it to stardom on both sides of the Atlantic.The step-back 3-pointer is the perfect weapon for the modern NBA, practically a necessity in a game where the ability to find space to shoot from behind the arc is more valued than ever before."Things have changed and the game is so spread out," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "All over the NBA and all over the world really, everybody's stretching the range out a few feet more. The 3-point line is being covered much better than it has in the past so guys are moving back, and guys that can create space to shoot 3s unassisted have a special skill . It's going to be a necessary skill more as the game continues to evolve."But before guys who belong in the paint start hoisting them up from the perimeter, or taking balls off the rack and shooting step-backs during this weekend's All-Star 3-point contest, there a few things to consider.Even Stephen Curry said... [More]

To help you with planning for the NBA All Star weekend, here are some of our plans. This advisory will be updated until Sunday's game. Please contact Oscar Dixon (odixon@ap.org) with any questions. All times ET.TUESDAYBKN—All-Star Game-Jordan’s JourneyCHARLOTTE, N.C. _ As college roommates Michael Jordan and Buzz Peterson would spend their nights shooting pool, tossing cards and playing arcade games at the University of North Carolina. Looking back, Peterson said he never could have imagined Jordan would become so successful and wealthy that he would go on to buy an NBA franchise and have the honor of hosting an All-Star game in his home state. By Steve Reed. Sent: 900 words, file photosWEDNESDAYBKN--All-Star Game-Stepback 3-PointerJames Harden has relied on it to become the NBA’s most unstoppable scorer. Luka Doncic has ridden it to stardom on both sides of the Atlantic. So how come more players aren’t using the step-back 3-pointer? Well, it’s fundamentally flawed, sometimes doesn’t even... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Buzz Peterson knew Michael Jordan as well as anyone when they were in college.Roommates and teammates at North Carolina, they spent countless days competing on the basketball court in practice and endless hours talking hoops. Their nights often included shooting pool and tossing cards in their Granville Towers South dorm room. There often were arcade games — before the home video game craze hit — at the Pump House on Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill.But Peterson never saw this coming: His roommate becoming an NBA owner and hosting the league's All-Star game in his home state of North Carolina."You know, staring across the dorm room at him back then, no, I never would have thought this would happen," Peterson told The Associated Press.Jordan didn't either."Frankly, no," Jordan said Tuesday in a news conference previewing the All-Star game. "Growing back up as a kid here in North Carolina, the first thing is play basketball. Then things just evolved from there."While... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Michael Jordan says James Harden's streak of 30 straight 30-point games and Russell Westbrook's 10 straight triple-doubles are both impressive and tough to accomplish.But the Charlotte Hornets owner said Tuesday — flashing a big grin — that there is one accomplishment tougher than both those feats: "Which is harder from the player's standpoint? Six championships by all means."Jordan praised both players for what they're doing, noting that both streaks are hard to accomplish.Jordan said the milestones show "the talent that we have within the league.""It shows progression in the league," Jordan said during an interview at his Hornets facility while discussing the upcoming All-Star weekend . "I am very proud of how both guys have done because they are making a mark for the league and I think it really helps grow the league."Harden needed a late scoring spree on Monday night to extend his streak to 30 games, scoring 11 points in the final 100 seconds as the Rockets defeated... [More]