HOUSTON (AP) — Carmelo Anthony is done in Houston.Rockets general manager Daryl Morey released a statement Thursday saying the team is "parting ways" with Anthony and "working toward a resolution."Anthony played just 10 games for the Rockets after signing a one-year, $2.4 million deal during the offseason."Carmelo had a tremendous approach during his time with the Rockets and accepted every role head coach Mike D'Antoni gave him," Morey said. "The fit we envisioned when Carmelo chose to sign with the Rockets has not materialized, therefore we thought it was best to move on as any other outcome would have been unfair to him."Anthony was traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Atlanta Hawks in July before the Hawks released him to clear the way for him to sign with the Rockets.Houston star James Harden said he liked having Anthony on his team but that the decision was out of his hands."It's one of my friends. He's a great guy, great teammate," Harden said. "It just didn't work out. It's... [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]

CHICAGO (AP) — James Harden returned to the Houston Rockets' starting lineup Saturday night against the Chicago Bulls after missing three games because of a strained left hamstring.The NBA MVP last season, Harden has appeared in four games and leads Houston with an average of 28.5 points. He was injured near the end of the loss to Utah on Oct. 24, and Houston was routed in the next two games.The Rockets beat the Nets in Brooklyn 119-111 on Friday night as Harden got an extra day of rest.Guard Eric Gordon was held out of Saturday's game with an abductor strain, suffered at Brooklyn.

NEW YORK (AP) — James Harden is missing his third straight game with a strained left hamstring and Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni says he will probably return Saturday.Harden has worked out without discomfort but the Rockets are playing on back-to-back nights, starting Friday at Brooklyn.Because he wouldn't use Harden in both games after returning from injury, D'Antoni is opting to wait the extra day and bring Harden back Saturday at Chicago. He says if the Rockets were just playing Friday and then been off, Harden likely would have played against the Nets.The league MVP was hurt near the end of a loss to Utah on Oct. 24 and Houston had been routed in both games since.___More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Blake Griffin had this season's highest-scoring game for all of about 24 hours before Stephen Curry bettered it — in just three quarters.Then, in Golden State's next game, after Curry poured in 51 points in a rout of Washington, Kevin Durant scored 25 in the fourth quarter, the best total of his career, and finished with 41 in a victory at New York.With the Warriors teammates' big nights and Griffin's 50-point outburst for Detroit coming in just a four-night span, it continued a torrid start for scorers that Curry said made it seem like "everybody's clicking at the same time."But count Curry among those who aren't sure the offensive onslaughts being seen now will still be seen in a few months."Those are just great players just making plays, having great nights. That's not any different than any other year," he said after Durant's big night."We're six games in. We'll see how it goes."Damian Lillard has already had a pair of 40-point nights and Kemba Walker is one point shy of doing the same.... [More]

Blake Griffin had this season's highest-scoring game for all of about 24 hours before Stephen Curry bettered it — in just three quarters.Then, in Golden State's next game, after Curry poured in 51 points in a rout of Washington, Kevin Durant scored 25 in the fourth quarter, the best total of his career, and finished with 41 in a victory at New York.With the Warriors teammates' big nights and Griffin's 50-point outburst for Detroit coming in just a four-night span, it continued a torrid start for scorers that Curry said made it seem like "everybody's clicking at the same time."But count Curry among those who aren't sure the offensive onslaughts being seen now will still be seen in a few months."Those are just great players just making plays, having great nights. That's not any different than any other year," he said after Durant's big night."We're six games in. We'll see how it goes."Damian Lillard has already had a pair of 40-point nights and Kemba Walker is one point shy of doing the same.... [More]

Blake Griffin had this season's highest-scoring game for all of about 24 hours before Stephen Curry bettered it — in just three quarters.Then in Golden State's next game after Curry poured in 51 points in a rout of Washington, Kevin Durant scored 25 in the fourth quarter, the best total of his career, and finished with 41 in a victory at New York.With the Warriors teammates' big nights and Griffin's 50-point outburst for Detroit coming in just a four-night span, it continued a torrid start for scorers that Curry said made it seem like "everybody's clicking at the same time."But count Curry among those who isn't sure the offensive onslaughts being seen now are will still be seen in a few months."Those are just great players just making plays, having great nights. That's not any different than any other year," he said after Durant's big night."We're six games in. We'll see how it goes."Damian Lillard has already had a pair of 40-point nights and Kemba Walker is one point shy of doing the... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — James Harden will miss at least two games because of a hamstring injury, starting with Houston's game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.Harden didn't practice on Thursday after leaving Wednesday night's loss to Utah after experiencing tightness in the hamstring in the fourth quarter.General manager Daryl Morey said Thursday that Harden had a Grade 1-Plus hamstring strain and that he'd sit out on Friday and Tuesday against Portland before being re-evaluated.Harden scored 29 points Wednesday night in the 100-89 defeat that dropped the Rockets to 1-3 before heading to the locker room with just more than five minutes remaining.Harden missed seven games last season with a Grade 2 hamstring strain and said after the game this was not the same type of injury."It's nothing serious. Nothing serious," he said. "It's not close to last year. Just being cautious."D'Antoni said he doesn't expect this problem to cause Harden to miss extended time. Houston has won just one... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — James Harden's injured left hamstring will likely keep him out of Houston's game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.Harden didn't practice on Thursday after leaving Wednesday night's loss to Utah after experiencing tightness in the hamstring in the fourth quarter.Coach Mike D'Antoni didn't completely rule out last season's MVP for Friday's game but said it's "very doubtful" that he'll play.Harden scored 29 points Wednesday night in the 100-89 defeat that dropped the Rockets to 1-3 before heading to the locker room with just more than five minutes remaining.D'Antoni says Harden will have an MRI on Thursday and that they'll know more about his injury after that but noted it's probably a bit more serious than simply tightness."He's getting an MRI so that will tell us something and then it's probably closer to a strain than it is tightness," D'Antoni said. "He wouldn't have gone out if it was just tightness. He felt a little bit more, I'm sure."Harden missed seven... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — James Harden is dealing with tightness in his left hamstring that forced him to leave Houston's loss to Utah in the fourth quarter.Harden scored 29 points Wednesday night in the 100-89 defeat that dropped the Rockets to 1-3 before heading to the locker room with just more than five minutes remaining."Just felt tightness in my left hamstring," Harden said. "We'll see how it feels tomorrow."Harden missed seven games last season with a Grade 2 hamstring strain and said this was not the same type of injury as that one."It's nothing serious. Nothing serious," he said. "It's not close to last year. Just being cautious."Coach Mike D'Antoni said Harden, who won his first MVP award last season, felt the tightness early in the game, and when he said it had returned after a basket in the fourth, D'Antoni decided to send him to the locker room."When he made that one drive he felt it again," D'Antoni said. "He'll be re-evaluated ... it's a hamstring but I don't know what type (of injury)."___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Just three games into LeBron James' tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers, they were missing two suspended starters when they faced the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night.Although nobody thought James' time on the West Coast would be boring, Brandon Ingram is sorry for his role in getting this season off to a weird start.Ingram is also grateful he received only a four-game suspension for his role in the Lakers' brawl with the Houston Rockets. The normally mild-mannered forward confronted referee Jason Phillips, shoved James Harden and threw punches at Chris Paul."Well, it was better than we expected," Ingram said after the Lakers' morning shootaround. "I'm happy it's only four. But I know I've got to control my emotions a little bit better. ... I thought it would be more than four, but I'm happy that it's at least four."Rajon Rondo also began his three-game suspension two days after spitting and punching in his altercation with Paul, a longtime rival.James was a peacemaker... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Carmelo Anthony experiment in Oklahoma City didn't go well last season.The Rockets believe things will be different for the 10-time All-Star in Houston and that Anthony can be the piece stars James Harden and Chris Paul need to win the rugged West — and maybe win it all."We can win. I think he sees that, feels that," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "Now it's just up to everybody (and) they're going to do whatever it takes to win."Anthony balked at the suggestion he would come off the bench for the Thunder had he stayed. He still doesn't want to talk about the possibility of a reserve role in Houston, but he seems to have made peace with playing with the second team if it means he might finally get a ring in his 16th season."At the end of the day whatever I have to do to help this team win a championship, then that's what's going to be done," Anthony said.Anthony was traded to the Hawks after one tough season with the Thunder, where he averaged a career-low 16.2 points in 78... [More]

Dejounte Murray was driving past James Harden and on his way to the basket, showing one of the skills that made the San Antonio Spurs convinced he's the right point guard for their team.And then Murray's knee gave out.In an instant, the entire trajectory of the Spurs' season might have changed.Murray's season is almost certainly over, after the Spurs learned Monday that their starting point guard has a torn ACL in his right knee. The team hasn't revealed when Murray will have surgery, nor has it determined a timetable for his return, but ACL reconstruction and rehabilitation is a process that typically takes around a full year."You just carry on," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said, standing in a corner of the team's practice facility in San Antonio shortly after the Murray diagnosis was released. "He's going to be out. Devastating injury for him, for the team. But life goes on. Everybody will pick up and do the best job we can to carry forward without him."Murray, who turned 22 last month,... [More]

Dejounte Murray was driving past James Harden and on his way to the basket, showing one of the skills that made the San Antonio Spurs convinced he's the right point guard for their team.And then Murray's knee gave out.In an instant, the entire trajectory of the Spurs' season might have changed.Murray's season is almost certainly over, after the Spurs learned Monday that their starting point guard has a torn ACL in his right knee. The team hasn't revealed when Murray will have surgery, nor has it determined a timetable for his return, but ACL reconstruction and rehabilitation is a process that typically takes around a full year."You just carry on," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said, standing in a corner of the team's practice facility in San Antonio shortly after the Murray diagnosis was released. "He's going to be out. Devastating injury for him, for the team. But life goes on. Everybody will pick up and do the best job we can to carry forward without him."Murray, who turned 22 last month,... [More]

Dejounte Murray was driving past James Harden and on his way to the basket, showing one of the skills that made the San Antonio Spurs convinced he's the right point guard for their team.And then Murray's knee gave out.In an instant, the entire trajectory of the Spurs' season might have changed.Murray's season is almost certainly over, after the Spurs learned Monday that their starting point guard has a torn ACL in his right knee. The team hasn't revealed when Murray will have surgery, nor has it determined a timetable for his return, but ACL reconstruction and rehabilitation is a process that typically takes around a full year."You just carry on," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said, standing in a corner of the team's practice facility in San Antonio shortly after the Murray diagnosis was released. "He's going to be out. Devastating injury for him, for the team. But life goes on. Everybody will pick up and do the best job we can to carry forward without him."Murray, who turned 22 last month,... [More]

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs say point guard Dejounte Murray has a torn ACL in his right knee, a major blow for the team.Murray was San Antonio's starting point guard, a role he assumed last season over longtime Spurs starter Tony Parker.Parker left as a free agent this summer, signing g with Charlotte.Murray got hurt on a drive into the lane against Houston's James Harden in the Spurs-Rockets preseason game Sunday. Murray's right knee simply appeared to give way without any contact, and he writhed in pain along the baseline after falling.An MRI on Monday confirmed the tear.He's the second Spurs guard to necessitate surgery for a knee injury this preseason. Rookie Lonnie Walker IV has a torn meniscus and will miss several weeks while recovering.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Spurs point guard Dejounte Murray will undergo an MRI after his right knee buckled late in the first half of San Antonio's preseason game against Houston on Sunday.Murray was driving to the basket against Rockets guard James Harden on a fastbreak when his knee gave. The third-year player remained on the court for several minutes writhing in pain. Spurs officials brought out a wheelchair to take him off the court, but Murray refused, rising to his feet amid a raucous cheer from the San Antonio fans. Murray tested his knee in front of the Spurs' bench before heading to the locker room with team officials.San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich did not have any updates on Murray's condition following the team's 108-93 loss to Houston.Murray replaced franchise stalwart Tony Parker as the team's starting point guard midway through last season.Murray's injury comes two days after Spurs rookie Lonnie Walker IV torn his right medial meniscus while attempting to cross over a Detroit defender. Walker will miss at least six weeks.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) — Through the first week of camp with the Houston Rockets, all indications are that Carmelo Anthony will be OK coming off the bench if that's the role coach Mike D'Antoni gives him.That doesn't mean the 10-time All-Star wants to discuss it."I don't like talking about it," Anthony said Saturday before the team's last practice at McNeese State before returning to Houston. "People always been speculating. They always speculate so I will continue not to talk about it."While Anthony, who is in his first year with the Rockets after one tumultuous season in Oklahoma City, refused to discuss whether he'll start or be a reserve, he had plenty to say about a variety of other subjects, candidly answering every other question thrown his way. He reflected on his year with the Thunder, a place where he never seemed to fit in and averaged a career-low 16.2 points in 78 starts.He said he got "caught up" in outside opinions of what people believed he should do and recounted all the... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta didn't waste any time telling Carmelo Anthony why he wanted him on his team."I'll tell you exactly what I told him," Fertitta said Monday. "'We couldn't win a championship without you last year. And if we win a championship with you this year you're going to be the guy that got us over there. So, it's all up to you.'"Anthony, who joined the Rockets this offseason after one disappointing season in Oklahoma City, chuckled when asked about that phone call. He was vacationing in South Africa with his family when the phone rang, and Fertitta delivered the message."He put a lot of pressure on me," Anthony said. "I'm not even going to lie."Anthony signed a one-year, $2.4 million deal with the Rockets in August after he was traded from the Thunder to the Atlanta Hawks in July before the Hawks released him.Fertitta and the rest of the Rockets believe that the 10-time All-Star could be the piece that will help them win their first NBA title since... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Prosecutors are reviewing allegations that Houston Rockets star James Harden took a woman's cellphone outside a Scottsdale nightclub last month.Police told The Arizona Republic that a city prosecutor is looking at their investigation.The 42-year-old woman reported that she was recording a fight Aug. 11 when Harden grabbed her by the wrist.She says he then grabbed her cellphone and threw it onto the roof.According to the police report, Harden and someone in his entourage gave her $500 to pay for a replacement.The woman was treated at a hospital for a wrist injury.Harden, who played at Arizona State University, was voted the NBA's Most Valuable Player in June.A representative for the Houston Rockets did not immediately respond Friday to a request for comment.