NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Portland coach Terry Stotts says Evan Turner is available to play but Maurice Harkless will miss Game 4 of the first-round playoff series with New Orleans.The Trail Blazers are trying to stave off elimination Saturday, trailing the Pelicans 3-0.Turner was sidelined for Game 3 on Thursday night because of a toe injury from Game 2. The 6-foot-7 forward started 40 games this season and averaged 8.2 points. He started the first two playoff games.Stotts says the 6-9 Harkless has a sore left knee, a problem that limited him late this the season. Stotts says there is no structural damage but considerable pain.Harkless started Game 3 in Turner's place and scored five points in 26 minutes.___More AP NBA: apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The first taste of the NBA playoffs for Timberwolves All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns has been rather bitter, thanks to the 3-point-happy Houston Rockets.The two-game totals tell a frustrating story for the 22-year-old: just 13 points, 5 for 18 shooting and a 2-0 deficit in the series against the Rockets. Towns has found himself the subject of pointed criticism from analysts, fans and even his own team.The switch-heavy Rockets have double-teamed Towns to a stifling effect, and the Timberwolves sure haven't helped their 7-footer out by getting him the ball in favorable situations in the post."They're coming to double. He knows that. He has to face up, be strong with the ball, make quick moves," point guard Jeff Teague said. "But we have to figure out how to get him running, get him some easy buckets."The team's struggles have taken a little luster off Minnesota's first postseason home game in 14 years, but the fans who remember the Timberwolves reaching the Western Conference... [More]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts says forward Evan Turner is unable to play in Game 3 of Portland's first-round playoff series against the New Orleans Pelicans.Turner had been listed as questionable after injuring a toe on his right foot during Game 2 on Tuesday night. Stotts says he's unsure about Turner's prospects for returning later in the series.Stotts says Maurice Harkless will play more in Turner's absence Thursday night and that the void will be filled "by committee."The 6-foot-7 Turner started 40 games and averaged 8.2 points during the regular season. He also started the first two games of the playoffs, scoring 13 points in Game 1.The 6-9 Harkless returned from knee soreness in Game 2 and scored 11 points in 27 minutes.___More NBA basketball: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Jrue Holiday's postseason production is providing Pelicans All-Star Anthony Davis with a more comfortable margin for error — and has left Portland with precious little.Holiday's 54 points, 16 assists and slew of defensive successes in the first two games are big reasons why the sixth-seeded Pelicans hold a surprising 2-0 series lead over the third-seeded Trail Blazers as they prepare for Game 3 Thursday night in New Orleans."Playoff Jrue, I guess," Davis quipped after Holiday scored 33 — including a late, deep 3-pointer — in the Pelicans' Game 2 triumph in Portland on Tuesday night. "He's in a different mode."Philadelphia visits Miami in one of two other Game 3s on Thursday night, while the Spurs' return to San Antonio after a pair of double-digit losses at defending champion Golden State.Pelicans general manager Dell Demps bet big on Holiday on the first day of free agency last summer, giving the 27-year-old guard a five-year contract worth about $126 million. But if... [More]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Jrue Holiday's postseason production is providing Pelicans All-Star Anthony Davis with a more comfortable margin for error — and has left Portland with precious little.Holiday's 54 points, 16 assists and slew of defensive successes in the first two games are big reasons why the sixth-seeded Pelicans hold a surprising 2-0 series lead over the third-seeded Trail Blazers as they prepare for Game 3 Thursday night in New Orleans."Playoff Jrue, I guess," Davis quipped after Holiday scored 33 — including a late, deep 3-pointer — in the Pelicans' Game 2 triumph in Portland on Tuesday night. "He's in a different mode."Philadelphia visits Miami in one of two other Game 3s on Thursday night, while the Spurs' return to San Antonio after a pair of double-digit losses at defending champion Golden State.Pelicans general manager Dell Demps bet big on Holiday on the first day of free agency last summer, giving the 27-year-old guard a five-year contract worth about $126 million. But if... [More]

C Myles Turner will undergo his first evaluations to comply with the league-mandated concussion protocol on Sunday, coach Nate McMillan said. Turner, who is also sidelined because of a sore neck, was hurt in the season-opening victory over Brooklyn on Wednesday.

G Evan Turner returned for Saturday's 113-97 victory in Atlanta after breaking his right hand five weeks ago. He missed his first six shots and scored only two points off the bench in 18 minutes while playing with a wrap on the hand. Portland was 7-7 without Turner.

G/F Evan Turner (right hand) did not play Wednesday at San Antonio.

F Evan Turner (hand) is expected to get his cast off Friday. His return to action should come next week.

SF Evan Turner (fractured right hand) missed his sixth consecutive game Tuesday.

G/F Evan Turner missed his third straight game with a fractured right hand.

F Evan Turner missed his first game since breaking the third metacarpal bone in his right hand in Portland's win over Dallas on Tuesday. The injury is expected to keep him out of action for five to six weeks.

F/G Evan Turner fractured the third metacarpal in his right hand Tuesday at Dallas. The timetable for his absence was uncertain.The injury appeared to happen in the third quarter as Turner's hand hit Dallas F Harrison Barnes' elbow while running around a screen.

Evan Turner scored a season-high 24 points for the Trail Blazers (22-29), who lost for the second time in seven games.

F Evan Turner, who had 18 points, six assists and four rebounds, made an attempt at a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer Sunday as the Blazers fell to the Warriors.

F Evan Turner, making his first return to TD Garden after spending two years in Boston, had 12 points, four rebounds, four assists, two blocked shots and some strong defense on Isaiah Thomas late.

F Evan Turner scored a season-high 21 points off the bench on Thursday night.

F Evan Turner (ankle) missed a second straight game Wednesday.

G Evan Turner did not dress after spraining his left ankle during practice Monday.

G Evan Turner scored 15 points before getting ejected Monday. With 11.5 seconds left, tempers flared when Clippers C DeAndre Jordan and Turner had to be separated after Jordan fouled Blazers G Damian Lillard. Jordan and Turner were tossed out of the game.