OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Warriors forward Draymond Green and Houston big man Nene had their double technical fouls rescinded by the NBA from Tuesday night's Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals.Golden State had approached the league asking for the consideration.The NBA said on Twitter that the technicals had been dropped "upon league office review."That's a big deal for Green if the two-time defending champions play deep into the postseason again. The Warriors lead their best-of-seven series with the Rockets 2-0 going into Game 3 on Saturday in Houston.With one fewer technical now, Green's total for the postseason is back to three — and seven draws an automatic one-game suspension."I'm happy about it. It's good," Green said after practice Thursday before the Warriors departed the Bay Area for Texas. "It helps me, a lot."Green and Nene got tangled up and drew double technicals with one second remaining in the third quarter of the Warriors' 115-109 victory after James Harden made three... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — James Harden squinted under the bright lights of the Toyota Center court on Thursday and parts of both eyes remained a garish, bloody red.It was clear Houston's superstar was still dealing with injuries to his eyes after being hit by Golden State's Draymond Green in Game 2. Harden insisted the problem wouldn't keep him out of Game 3 on Saturday as the Rockets try to climb out of an 0-2 hole against the two-time defending champions."If I played barely seeing last game, what makes you think I'm going to sit out Game 3?" Harden asked defiantly.Harden was injured midway through the first quarter Tuesday night after a blow from Green as he tried to rebound a shot he missed. He immediately fell to the court where he remained writhing for a bit before he was tended to by Houston's training staff and taken to the locker room. He returned with about seven minutes left in the second quarter and scored 29 points despite saying that his vision was extremely blurry and that he could see... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — James Harden squinted under the bright lights of the Toyota Center court on Thursday and parts of both eyes remained a garish, bloody red.It was clear Houston's superstar was still dealing with injuries to his eyes after being hit by Golden State's Draymond Green in Game 2. Harden insisted the problem wouldn't keep him out of Game 3 on Saturday as the Rockets try to climb out of an 0-2 hole against the defending champions."If I played barely seeing last game, what makes you think I'm going to sit out Game 3," Harden asked defiantly.Harden was injured midway through the first quarter Tuesday night after a blow from Green as he tried to rebound a shot he missed. He immediately fell to the court where he remained writhing for a bit before he was tended to by Houston's training staff and taken to the locker room. He returned with about seven minutes left in the second quarter and scored 29 points despite saying that his vision was extremely blurry and that he could see "nothing.""When... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — James Harden squinted under the bright lights of the Toyota Center court on Thursday and parts of both eyes remained a garish, bloody red.It was clear Houston's superstar was still dealing with injuries to his eyes after being hit by Golden State's Draymond Green in Game 2. Harden insisted the problem wouldn't keep him out of Game 3 on Saturday as the Rockets try to climb out of an 0-2 hole against the defending champions."If I played barely seeing last game, what makes you think I'm going to sit out Game 3," Harden asked defiantly.Harden was injured midway through the first quarter Sunday night after a blow from Green as he tried to rebound a shot he missed. He immediately fell to the court where he remained writhing for a bit before he was tended to by Houston's training staff and taken to the locker room. He returned with about seven minutes left in the second quarter and scored 29 points despite saying that his vision was extremely blurry and that he could see "nothing.""When... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston's James Harden will play in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday despite injuries to both of his eyes after being hit by Draymond Green in Game 2.Harden practiced with the team Thursday as the Rockets prepare to host Golden State for two games after losing the first two in California.It was clear that last year's MVP was still struggling as he squinted under the light while answering questions about it. The entire left side of his left eye remained bloody, as did the left corner of his right eye.He says: "I can see better," but that he still had pain from the blow which came in the first quarter of Tuesday night's game.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — James Harden's eyes were still red and stinging well after the final buzzer.He could barely see on the court let alone read the box score after the game.The reigning MVP hopes he will feel better with a few days off before the Rockets' Western Conference semifinal series against Golden State resumes Saturday in Houston with his team trailing 2-0 following a 115-109 loss Tuesday night in Game 2.Harden scored 29 points on 9-for-19 shooting to go with seven rebounds, four assists and six turnovers. Eye drops he received only helped so much to relieve the discomfort.He injured his eyes with 6:39 left in the first quarter, grabbing at his face after he and Green fought for a loose rebound and Green's left hand got Harden in the face."I can barely see. Just tried to go out there and do what I can to help my teammates," Harden said. "It's pretty blurry right now. Hopefully it gets better day by day."When Harden went to the locker room with 6:27 remaining and a towel over... [More]

Golden State and Houston should be embarrassed.And NBA fans should be livid.Steve Kerr, the Warriors' coach and about as classy an act as there is in the league, opened his media session Monday by pantomiming a flop on a reporter in the most thinly veiled jab he could possibly take at Houston's James Harden. Not long after that, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey just happened to tweet out a story from 2016 about Kerr complaining about calls and getting fined.This is what this series has come to after one game: Trolling and subtweeting?Enough already.Just play.What went on during — and more specifically, after — Game 1 is a bad look for both the Warriors and for the Rockets. Basketball is not the story in this series heading into Tuesday night's Game 2. And given the quality of these teams, the best rivalry in the NBA, that's a shame.Harden is the reigning MVP who takes more free throws than anyone on the planet and still says he doesn't get a fair whistle. His backcourt mate Chris Paul... [More]

The MVP front-runners are in some trouble.It's a virtual certainty that either Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo or Houston's reigning MVP James Harden will win the coveted award this season. And while the voting results there won't be known until June 24, the only results that truly matter right now to both players are the ones that were determined on Sunday — and the ones that are coming on Tuesday.Antetokounmpo and the Bucks were handed their worst loss of the season, a 22-point defeat by the Boston Celtics that cost the NBA's No. 1 overall seed the home-court edge in their Eastern Conference semifinal series. And the Rockets were angered by what they felt were a series of calls that didn't go their way in a 104-100 loss to Golden State on Sunday in Game 1 of a West semifinal series.Both matchups resume with Game 2s on Tuesday: Boston at Milwaukee and Houston at Golden State."Right now, we've got to focus on playing better," Antetokounmpo said after Milwaukee fell 112-90 in Game 1. "Obviously,... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Houston guard Chris Paul was fined $35,000 by the NBA on Monday for making contact with an official with 4.4 seconds left in a 104-100 loss to the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.Paul was automatically ejected following his second technical Sunday. The league said his discipline — handed down by executive Kiki VanDeWeghe — was "for aggressively confronting and recklessly making contact with a game official," Josh Tiven. Paul would not say after the game whether he had indeed made contact with Tiven as it appeared on replays.The incident happened when Paul argued that Warriors guard Klay Thompson committed a loose-ball foul against him."I don't know yet. Nobody told me. He just called a tech. And I knew that was my second," said Paul, who had rebounded James Harden's missed 3 with 10.1 seconds left.The Rockets publicly complained in postgame interviews about the officiating, particularly frustrated with Golden State's closeouts... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Stephen Curry made a point Monday of studying all 16 3-pointers James Harden attempted in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.He wants to be better prepared to defend the Houston star who has such a knack of drawing his man in to generate contact as he jumps forward to release the ball from long range.Who knew a debate about landing space would be all the talk going into Game 2 on Tuesday?"It sucks that that is the narrative coming out of it, because we literally could exhaust our energy on that as well. So what are you going to do about it?" Curry said. "Hopefully, Game 2, it's about the game and how we play and making shots and the energy and intensity that we need to play with, knowing what's at stake, and that becomes the conversation for sure."A day after the Houston Rockets complained about the officiating following a 104-100 loss in the opener of the best-of-seven series, the NBA's Last-Two Minute Report confirmed a no-call when Draymond Green defended... [More]

The MVP front-runners are in some trouble.It's a virtual certainty that either Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo or Houston's reigning MVP James Harden will win the coveted award this season. And while the voting results there won't be known until June 24, the only results that truly matter right now to both players are the ones that were determined on Sunday — and the ones that are coming on Tuesday.Antetokounmpo and the Bucks were handed their worst loss of the season, a 22-point defeat by the Boston Celtics that cost the NBA's No. 1 overall seed the home-court edge in their Eastern Conference semifinal series. And the Rockets were angered by what they felt were a series of calls that didn't go their way in a 104-100 loss to Golden State on Sunday in Game 1 of a West semifinal series.Both matchups resume with Game 2s on Tuesday: Boston at Milwaukee and Houston at Golden State."Right now, we've got to focus on playing better," Antetokounmpo said after Milwaukee fell 112-90 in Game 1. "Obviously,... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston coach Mike D'Antoni thinks James Harden should win a second straight MVP award.The veteran coach also believes the Beard should take home another award, too."I don't know if he'll get MVP, he should in my opinion," D'Antoni said. "But he definitely should get most improved player because he's improved his game."It's daunting to think: Harden is actually getting better. And there are plenty of numbers to back it up as the Rockets prepare to play the Warriors in the Western Conference semifinals starting Sunday.A year after Harden became the first Rocket to win MVP since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1994 when he led the team to the first of two titles Harden has improved in almost every statistical category.He raised his scoring average from 30.4 to 36.1 points lead the NBA, upped his rebounds from 5.4 to 6.6, improved his steals from 1.8 to 2.0, raised his free throw percentage from 85.8 to 87.9 and made 4.8 3-pointers a game after averaging 3.7 a year ago.And those numbers... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Minutes after the Houston Rockets eliminated the Utah Jazz to advance to the Western Conference semifinals for the third straight season they were already looking ahead to the possibility of getting another shot at the Golden State Warriors."That's what I want," center Clint Capela said. "I want to face them."Veteran Chris Paul slightly scolded the 24-year-old for acknowledging that this is the matchup Houston has been looking forward to all season."That's going to be all over (the internet)," Paul said, shaking his head.But Paul couldn't deny that the Rockets are well aware that the Warriors have been the biggest roadblock to them vying for their first title in more than 20 years."Real talk, in order to get to where you want to get to, you have to go through them," he said. "They're the reigning champs. They've been running the West for five years straight now."But the Rockets will have to wait to see if they'll get that shot at the Warriors after they failed to close out... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Steve Kerr drove home from a stunning 35-point defeat at Oracle Arena one night last month and thought of something on the bright side: He can't recall very many ugly losses during Golden State's sensational five-year run.This season has brought a handful of embarrassing performances in the final hurrah at Oracle, and the Los Angeles Clippers added to the list by rallying from a 31-point deficit in the second half to win Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.Now, the two-time defending NBA champions will try to eliminate the Clippers by winning Game 5 on Wednesday night in Oakland. James Harden and Houston lead Utah 3-1 and also will try to wrap up their first-round series at home — potentially setting up one of the most anticipated second-round postseason matchups between the Warriors and Rockets."Close-out games are always difficult," Kerr said Tuesday. "Both teams at this point have a really good feel for one another, strategically what each one is trying... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Steve Kerr drove home from a stunning 35-point defeat at Oracle Arena one night last month and thought of something on the bright side: He can't recall very many ugly losses during Golden State's sensational five-year run.This season has brought a handful of embarrassing performances in the final hurrah at Oracle, and the Los Angeles Clippers added to the list by rallying from a 31-point deficit in the second half to win Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.Now, the two-time defending NBA champions will try to eliminate the Clippers by winning Game 5 on Wednesday night in Oakland. James Harden and Houston lead Utah 3-1 and also will try to wrap up their first-round series at home — potentially setting up one of the most anticipated second-round postseason matchups between the Warriors and Rockets."Close-out games are always difficult," Kerr said Tuesday. "Both teams at this point have a really good feel for one another, strategically what each one is trying... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo and Houston's James Harden were this season's leading NBA MVP candidates .In their latest playoff games, the superstars had relatively lackluster performances and their teammates were more than capable of picking up the slack to put Detroit and Utah on the brink of elimination.The Bucks can finish off a sweep of the Pistons in Game 4 on Monday night and the Rockets will get their chance to advance later the same evening against the Jazz.Antetokounmpo scored just 14, his fewest in the playoffs in nearly two years, and it didn't matter because six of his teammates also scored in double figures as top-seeded Milwaukee beat Detroit 119-103 on Saturday to take a 3-0 lead in their first-round series.Harden missed his first 15 shots before closing strong enough to score 22 points as one of six Rockets in double figures in a 104-101 victory over the Jazz that gave them a 3-0 lead in the opening series."That's what they've been doing all year long,"... [More]

Little Caesars Arena in Detroit will finally host its first playoff game — in what is probably the last chance the Pistons have to make their series against Milwaukee competitive."Let's make it hard on them," Detroit coach Dwane Casey said. "Let's make it a home atmosphere, because we need everything."The Milwaukee-Detroit matchup is one of two series shifting sites Saturday. Houston and Utah will also play Game 3 in Salt Lake City. There are a couple Game 4s on tap as well: Philadelphia at Brooklyn, and Denver at San Antonio.The Pistons are in their second season at their new arena, but even after moving downtown, they've had their share of small, dreary crowds — similar to the atmosphere during their final years at The Palace of Auburn Hills. But there's every reason to expect a more charged scene Saturday night. Little Caesars Arena has hosted the NCAA and Horizon League tournaments in basketball, but there have been no home playoff games yet for the Pistons — or for the Red Wings, who... [More]

Little Caesars Arena in Detroit will finally host its first playoff game — in what is probably the last chance the Pistons have to make their series against Milwaukee competitive."Let's make it hard on them," Detroit coach Dwane Casey said. "Let's make it a home atmosphere, because we need everything."The Milwaukee-Detroit matchup is one of two series shifting sites Saturday. Houston and Utah will also play Game 3 in Salt Lake City. There are a couple Game 4s on tap as well: Philadelphia at Brooklyn, and Denver at San Antonio.The Pistons are in their second season at their new arena, but even after moving downtown, they've had their share of small, dreary crowds — similar to the atmosphere during their final years at The Palace of Auburn Hills. But there's every reason to expect a more charged scene Saturday night. Little Caesars Arena has hosted the NCAA and Horizon League tournaments in basketball, but there have been no home playoff games yet for the Pistons — or for the Red Wings, who... [More]

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Damian Lillard stared intently well after his deep, buzzer-beating 3-pointer fell to close out Portland's third quarter against the Thunder. The look on his face was one of determination, focus and yes, even a little bravado.It was as if Lillard was making a statement. It's not new for the Portland guard.Lillard, the Thunder's Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley all play with an edge and have provided some of the most entertaining moments of the postseason so far.With Lillard and Westbrook squaring off in the Portland-Oklahoma City series, they almost feed off each other's energy. Lillard finished with 29 points — including the stone-cold 3 — on Tuesday night and the Trail Blazers took a 2-0 lead against the Thunder with a 114-94 victory. The series shifts to Oklahoma City on Friday.Lillard has been dialed in from the start of the series against the Thunder, in part because the Trail Blazers were embarrassed in last year's playoffs by New Orleans. Portland got ousted... [More]

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Damian Lillard stared intently well after his deep, buzzer-beating 3-pointer fell to close out Portland's third quarter against the Thunder. The look on his face was one of determination, focus and yes, even a little bravado.It was as if Lillard was making a statement. It's not new for the Portland guard.Lillard, the Thunder's Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley all play with an edge and have provided some of the most entertaining moments of the postseason so far.With Lillard and Westbrook squaring off in the Portland-Oklahoma City, they almost feed off each other's energy. Lillard finished with 29 points — including the stone-cold 3 — on Tuesday night and the Trail Blazers took a 2-0 lead against the Thunder with a 114-94 victory. The series shifts to Oklahoma City on Friday.Lillard has been dialed in from the start of the series against the Thunder, in part because the Trail Blazers were embarrassed in last year's playoffs by New Orleans. Portland got ousted in... [More]