ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Miami got 24 points from Jimmy Butler and a big boost from rookie Tyler Herro on Saturday night. But it was a big game from center Meyers Leonard that put the Heat over the top in a 102-89 victory over the Orlando Magic."Tonight it just happened to be a night where the ball was finding my energy on both ends of the floor, I guess," said Leonard, who had 18 points and 14 rebounds before going to the bench with five fouls with 5:49 left in the game.Herro came off the bench with six 3-pointers and 23 points. Herro and Leonard combined for 10-of-19 shooting from 3-point range to help the Heat beat Orlando for the second time this week and stretch their lead in the Southeast Division to 12 1/2 games."Everyone in the locker room wants Meyers to be more aggressive," said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra. “He really worked on it the last couple of days in practice, letting it fly, almost past his comfort zone. I'm talking about shooting it every time he touched it.”The 7-foot Leonard... [More]

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Miami got 24 points from Jimmy Butler and a big boost from rookie Tyler Herro on Saturday night. But it was a big game from center Meyers Leonard that put the Heat over the top in a 102-89 victory over the Orlando Magic."Tonight it just happened to be a night where the ball was finding my energy on both ends of the floor, I guess," said Leonard, who had 18 points and 14 rebounds before going to the bench with five fouls with 5:49 left in the game.Herro came off the bench with six 3-pointers and 23 points. Herro and Leonard combined for 10-of-19 shooting from 3-point range to help the Heat beat Orlando for the second time this week and stretch their lead in the Southeast Division to 12 1/2 games."Everyone in the locker room wants Meyers to be more aggressive," said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra. “He really worked on it the last couple of days in practice, letting it fly, almost past his comfort zone. I'm talking about shooting it every time he touched it.”The 7-foot Leonard... [More]

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Jimmy Butler scored 24 points and rookie Tyler Herro came off the bench with 23 on Saturday night to lead the Miami Heat to a 102-89 victory over the Orlando Magic.Meyers Leonard had 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Heat before going to the bench with five fouls with 5:49 left in the game. Herro and Leonard combined for 10-of-19 shooting from 3-point range.Aaron Gordon scored 24 for the Magic, who lost their fifth straight. Nikola Vucevic added 21 points and nine rebounds.Miami led 57-49 at halftime despite a big first half by Gordon, who was 4 of 6 on 3s and scored 16 points.Herro, bumped out of the starting lineup by the return of fellow rookie Kendrick Nunn, hit three 3-pointers and scored 12 points in the first half.Back-to-back 3-pointers by Leonard stretched Miami's lead to double digits early in the second half, and the Heat led 73-60 when Butler converted a three-point play late in the third quarter.After the Magic closed the gap to six early in the fourth,... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Golden State Warriors star guard Stephen Curry is making progress in his comeback from a broken left hand and could return in March.Curry was injured Oct. 30 in the fourth game of the season and had surgery two days later."He's made some big strides," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said before Saturday's game against Cleveland. "I guess the word is a month away from having another evaluation. We're really hopeful that around that time he'll be able to play. We'll determine that around March 1."Kerr said that Curry has been participating in non-contact and individual drills while also working on his conditioning."He needs to progress over the next month to lot of action, one-on-one, three-on-three, five-on five," Kerr said. "That's all part of the plan."Golden State (10-39) has the NBA's worst record without the two-time MVP, who led the Warriors to three titles and five straight Finals appearances. Curry averages 23.5 points in 11 seasons. "It's good to see Steph on the floor and on the sidelines with the team and traveling," Kerr said. "The mood is brighter when Steph is around. He's giving the young guys a lot of words of wisdom."The Warriors and Cavaliers met in the Finals every year from 2015-18, but both have struggled all season. Golden State has lost five in a row overall and 10 straight on the road. Cleveland has lost nine straight at home and 14 of 17 overall.

ARDMORE, Pa. (AP) — Kobe Bryant's high school jersey spent more time in China of late than it did hanging on the wall of the gym named in honor of the school's career leading scorer.Bryant's retired No. 33 jersey was stolen in 2017 from Lower Merion High School's campus and eventually bought by a collector in China. Suspicious the jersey was stolen, the Kobe collector contacted the school and helped return the keepsake to suburban Philadelphia, a process already underway before Bryant was killed Sunday in a helicopter crash.The uniform was at last back Saturday where it belonged — unveiled under a spotlight by Bryant's cousin, his old high school coach, and a former teammate at Bryant Gymnasium."Good timing," Lower Merion coach Gregg Downer said. "That was kind of an iconic moment when the spotlight went on that jersey. It was just tremendous. It was major irony, almost, how we've been waiting for that jersey for a long time. For a long time we didn't know where it was. To have it back,... [More]

ARDMORE, Pa. (AP) — Kobe Bryant's high school jersey spent more time in China of late than it did hanging on the wall of the gym named in honor of the school's career leading scorer.Bryant's retired No. 33 jersey was stolen in 2017 from Lower Merion High School's campus and eventually bought by a collector in China. Suspicious the jersey was stolen, the Kobe collector contacted the school and helped return the keepsake to suburban Philadelphia, a process already underway before Bryant was killed Sunday in a helicopter crash.The uniform was at last back Saturday where it belonged — unveiled under a spotlight by Bryant's cousin, his old high school coach, and a former teammate at Bryant Gymnasium."Good timing," Lower Merion coach Gregg Downer said. "That was kind of an iconic moment when the spotlight went on that jersey. It was just tremendous. It was major irony, almost, how we've been waiting for that jersey for a long time. For a long time we didn't know where it was. To have it back,... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James has only been a part of the Los Angeles Lakers for 19 months. The West Coast is a late stop on an NBA odyssey that already yielded rings, trophies and innumerable indelible moments in Cleveland and Miami.Yet when this venerated franchise needed a leader to honor a legend during one of the most traumatic times in its history, James took the microphone and stood alone in a golden spotlight at Staples Center on Friday night.Five days after Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash, the simple eloquence of James' words left most of the arena cheering through tears.In just four minutes, LeBron's speech captured the melancholy mood of a city while suggesting it's both possible and necessary to move on after unthinkable tragedy.“As I look around this arena, we’re all grieving,” James said. "We’re all hurt. We’re all heartbroken. But when we’re going through things like this, the best thing you can do is lean on the shoulders of your family.”Cleveland might be James'... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James wiped his eyes as the national anthem ended. Wearing Kobe Bryant's No. 24 jersey, James wrapped teammate Anthony Davis, in a No. 8 jersey, in an embrace.The Lakers' two current superstars were back on the court Friday night for the team's first game since Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash five days earlier.“Everybody was emotional,” James said after the Lakers lost to Portland 127-119.Davis, who scored 37 points, added, “We wanted to make him proud.”Portland's Damian Lillard had 48 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in a Kobe-like performance. “I don't think anybody walks away from this moment and this situation a winner,” Lillard said. “The memories that we'll take away from it was just sad and just tough.”James paid tribute by wearing an oversized jersey, finger sleeve, wristbands and Bryant's shoes.“Just showing that appreciation and love he gave us way before he knew us,” said James, who had 22... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James wiped his eyes as the national anthem ended. Wearing Kobe Bryant's No. 24 jersey, James wrapped teammate Anthony Davis, in a No. 8 jersey, in an embrace.The Lakers' two current superstars were back on the court Friday night for the team's first game since Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash five days earlier.James took center court in a pregame ceremony and read the names of the crash victims, ending with Bryant. He told the Staples Center crowd he had remarks prepared and pulled a piece of paper from his sweatpants. But then James tossed it to the floor.“Laker Nation, I would be selling you short if I read off this (expletive), so I'm going to go straight from the heart,” he said.“The first thing comes to mind is all about family. As I look around this arena, we're all breathing, hurt and heartbroken,” James said. “The best thing you can do is lean on the shoulders of your family.”He recalled watching... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Red roses adorned the courtside seats where Kobe and Gianna Bryant sat at the last Los Angeles Lakers game they attended. On the overhead video board, photos of Bryant in action for the Lakers alternated with those of the other seven people who were killed alongside him and his 13-year-old daughter in a helicopter crash.Friday night at Staples Center was unlike any other.Longtime public address announcer Lawrence Tanter introduced the entire Lakers lineup the same way: “From Lower Merion High School, No. 8, Kobe Bryant.”In a ceremony before the Lakers' first game since the crash on Sunday, Usher stood at center court of the darkened arena in front of No. 8 and No. 24 yellow rose arrangements to sing “Amazing Grace.” Cellist Ben Hong from the Los Angeles Philharmonic performed while video of Bryant talking about his life and career played.Fans interrupted the silence with chants of “Kobe! Kobe!" and “MVP! MVP!”Boyz II Men, from Bryant's hometown of Philadelphia, sang the... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Red roses adorned the courtside seats where Kobe and Gianna Bryant sat at the last Los Angeles Lakers game they attended. On the overhead video board, photos of Bryant in action for the Lakers alternated with those of the other seven people who were killed alongside him and his 13-year-old daughter in a helicopter crash.Friday night at Staples Center was unlike any other.Longtime public address announcer Lawrence Tanter introduced the entire Lakers lineup the same way: “From Lower Merion High School, No. 8, Kobe Bryant.”In a ceremony before the Lakers' first game since the crash on Sunday, Usher stood at center court of the darkened arena in front of No. 8 and No. 24 yellow rose arrangements to sing “Amazing Grace.” Cellist Ben Hong from the Los Angeles Philharmonic performed while video of Bryant talking about his life and career played.Fans interrupted the silence at times with chants of “Kobe!" and “MVP.”Boyz II Men, from Bryant's hometown of Philadelphia, sang the... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Red roses adorned the courtside seats where Kobe and Gianna Bryant sat at the last Los Angeles Lakers game they attended. On the overhead video board, photos of Bryant in action for the Lakers alternated with those of the other seven people who were killed alongside him and his 13-year-old daughter in a helicopter crash.Friday night at Staples Center was unlike any other.Later on, there would be a basketball game between the Portland Trail Blazers and Lakers, their first since Bryant's death on Sunday. But in the couple hours leading up to the game there was mostly silence. The electric atmosphere that surges through the arena before NBA games was nowhere to be felt. Media talked quietly among themselves without the usual music playing. Somber ushers took up their positions with black ribbons attached to their purple work shirts. Grief counseling was offered to arena staff and one female usher pulled tissues out of her pocket that had been provided.Inside the Lakers locker... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A large crowd of fans continued to gather outside Staples Center to express their grief over the death of Kobe Bryant before the Lakers' game Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers. It was the Lakers' first game since Bryant, his 13-year old daughter Gianna and seven others died in a helicopter crash Sunday.Daniel Torres of Long Beach did not have a ticket to the game, but decided to come down to the arena to view the makeshift memorials and thoughts that fans wrote about the Lakers legend. “I grew up with Kobe. I’m not a very emotional person but I’ve been crying all week,” said Torres, who was wearing a Bryant jersey from Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania. “I can’t believe the outpouring and how many people loved him.”The Lakers will be wearing a “KB” patch on their jerseys while his retired No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys are emblazoned on the court. Fans on one side of the arena will be wearing shirts with Bryant’s No. 8 while the other side will be wearing No.... [More]

Editors:To help you with planning for Kobe Bryant, here are some of our plans. This advisory is subject to change and will be routinely updated. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org Please contact Oscar Dixon (odixon@ap.org) with any questions. All times Eastern.Friday, Jan. 31BKN—KOBE BRYANT-CLIPPERS-LAKERS TRIBUTELOS ANGELES — All-Star forward Paul George narrated a 2-minute video tribute to Kobe Bryant before the Los Angeles Clippers faced the Sacramento Kings Thursday night. It was the first basketball game at Staples Center since Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in Sunday's helicopter crash. The Clippers celebration was a precursor to the Lakers tribute to Bryant Friday night when his former teams plays its first game since his death. SENT: 500 words, photos. DEVELOPINGBKN—KOBE BRYANT-ALL-STAR TRIBUTEComing to the NBA All-Star Game: No. 24, Giannis Antetokounmpo and No. 2, LeBron James.... [More]

The NBA's All-Stars will be playing this year with Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant in their minds and on their jerseys.So, coming soon: No. 24 Giannis Antetokounmpo, and No. 2, LeBron James.As part of what will be a long series of tributes to Bryant and his daughter Gianna, the NBA announced Friday that every player on Team Giannis will wear 24 on their jerseys at this year’s All-Star Game and every player on Team LeBron will wear 2.Kobe Bryant spent the last 10 seasons of his career in a No. 24 jersey. Gianna Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and an outstanding young player, wore No. 2 on her jersey.All players taking part in All-Star weekend — including the Rising Stars game Feb. 14 and the Saturday night events such as the 3-point contest, slam dunk contest and skills competition — will wear a patch with nine stars to commemorate the nine victims of Sunday's helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.The patches for Feb. 14 and Feb. 15 will also bear the numbers 2 and 24. The patches for... [More]

Editors:To help you with planning for Kobe Bryant, here are some of our plans. This advisory is subject to change and will be routinely updated. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org Please contact Oscar Dixon (odixon@ap.org) with any questions. All times Eastern.Friday, Jan. 31BKN—KOBE BRYANT-CLIPPERS-LAKERS TRIBUTELOS ANGELES — All-Star forward Paul George narrated a 2-minute video tribute to Kobe Bryant before the Los Angeles Clippers faced the Sacramento Kings Thursday night. It was the first basketball game at Staples Center since Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in Sunday's helicopter crash. The Clippers celebration was a precursor to the Lakers tribute to Bryant Friday night when his former teams plays its first game since his death. SENT: 500 words, photos. DEVELOPINGBKN—TRAIL BLAZERS-LAKERSLOS ANGELES — The Lakers return to action for the first time since Kobe Bryant's death and since... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The first NBA game at Staples Center since Kobe Bryant's death was difficult for the Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings. When the Los Angeles Lakers return to the court Friday night, that will be even more emotional.Clippers forward Paul George narrated a 2-minute video tribute to Bryant before Thursday night's loss to the Kings. Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed Sunday in a helicopter crash in Southern California.Bryant's retired No. 8 and No. 24 Lakers jerseys were left uncovered in the upper left corner of the arena. Following the video tribute, there was 24 seconds of silence followed by “Kobe, Kobe” chants before the national anthem.The Clippers wore No. 24 shooting shirts during pregame warmups, while coach Doc Rivers and his staff wore ties and shoes honoring Bryant.“I'm glad it's behind us. This will help us a little bit,” Rivers said.The tribute was a preamble to the Lakers' return to Staples Center on Friday night against... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry said he was pushed by a fan when he dove into the stands going after a loose ball during Thursday night's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.The play occurred late in the fourth quarter of Toronto's 115-109 win. Lowry retrieved a missed shot by teammate Pascal Siakam that was headed out of bounds. Video showed Lowry landed on two fans in the first row of seats and one appeared to press his hand on the six-time All-Star's back as he returned to the floor. Lowry turned and looked at the fan as play continued. “I got pushed, and that’s the second time it’s happened to me,” Lowry said. "The next time it happens, I don’t know if I’ll be able to control myself. Fans like that shouldn’t be able to lay any hands on you and shouldn't be a part of our game.”Lowry was pushed by a minority owner of the Golden State Warriors during last season's NBA Finals when he dove into the stands going after a loose ball under similar circumstances. This time, Lowry saved the possession for the Raptors and Serge Ibaka hit a 3-pointer that gave Toronto a 105-101 lead. Lowry, selected to next month's All-Star Game earlier in the day, went up court on defense after the basket.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — All-Star forward Paul George narrated a 2-minute video tribute to Kobe Bryant before the Los Angeles Clippers faced the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night. It was the first basketball game at Staples Center since Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in Sunday's helicopter crash in Calabasas.George, who grew up in the Los Angeles area, said during the video: “We gather tonight in the house that Kobe Bryant built to honor and remember him. He was as synonymous with Southern California as the sunshine and touched every inch of it." Bryant's retired No. 8 and 24 Lakers jerseys were left uncovered in the upper left corner of Staples Center. Following the video tribute, there was 24 seconds of silence followed by “Kobe, Kobe” chants before the national anthem.The tribute was a preamble to the Lakers' return to Staples Center Friday night for their first game since Bryant's death. Their game Tuesday against the Clippers was postponed out of respect... [More]

The All-Star Game is going to have plenty of new faces.The NBA released the list of the players Thursday voted by the league’s head coaches as reserves for the Feb. 16 game in Chicago, including six who will be All-Stars for the first time.Kyle Lowry of the NBA champion Toronto Raptors is headed back to the game, as are Miami’s Jimmy Butler, Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons, Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton, Portland’s Damian Lillard, Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Houston’s Russell Westbrook and — for the first time since 2016 — Oklahoma City’s Chris Paul.The other reserves are all first-time selections: Miami’s Bam Adebayo, Boston’s Jayson Tatum, Indiana’s Domantas Sabonis, New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram and the Utah duo of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.“Definitely it is an honor,” Tatum said in a statement. “I am extremely blessed and grateful. Third year, to make the All-Star team, it is a surreal feeling. I’m just very excited and it is a dream come true.”Those six — combined with starters Pascal Siakam,... [More]