F Kawhi Leonard has been cleared to play in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Leonard was a full participant in practice on Saturday and confirmed he will be in the starting lineup for the afternoon game in Oakland. Leonard, who injured his ankle Tuesday, missed the Spurs' semifinals-clinching 114-75 win in Game 6 over the Houston Rockets on Thursday night.

The NBA acknowledged in its "Last Two Minute Report" on Saturday that the Boston Celtics should have had an extra second on the clock to run a final play in their Game 6 loss to the Washington Wizards.John Wall made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to give Washington a 92-91 lead on Friday. The Wizards had a foul to give and forward Kelly Oubre Jr. fouled Boston center Kelly Olynyk with 1.7 seconds on the clock.The league's report noted that Oubre's foul was "whistled with approximately 2.7 seconds on the clock but the clock runs to 1.7 seconds before stopping. The clock should have been stopped earlier automatically on the whistle or by the neutral clock operator."The league also noted that "Instant replay is not permitted in this situation."Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas missed an off-balance 3-point heave before the buzzer, setting up a Game 7 on Monday in Boston.The report also revealed that Washington had two missed calls go against it in the final minute Friday.First, the league determined that Al Horford committed an offensive foul on Bradley Beal with 41.2 seconds remaining when setting up a screen for Avery Bradley's jumper, which put the Celtics up 89-87. The basket should have been disallowed.Second, the report says Horford should have been called for defensive three-seconds violation with 33 seconds remaining. Had that call be made, a technical foul and a free throw would have been the result.

SF Kawhi Leonard, still nursing a sore left ankle, is expected to return against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. Leonard, the All-Star who injured his ankle Tuesday, missed the San Antonio Spurs' semifinals-clinching 114-75 win in Game 6 over the Houston Rockets on Thursday night. The Spurs made the decision to sit Leonard to get him healthy for Sunday, a source told ESPN. He received treatment on his ankle throughout the day Thursday and spent the game in the Spurs' locker room and not on the bench. Leonard is averaging 27.8 points on 52.4 percent shooting, 7.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists during the postseason.

G Isaiah Thomas scored 27 points for the Celtics but missed a final 3-point attempt at the buzzer.

G John Wall sank a game-winning 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds remaining as the Washington Wizards forced a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference semifinals series against the Boston Celtics with a 92-91 victory Friday. Wall scored 26 despite shooting 9 of 25 from the field. "We just came in with the mindset that we just wanted to play great," Wall said. "Just go out there and compete, give it our all and see what the outcome (is). Come away with a win and forced a Game 7."

James Harden was adamant all season that he doesn't need any rest during the NBA season.That could change next season after Harden put forth one of most putrid performances by a star player in NBA postseason history. The Houston Rockets star had just 10 points on 2-of-11 shooting and committed six turnovers on Thursday as his club was steamrolled 114-75 by the San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals. San Antonio won the series, four games to two, and totally shut down Harden over the final six quarters.Harden had just 10 points on 3-of-11 shooting and committed six turnovers during the second half of Game 5.The ending made it a down note for Harden, who averaged 29.1 points, 11.2 assists and 8.1 rebounds during the regular season when he missed just one game, due to illness.Houston coach Mike D'Antoni asserted that rest is something that will happen occasionally next season."All great players think they can do everything," D'Antoni told reporters. "Maybe he does... [More]

San Antonio Spurs All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard, still nursing a sore left ankle, is expected to return against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.Leonard, who injured his ankle Tuesday, missed the Spurs' semifinals-clinching 114-75 win in Game 6 over the Houston Rockets on Thursday night. The Spurs got a season-high 34 points from LaMarcus Aldridge and played without Leonard and Tony Parker (torn left quadriceps).The Spurs made the decision to sit Leonard to get him healthy for Sunday, a source told ESPN. He received treatment on his ankle throughout the day Thursday and spent the game in the Spurs' locker room and not on the bench.Spurs coach Gregg Popovich announced before the game that Leonard would not play. Jonathon Simmons filled in for Leonard and scored 18 points."Everybody picked it up," Popovich said after the Game 6 win. "Four, five, six guys all had good games. It wasn't one guy scoring 40 or anything like that."Everybody contributed.... [More]

F Trevor Ariza scored 20 points and grabbed five rebounds Thursday as the Rockets were eliminated by the Spurs in Game 6.

C Pau Gasol paired 10 points with 11 boards Thursday as the Spurs eliminated the Rockets in Game 6.

G James Harden was a nonfactor as Houston was eliminated, scoring 10 points on 2-of-11 shooting. He added seven assists and six turnovers.Harden fouled out with 3:15 remaining."They did a really good job of crowding and showing bodies, their bigs at the rim," Harden said. "I couldn't get a rhythm, especially to the basket. Pau (Gasol) did a really good job of using his length at the rim. Hat's off to them."

G Patty Mills chipped in 14 points and seven assists Thursday as the Spurs eliminated the Rockets in Game 6.

F LaMarcus Aldridge paced a balanced and breathtaking offensive effort, posting 34 points and 12 rebounds as the Spurs eliminated the Rockets in Game 6 on Thursday.

F Kawhi Leonard (sore left ankle) sat out the clincher vs. Houston on Thursday, but he could be ready to return Sunday at Golden State.Leonard injured his ankle Tuesday in Game 5, and he hoped to be cleared to play Thursday. He is averaging 27.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists during the postseason.

F Kevin Durant has some advice for the top prospects that are planning to attend the NBA combine. "Stay your (expletive) home, work out and get better on your own time," Durant said to ESPN. Durant, who was the second overall pick by the Seattle SuperSonics, has enjoyed a successful career with a 2014 NBA Most Valuable Player award and eight All-Star selections to his credit. Still, Durant has painful memories of failing to bench-press 185 pounds at the combine.

San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard will miss Thursday's Game 6 of the Western Conference second-round series versus the host Houston Rockets, coach Gregg Popovich said.Leonard injured his left ankle in Tuesday's Game 5 and hoped to be cleared to play in the possible close-out contest for the Spurs, who lead the series 3-2."Kawhi's out," Popovich told reporters about 90 minutes before tipoff. "He'd rather play."Popovich said Jonathan Simmons will start in place of Leonard.Earlier in the day, Popovich termed Leonard as a game-time decision.Leonard, nursing the left ankle, walked slowly but was able to participate in the team's shootaround on Thursday morning. The 25-year-old told reporters that he would play in Game 6 shortly after the Spurs claimed a 3-2 edge in the series following a 110-107 win on Tuesday."It's not an empirical formula," Popovich told reporters after the shootaround. "You watch, you feel, you talk to the player and you come to a decision. Going to take as much... [More]

San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard will be a game-time decision for Thursday's Game 6 of the Western Conference second-round series versus the host Houston Rockets, coach Gregg Popovich said.Leonard, who is nursing a left ankle injury, walked slowly but was able to participate in the team's shootaround on Thursday morning. The 25-year-old told reporters that he would play in Game 6 shortly after the Spurs claimed a 3-2 edge in the series following a 110-107 win on Tuesday."It's not an empirical formula," Popovich told reporters after the shootaround. "You watch, you feel, you talk to the player and you come to a decision. Going to take as much time as possible, see what he feels like, see what I see and make a decision."Leonard sustained the injury when he came down on the foot of Houston's James Harden while turning to run up the court with 5:37 remaining in the third quarter. He played half of the fourth quarter but did not take the court for overtime.Leonard still led the Spurs with 22 points and 15 rebounds. He is averaging 27.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists during the postseason.The winner of this series will take on the Golden State Warriors in the West finals.

Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant has some advice for the top prospects that are planning to attend the NBA combine."Stay your (expletive) home, work out and get better on your own time," Durant said to ESPN.Durant, who was the second overall pick in 2007 by the Seattle SuperSonics, has enjoyed a successful career with a 2014 NBA Most Valuable Player award and eight All-Star selections to his credit. Still, Durant has painful memories of failing to bench-press 185 pounds at the combine."I remember it like it was yesterday," Durant said. "All the strength coaches were laughing at me and (expletive). They were giggling with each other that I couldn't lift 185 pounds, and I was like, 'All right, keep laughing. Keep laughing.' It was a funny thing, because I was the only one that couldn't lift it and I was struggling to lift it. I was embarrassed at that point, but I'm like, 'Give me a basketball, please. Give me a ball.'"Durant received relatively low marks in the vertical leap, agility... [More]

G Avery Bradley torched the Wizards for 25 of his 29 points in the first half of Wednesday's 123-101 victory over Washington that gave the Celtics a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference best-of-seven semifinal series. Bradley, playing on balky hips, went 10 for 13 from the floor and 4 for 5 from 3-point range in the first half as the Celtics used a 16-0 first-quarter burst to take control and hold home-court serve in the series. "It can't just be Isaiah Thomas every night," Bradley said. "Tonight it happened to be me. Next game it could be Marcus Smart. You just have to be prepared. If we're able to understand that and he's able to believe in us, the sky's the limit." Bradley's 25 in the first half was already his career playoff high and his 29 -- he rested in the fourth quarter and logged only 30:27 -- left him one point shy of becoming the first Celtic other than Thomas to score 30 in game since Bradley on Oct. 29, which was the game of the season. "I had no idea that Avery had 25 at halftime and I had no idea that Isaiah had one field goal until I looked at the stat sheet, because we were making the right plays," Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. "That's really all you're looking for." Bradley also picked up his second career technical foul, saying: "I can't get any more technicals. I need to save my money."

F Kawhi Leonard said he expects to play in Game 6 against the Houston Rockets on Thursday night despite a left ankle injury. However, on Wednesday, the Spurs officially listed him as questionable for the game. Leonard rolled his ankle with 5:37 left in the third quarter on Tuesday night and played half of the fourth period but did not take the court for overtime of the Spurs' 110-107 home win to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series. "Yeah, I'm going to be able to play," Leonard said after the game. "It was frustrating because I wanted to play. But I was happy seeing my teammates out there putting in a good effort and getting the win."

G Isaiah Thomas recorded 18 points and nine assists in Wednesday's 123-101 victory over Washington that gave the Celtics a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference best-of-seven semifinal series. Thomas was fined $25,000 by the NBA for "directing inappropriate language toward a fan" in Washington during Game 4. "If he could take it back, he would," Celtics coach Brad Stevens said.