CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Bulls guard Denzel Valentine needs reconstructive surgery on his left ankle and will likely miss the entire season.The Bulls announced Monday he was diagnosed with "ongoing ankle instability" after being examined by a specialist in Green Bay. He will have surgery next week, with a recovery of four to six months.The No. 14 pick in the 2016 draft, Valentine was initially diagnosed with a moderate sprain after he was hurt in practice in September. He had surgery on that ankle in May 2017. Valentine averaged 10.2 points last year, his second.Lauri Markkanen (elbow) has been sidelined all season. Bobby Portis (right knee) has played in four games and Kris Dunn (left knee) has appeared in one.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Brooklyn forward Caris LeVert felt the pain in his right foot, and thought it was just a sprain.That is, until he looked down.A week removed from dislocating his right foot — a grotesque injury that looked so much worse than what it actually was — LeVert spoke out Monday about what happened and his plans for the future."The pain level felt like a regular sprain and I knew I kind of fell on the side of my ankle," LeVert said, talking to reporters at the Nets' facility in Brooklyn, New York. "And obviously when I looked at it, I was like, 'Wow, that's messed up.'"Somehow, the worst was over within a few minutes of him getting hurt on Nov. 12 at Minnesota. After he was wheeled off the court and taken to the back of the arena, medical staff popped his foot back into place — the most painful part of the whole experience, LeVert said. He was taken to a hospital for further tests that night, learned there was no other major damage, and he wound up flying home with the Nets that night."Obviously,... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Josh Richardson's shoe toss was predictably costly.The NBA fined the Miami Heat guard $25,000 on Monday, one day after he threw one of his sneakers several rows into the stands midway through the fourth quarter of a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.Richardson was ejected as part of that outburst, which started after he thought he got fouled moments earlier and nothing was called. It was a frustrating night in many respects for the Heat, who lost 113-97 and fell to 6-10 on the season."I can't really do anything about it at this point," said Richardson, who spoke with NBA officials by phone earlier Monday to give his side of the story before the discipline was meted out. "I'm just going to learn from it and go forward."Heat coach Erik Spoelstra lauded Richardson's competitiveness but did not give him a pass for throwing something into the crowd — and stressed that things have to start changing for Miami soon. The Heat play host to Brooklyn on Tuesday night."There's some behavior... [More]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Pelicans say guard Elfrid Payton is scheduled for surgery to repair a fractured finger on his left hand and that his recovery is expected to take about six weeks.Payton was injured during last Friday night's victory over the New York Knicks, which was also his first game back in the lineup after sitting out nine contests with a sprained ankle.Payton has played in just six of the Pelicans' 16 games this season, averaging 9.7 points and 5.3 assists. He has played more than 15 minutes in only four games, scoring in double figures each time.The update on Payton's status came as the Pelicans prepared to host the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

There has been some early tinkering to lineups, a few hiccups and lots of drama to start the NBA season.None of the league's final four teams from last season — Boston, Cleveland, Houston, Golden State — look like locks to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy this time.The addition of Carmelo Anthony to the Rockets' roster produced more thorns than fruit, and now he is out.In Boston, the Celtics are having early trouble trying to figure out how best to use their overflowing mix of young and veteran talent following the return of Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward from injuries.And Cleveland has gotten off to a predictable slow start to the post-LeBron James' era, but few expected the total collapse by the Cavaliers.However, there is no drama like championship drama and the defending champion Warriors suddenly look more like the cast of a reality series than a harmonious lineup rolling along and vying for a third straight championship.Draymond's Green public outburst at Kevin Durant during the Warriors'... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — LeBron James stopped worrying about his place in history long ago. His legacy has been secure for years. The argument about where he ranks, whether or not he's the best player to ever step on a basketball court, will continue forever and there will never be a definitive answer.That is, unless he keeps doing things like this.In his 16th season, James can still make the game look absurdly easy. The latest entry on the long list of his unforgettable nights came Sunday, when James scored 51 points and led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 113-97 win over the Miami Heat. He's only the second player to score at least 50 in a game this deep into an NBA career; the other is Kobe Bryant, in his final game, and that was aided by 50 shot attempts."I've always been a guy to let the game talk for itself, speak for itself," James said. "My body of work speaks for itself, still to this day, 16 years in."He paused for a second, breaking into a big smile."If there's ever a discussion," James said,... [More]

WASHHINGTON (AP) — Washington Wizards center Dwight Howard has aggravated a gluteal injury that kept him out of the first seven games of the season.Howard aggravated the injury in the second quarter of Sunday night's game with Portland.Howard, who was averaging 14.1 points and 10 rebounds in his first eight games, was declared out at halftime after playing just seven minutes, scoring two points and picking up three fouls.

DALLAS (AP) — Golden State's Stephen Curry knows that the rift between teammates Kevin Durant and Draymond Green might be viewed by outsiders as something that can doom the Warriors this season.To them, he has a message."That's not going to happen," Curry said.Curry spoke publicly Saturday night for the first time about the testy exchange between Durant and Green — they went at each other late in what became an overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers last Monday night, and the fallout has been a major talking point around the NBA since — and lauded both players for the way they're handing the situation."I think the way we've handled it as a team, the way Draymond's handled it, the way KD's handled it, it's been nothing but professionalism," Curry said.Green is getting the weekend off; the Warriors held him out of their game in Dallas on Saturday because of an ongoing issue with a toe on his right foot, and he isn't expected to play when the two-time defending NBA champions visit San Antonio... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Kawhi Leonard of the Toronto Raptors and Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls are being held out of Saturday night's matchup between the teams.Leonard isn't injured. The Raptors don't want to overextend him early in the season, so he'll sit after logging 43 minutes Friday night at Boston. He has not played back-to-back games this season and is averaging 24.8 points and 8.4 rebounds.Fred VanVleet will start in Leonard's spot. OG Anunoby (sprained right wrist), C.J. Miles (right abductor strain) and Norman Powell (left shoulder) also won't play for Toronto.LaVine is sitting out due to an illness. Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said LaVine first started feeling the symptoms on Thursday night and was affected Friday night at Milwaukee.Cameron Payne will start in place of LaVine, who is averaging 25.3 points.

DALLAS (AP) — Golden State's Draymond Green will miss the game against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night with a recurrence of a right toe injury.It will be the second time in three games that Green has been sidelined. The volatile forward was suspended for a game by the team following a testy exchange with Kevin Durant at the end of regulation in an overtime loss at the Los Angeles Clippers.Green was suspended for the Warriors' win at home against Atlanta before returning in a loss at Houston. Green has already missed two games with a right toe sprain after getting injured against Memphis on Nov. 5.Golden State also will be without star guard Stephen Curry for the fifth straight game. Curry has a strained left groin.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Pelicans say point guard Elfrid Payton has a fractured finger on his left hand.Payton injured his finger in the first quarter of his first game back on Friday night after he'd missed New Orleans' nine previous games with a right ankle sprain.Soon after, Payton was ruled out for the remainder of the game against the New York Knicks.Acquired as a free agent this past offseason, Payton has played in six games for New Orleans. He entered Friday night's games with averages 11.6 points and 6.4 assists through his first five games, but did not have a point or assist in eight minutes against New York before his latest injury.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Pelicans point guard Elfrid Payton is returning from a nine-game absence Friday night when New Orleans hosts the New York Knicks.Payton had been listed as questionable because of a right ankle sprain, but he was listed in the official starting lineup released before tip-off.Acquired as a free agent this past offseason, Payton has played in five games for New Orleans, averaging 11.6 points and 6.4 assists per game.New Orleans also went 4-1 in games in which he played and 3-6 in games he has missed.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rajon Rondo had surgery Thursday on his broken right hand, and the Los Angeles Lakers plan to use a variety of strategies to replace the veteran point guard while he heals.Los Angeles will be without Rondo for four to five weeks after he was injured in the fourth quarter of the Lakers' fourth straight win, 126-117 over Portland on Wednesday night. Rondo apparently hurt his hand while making a steal, but he kept playing for several more minutes before coming out of the game.Coach Luke Walton praised Rondo's leadership and two-way contributions after the Lakers' final practice before heading out on a three-game road trip. Although he has played only 11 games for LA, Rondo is already a key component of the revamped club."Obviously we can't replace what Rondo does for our team and how important he is to our team, but we're not going to make excuses," Walton said. "That's not who we are as a group. We're going to step up, and guys are going to pick up the slack and add to... [More]

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]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rajon Rondo is expected to have surgery this week on his broken right hand, and the Los Angeles Lakers plan to use a variety of strategies to replace the veteran point guard while he heals.Los Angeles will be without Rondo for at least a few weeks after he was injured in the fourth quarter of the Lakers' fourth straight win, 126-117 over Portland on Wednesday night. Rondo apparently hurt his hand while making a steal, but he kept playing for several more minutes before coming out of the game.Coach Luke Walton praised Rondo's leadership and two-way contributions Thursday after the Lakers' final practice before heading out on a three-game road trip. Although he has played only 11 games for LA, Rondo is already a key component of the revamped club."Obviously we can't replace what Rondo does for our team and how important he is to our team, but we're not going to make excuses," Walton said. "That's not who we are as a group. We're going to step up, and guys are going to pick... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lakers guard Rajon Rondo is expected to have surgery this week on his broken right hand.Los Angeles will be without the veteran point guard for at least a few weeks.Coach Luke Walton says Rondo was injured in the fourth quarter of the Lakers' fourth straight win, 126-117 over Portland on Wednesday night.Rondo is averaging 8.5 points, 6.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals in his first season with the Lakers. He has been the leader of the Lakers' second unit while also serving as a valuable coach on the floor with his younger, less-familiar teammates, according to Walton.Lonzo Ball is likely to play more minutes in Rondo's absence. Brandon Ingram and LeBron James also will increase their playmaking.___More AP NBA: www.apnews.com/NBA and www.twitter.com/AP_Sports

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.Morey added that: "Carmelo had a tremendous approach during his time with the Rockets and accepted every role head coach Mike D'Antoni gave him. 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."He 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 thought he could be the piece it needed to finally get past Golden State and win its first championship since back-to-back titles in 1994-95. Instead the Rockets limped out to a 6-7 start and the emergence... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Draymond Green isn't apologizing for his part in a dustup with Kevin Durant that led to a one-game suspension by the Golden State Warriors.But Green vowed Thursday that the Warriors are not imploding, regardless of whatever is, or isn't happening, following the heated exchange between he and Durant in Monday night's overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.Green said he and Durant have spoken and that they're "moving forward."The Warriors forward spoke on Thursday for the first time since the incident. He opened his session with reporters by saying: "I'm going to speak on this one time and one time only," and refused to take any questions about it after he was done."I think there's no secret that I am an emotional player," he said. "I wear my emotions on my sleeve. I play with that same emotion. Sometimes they get the best of me. And (if) it doesn't work to my favor I'm going to live with that."He continued by saying that the passionate way he plays the game has led him... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A new nickname for Brook Lopez started floating around Twitter after the Milwaukee Bucks 7-footer had a career night from the 3-point line."Splash Mountain ." How appropriate for a self-described Disney aficionado who is quickly developing a reputation as one of the best-shooting big men in the NBA."I'm pretty partial to that honestly," Lopez said with a laugh about the moniker this week. "I'm a pretty big Disney geek ... I wear it with pride on my sleeve."Keep shooting the way he did on Sunday against the Nuggets and he might challenge the "Splash Brothers" in Golden State for 3-point supremacy.Lopez hit a career-best eight 3s and scored 28 points to help the Bucks beat Denver to split a four-game Western Conference road trip.This wasn't just a one-night-only performance, either.Entering the Bucks' game on Wednesday night against Memphis, Lopez was tied for seventh in the league in made 3s (39) and was 14th in attempts (93), shooting 41.9 percent from behind the arc.A... [More]

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Time, right now, is Jimmy Butler's best friend.That's all that the Philadelphia 76ers and their newest player need. They will figure things out, figure out who goes where and who does what in every situation. In time, they'll be able to get back to their usual arsenal of plays and sets, a repertoire they had to pare down considerably for Butler's debut with his new club.There were promising moments Wednesday night. There were also some moments of confusion, some mistakes at the absolute wrong times. In the end, it all added up to Philadelphia losing Butler's debut with the 76ers — Orlando beating them 111-106 in a game where Philly led by 16 in the fourth quarter before the Magic ripped off a 21-0 run.Patience is required when an NBA team makes a move of this magnitude, and Butler knows that."How tough will it be? Nah, it's not hard at all," Butler said after scoring 14 points. "So far we all get along. I think that's the first thing — we all want each other to be great.... [More]