A person with knowledge of the situation says the NBA is changing the format to this season’s 3-point contest at All-Star Saturday by adding a pair of deep shots that will be worth three points apiece.That change means each round will now be a total of 27 shots instead of 25, and competitors will now get 70 seconds to finish their shots instead of the customary 60. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the NBA was scheduled to announce the changes along with the rest of the All-Star Saturday lineup later Tuesday night.The two additional shots will come from six feet beyond the 3-point line, between the racks located on the wings and the one at the top of the key. Those shots — only one from each spot called the MTN DEW Zone — will be taken with a special green ball.The change is being made in part to stay consistent with the times, since NBA players are shooting more shots from deeper distances than ever. There have been nearly 300 shots made from at least 30 feet this season,... [More]

A person with knowledge of the situation says the NBA is changing the format to this season’s 3-point contest at All-Star Saturday by adding a pair of deep shots that will be worth three points apiece.That change means each round will now be a total of 27 shots instead of 25, and competitors will now get 70 seconds to finish their shots instead of the customary 60. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the NBA was scheduled to announce the changes along with the rest of the All-Star Saturday lineup later Tuesday night.The two additional shots will come from six feet beyond the 3-point line, between the racks located on the wings and the one at the top of the key. Those shots — only one from each spot called the MTN DEW Zone — will be taken with a special green ball.The change is being made in part to stay consistent with the times, since NBA players are shooting more shots from deeper distances than ever. There have been nearly 300 shots made from at least 30 feet this season,... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves coach Ryan Saunders was eager to work after a restless night, a lack of sleep that was not attributable to the nocturnal habits of his 7-month-old son.His team was the cause after a late-game collapse so stunning it's all but destined to serve as the defining moment of the season no matter what else comes down the stretch.“We put ourselves in the history books for the wrong reason," said star center Karl-Anthony Towns, who has not been on the floor for a victory since Nov. 27.The Timberwolves lost a 17-point lead on Sacramento on Monday with just 2:49 left in regulation, proceeding to lose 133-129 to the Kings in overtime. According to ESPN research, this was the first time in 8,379 games — since the tracking of NBA play-by-play data began with the 1996-97 season — that a team trailing by 17 or more points in the final three minutes had rallied to win.“Trust me, I understand, especially as a Minnesota fan, a game like last night hurts. It does.... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Sacramento guard Buddy Hield has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for kicking the ball into the stands following the Kings’ victory over Boston.The ball bounced toward midcourt after Marcus Smart’s potential winning shot bounced off the rim Sunday. Hield chased it down and kicked it into the crowd.The penalty was announced Monday by Kiki VanDeWeghe, the NBA’s executive vice president of basketball operations.Hield scored a season-high 35 points in Sacramento’s 100-99 victory that snapped the Celtics’ 10-game winning streak.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — The Brooklyn Nets' transformation from the shadows to the spotlight happened in just one night.Building a team that can live up to their new expectations is going to take much longer.Even with Kyrie Irving's terrific start, the Nets remain just what they were early last season: good enough to be in just about every game, but not yet good enough to win many of them.The Nets are just 2-4 and later this week begin a five-game road trip that includes difficult stops at Portland, Utah and Denver."We have three new starters and we're still working through getting on the same page. You say well, that's your job, to get it done. And we're working towards that. We're not there yet," Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson said.Though the Nets landed commitments from Irving, Kevin Durant and DeAndre Jordan on the opening night of free agency, they also lost a lot from a team that went 42-40 and reached the playoffs. All-Star D'Angelo Russell is gone along with what Atkinson counts as seven... [More]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Fourth-year guard Buddy Hield has agreed to a multiyear contract extension with the Sacramento Kings.The team didn't provide details of the contract in announcing Hield's extension Monday and planned a news conference for Tuesday. The Kings open the season Wednesday at Phoenix.Hield started all 82 games for the Kings last season and averaged 20.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists. During his rookie season of 2016-17, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Hield was acquired by the Kings in the trade that sent DeMarcus Cousins to the New Orleans Pelicans."Buddy has made tremendous growth each season since joining the team and we are thrilled that he will remain a King as we continue to build an exciting future here in Sacramento," general manager Vlade Divac said. "He has quickly established himself as an elite shooter in the league and is an important part of our young, dynamic core."___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sport