MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks' key free agent acquisition is a big man who could have an impact from the perimeter.Brook Lopez started at center in the Bucks' preseason opener against the Chicago Bulls, the first basketball game at Milwaukee's new Fiserv Forum.Lopez scored six points on 3-of-8 of shooting, missing all three 3-point attempts, in 15 minutes as the Bucks rolled to a 116-82 victory on Wednesday night at their new home arena.It was a milestone moment for a team featuring All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo that hopes to secure a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs this year."I think the stars have really aligned. We have all the talent in the world on the floor," Lopez said.The 10th overall pick by the Nets in 2008, Lopez averaged 13.0 points per game last season, matching his career low, in 74 games with the Los Angeles Lakers, after spending his first nine season with the New Jersey-Brooklyn franchise.But Lopez averaged more than 20 points a game in... [More]

Jimmy Butler is still with the Minnesota Timberwolves, at least in an official sense.In reality, it remains a mess.Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau Friday acknowledged the team's efforts to grant Butler's trade request."Obviously, we're trying to get something done," Thibodeau told reporters in Minneapolis.What that "something" is, that's still unknown.Friday was Day 18 of the Butler saga, starting from when the four-time All-Star swingman told Thibodeau of his desire to play elsewhere. Butler has not practiced with the Timberwolves during training camp, and Friday night's Wolves preseason game against Oklahoma City will be the third exhibition that he's missed — with no end to the impasse in sight.Multiple teams have been engaged in trade talks with the Timberwolves since Butler's intentions to play elsewhere became known. Miami is one of those teams, and has been involved in the Butler negotiations with Minnesota almost from the very beginning. A person with knowledge of those negotiations... [More]

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Thunder guard Andre Roberson will miss at least two months after a setback in his recovery from left knee surgery.A Thunder spokesman said Roberson underwent a minor procedure Thursday. Roberson previously had been doing non-contact work in practice and had hoped to be ready to play in December.Roberson suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in January and missed the second half of the season. The Thunder suffered without one of the league's best perimeter defenders, and was eliminated by the Utah Jazz in the first round of the playoffs.The 6-foot-7 Roberson was an All-Defense second-team selection during the 2016-17 season.___For more NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA

BOSTON (AP) — Boston point guard Kyrie Irving says he intends to re-sign with the Celtics next summer.At a fan event at TD Garden on Thursday , Irving told the crowd, "If you guys will have me back, I plan on re-signing here."Irving signed a five-year, $94 million deal with Cleveland prior to the 2015-16 season but asked for a trade last summer. He has a player option for next season and can become an unrestricted free agent in 2020.Despite injuries to Irving and top free agent Gordon Hayward, the Celtics finished with 55 wins last season before losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals in seven games.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SEATTLE (AP) — He was a kid at the time, all of 19 years old, about to conclude his first NBA season. He stood on the court in green and gold, waving his arms up and down, asking for more noise from the home crowd begging for another chance to see the home team play.That was more than 10 years ago. Kevin Durant was that kid. The Seattle SuperSonics were his team."Just that culture of the Sonics was really, really deep and so many people all around the world or all around the country enjoyed the Sonics," Durant said recently. "It was pretty crazy, man, now that I think about it the time we spent there, the little time we spent there and how much we could have impacted the city if we stayed."A decade later, Durant will be back in that same building, again likely to be waving his arms toward what is expected to be a sold out sea of green and gold. KeyArena, the former home of the Sonics, will host its final event Friday night when Durant's Golden State Warriors meet the Sacramento Kings in... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — He was a kid at the time, all of 19 years old, about to conclude his first NBA season. He stood on the court in green and gold, waving his arms up and down, asking for more noise from the home crowd begging for another chance to see the home team play.That was more than 10 years ago. Kevin Durant was that kid. The Seattle SuperSonics was his team."Just that culture of the Sonics was really, really deep and so many people all around the world or all around the country enjoyed the Sonics," Durant said recently. "It was pretty crazy, man, now that I think about it the time we spent there, the little time we spent there and how much we could have impacted the city if we stayed."A decade later, Durant will be back in that same building, again likely to be waving his arms toward what is expected to be a sold out sea of green and gold. KeyArena, the former home of the Sonics, will host its final event Friday night when Durant's Golden State Warriors meet the Sacramento Kings in... [More]

DALLAS (AP) — New Dallas Mavericks center DeAndre Jordan missed the team's trip to China for two exhibition games for unspecified personal reasons.Jordan and fellow starter Harrison Barnes stayed behind when the team left for China this week. Barnes injured a hamstring in practice and could miss all the preseason games.The 30-year-old Jordan joined the Mavericks this year, three years after agreeing to sign with them in free agency and changing his mind before contracts could be signed. He came to Dallas after opting out of the final season of that contract he signed to stay with the Los Angeles Clippers.The Mavericks play Philadelphia twice in China, early Friday morning and early Monday morning Dallas time. Their final preseason game is Oct. 12 at home against Charlotte.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Even the two-time defending NBA champions are seeking ways to reinvent themselves when it comes to preparation and practice routine.The Golden State Warriors are putting a greater emphasis on player development this training camp with a younger roster.An hour ahead of formal team workouts, Golden State's young core shows up for individual skill work, to learn defensive concepts or to go over offensive schemes and terminology with assistant coach Chris DeMarco."We have a veteran team, so being able to get these young guys in and still be able to do drill work that maybe the veterans don't need, that's always going to be beneficial moving forward because it's a long season," DeMarco said after practice Tuesday. "So sometimes you get caught up and you're not able to practice, there's back-to-backs where the young guys aren't out there developing those skills that we need them to develop. So coming in early, making sure they're getting that individual work, making sure... [More]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Pelicans say center Jahlil Okafor has been diagnosed with a sprained right ankle and is expected to miss one or two weeks.The injury occurred in the fourth quarter of the Pelicans' preseason opener at Chicago on Sunday.The 6-foot-11 Okafor was drafted third overall out of Duke by Philadelphia in 2015. But his production fell considerably last season from the nearly 15 points and six rebounds he averaged during his first two seasons with the 76ers.He appeared in only two games with Philadelphia last season before being traded to Brooklyn, where he played about 13 minutes per game as a reserve, averaging 6.4 points.In August, he signed a two-year contract with New Orleans that includes a team option in the second year. The Pelicans hope he can provide depth to a front court led by Anthony Davis, Julius Randle and Nikola Mirotic.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ATLANTA (AP) — Trae Young just might make the Atlanta Hawks fun to watch this season.The rookie point guard flashed some dazzling ball-handling skills in his preseason debut, keeping his teammates and fans involved in the action while he is on the floor.Atlanta is not expected to win many games this season, but Young will likely win over his teammates and more than a few fans."His greatest skill is he can facilitate and he can find guys," first-year coach Lloyd Pierce said. "When you have a player with the ability to do that, to find guys in creative ways, he's fun to play with."In his preseason debut Monday night, Young provided a glimpse of what Hawks fans can expect this year.Some good:On one play he bounced a pass off the backboard and later wrapped on around a defender on the baseline to assist on uncontested dunks.Some not so good: It was far from a perfect night as Young missed 10 of his first 11 attempts from the field.But he seemed to get a pass on his shooting — for now.The seamless... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Kyrie Irving offered a simple message to science teachers Monday."I'm sorry," the Boston Celtics star said.And with that, Irving made clear that he regrets publicly saying that the Earth is flat.Speaking Monday at the Forbes Under 30 summit in Boston, the flat-Earth topic that Irving inserted himself into last year was discussed — and the All-Star guard said he didn't realize the effect that his claim would have once it went public."To all the science teachers, everybody coming up to me like, 'You know I've got to reteach my whole curriculum?' I'm sorry," Irving said, as the room attending his session laughed. "I apologize. I apologize."Irving said he's since learned certain thoughts are best kept in "intimate conversations."This whole saga started in February 2017, when Irving questioned whether the Earth is flat on a podcast that came out shortly before All-Star weekend that year in New Orleans. It became a major story and even NBA Commissioner Adam Silver — who, like Irving,... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Kyrie Irving offered a simple message to science teachers Monday."I'm sorry," the Boston Celtics star said.And with that, Irving made clear that he regrets publicly saying that the Earth is flat.Speaking Monday at the Forbes Under 30 summit in Boston, the flat-Earth topic that Irving inserted himself into last year was discussed — and the All-Star guard said he didn't realize the effect that his claim would have once it went public."To all the science teachers, everybody coming up to me like, 'You know I've to got to reteach my whole curriculum?' I'm sorry," Irving said, as the room attending his session laughed. "I apologize. I apologize."Irving said he's since learned certain thoughts are best kept in "intimate conversations."This whole saga started in February 2017, when Irving questioned whether the Earth is flat on a podcast that came out shortly before All-Star weekend that year in New Orleans. It became a major story and even NBA Commissioner Adam Silver — who, like... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — LeBron James rubbed his hands in chalk powder at the scorer's table, yelled "Yes!" to ecstatic fans in the first few rows and the Los Angeles Lakers' new era was underway.Playing in the same arena where Magic Johnson made his regular-season debut for Los Angeles 39 years ago, James captivated the crowd from the start of the Lakers' exhibition opener Sunday night, a 124-107 loss to the Denver Nuggets.The opening tip came James' way and he tapped it to fellow newcomer Rajon Rondo, who threw an alley-oop pass to JaVale McGee for the game's first score.James missed his first shot, a turnaround fadeaway, but then made a no-look bounce pass from about 27 feet out to Brandon Ingram for a dunk. A minute later, James hit a long 3-pointer.He finished with nine points, three rebounds and four assists in just more than 15 minutes."It was great to get back on the floor and then just start a new journey for myself and hear the Lakers fans that we have here in San Diego," said James,... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — LeBron James rubbed his hands in chalk powder at the scorer's table, yelled "Yes!" to ecstatic fans in the first few rows and the Los Angeles Lakers' new era was underway.Playing in the same arena where Magic Johnson made his regular-season debut for Los Angeles 39 years ago, James captivated the crowd from the start of the Lakers' exhibition opener Sunday night, a 124-107 loss to the Denver Nuggets.The opening tip came James' way and he tapped it to fellow newcomer Rajon Rondo, who threw an alley-oop pass to JaVale McGee for the game's first score.James missed his first shot, a turnaround fadeaway, but then made a no-look bounce pass from about 27 feet out to Brandon Ingram for a dunk. A minute later, James hit a long 3-pointer.He finished with nine points, three rebounds and four assists in just more than 15 minutes.Lakers fans hope James' arrival will turn things around after the worst half-decade in the franchise's lengthy history.He left the Cleveland Cavaliers for... [More]

LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) — Through the first week of camp with the Houston Rockets, all indications are that Carmelo Anthony will be OK coming off the bench if that's the role coach Mike D'Antoni gives him.That doesn't mean the 10-time All-Star wants to discuss it."I don't like talking about it," Anthony said Saturday before the team's last practice at McNeese State before returning to Houston. "People always been speculating. They always speculate so I will continue not to talk about it."While Anthony, who is in his first year with the Rockets after one tumultuous season in Oklahoma City, refused to discuss whether he'll start or be a reserve, he had plenty to say about a variety of other subjects, candidly answering every other question thrown his way. He reflected on his year with the Thunder, a place where he never seemed to fit in and averaged a career-low 16.2 points in 78 starts.He said he got "caught up" in outside opinions of what people believed he should do and recounted all the... [More]

BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Dwyane Wade's first touch of the game was a lob to set up a dunk. His first shot was a corner 3-pointer. And his first trip into the lane resulted in getting his shot swatted away.All three of those plays left him smiling.Wade's 16th and final season — his "last dance," as he calls it — got off to an unofficial start Saturday, when the Miami Heat broke training camp at Florida Atlantic University with their annual scrimmage. His stats, as if they even mattered: eight points on 2 for 7 shooting, with three assists and a steal in 23 minutes."It was cool," Wade said. "We've been working hard in practice, obviously. But to be out here today in front of some fans, getting to play in a different energy, you could see it in everybody. Guys were moving quicker. Guys were into it."Wade got the big cheer at the start, and his fellow 16-year veteran got the biggest cheer at the end: The final play of the scrimmage was Udonis Haslem hitting a game-winning jumper, one that gave... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen will miss at least six weeks because of a left elbow injury.The Bulls said Friday that Markkanen was hurt in practice Thursday and that an MRI showed a high grade lateral elbow sprain.From Finland, Markkanen, averaged 15.2 points and 7.5 rebounds in 68 games as a rookie last season.

LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) — Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta said this week that his team was a "hamstring" away from the Western Conference title last season.The hamstring he was referring to was Chris Paul's, with the injury the latest setback for the point guard whose illustrious career at times has seemed cursed.After signing Paul to a four-year, $160 million extension in the offseason, the Rockets hope the bad luck ends this year and he'll help them to their first title since 1995."Chris deserves a championship," Fertitta said. "It is time. But luck is luck and it just takes a little luck in sports. You have to set yourself up to be one of the best and then you need a few things to fall into place."The Rockets led the Warriors 3-2 in the conference finals last season before Paul's season ended with a hamstring injury in Game 5. Golden State won the next two games to advance to the Finals and go on to win the title.Paul scoffed at the notion that his ill-timed hamstring injury was... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls say guard Denzel Valentine has a moderately sprained left ankle and will be re-evaluated in one to two weeks.Valentine was injured in practice on Tuesday. He had surgery on the same ankle in May 2017.Valentine averaged 10.2 points last season, his second. The Bulls open at Philadelphia on Oct. 18.___More AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — For a team that didn't make any major moves during the summer, the Minnesota Timberwolves sure have their share of new players this season.The critical process of familiarization and integration will speed up over the next week, in the form of a trip to California to continue training camp and play a couple of exhibition games while Jimmy Butler's unresolved trade request looms in the background .The Timberwolves will be out of town for seven days, a prime time for bonding."They can spend a lot of time together. We'll have good practices, some film sessions, some team dinners, so I think it's good," coach Tom Thibodeau said Thursday, before the traveling party boarded a plane for the Bay Area. The Wolves play the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors on Friday night.With draft picks Josh Okogie and Keita Bates-Diop and veterans Anthony Tolliver and Luol Deng, the Wolves will sport a significantly different look to their bench. When — or if, as Thibodeau has insisted... [More]