DENVER (AP) — Nuggets forward Will Barton is starting to take a few shots as he recovers from surgery to fix core and hip muscle injuries.There is no timetable for his return. Barton said Friday he's "getting stronger every day."The 27-year-old Barton was carted off the floor on Oct. 20 against Phoenix after he said he felt something pop when he took off for the basket. He had surgery days later.Barton's rehab work has focused on strengthening his core. He said he's been working out near the Nuggets to feel like a part of the team. He said there are "tough days for me so sometimes I need to be around them laughing and joking and taking my mind off the exact injury."___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Stephen Curry has a mild to moderate left groin strain and will miss Golden State's home game against Brooklyn on Saturday night.Curry underwent an MRI exam Friday but the Warriors will wait a few days to fully determine the severity of the injury. Coach Steve Kerr said it doesn't appear to be significant."This doesn't look like it's going to be a long-term injury. He's disappointed but it could have been a lot worse," Kerr said. "We'll just monitor his progress over the next several days."The two-time NBA MVP was hurt midway through the third quarter of Thursday night's 134-111 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Curry grabbed at his inner thigh after trying to contest Eric Bledsoe's shot in transition at the 6:50 mark of the third.The 30-year-old Curry has been averaging 29.5 points, 6.1 assists and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 49.2 percent from 3-point range.Curry scored 10 points Thursday in his second straight game below 20 after getting at least 23 in every game previously... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — This painful season isn't subsiding for the Cavaliers. If anything, it's getting worse.Cleveland, which already has the worst record in the NBA at 1-10, will be without yet another starter on Saturday night in Chicago after forward Cedi Osman was ruled out with back spasms.He's the latest Cavs player to join an injury list that includes All-Star forward Kevin Love, point guard George Hill and Sam Dekker, who began the season as a reserve but moved into the starting lineup because of all the injuries.Throw in a coaching change, some off-court drama and this Cleveland season is sinking fast.Osman was forced to leave Wednesday's loss to Oklahoma City in the first quarter, and the Cavs were hoping rest would allow him to face the Bulls. However, coach Larry Drew said Osman will sit out against the Bulls "and we'll see how he is after the game tomorrow."The rash of injuries has put even greater stress on Drew, who took over after Tyronn Lue was fired following a 0-6 start. Drew... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Stephen Curry has a mild to moderate left groin strain and will miss Golden State's home game against Brooklyn on Saturday night.Curry underwent an MRI exam Friday but the Warriors will wait a few days to fully determine the severity of the injury. Coach Steve Kerr said it doesn't look like it's going to be a long-term injury.The two-time NBA MVP was hurt midway through the third quarter of Thursday night's 134-111 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Curry grabbed at his inner thigh after trying to contest Eric Bledsoe's shot in transition at the 6:50 mark of the third.Quinn Cook, who filled in last season when Curry was hurt for a long stretch, will start against the Nets.Fellow All-Star Draymond Green also will miss Saturday's game, the second straight game that he'll be sidelined by a sprained right foot and toe.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cavaliers' injury list continues to grow with starting forward Cedi Osman the latest addition.Osman will miss Saturday's game at Chicago with back spasms that forced him to leave Wednesday's loss to Orlando. The Cavs, who are 1-10 and missing three other starters, had hoped rest would help Osman, but he's not ready to play.Cleveland is already without All-Star forward Kevin Love, point guard George Hill and backup forward Sam Dekker, who moved into the starting lineup before Love underwent foot surgery.Coach Larry Drew said Friday that Osman will miss one game and be reassessed.Drew, who recently signed a new contract after taking over following Tyronn Lue's firing, said the Cavs aren't "snakebit." He acknowledged the team needs its reserves to step up while the team is short-handed.Because of the injuries, Drew will shuffle his lineup again.The Cavs signed guard Andrew Harrison to a two-way contract.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cavaliers are losing games and players at an alarming rate.Starting point guard George Hill could miss two weeks with a sprained right shoulder, the latest setback for the Cavs, who have won just one game and are expected to be without All-Star forward Kevin Love for at least another five weeks following foot surgery.Cleveland is also missing forward Sam Dekker, who sprained his ankle and is out for a month.Hill was a late scratch before Wednesday night's loss to Oklahoma City. The 32-year-old, who hurt his shoulder on the final possession of Monday's loss in Orlando, went through his usual pregame workout, but was experiencing pain in his shoulder and couldn't play against the Thunder. Further medical tests performed Thursday revealed the sprain.Hill's setback is yet another obstacle for the Cavs, who are an NBA-worst 1-10 and recently fired coach Tyronn Lue. Cleveland's had other issues in its first season since LeBron James bolted as a free agent after leading the... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — A person familiar with the situation says Cavaliers starting point guard George Hill will miss at least two weeks with a shoulder injury.Hill has a sprained shoulder, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Cleveland has not yet provided an update on the veteran guard's condition. Hill was kept out of Wednesday's loss to Oklahoma City because of soreness.ESPN was first to report Hill's injury.Hill's setback is another shot to the Cavs, who are an NBA-worst 1-10 and will be without All-Star forward Kevin Love for another five weeks — and possibly longer.While Hill is out, rookie Collin Sexton will likely stay in the starting lineup. The No. 8 overall pick made his first start against the Thunder and finished with a season-high 15 points, two rebounds and an assist in 42 minutes.Cleveland coach Larry Drew has urged his veterans to be patient with Sexton while he develops.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Russell Westbrook will miss the Oklahoma City Thunder's game Thursday night against the Houston Rockets because of a sprained left ankle.Thunder coach Billy Donovan made the announcement during his pregame media session.Westbrook was hurt Monday night against New Orleans. After coming down hard on the side of his foot, he pounded the ground in frustration before limping off the court.Westbrook missed the Thunder's victory Wednesday night over Cleveland. He was spotted walking into Chesapeake Energy Arena on Thursday without a limp.Westbrook had a procedure on his right knee that cost him the preseason and the first two games of the regular season. The Thunder are 5-2 with him in the lineup and 1-2 without him. The former league MVP is averaging 24.1 points, 8.9 assists and 8.3 rebounds.___Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MIAMI (AP) — Hassan Whiteside has big goals.He desperately wants to be an All-Star, especially this season with the game in Charlotte, just a few miles from his hometown. He wants to be the league's defensive player of the year. He's already won an NBA rebound title and a blocked-shot title, albeit in different seasons, and now wants those crowns in the same year — something only five other men have accomplished.Nights like Wednesday make him believe all those things are possible.Nights like Wednesday also remind the Miami Heat what they know is possible from their center.Whiteside was brilliant: 29 points, 20 rebounds, nine blocked shots in a 95-88 win over the San Antonio Spurs. He's now second in the NBA at 15.2 rebounds per game, first at 3.4 blocked shots per game. And he anchored a defensive performance that allowed the Heat to become one of only five teams to win this season while scoring no more than 95 points."I'm very confident, man," Whiteside said. "My body feels great. I think... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Dwyane Wade missed Miami's game against San Antonio on Wednesday night for personal reasons.It's the first game Wade has missed this season, his 16th and final in the NBA. He's averaging 14.3 points on 45 percent shooting in nine games, all of them as a reserve.The Heat were also without starting point guard Goran Dragic, out with a sore right knee, and Dion Waiters and James Johnson remain out for the foreseeable future as they recover from surgeries. Heat center Hassan Whiteside returned to the starting lineup after sitting Monday with knee pain.The Spurs not only got point guard Derrick White (heel) back for the first time this season, but he was in the starting lineup. Pau Gasol was out with a sore right foot and Rudy Gay was sidelined with a right heel problem.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA has fined Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic $25,000 for using derogatory and offensive language during a postgame interview.Jokic made his comments to the media following the Nuggets' 108-107 overtime victory against the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 31.The fine was handed down Wednesday by league discipline executive Kiki VanDeWeghe.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MIAMI (AP) — Dwyane Wade is missing Miami's game against San Antonio on Wednesday night for personal reasons.It's the first game Wade has missed this season, his 16th and final in the NBA. He's averaging 14.3 points on 45 percent shooting in nine games, all of them as a reserve.The Heat again will be without Dion Waiters and James Johnson as they recover from surgeries. Goran Dragic is questionable because of knee soreness after an MRI this week revealed some inflammation. Heat center Hassan Whiteside is expected to play, after sitting Monday with knee pain.The Spurs expect to have point guard Derrick White available off the bench for his season debut. White has been sidelined by a heel injury.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Veteran center Tyson Chandler signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, two days after reaching a buyout agreement with the Phoenix Suns.Chandler will provide needed frontcourt depth for the Lakers, who have relied on JaVale McGee and undersized forwards to guard big men during their 4-6 start to the season. Rookie center Moe Wagner still hasn't made his debut while returning slowly from a knee injury, and Lakers basketball boss Magic Johnson didn't want to wait any longer to bolster his team's areas of need.While the 36-year-old Chandler might not be the dominant defensive player he was in his prime, he could play regular minutes for coach Luke Walton while the Lakers attempt to find a winning groove in their first season with LeBron James.The Lakers host Minnesota on Wednesday night."Having observed our roster for the first 10 games of this young season, one of the areas that Earvin and I discussed with Luke that we desired to upgrade is interior defense and rebounding,"... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for throwing a basketball into the stands after a game.The fine was handed down Tuesday by league discipline executive Kiki VanDeWeghe.The incident occurred at the end of the Celtics' 115-107 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Monday night.Irving was mad that Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray took a 3-point-shot with the clock winding down when Denver already had put away the game. Murray, who already had scored 48 points, said he was trying to reach 50.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Veteran center Tyson Chandler has signed with the Los Angeles Lakers two days after reaching a buyout agreement with the Phoenix Suns.The Lakers announced the signing Tuesday.The 36-year-old Chandler will provide needed frontcourt depth for the Lakers, who have relied on JaVale McGee and undersized forwards to guard big men during their 4-6 start to the season.Chandler is joining his seventh team early in his 18th NBA season. He spent the previous three years with Phoenix, and he averaged 6.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game last season.A California native, Chandler attended Dominguez High School in Compton before going pro. He was the second pick in the 2001 draft by the Clippers, who traded his rights to Chicago.___More AP NBA: www.apnews.com/NBA and www.twitter.com/AP_Sports

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook will miss Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers because of a sprained left ankle.A Thunder spokesman said Tuesday the team wants to see how the ankle responds to treatment for the next few days before providing another update.The Thunder won their fifth straight game by beating the New Orleans Pelicans 122-116 on Monday but lost Westbrook in the third quarter. After coming down hard on the side of his foot, he pounded the ground in frustration before limping off the court. Westbrook finished with 17 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.Westbrook had a procedure on his right knee that cost him the preseason and the first two games of the regular season. The Thunder are 5-2 with him in the lineup and 0-2 without him. The former league MVP is averaging 24.1 points, 8.9 assists and 8.3 rebounds per game.___Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cavaliers forward Sam Dekker could be out a month with a sprained left ankle.Dekker got hurt during the third quarter of Cleveland's 102-100 loss at Orlando on Monday night. Dekker underwent further tests Tuesday that revealed the sprain. The Cavaliers said he will begin rehab and be sidelined for approximately two to four weeks.Dekker's injury is another blow to the Cavaliers, who are 1-9 this season. Cleveland recently changed coaches and is expected to be without All-Star forward Kevin Love for at least six weeks. Love underwent foot surgery last week.Dekker has made five starts in his first season with the Cavaliers, who acquired him in August in a trade from the Los Angeles Clippers. He's averaging 6.3 points and 3.7 rebounds.Cleveland hosts Oklahoma City on Wednesday night.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Thunder guard Russell Westbrook left Monday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans after coming down hard on the side of his left ankle.A team spokesman said it was a sprain. After falling, Westbrook pounded the ground in frustration before limping off the court. The Thunder led 84-77 with 4:25 left in the third quarter when he left the game.Westbrook missed the preseason and the first two games of the regular season after having a procedure on his right knee.Westbrook has averaged a triple-double the past two seasons and was the league MVP in 2016-17. He entered this game averaging 25.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.8 assists.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — Larry Drew's awkward impasse with the Cleveland Cavaliers is over.The team's struggles are getting worse.The Cavs relented to Drew's requests by restructuring his contract and signing him to be their coach for the remainder of this season — and perhaps beyond.Drew and his agent, Andy Miller, had been negotiating since the Cavs' top assistant asked for security and guarantees if he was going to become the rebuilding team's interim coach and replace Tyronn Lue, who was fired on Oct. 28 following a 0-6 start. Drew wanted a pay raise to finish out the season and got one.Drew's new deal includes a team option for the 2019-20 season. If the Cavs choose not to retain him, Drew will receive a buyout payment."So now there's clarity," Drew said Monday night before the Cavs lost 102-100 in Orlando to fall to 1-9 — 0-5 on the road. "There's just no gray area, and because there's no gray area and me and my staff can just roll our sleeves up put all into helping this team be successful."Drew... [More]

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Thunder guard Russell Westbrook left Monday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans after coming down hard on the side of his left ankle.After falling, he pounded the ground in frustration before limping off the court. The Thunder led 84-77 with 4:25 left in the third quarter when he was injured.Westbrook missed the preseason and the first two games of the regular season after having a procedure on his right knee.Westbrook has averaged a triple-double the past two seasons and was the league MVP in 2016-17. He entered this game averaging 25.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.8 assists.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports