SALEM, Ore. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden wants to ensure Portland Trail Blazers center Enes Kanter, a Turkish star whom Turkey wants arrested for his criticism of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will be able to safely travel to Canada for a possible NBA championship series against the Toronto Raptors.The Oregon senator wrote Tuesday to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asking that his government facilitate Kanter's safe passage to and from Canada if the Blazers advance to the title series."I also urge your government to state publicly that it will not comply with any Interpol red notice meant to interfere with Mr. Kanter's livelihood and to intimidate him and his family back in Turkey," Wyden wrote. Wyden is a fan of his hometown team, often attending games, and he appeared in photos alongside the player who helped push the Blazers past the Denver Nuggets to advance to the Western Conference Finals.The Blazers opened the conference finals against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday... [More]

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden wants to ensure Portland Trail Blazers center Enes Kanter, a Turkish star whom Turkey wants arrested for his criticism of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will be able to safely travel to Canada for a possible NBA championship series against the Toronto Raptors.The Oregon senator wrote Tuesday to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asking that his government facilitate Kanter's safe passage to and from Canada if the Blazers advance to the title series."I also urge your government to state publicly that it will not comply with any Interpol red notice meant to interfere with Mr. Kanter's livelihood and to intimidate him and his family back in Turkey," Wyden wrote. Wyden is a fan of his hometown team, often attending games, and he appeared in photos alongside the player who helped push the Blazers past the Denver Nuggets to advance to the Western Conference Finals.The Blazers opened the conference finals against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday... [More]

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Retired Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki has been honored by Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas lawmakers for his outstanding 21-year career with the same NBA team.Nowitzki was in Austin on Tuesday to visit Abbott, who introduced the German-born athlete as the greatest player in the history of the Mavs and one of the greatest in the league.The 40-year-old Nowitzki, who retired in April, also appeared in the Texas House and the Senate where he was congratulated by legislators and posed for photos.Nowitzki, a 14-time All-Star, led the Mavericks to their only championship in 2011.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Retired Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki has been honored by Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas lawmakers for his outstanding 21-year career with the same NBA team.Nowitzki was in Austin on Tuesday to visit Abbott, who introduced the German-born star as the greatest player in Mavericks history and one of the greatest in the league.The 40-year-old Nowitzki retired in April. A 14-time All-Star, he led the Mavericks to their only championship in 2011.Nowitzki also appeared in the Texas House and the Senate, where he was congratulated by legislators and posed for photos.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Retired Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki has been honored by Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas lawmakers for his outstanding 21-year career with the same NBA team.Nowitzki was in Austin on Tuesday to visit Abbott, who introduced the German-born athlete as the greatest player in the history of the Mavs and one of the greatest in the league.The 40-year-old Nowitzki, who retired in April, also appeared in the Texas House and the Senate where he was congratulated by legislators and posed for photos.Nowitzki, who's a 14-time All-Star, led the Mavericks to their only championship in 2011.

In a story May 13 about the Curry family, The Associated Press misspelled the name of Seth Curry's fiance. Her name is Callie Rivers, not Callie Rogers.A corrected version of the story is below:Steph or Seth? Coin flip to decide who mom, dad representSteph or Seth? Coin flip to decide who mom, dad will represent each game of the Western Conference finalBy STEVE REEDAP Sports WriterDell Curry was standing near the loading dock at the Pepsi Center in Denver when Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum approached, gave him a big hug and asked, "Which shirt are you wearing?" for the Western Conference final."Got to flip a coin," Curry responded.Literally.With sons Stephen and Seth Curry becoming the first siblings to face each other in an NBA conference final, it's a dilemma most any parent would love.Dell and his wife, Sonya, decided wearing a split jersey with the Warriors and Blazers would be "too easy." Instead, they'll flip a coin before each game in the best-of-seven series to determine which... [More]

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers have officially named Frank Vogel as coach, two days after the sides agreed to terms.The team announced the hiring Monday and will hold an introductory press conference May 20 at its facility. The Lakers said in a release that Vogel has signed a multiyear contract but a person familiar with the hiring said it was a three-year contract. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Saturday because they weren't allowed to publicly discuss terms."I am very excited for this opportunity to join the Lakers, a prestigious organization that I have long admired," Vogel said in a statement. "I look forward to coaching such phenomenal talent and bringing my strategic vision to the team."Vogel flew to Los Angeles on May 9 and met with a group that included owner Jeanie Buss, general manager Rob Pelinka and adviser Kurt Rambis after discussions with Tyronn Lue fell apart.The 45-year old Vogel worked for the organization before as... [More]

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers have officially named Frank Vogel as coach.The team announced the hiring Monday and will hold an introductory press conference May 20 at their facility.Vogel flew to Los Angeles on May 9 to interview and was hired two days later. The 45-year old Vogel did not coach last season following two years with the Orlando Magic. He arrived in Orlando following five-plus seasons leading the Indiana Pacers, including trips to the Eastern Conference finals in 2013 and '14.Vogel replaces Luke Walton, who was dismissed following three seasons as coach on April 12. The Lakers have missed the playoffs six straight seasons. The drought was expected to end this season, but injuries to LeBron James, Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram, as well as internal discord, resulted in a 37-45 recordVogel will be the Lakers' sixth coach since Phil Jackson stepped down after the 2010-11 season.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins won't necessarily return from injuries in time to play for the Golden State Warriors during the Western Conference Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers.Durant is likely to miss at least the first two games of the best-of-seven series beginning Tuesday night at Oracle Arena. Coach Steve Kerr said after practice Monday a more extensive update on Durant's status would come Thursday once his calf injury is re-evaluated.Reserve Portland guard Rodney Hood was listed as questionable for Game 1. The team said Monday an MRI exam showed a bone bruise from the third quarter of a 100-96 Game 7 win Sunday at Denver to clinch the West semifinals. Hood, who had to be helped off the court, has contributed key minutes off the bench to help Portland reach its first conference final since 2000.Durant, the two-time reigning NBA Finals MVP leading all postseason scorers, strained his right calf during the third quarter of Game 5 against the Rockets... [More]

Dell Curry was standing near the loading dock at the Pepsi Center in Denver when Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum approached, gave him a big hug and asked, "Which shirt are you wearing?" for the Western Conference final."Got to flip a coin," Curry responded.Literally.With sons Stephen and Seth Curry becoming the first siblings to face each other in an NBA conference final, it's a dilemma most any parent would love.Dell and his wife, Sonya, decided wearing a split jersey with the Warriors and Blazers would be "too easy." Instead, they'll flip a coin before each game in the best-of-seven series to determine which team they'll represent.Stephen Curry can't imagine how this might feel for his folks."I just know watching Seth play I get nervous watching him like on TV and stuff," Stephen said after practice Monday. "For them, it's family and parents who supported us all the way through the ranks."The parents' routine will go something like this: If Sonya flips heads, she will wear Blazers attire... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Hunter Trimmel couldn't give away his season tickets to Milwaukee Bucks games five years ago.Losing season after season made the Bucks almost an afterthought in Wisconsin, where most teams live in the shadow of the Green Bay Packers. But now the Bucks are the hottest ticket in town, with a glittery new arena and a young superstar that has the team knocking on the door of the NBA Finals. Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final against Toronto is Wednesday night.Trimmel, 37, was among hundreds of fans flocking to the plaza outside Fiserv Forum last week before the Bucks faced Boston in Game 5 of the conference semifinals. The plaza, with plenty of bars and jumbo TV screens for fans who can't get inside, is part of an atmosphere that Trimmel — a Bucks fan since 1992 — said is a new experience."I hate to say it but we felt like a minor league team for a while," Trimmel said.It's a golden era in Milwaukee: The Bucks are in contention just a year after the Brewers came within... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Things Nikola Jokic needs to improve on in the offseason: "Is there anything?" the Denver Nuggets big man joked.Hard to find many glitches in his game right now.By all measures, Jokic and the youthful Nuggets are ahead of schedule despite the sting of a Game 7 loss at home to Portland in the Western Conference semifinals. No one predicted the Nuggets being the two seed in the West this season. After all, they hadn't even been to the playoffs since 2013.And few projected the meteoric rise of Jokic, the 24-year-old with the awkward gait who sees the game with a point guard's vision. The 7-footer averaged 25.1 points, 13 rebounds and 8.4 assists in his first foray into the postseason."You're supposed to be sad," Jokic said of the season coming to a close. "But at the end of the day we had a good season."Soon, Jokic will head home to Serbia as he turns his focus from hoops to his horses. It's his way of escaping from a Game 7 in which the Nuggets surrendered a 17-point lead to... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Hunter Trimmel couldn't give away his season tickets to Milwaukee Bucks games five years ago.Losing season after season made the Bucks almost an afterthought in Wisconsin, where most teams live in the shadow of the Green Bay Packers. But now the Bucks are the hottest ticket in town, with a glittery new arena and a young superstar that has the team knocking on the door of the NBA Finals. Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final against Toronto is Wednesday night.Trimmel, 37, was among hundreds of fans flocking to the plaza outside Fiserv Forum last week before the Bucks faced Boston in Game 5 of the conference semifinals. The plaza, with plenty of bars and jumbo TV screens for fans who can't get inside, is part of an atmosphere that Trimmel — a Bucks fan since 1992 — said is a new experience."I hate to say it but we felt like a minor league team for a while," Trimmel said.It's a golden era in Milwaukee: The Bucks are in contention just a year after the Brewers came within... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — John Beilein has spent a coaching lifetime taking ordinary programs and turning them into consistent winning ones.All in college.He's getting his NBA shot.The Cavaliers ended a monthlong search Monday by hiring Beilein, a 66-year-old offensive mastermind who made Michigan a perennial powerhouse and now takes over a rebuilding project in Cleveland. Beilein got a five-year deal with the Cavs, who believe he can make the successful leap from campus.Beilein's signing is somewhat surprising given his age, lack of pro experience and because the Cavs, who have had six previous coaches since 2009, had been speaking almost exclusively with younger NBA assistants during their interview process.Beilein isn't the safest pick or the sexiest, but Cavs general manager Koby Altman said he precisely fits the coaching profile he wanted."We interviewed several strong and talented candidates who, no doubt, will get an opportunity to become an NBA head coach somewhere down the line," Altman... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cavaliers went back to college to get a coach.John Beilein has left Michigan following a successful 12-year run and will take his shot in the NBA, signing a five-year contract with Cleveland on Monday.The 66-year-old Beilein wasn't thought to be on the team's radar, but the Cavs are confident he's the right choice to continue their rebuild and get them back to relevance following a 19-63 season."John is one of the most accomplished and innovative basketball minds and leaders in the entire game," Cavs general manager Koby Altman said in a statement. "He has a unique ability to create an outstanding culture that will promote the development of young players and provide a solid structure to the entire program; not to mention the fact that John Beilein wins everywhere he goes."We are excited coach Beilein is joining our organization as we continue to build the foundation that any enterprise needs to be successful and competitive year in and year out."The deal with Beilein... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cavaliers went back to college to get a coach.Cleveland has signed Michigan's John Beilein to a five-year contract, three people familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Monday. The deal came together quickly in the past 24 hours and was finalized Sunday after the Cavs had spent the weekend in Denver interviewing several NBA assistants.The people spoke to The AP condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the hire.The 66-year-old Beilein does not have pro experience but he's long been regarded as one of college hoops' best minds. He guided Michigan to two Final Fours in the past seven years and has developed several top players.His hiring is a bit of a surprise since it was expected the Cavs would hire a younger coach for their growing team. Cleveland is expected to surround Beilein with an experienced staff.The Cavs were able to lure Beilein away from Michigan, where he was the winningest coach in school history with a 278-150 record in... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cavaliers went back to college to get a coach.Cleveland has signed Michigan's John Beilein to a five-year contract, three people familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Monday. The deal came together quickly in the past 24 hours and was finalized Sunday after the Cavs had spent the weekend in Denver interviewing several NBA assistants.The people spoke to The AP condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the hire.The 66-year-old Beilein does not have pro experience but he's long regarded as one of college hoops' best minds. He guided Michigan to two Final Fours in the past seven years and has developed several top players.Beilein is the winningest coach in Michigan history with a 278-150 record in 12 seasons. He had talks with the Detroit Pistons last year when they were in the market for a new coach, but he said he was never offered that job.Beilein tweeted his thanks Monday to Michigan's players and fans.The Cavs are rebuilding following... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — For the second time in four seasons, the Toronto Raptors are headed to the Eastern Conference final.While the Raptors won't have to deal with playoff nemesis LeBron James this time, they will face a tough task in controlling Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo and the rest of the NBA's highest-scoring offense.Of course, Toronto will counter with Kawhi Leonard.He hit the game-winning buzzer-beater Sunday to help Toronto edge Philadelphia 92-90 in Game 7 of its Eastern Conference semifinal series, setting up a showdown between the East's top teams during the regular season.Leonard's shot bounced around the rim four times before dropping through the basket."It was great," Leonard said. "That's something I never experienced before, Game 7, a game-winning shot. It was a blessing to be able to get to that point and make that shot and feel that moment."Leonard and the Raptors will have a few hours to enjoy it; the conference final begin Wednesday night in Milwaukee. In... [More]

Dell Curry was standing near the loading dock at the Pepsi Center in Denver when Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum approached, gave him a big hug and asked, "Which shirt are you wearing" for the Western Conference final?"Got to flip a coin," Curry responded.Literally.With sons Stephen and Seth Curry becoming the first siblings to face each other in an NBA conference final, it's a dilemma most any parent would love to have.Dell and his wife, Sonya, decided wearing a split jersey with the Warriors and Blazers would be "too easy." Instead, they'll flip a coin before each game in the best-of-seven series to determine which team they'll represent.It will go something like this: If Sonya flips heads, she'll wear Blazers attire to support Seth, while Dell wears Stephen's Warriors colors. If the coin lands on tails, she'll dress in Warriors clothing while Dell dons Blazers gear.The next game Dell gets to flip the coin, and so on — until the series is decided.So who gets to flip the coin for Game... [More]

Bravo, Portland.Bravo.Doing the right thing isn't easy in the NBA, where patience is a rare virtue. The Trail Blazers were swept in the first round of the 2017 playoffs. They got swept again in the first round last season. Portland had lost 10 consecutive playoff games going into this year. Ordinarily, that's a recipe for firings, trade demands and roster dismantling.Instead, the Blazers stayed the course.And their reward is a trip to the Western Conference final, starting Tuesday against two-time defending champion Golden State."It speaks to the character of our organization and what we've become," All-Star guard Damian Lillard said.The Blazers have become a model of consistency.They could have gone the other way. A lot of teams have gone the other way.Neil Olshey, the Blazers' general manager, took an uncommonly measured approach last season and kept Terry Stotts — currently the fourth-longest-tenured coach in the NBA. Lillard stayed committed and didn't stomp his feet or force a trade... [More]