BOSTON (AP) — Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward said he considers it “relatively good news” that his latest injury is only expected to keep him out for six weeks, even though it struck just as he was returning to form from the broken leg that cost him almost a full season.“It’s a drop in the bucket, for sure,” Hayward said on Wednesday night before watching Boston’s game against the Washington Wizards from the bench in street clothes. “Just happy that it shouldn’t be that long. Obviously frustrated. It sucks watching and not being able to go out there and play, especially with the start that we’ve had.”Hayward broke his hand when he collided with LaMarcus Aldridge in Saturday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs. The Boston forward had surgery Monday.“You always think about the worst-case scenario, and certainly on the play I didn’t know exactly what happened,” he said. “But I heard it, and felt it and knew something immediately was wrong.”Hayward missed all but five minutes of... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward says he’s frustrated over his broken hand, which is expected to sideline him for six weeks just as he was back to form from his last injury.Hayward said before Wednesday night’s game against the Washington Wizards that he’s happy about the prognosis from doctors. He says it was “relatively good news.”Hayward broke his hand when he collided with LaMarcus Aldridge in Saturday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs. The Boston forward had surgery Monday.Hayward missed all but five minutes of the 2017-18 season after breaking his leg in the first quarter of the season opener. He returned last season, playing mostly off the bench. But it wasn’t until this season that he was matching his numbers from before the injury.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks have assigned Thanasis Antetokounmpo, the older brother of reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, to the G League.The Bucks announced Wednesday that Atnteokounmpo and Dragan Bender have been assigned to the Wisconsin Herd.Antetokounmpo, who signed a two-year, minimum contract with Milwaukee during the offseason, has appeared in one game for the Bucks this season, while Bender has yet to see any action for Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo had two points, two rebounds and one assist in six minutes in a 123-91 win at Orlando on Nov. 1Bender started the first two games of the season for the Herd and averaged 19.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1.0 assist and 1.0 steal in 29.9 minutes per game.Both are expected to be in uniform for the Herd on Wednesday night.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks have assigned Thanasis Antetokounmpo, the older brother of reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, to the G League.The Bucks announced Wednesday that Atnteokounmpo and Dragon Bender have been assigned to the Wisconsin Herd.Antetokounmpo, who signed a two-year, minimum contract with Milwaukee during the offseason, has appeared in one game for the Bucks this season, while Bender has yet to see any action for Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo had two points, two rebounds and one assist in six minutes in a 123-91 win at Orlando on Nov. 1Bender started the first two games of the season for the Herd and averaged 19.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1.0 assist and 1.0 steal in 29.9 minutes per game.Both are expected to be in uniform for the Herd on Wednesday night.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP

ATLANTA (AP) — Hawks guard Kevin Huerter is returning to Atlanta after injuring his left shoulder in a victory over Denver.The team announced Wednesday that Huerter underwent an MRI in Denver after being hurt the previous night in a 125-121 victory over the Nuggets. Physicians in Atlanta will determine the extent of the injury.Huerter was ruled out of Thursday night’s game in Phoenix and seems unlikely to play on the rest of the West Coast road trip, which concludes with weekend games in Los Angeles against the Clippers and the Lakers.Huerter was fouled by Denver’s Nikola Jokic while going up for a shot. The second-year player immediately grabbed his shoulder and winced in pain before heading to the locker room.X-rays taken at the arena were negative.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — The Brooklyn Nets have signed Iman Shumpert, adding the veteran guard to their roster with Wilson Chandler on the NBA’s suspended list.Shumpert helped Cleveland win the 2016 NBA title and has also played for the Knicks, Sacramento and Houston. He returns to New York, where he began his career as a first-round pick of the Knicks in 2011.Chandler is suspended for the first 25 games of the season without pay after testing positive for Ipamorelin, a drug that increases the release of growth hormone.Terms of the deal announced Wednesday were not disclosed.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — When Kristaps Porzingis crashed to the Madison Square Garden floor in pain on Feb. 6, 2018, it was soon clear that would be his final play of the season.Much harder to imagine was that it would be the final play of his Knicks career.Porzingis returns to the arena on Thursday for a nationally televised game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Knicks, who are already showing signs of the type of chaos that helped sour the star forward on the team in the first place.Though Porzingis enjoyed the city and the fans, the dark cloud under which the Knicks permanently reside was something he’s been glad to escape.“I remember when I was there the expectations were always high for us, and it’s a city hungry for success in basketball,” Porzingis said Wednesday. “And for them, for the fans and for the city to be going through this year after year, it’s got to be tough. And so it’s always a lot of pressure and when things are not going right immediately, there needs to be changes, and... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and is expected to miss about six weeks.Gordon was injured on Monday night against New Orleans and general manager Daryl Morey announced that he had surgery on Wednesday.Gordon has appeared in nine games with two starts this season and is averaging 10.9 points and 1.9 rebounds.The Rockets have won four straight entering Wednesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Yet another member of the Golden State Warriors is injured, with two-way guard Damion Lee now out because of a broken right hand.The injury occurred during Golden State's 122-108 home loss to the Jazz on Monday night. Lee underwent an MRI exam Tuesday morning that revealed a nondisplaced fracture of the fourth metacarpal. The team said he will be reevaluated in two weeks."Hopefully just a few weeks," coach Steve Kerr said before the team flew to Los Angeles, where the Warriors play the Lakers on Wednesday night.Lee joins a long list of injured players on the depleted Warriors, who are 2-9 following five straight trips to the NBA Finals.Stephen Curry had surgery on his broken left hand, which he injured Oct. 30, and will need another procedure next month to have pins removed. He said Monday that he expects to be playing again come spring.The two-time MVP joins Klay Thompson, who is recovering from a July 2 surgery on a torn ACL in his left knee suffered during Game 6... [More]

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Pacers have temporarily assigned guard Victor Oladipo to their G League affiliate in Fort Wayne.It's largely a procedural move that gives the two-time All-Star an opportunity to get extra practice time. The Pacers played at Orlando on Sunday and did not hold a shootaround before Tuesday's game against Oklahoma City.Oladipo is working his way back from a ruptured quad tendon in his right knee. He suffered the injury in January and is not expected to return to game action until at least December.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports

Dion Waiters leads the Miami Heat in suspensions and headlines this season.And his future is very unclear.Waiters won't be with the Heat for at least nine more games — his 10-game suspension for repeated conduct deemed detrimental to the team started Friday when Miami visited the Los Angeles Lakers — and what happens from there will be anyone's guess.He'll miss out on about $835,000 in salary, raising his total missed through suspensions (he was also shunned from the season-opener) to about $920,000 this season. That doesn't include a $1.1 million roster bonus he could have gotten by playing in 70 games, a number that is now officially unattainable.All told, this has cost him $2 million and counting.For someone making $12.1 million this season alone, that doesn't sound so bad. The cost to his reputation hasn't been added into that figure yet.When this suspension ends on Nov. 30, the 6-foot-4 guard will be allowed to resume workouts at the Heat facility. By then, the season will be about... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry "definitely" plans to return this season from his broken left hand and is hoping to be back on the court at "some point in early spring."When exactly the two-time NBA MVP will be able to play again remains uncertain.Curry addressed the media Monday night for the first time since getting injured Oct. 30 and said he needs a second surgery on his non-shooting hand, probably in early December, to remove pins that were inserted during the first procedure Nov. 1 that involved his hand and index finger."(Managing the) swelling is something that's going to be of the utmost priority early in the rehab process," Curry said, "to get me a chance to come back and get my range of motion back pretty quickly."The Warriors initially said Curry would be re-evaluated three months after the surgery, which would be early February.Curry referred to himself and injured teammate Klay Thompson as "caged animals right now, wanting to be unleashed."Thompson,... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry says he "definitely" plans to return this season from his broken left hand and is hoping to be back on the court at "some point in early spring."When exactly the two-time NBA MVP will be able to play again remains uncertain. Curry addressed the media Monday night for the first time since getting injured Oct. 30 and said he needs a second surgery on his non-shooting hand, probably in early December, to remove pins that were inserted during the first procedure Nov. 1 that involved his hand and index finger."(Managing the) swelling is something that's going to be of the utmost priority early in the rehab process," Curry said, "to get me a chance to come back and get my range of motion back pretty quickly."The Warriors initially said Curry would be re-evaluated three months after the surgery, which would be early February.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton is expected to be sidelined for up to a month after suffering a left thigh contusion.Middleton was hurt during Sunday night's 121-119 win at Oklahoma City. He underwent an MRI and examination Monday by team physician Dr. William Raasch that confirmed the injury as a left thigh contusion.The Bucks say Middleton is expected to be sidelined for three to four weeks.Middleton has played in 10 games, all starts, for the Bucks this season, averaging 18.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 30.8 minutes per game while shooting a career best in field goal percentage (.486).

DETROIT (AP) — Blake Griffin is back in the lineup for the Detroit Pistons for the first time this season.Griffin missed Detroit's first 10 games with hamstring and knee issues, but he started Monday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Pistons went 4-6 without him.Point guard Reggie Jackson is still out for Detroit because of a lumbar stress reaction, but Derrick Rose is back after missing four games with a right hamstring injury. Minnesota point guards Jeff Teague (illness) and Shabazz Napier (right hamstring strain) are out for a fourth straight game.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton is expected to be sidelined for up to a month after suffering a left thigh contusion.Middleton was hurt during Sunday night's 121-119 win at Oklahoma City. He underwent an MRI and examination Monday by team physician Dr. William Raasch that confirmed the injury as a left thigh contusion.The Bucks say Middleton is expected to be sidelined for three to four weeks.Middleton has played in 10 games, all starts, for the Bucks this season, averaging 18.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 30.8 minutes per game while shooting a career best in field goal percentage (.486).

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward was having surgery on his broken left hand, a move that is expected to keep him out for about six weeks.Celtics coach Brad Stevens told the media before the game: "Last I heard: having surgery at 5 p.m., have not heard any thing since. We were told we would be updated as soon as it was over."Hayward's agent, Mark Bartelstein, confirmed on Monday that Hayward needed surgery. Stevens had said after the team's morning shootaround that the surgery would take place as soon as the doctor's schedule allowed it.Hayward broke his hand in a collision with Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge in the second quarter of Saturday night's game in San Antonio. He left the game and did not return."He was frustrated. He was down," coach Brad Stevens said. "But this isn't like last time."Hayward, 29, missed all but five minutes of the 2017-18 season after breaking his leg in the first quarter of the opener against Cleveland.Forward Jayson Tatum also said Hayward... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward needs surgery on his broken left hand, a move that is expected to keep him out for about six weeks.Hayward's agent, Mark Bartelstein, confirmed on Monday that Hayward needed surgery. Celtics coach Brad Stevens said after the team's morning shootaround that the surgery would take place as soon as the doctor's schedule allowed it.Hayward broke his hand in a collision with Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge in the second quarter of Saturday night's game in San Antonio. He left the game and did not return."He was frustrated. He was down," coach Brad Stevens said. "But this isn't like last time."Hayward, 29, missed all but five minutes of the 2017-18 season after breaking his leg in the first quarter of the opener against Cleveland.Forward Jayson Tatum also said Hayward seemed frustrated after the latest setback."I feel bad for him. He was just getting back to being himself," Tatum said. "It's a bummer."Hayward returned last season and played... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward was meeting with doctors on Monday to determine whether he needed surgery on his broken left hand.Hayward's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said they were still evaluating options. Celtics coach Brad Stevens said after the team's morning shootaround that the surgery, if necessary, would take place as soon as the doctor's schedule allowed it.Hayward broke his hand in a collision with Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge in the second quarter of Saturday night's game in San Antonio. He left the game and did not return."He was frustrated. He was down," Stevens said. "But this isn't like last time."Hayward, 29, missed all but five minutes of the 2017-18 season after breaking his leg in the first quarter of the opener against Cleveland.Forward Jayson Tatum also said Hayward seemed frustrated after the latest setback."I feel bad for him. He was just getting back to being himself," Tatum said. "It's a bummer."Hayward returned last season and played in 72... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Dion Waiters has been handed a 10-game suspension by the Miami Heat, with the team citing multiple examples of conduct detrimental to the team as the reason for his second banishment of the season.The suspension was announced Sunday. It comes three days after Waiters, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter, was treated for a medical emergency that started on the Heat charter flight Thursday night from Phoenix to Los Angeles.Waiters, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither the team nor the player has confirmed details publicly, ingested at least one cannabis-infused edible and had a reaction serious enough that medical attention was required when the plane landed in Los Angeles."We are very disappointed in Dion's actions this season that include the very scary situation on Thursday night, and grateful that the outcome wasn't worse," the Heat said in a statement.Waiters was also suspended for Miami's... [More]