PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ben Simmons put a spin move on Russell Westbrook that sent him sprawling to the floor several minutes before a leg injury sent the NBA’s triple-double king to the locker room. With Simmons soaring and Westbrook ailing, the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Washington Wizards 120-95 on Wednesday night to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series. Game 3 is Saturday night at Washington. Westbrook went down after colliding with Furkan Korkmaz early in the fourth quarter. He limped off the floor and was restrained by security after a fan threw popcorn at him as he was headed under the tunnel. Simmons and Joel Embiid each scored 22 points and Tobias Harris added 19 for the top-seeded Sixers. Simmons added nine rebounds and eight assists after becoming just the sixth player in NBA history to have at least 15 rebounds and 15 assists in a playoff game in a 125-118 win in Game 1 The three-time All-Star still heard plenty of criticism in Philadelphia following that stellar... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard dropped by point guard John Wall’s workout Monday and they chatted. About their kids. About Thanksgiving Day plans. About their favorite NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys. What they didn’t discuss, according to Sheppard, was the possibility of Washington dealing Wall elsewhere. “There’s no plans to trade John,” were the first words spoken by Sheppard during a video conference Monday, when most questions from reporters were about the five-time All-Star who was the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft. Wall missed all of last season, and most of 2018-19, too, with injuries to his left heel, then Achilles tendon, and reports surfaced in recent days that he requested a trade. Sheppard downplayed that with training camp set to begin next week, saying Wall “didn’t request” to be moved when they spoke Monday. He said he and Wall speak “pretty much every other day” and characterized their relationship as “very, very close.” “There’s... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard said coach Scott Brooks will be back in 2020-21, the last season in his five-year contract.“He’s a decorated coach. He’s been in the league a long time as a player and as a coach. Very accomplished guy,” Sheppard said Wednesday on a video conference call with reporters. “And I think we’re in great hands next season."Washington went 25-47 this season -- going 1-7 in the NBA restart -- and missed the playoffs for the second time in a row, after getting there in each of Brooks’ first two years. The Wizards played all of this season without All-Star point guard John Wall, who tore his Achilles tendon, and were missing their other All-Star, shooting guard Bradley Beal, for the restart because of a shoulder issue. Both should be fine for the start of next season, whenever that might be. The timing is uncertain because of the coronavirus pandemic and the delayed finish to the current season.“Assuming that the season were to start,... [More]

Rui Hachimura just wrapped up his rookie year -- and it was a rough one for his Washington Wizards, who yet again missed the playoffs -- but he knows enough to recognize the biggest two reasons to have at least a modicum of hope looking ahead.“When John and Brad return,” said the first Japanese player to be taken in the NBA draft’s first round, “it’s going to be a fun team.”That could be. Not really anywhere to go but up, after all, given that the Wizards went 25-47 overall this season without point guard John Wall, including just 1-7 during the league’s coronavirus pandemic restart in Florida without shooting guard Bradley Beal, who cited a bum shoulder in opting out. Only seven of the NBA’s 30 clubs finished the regular season with a worse winning percentage, so it is hard to know exactly what Washington is capable of becoming as it moves forward.Much will depend on how this offseason unfolds. “We have some decisions to make,” coach Scott Brooks said.Without their two All-Stars and far-and-away... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Wizards leading scorer Bradley Beal and Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie won't take part in the restart of the NBA season, two significant absences in the Eastern Conference playoff race.Beal is out because of a right rotator cuff injury; Dinwiddie announced that he is still testing positive for coronavirus and won’t participate.Washington, Orlando and Brooklyn are the three teams left in the chase for the final two playoff spots in the East. If the Wizards finish within four games of whichever club finishes eighth, then two games will be played to determine the No. 8 seed."He’s worked religiously to get this thing back to where it feels right, and it just hasn’t felt right," said Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard, who doesn't believe Beal's injury will linger long term or require surgery. “To hear him say himself that he’s just not right right now, ‘I’ve got to keep working, I’ve got more work to do,’ made that decision much easier.”Washington will also be without forward... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Wizards leading scorer Bradley Beal and Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie won't take part in the restart of the NBA season, two significant absences in the Eastern Conference playoff race.Beal is out because of a right rotator cuff injury; Dinwiddie announced that he is still testing positive for coronavirus and won’t participate.Washington, Orlando and Brooklyn are the three teams left in the chase for the final two playoff spots in the East. If the Wizards finish within four games of whichever club finishes eighth, then two games will be played to determine the No. 8 seed.“Bradley did everything possible to be ready to play, but after closely monitoring his individual workouts, we came to the conclusion that it was best for him to sit out the upcoming games in Orlando and avoid the risk of further injury,” general manager Tommy Sheppard said. Washington will also be without forward Davis Bertans, who decided to opt out of playing as a pending free agent, and injured guard... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Wizards leading scorer Bradley Beal and Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie won't take part in the restart of the NBA season, two significant absences in the Eastern Conference playoff race.Beal is out because of a right rotator cuff injury; Dinwiddie announced that he is still testing positive for coronavirus and won’t participate.Washington, Orlando and Brooklyn are the three teams left in the chase for the final two playoff spots in the East. If the Wizards finish within four games of whichever club finishes eighth, then two games will be played to determine the No. 8 seed.“Bradley did everything possible to be ready to play, but after closely monitoring his individual workouts, we came to the conclusion that it was best for him to sit out the upcoming games in Orlando and avoid the risk of further injury,” general manager Tommy Sheppard said. Washington will also be without forward Davis Bertans, who decided to opt out of playing as a pending free agent, and injured guard... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Wizards leading scorer Bradley Beal won’t take part in the restart of the NBA season because of a right rotator cuff injury.The team announced Beal's status Tuesday before traveling to Orlando. Beal's absence makes it even more challenging for Washington to qualify for the playoffs in the Eastern Conference."Bradley did everything possible to be ready to play, but after closely monitoring his individual workouts, we came to the conclusion that it was best for him to sit out the upcoming games in Orlando and avoid the risk of further injury,” general manager Tommy Sheppard said. Washington will also be without forward Davis Bertans, who decided to opt out of playing as a pending free agent, and injured guard John Wall. The team ruled out Wall traveling to Orlando at the start of team workouts. Beal averaged 30.5 points a game this season, almost twice as much as Bertans, the Wizards' No. 2 scorer. The 27-year-old was preparing to play, even while the decision was up in... [More]

John Wall will not join the Washington Wizards for the resumption of the NBA season this summer, ending the chances of the five-time All-Star guard playing his first game since 2018.General manager Tommy Sheppard effectively ruled out Wall returning this season when he said Monday the 29-year-old wouldn't be part of the Wizards' traveling party to Central Florida. Among the factors in the decision was a cap of 35 people per team in the quarantined bubble at Walt Disney World. The COVID-19 pandemic also hindered Wall's progress in his rehab from multiple surgeries.“He definitely lost all the basketball gains that he had made,” Sheppard said on a video call with reporters. “He’s got to focus on what he’s got to do, but having somebody go into that bubble that’s not going to play, that’s just more people going into the bubble.”Wall hasn’t played an NBA game since December 2018. Surgery for bone spurs in his left heel ended that season; while he was working his way back from that, he tore his... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Wizards forward Davis Bertans will skip the Disney-based resumption of the NBA season, making him the first known example of a healthy, eligible player sitting out.Bertans can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason and is expected to command a big contract as one of the league’s top 3-point shooters.Washington general manager Tommy Sheppard told The Associated Press on Monday that Bertans had informed the team of his decision. The Wizards are allowed to sign a replacement player for Bertans as early as Tuesday, and Sheppard said the club “will look at it closely.”Bertans' plan to miss the remaining games was first reported by ESPN.In his first season with Washington after being acquired from the San Antonio Spurs as part of a three-team deal in July 2019, the 6-foot-10, 225-pound forward from Latvia was averaging 3.7 made 3s per game, tied for fourth in the NBA when play was suspended because of the coronavirus outbreak. He was shooting 42.4% from... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Wizards forward Davis Bertans will skip the Disney-based resumption of the NBA season, making him the first known example of a healthy, eligible player sitting out.Bertans can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason and is expected to command a big contract as one of the league’s top 3-point shooters.Bertans' decision was first reported Monday by ESPN and confirmed to The Associated Press by a person familiar with his plans, speaking on condition of anonymity because neither the player nor team had made an announcement.In his first season with Washington after being acquired from the San Antonio Spurs as part of a three-team deal in July 2019, the 6-foot-10, 225-pound forward from Latvia was averaging 3.7 made 3s per game, tied for fourth in the NBA when play was suspended because of the coronavirus outbreak. He was shooting 42.4% from beyond the arc. His 200 total 3s in 2019-20 rank seventh in the NBA and — in just 54 games — put him 23 from tying... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Wizards forward Davis Bertans will skip the Disney-based resumption of the NBA season, making him the first known example of a healthy, eligible player sitting out.Bertans can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason and is expected to command a big contract as one of the league’s top 3-point shooters.Bertans' decision was first reported Monday by ESPN and confirmed to The Associated Press by a person familiar with his plans, speaking on condition of anonymity because neither the player nor team had made an announcement.In his first season with Washington after being acquired from the San Antonio Spurs as part of a three-team deal in July 2019, the 6-foot-10, 225-pound from Latvia was averaging 3.7 made 3s per game, tied for fourth in the NBA when play was suspended because of the coronavirus outbreak. He was shooting 42.4% from beyond the arc. His 200 total 3s in 2019-20 rank seventh in the NBA and — in just 54 games — put him 23 from tying Bradley... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Bradley Beal dished the ball to Washington Wizards teammate Davis Bertans for a 3-point attempt, then turned the other way with a trio of fingers in the air, prematurely celebrating. Turned out Bertans missed. Beal could joke about it afterward, saying, "He's got to make it next time, because I can't be walking back holding my hand up."It was a rare mistake lately for Beal, who emerged from his All-Star snub by playing like someone destined to be an all-NBA pick. He ranks second in the league in scoring with an average of 30.5 points after pouring in 39 on Tuesday night during Washington's 122-115 victory over the New York Knicks."It's kind of hard to contain a guy like that. He's not going to stop coming at you," said New York's Bobby Portis, who was with Washington last season. "Normally, when a guy misses two or three, he gets down on himself. With him, it doesn't matter if he misses four, five, six, seven or eight. He's going to keep coming."Asked what it would mean... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal is out for Saturday's game with the New York Knicks due to soreness in his right leg. Beal, who suffered the injury in Thursday's loss at Detroit, ends his consecutive games streak at 194. He last missed a game on April 12, 2017. Beal, an All-Star the last two seasons, is fifth in the league in scoring at 27.8 points per game. Wizards coach Scott Brooks said the injury was “nothing serious. Hopefully, he'll be back next game, but don't know that. Day-to-day from today. He feels better today.” Washington's next game is Monday against Miami. Gary Payton II, signed on Dec. 23, will start in Beal's place. Brooks said that forwards Davis Bertans (quad), Rui Hachimura (groin) and center Mo Wagner (ankle) would all be out for at least the next week. ___ More AP NBA: www.apnews.com/NBA and www.twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — Wizards center Thomas Bryant has a stress reaction in his right foot and will be sidelined for at least three weeks before he’s re-evaluated.“Hopefully we get good news then,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks said before Tuesday’s game against the Orlando Magic.Bryant, who is averaging 13.9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, was diagnosed Tuesday after experiencing pain in his foot following the team’s 150-125 loss at the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.Brooks said rookie forward Rui Hachimura would slide over to the center spot against the Magic with Davis Bertans starting at forward.In another lineup change, Brooks said Isaac Bonga would start in place of Troy Brown Jr., who will come off the bench.Washington was also without reserve center Moritz Wagner (left ankle sprain) and reserve guard C.J. Miles (left wrist ligament injury).___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — Forward Davis Bertans has been traded to the Washington Wizards by San Antonio as part of a three-team deal that allowed the Spurs to acquire DeMarre Carroll from the Brooklyn Nets.The 6-foot-10, 225-pound Bertans ranked sixth in the NBA last season in 3-point shooting percentage, making 42.9 percent of his attempts. He averaged 8.0 points and 3.5 rebounds for San Antonio.Bertans was a second-round draft pick in 2011, but the Latvian played professionally in Europe until joining San Antonio in 2016. His brother, Dairis, is with the New Orleans Pelicans.Carroll agreed to a $12 million, two-year contract with the Spurs.The Wizards sent the draft rights to forward Aaron White to Brooklyn in the trade. Washington took White in the second round in 2015 and he has been playing overseas.Washington announced the swap after new league year officially opened Saturday.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports