SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Prosecutors will decide whether to charge Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri with misdemeanor battery after he was accused of shoving and hitting a sheriff's deputy in the face while trying to join his team on the court to celebrate their first NBA championship.Alameda County sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Ray Kelly said Friday that investigators are reviewing footage from body cameras worn by the deputy and other officers, the stadium's surveillance video and cellphone video. He said a report will be forwarded prosecutors.After the game Thursday night in Oakland against the Golden State Warriors, Ujiri tried to walk past the deputy who was checking court-access credentials, Kelly said. When the deputy stopped him, Ujiri shoved him back several feet and yelled obscenities, Kelly said."That's when our deputy goes hands-on and moves Mr. Ujiri back from the court. Mr. Ujiri made a second, more significant shove and during that shove his arm struck our deputy in the side of... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Prosecutors will decide whether to charge Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri with misdemeanor battery after he was accused of shoving and hitting a sheriff's deputy in the face while trying to join his team on the court to celebrate their first NBA championship.Alameda County sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Ray Kelly said Friday that investigators are reviewing footage from body cameras worn by the deputy and other officers, the stadium's surveillance video and cellphone video. He said a report will be forwarded prosecutors.After the game Thursday night in Oakland against the Golden State Warriors, Ujiri tried to walk past the deputy who was checking court-access credentials, Kelly said. When the deputy stopped him, Ujiri shoved him back several feet and yelled obscenities, Kelly said."That's when our deputy goes hands-on and moves Mr. Ujiri back from the court. Mr. Ujiri made a second, more significant shove and during that shove his arm struck our deputy in the side of... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A California police agency will pursue a misdemeanor battery charge against Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri after the executive was accused of shoving and hitting a sheriff's deputy in the face and shouting obscenities as he tried to join his team on the court to celebrate their NBA championship.After the game Thursday in Oakland against the Golden State Warriors, Ujiri tried to walk past the deputy who was checking court-access credentials, Alameda County sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Ray Kelly said.When the deputy stopped him, Ujiri shoved him back several feet, Kelly said."That's when our deputy goes hands-on and moves Mr. Ujiri back from the court. Mr. Ujiri made a second, more significant shove and during that shove his arm struck our deputy in the side of the head," Kelly said.Ujiri was also accused of shouting obscenities at the deputy.Several bystanders intervened and Ujiri got onto the court without displaying any credentials, Kelly said.The deputy complained... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Authorities will push for a battery charge against Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri after the executive was accused of pushing and hitting a sheriff's deputy in the face as he tried to get onto the court when his team won the NBA title in Oakland, a police spokesman said Friday.After the game Thursday against the Golden State Warriors, Ujiri was denied access to the court by the deputy because he didn't show a proper credential, Alameda County sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Ray Kelly told the San Francisco Chronicle ."That's when he tried to push past our deputy, and our deputy pushed him back, and there was another push that kind of moved up and struck our deputy in the face," Kelly said.Several bystanders intervened and Ujiri got onto the court without displaying any credentials, Kelly said.Deputies later took witness statements and obtained video of the incident, he said."We'll be submitting a report to the Alameda County district attorney for complaint of battery... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Authorities will push for a battery charge against Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri after the executive was accused of pushing and hitting a sheriff's deputy in the face as he tried to get onto the court when his team won the NBA title in Oakland, a police spokesman said Friday.After the game Thursday against the Golden State Warriors, Ujiri was denied access to the court by the deputy because he didn't show a proper credential, Alameda County sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Ray Kelly told the San Francisco Chronicle ."That's when he tried to push past our deputy, and our deputy pushed him back, and there was another push that kind of moved up and struck our deputy in the face," Kelly said.Several bystanders intervened and Ujiri got onto the court without displaying any credentials, Kelly said.Deputies later took witness statements and obtained video of the incident, he said."We'll be submitting a report to the Alameda County district attorney for complaint of battery... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Authorities will push for a battery charge against Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri after the executive was accused of pushing and hitting a sheriff's deputy in the face as he tried to get onto the court when his team won the NBA title in Oakland, an official said Friday.After the game Thursday against the Golden State Warriors, Ujiri was denied access to the court by the deputy because he didn't have a proper credential, Alameda County sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Ray Kelly told the San Francisco Chronicle ."That's when he tried to push past our deputy, and our deputy pushed him back, and there was another push that kind of moved up and struck our deputy in the face," Kelly said.Several bystanders intervened and Ujiri got onto the court without displaying any credentials, Kelly said.Deputies later took witness statements and obtained video of the incident, he said."We'll be submitting a report to the Alameda County district attorney for complaint of battery on an... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Authorities will push for a battery charge against Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri after the executive was accused of pushing and hitting a sheriff's deputy in the face as he tried to get onto the court when his team won the NBA title in Oakland, an official said Friday.After the game Thursday against the Golden State Warriors, Ujiri was denied access to the court by the deputy because he didn't have a proper credential, Alameda County sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Ray Kelly told the San Francisco Chronicle ."That's when he tried to push past our deputy, and our deputy pushed him back, and there was another push that kind of moved up and struck our deputy in the face," Kelly said.Several bystanders intervened and Ujiri got onto the court without displaying any credentials, Kelly said.Deputies later took witness statements and obtained video of the incident, he said."We'll be submitting a report to the Alameda County district attorney for complaint of battery on an... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Authorities will push for a battery charge against Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri after the executive was accused of pushing and hitting a sheriff's deputy in the face as he tried to get onto the court after his team won the NBA title in Oakland, an official said Friday.After the game Thursday against the Golden State Warriors, Ujiri was denied access to the court by the deputy because he didn't have a proper credential, Alameda County sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Ray Kelly told the San Francisco Chronicle ."That's when he tried to push past our deputy, and our deputy pushed him back, and there was another push that kind of moved up and struck our deputy in the face," Kelly said.Several bystanders intervened and Ujiri got onto the court without displaying any credentials, Kelly said.Deputies later took witness statements and obtained video of the incident, he said."We'll be submitting a report to the Alameda County district attorney for complaint of battery on... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Canadian flag, soaked in beer and champagne, was waved in the Toronto locker room. Pascal Siakam wore the flag of Cameroon around his shoulders. Marc Gasol was yelling some happy phrase in Spanish.Every team that wins an NBA title calls itself "world champions."These Toronto Raptors might actually be worthy of the moniker.The new kings of the NBA are the first outside the U.S. to wear the crown. And they come from all corners of the globe.Team President Masai Ujiri was born in England and raised in Nigeria. Serge Ibaka is from the Congo. Gasol will play again for his native Spain this summer in the FIBA World Cup. Coach Nick Nurse won his first championship in Britain, where reserve OG Anunoby comes from. Even the team's superfan, Nav Bhatia, comes from India.It's a global game.It's a global team.They're the global champions."It meant a lot, just having guys from different countries and speaking different languages," Siakam said. "I think it kind of got us closer... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Canadian flag, soaked in beer and champagne, was waved in the Toronto locker room. Pascal Siakam wore the flag of Cameroon around his shoulders. Marc Gasol was yelling some happy phrase in Spanish.Every team that wins an NBA title calls itself "world champions."These Toronto Raptors might actually be worthy of such a moniker.The new kings of NBA basketball are the first outside the U.S. to wear the crown. And they come from all corners of the globe.Team President Masai Ujiri was born in England and raised in Nigeria. Serge Ibaka is from the Congo. Gasol will play again for his native Spain this summer in the FIBA World Cup. Coach Nick Nurse won his first championship in Britain, where reserve OG Anunoby comes from. Even the team's superfan, Nav Bhatia, comes from India.It's a global game.It's a global team.They're the global champions."It meant a lot, just having guys from different countries and speaking different languages," Siakam said. "I think it kind of... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — The scoreboard said Golden State 106, Toronto 105.The reality was that both teams lost.It's almost unimaginable: an NBA Finals game where neither team felt like celebrating afterward. That was the bizarre reality on Monday night, after the Warriors staved off elimination by rallying in the final moments to beat the Raptors and send this series back to Oracle Arena for Game 6 — on a night when Kevin Durant's season came to an end.Durant has an Achilles injury. The Warriors know it's bad. They'll find out how bad on Tuesday."It's devastating," Toronto forward Kawhi Leonard said.He wasn't talking about losing the game.He was talking about seeing Durant get hurt.Leonard knows what it's like to have the game taken away by injury. He missed most of last season with a leg injury, one that limited him to nine games. He saw his commitment to the game questioned — the same way Durant had by some in recent days — and came out the other side an even better player.That was the hope after... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — The scoreboard said Golden State 106, Toronto 105.The reality was both teams lost.It's almost unimaginable: An NBA Finals game where neither team felt like celebrating afterward. That was the bizarre reality on Monday night, after the Warriors staved off elimination by rallying in the final moments to beat the Raptors and send this series back to Oracle Arena for Game 6 — on a night where Kevin Durant's season came to an end.Durant has an Achilles injury. The Warriors know it's bad. They'll find out how bad on Tuesday."It's devastating," Toronto forward Kawhi Leonard said.He wasn't talking about losing the game.He was talking about seeing Durant get hurt.Leonard knows what it's like to have the game taken away by injury. He missed most of last season with a leg injury, one that limited him to nine games. He had his commitment to the game questioned — the same way Durant had by some in recent days — and came out the other side an even better player.That was the hope after... [More]

Mark Stevens will have to watch on TV when the arena he and his fellow investors are building in San Francisco opens next season with what they hope will be another championship ring ceremony for the Golden State Warriors.The billionaire venture capitalist's yearlong punishment for shoving Toronto's Kyle Lowry courtside during Game 3 of the NBA Finals came down quickly as the NBA tried to get ahead of today's fast-moving news cycles. The NBA understood it had a public relations — and player relations — crisis on its hands, especially after an initial finals-long suspension drew scorn on social media.And Stevens was also quick to apologize, though the mea culpa came in the form of a prepared statement. Lowry apparently wasn't taking calls and, really, who could blame him.In the NBA's version of a perfect world, it would all be wrapped up before the playoff series moves back to Toronto. Adam Silver had to be hoping the suspension and $500,000 fine were severe enough to allow the focus to... [More]

Mark Stevens will have to watch on TV when the arena he and his fellow investors are building in San Francisco opens next season with what they hope will be another championship ring ceremony for the Golden State Warriors.The billionaire venture capitalist's yearlong punishment for shoving Toronto's Kyle Lowry courtside during Game 3 of the NBA Finals came down quickly as the NBA tried to get ahead of today's fast-moving news cycles. The NBA understood it had a public relations — and player relations — crisis on its hands, especially after an initial finals-long suspension drew scorn on social media.And Stevens was also quick to apologize, though the mea culpa came in the form of a prepared statement. Lowry apparently wasn't taking calls and, really, who could blame him.In the NBA's version of a perfect world, it would all be wrapped up before the playoff series moves back to Toronto. Adam Silver had to be hoping the suspension and $500,000 fine were severe enough to allow the focus to... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Toronto coach Nick Nurse plays to the beats to his own drum.And that's not even one of the instruments that he's messing around with these days.Nurse's office in Toronto has a guitar stand on one side of his desk and a piano on the other. He's trying to master both; the guitar travels with him on the road and he's been known to strum it while studying film. The piano doesn't exactly fit in the overhead storage bin of the plane so it stays behind.Nurse says he's not any good yet.His team, however, is making plenty of beautiful music so far in these NBA Finals.The moment has not been too big for Nurse or the Raptors. They lead the title series 2-1 after a 123-109 win over injury-depleted Golden State on Wednesday night, an outcome that puts the two-time defending NBA champions in trouble. The maestro of the best season in Toronto history is a 51-year-old NBA coaching rookie, one who's making plenty of right moves."He looks young," Raptors guard Kyle Lowry said. "But... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — Kyle Lowry had never been to an NBA Finals game.This was the deal he made with himself: He wasn't going to see the NBA's biggest stage until he earned the right to be there as a player. So he never made a trip to see his peers play for the title that he has coveted for 13 years. That's why on Thursday night, the Toronto point guard took a little look around at what he's been missing."It was pretty cool," Lowry said. "It was pretty good."And it was most definitely worth the wait.Lowry has now been to the NBA Finals — and knows what winning a game in the title series is like, too. The longest-tenured Raptors player had a solid stat line — seven points, six rebounds and nine assists — as Toronto topped Golden State 118-109 in Game 1 of the title series, ending the Warriors' streak of 12 straight opening-game-of-a-series victories."I think that one of the best things about this team is that you don't have to put a burden of 20 to 25 points on him," Raptors coach Nick Nurse said.... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — Kyle Lowry had never been to an NBA Finals game.This was the deal he made with himself: He wasn't going to see the NBA's biggest stage until he earned the right to be there as a player. So he never made a trip to see his peers play for the title that he has coveted for 13 years. That's why on Thursday night, the Toronto point guard took a little look around at what he's been missing."It was pretty cool," Lowry said. "It was pretty good."And it was most definitely worth the wait.Lowry has now been to the NBA Finals — and knows what winning a game in the title series is like, too. The longest-tenured Raptors player had a solid stat line — seven points, six rebounds and nine assists — as Toronto topped Golden State 118-109 in Game 1 of the title series, ending the Warriors' streak of 12 straight opening-game-of-a-series victories."I think that one of the best things about this team is that you don't have to put a burden of 20 to 25 points on him," Raptors coach Nick Nurse said.... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Toronto guard Kyle Lowry squarely planted his feet and braced for contact with Milwaukee Bucks athletic big man Giannis Antetokounmpo barreling down on him.Lowry, one of the best in basketball at taking a charge, absorbed the punishment and drew a foul against the 6-foot-11 Antetokounmpo. These days, not everybody is willing to do what Lowry does in the fast-paced, open-floor NBA game."I think it's kind of a lost art," DeMarcus Cousins of the Golden State Warriors said of taking a charge.Spurs coach Gregg Popovich won't argue that sentiment."It seems so, doesn't it? You can count on one hand how many charges are taken over the course of five or 10 games, in some situations," Popovich said with a chuckle. "You see it a lot more in college than you do in the NBA. Maybe they're protecting their contracts, don't want to get hurt, I don't know. There aren't very many, that's for sure."Successfully taking a charge is difficult and even those who are willing to try won't... [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]

Kyle Lowry was talking in Toronto on Saturday, discussing any number of topics, offering eloquent answers to every question that came his way. His last sentence was all that really needed to be said."Nothing matters," the Raptors guard said, "but Game 7."There may be nothing better in sports than a Game 7 — and the second round of these NBA playoffs ends Sunday with a pair of deciders: third-seeded Philadelphia at second-seeded Toronto in an Eastern Conference semifinal; third-seeded Portland at second-seeded Denver in a Western Conference semifinal.The Portland-Denver winner will visit top-seeded Golden State in Game 1 of the West finals Tuesday. The Philadelphia-Toronto winner goes to top-seeded Milwaukee for Game 1 of the East finals Wednesday."I've been fortunate to be in a few Game 7s and they're very unique," Philadelphia coach Brett Brown said. "They're special. They are a life lesson, a life opportunity."There have been 133 Game 7s in NBA history — home teams have won 105, or 79%.... [More]