The latest episode of "Survivor: NBA" was quite a cliffhanger.All kinds of intrigue. A hefty dose of griping. Some thoroughly unexpected plot twists.Now that's a reality show worth watching."They always catch me by surprise," said Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse, whose team had a major role in the plotline. "There's so much going on all the time."Despite complaints from the likes of Kevin Durant and LeBron James, the league's off-the-court drama leading up to Thursday's trade deadline was a welcome respite from the long, sometimes dreary regular season — enhancing all the compelling story lines (and there are plenty) while highlighting a system that really works well for everyone.KD may choose to rip the media for its infatuation with what the future holds for him, but we're guessing the Golden State star doesn't mind cashing those checks (worth $30 million this year) or that he'll be too upset this summer when he can opt out of his contract and decide where he wants to play for a deal... [More]

DALLAS (AP) — New Dallas Mavericks center DeAndre Jordan missed the team's trip to China for two exhibition games for unspecified personal reasons.Jordan and fellow starter Harrison Barnes stayed behind when the team left for China this week. Barnes injured a hamstring in practice and could miss all the preseason games.The 30-year-old Jordan joined the Mavericks this year, three years after agreeing to sign with them in free agency and changing his mind before contracts could be signed. He came to Dallas after opting out of the final season of that contract he signed to stay with the Los Angeles Clippers.The Mavericks play Philadelphia twice in China, early Friday morning and early Monday morning Dallas time. Their final preseason game is Oct. 12 at home against Charlotte.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DALLAS (AP) — DeAndre Jordan took off his warmup jacket, tossed it aside and declared that his decision to join the Dallas Mavericks didn't mean he also would be playing for his favorite NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys.Humor was the center's way of easing into all the questions about his infamous jilting of the Mavericks in free agency three years ago, when he agreed to play for Dallas and changed his mind before contracts could be signed.When it was pointed out to him that folks in Dallas hadn't seen the fun-loving side of the native Texan before Mavericks media day Friday, Jordan did what he had done for most of his 15 minutes with reporters. He smiled."You haven't seen this side?" Jordan asked, repeating the observation. "You guys hated me the past three years so I probably wasn't very open in interviews. You know what I mean? I'm excited to get to know all of you guys."Jordan wanted to get one thing straight before agreeing again to sign with the Mavericks, this time after opting out of... [More]

DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic didn't get compared to Larry Bird when he was introduced a day after the Dallas Mavericks traded up to get the third overall pick in the NBA draft.For president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson, that's progress based on his last experience of getting a tender-aged European in hopes of lifting the Mavericks out of the doldrums.Twenty years later, Dirk Nowitzki is the highest-scoring foreign-born player in league history. Back then, the big German wasn't remotely comparable to Larry Legend — and his rough first two years proved it.So ask Nelson about a player the Mavericks clearly coveted heading into the draft in Doncic, and he'll choose his words carefully regarding the 19-year-old from Slovenia. Doncic won't turn 20 until after the All-Star break of his rookie season, which is expected to be Nowitzki's record 21st with one franchise."Dirk and I had a long talk coming in," Nelson said about the player Dallas drafted days after his 20th birthday in 1998."We're... [More]

DALLAS (AP) — Dirk Nowitzki plans to become the first player to spend all 21 seasons with the same NBA franchise.Dennis Smith Jr. will be half the German star's age when the Dallas Mavericks open next season looking to end the first two-year playoff drought in nearly two decades. The team posted its worst record since 1997-98, the year before Nowitzki arrived.The No. 9 overall pick who turned 20 early in what ended up as a solid rookie season, Smith figures to have a new teammate facing high expectations the way he did. Dallas will pick no lower than seventh in June.Smith will have at least one thing in common with Nowitzki, who turns 40 this summer. They want the Mavericks to be regulars in the postseason again, the way they were before the current swoon."I've been in a couple of arenas that are playoff teams, and I just witnessed the atmosphere," Smith said. "I can only imagine how it is playoff time."It's certainly better than 24-58, tied with Atlanta for the league's third-worst record.... [More]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The struggling Sacramento Kings find themselves in the national spotlight and it has nothing to do with another disappointing NBA season in their sparkling new 2-year-old arena.Instead of looking ahead to the draft lottery as they wind down their 12th consecutive losing season, the Kings — like many nationwide — have turned their attention to demonstrators who have joined hand-in-hand on game nights to block entrances to the building.A wave of protests have followed the March 18 fatal shooting by police of Stephon Clark, a 22-year-old unarmed black man.Current and former Kings players have been supportive of both the Clark family and the protesters.Clark "could have been any of us," Kings player Garrett Temple said Friday at a community gathering to support black youth that the Kings helped organize.Temple joined teammate Vice Carter and former Kings player Doug Christie at a South Sacramento church. Temple said he believes he is meant to speak out about Clark... [More]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The struggling Sacramento Kings find themselves in the national spotlight and it has nothing to do with another disappointing NBA season in their sparkling new 2-year-old arena.Instead of looking ahead to the draft lottery as they wind down their 12th consecutive losing season, the Kings - like many nationwide - have turned their attention to demonstrators who have joined hand-in-hand on game nights to block entrances to the building.The wave of protests stem from the March 18 fatal shooting by police of Stephon Clark, a 22-year-old unarmed black man.Kings players are at the center of the demonstrations but they have embraced their role in the situation and have been supportive of both the Clark family and the protesters."This organization has really stepped to the forefront and I wanted to use my voice as much as I could to say to try to say what I believed was right and true," Kings player Garrett Temple said. "There are a lot of different perspectives and a... [More]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The struggling Sacramento Kings find themselves in the national spotlight and it has nothing to do with another disappointing NBA season in their sparkling new two-year-old arena.Instead of looking ahead to the draft lottery as they wind down their 12th consecutive losing season, the Kings — like many nationwide — have turned their attention to demonstrators who have joined hand-in-hand on game nights to block entrances to the building.The wave of protests stem from the March 18 fatal shooting by police of Stephon Clark, a 22-year-old unarmed black man.Kings are at the center of the demonstrations but they have embraced their role in the situation and have been supportive of both the Clark family and the protesters."This organization has really stepped to the forefront and I wanted to use my voice as much as I could to say to try to say what I believed was right and true," Kings player Garrett Temple said. "There are a lot of different perspectives and a lot of... [More]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The struggling Sacramento Kings find themselves in the national spotlight and it has nothing to do with another disappointing NBA season in their sparkling new two-year-old arena.Instead of looking ahead to the draft lottery as they wind down their 12th consecutive losing season, the Kings — like many nationwide — have turned their attention to demonstrators who have joined hand-in-hand on game nights to block entrances to the building.The wave of protests stem from the March 18 fatal shooting by police of Stephon Clark, a 22-year-old unarmed black man.Kings are at the center of the demonstrations but they have embraced their role in the situation and have been supportive of both the Clark family and the protesters."This organization has really stepped to the forefront and I wanted to use my voice as much as I could to say to try to say what I believed was right and true," Kings player Garrett Temple said. "There are a lot of different perspectives and a lot of... [More]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The struggling Sacramento Kings find themselves in the national spotlight and it has nothing to do with another disappointing NBA season in their sparkling new two-year-old arena.Instead of looking ahead to the draft lottery as they wind down their 12th consecutive losing season, the Kings — like many nationwide — have turned their attention to demonstrators who have joined hand-in-hand on game nights to block entrances to the building.The wave of protests stem from the March 18 fatal shooting by police of Stephon Clark, a 22-year-old unarmed black man.The Kings have embraced their role in the situation and have been supportive of both the Clark family and the protesters."This organization has really stepped to the forefront and I wanted to use my voice as much as I could to say to try to say what I believed was right and true," Kings player Garrett Temple said. "There are a lot of different perspectives and a lot of different things to take into account but it's... [More]

DALLAS (AP) — Dirk Nowitzki made peace years ago with the reality that spending his entire career with the Dallas Mavericks would likely mean little or no chance to win a second championship.The most accomplished European player in NBA history never seriously considered leaving the franchise that courted him as a teenager in Germany and drafted him five days after his 20th birthday in 1998.Now in his 20th season, Nowitzki is comfortable with the idea that he led the Mavericks to their first title and can try to help a younger core build toward making Dallas a title contender again."I just think I pride myself with this city, with this organization, whatever this city or this franchise goes through, I want to push it through," Nowitzki said. "I want to be there for it. If it's rebuilding, I want to push it through and help as much as I can. If we're playing for a championship, then I'll do that."The Mavericks haven't won a playoff series since beating Miami in the Finals in 2011, LeBron... [More]

DALLAS (AP) — Dirk Nowitzki made peace years ago with the reality that spending his entire career with the Dallas Mavericks would likely mean little or no chance to win a second championship.The most accomplished European player in NBA history never seriously considered leaving the franchise that courted him as a teenager in Germany and drafted him five days after his 20th birthday in 1998.Now in his 20th season, Nowitzki is comfortable with the idea that he led the Mavericks to their first title and can try to help a younger core build toward making Dallas a title contender again."I just think I pride myself with this city, with this organization, whatever this city or this franchise goes through, I want to push it through," Nowitzki said. "I want to be there for it. If it's rebuilding, I want to push it through and help as much as I can. If we're playing for a championship, then I'll do that."The Mavericks haven't won a playoff series since beating Miami in the Finals in 2011, LeBron... [More]

SF Harrison Barnes led the Mavericks with 24 points in what coach Rick Carlisle called the best game of his season in Sunday's 116-113 win at Oklahoma City. Barnes was 10 of 15 from the floor and 4 of 6 from behind the 3-point arc.

F Harrison Barnes said he knows he can be a better closer. But coach Rick Carlisle said the Mavs as a whole can help Barnes become a better closer. "We love the fact that he embraces the challenge of being that guy -- he really has since he's gotten here (in the summer of 2016)," Carlisle said. "It's an on-going thing. It's not something that you just flip the switch and all of a sudden you're an NBA closer. Or I should say an NBA No. 1 closer."

F Harrison Barnes had 16 points and 10 boards Tuesday.

F Harrison Barnes returned to his first NBA home Thursday night with 16 points and seven rebounds, reminding his old fans what they've missed the last two seasons.At the same time, Kevin Durant reminded them of why Barnes is no longer around.Durant poured in a season-high-tying 36 points and Klay Thompson buried three consecutive 3-pointers during a fourth-quarter flurry that finally allowed the Warriors to pull away from Barnes and the Mavericks en route to a 112-97 victory.

F Harrison Barnes led the Mavs with 17 points in a win over the Spurs on Tuesday.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Victor Oladipo scored a career-high 47 points to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 126-116 overtime victory over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night.The Pacers held a 12-2 advantage in overtime as Oladipo scored six points in the extra session.Oladipo sank 15 of 28 shots, including 6 of 12 3-point attempts. Myles Turner added 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting and had eight rebounds for the Pacers. Thaddeus Young scored 18 points.Trey Lyles, a 2014 Indiana Mr. Basketball who played for Arsenal Tech High School in Indianapolis, scored a career-high 25 points for Denver. Gary Harris, from the Indianapolis suburb of Fishers, and Will Barton each had 21 points, and Wilson Chandler scored 18 for Denver.Celtics 91, Pistons 81DETROIT -- Al Horford amassed 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists, and Boston handed Detroit its sixth consecutive loss.Kyrie Irving tossed in 16 points, while Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown had 12 apiece for Boston. Rookie Jayson Tatum added 11 points, and Aron... [More]

F Harrison Barnes led the Mavericks with 19 points in a loss at Minnesota on Sunday.

f Harrison Barnes led the Mavericks with 19 points in Wednesday's 97-90 loss at Boston.