Point guards got paid.Much like the quarterback in football, the point guard is still a critical component in basketball, the on-court leader of a club in most cases — and in the opening two days of free agency, teams paid accordingly for that spot.Free agency wasn't even 24 hours old and more than $1 billion had been committed to point guards, led by the $196 million extension that Damian Lillard will be signing with Portland, the reported $170 million extension for Jamal Murray in Denver and the $141 million deals for Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker.There's never been an offseason in NBA history where point guards have gotten that much, and there's still plenty more left to be signed."I'm a leader in my own way," Walker wrote in an essay directed to his old fans in Charlotte and soon-to-be-new fans in Boston that was published by The Players Tribune. "I'm never going to shout anyone off the court, or get overly negative. It's not my style. But what I do is I take pride in making my teammates... [More]

Point guards got paid.Much like the quarterback in football, the point guard is still a critical component in basketball, the on-court leader of a club in most cases — and in the opening two days of free agency, teams paid accordingly for that spot.Free agency wasn't even 24 hours old and more than $1 billion had been committed to point guards, led by the $196 million extension that Damian Lillard will be signing with Portland, the reported $170 million extension for Jamal Murray in Denver and the $141 million deals for Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker.There's never been an offseason in NBA history where point guards have gotten that much, and there's still plenty more left to be signed."I'm a leader in my own way," Walker wrote in an essay directed to his old fans in Charlotte and soon-to-be-new fans in Boston that was published by The Players Tribune. "I'm never going to shout anyone off the court, or get overly negative. It's not my style. But what I do is I take pride in making my teammates... [More]

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Russell Westbrook confronted a man and his wife during a game after the Oklahoma City star says the two racially taunted him.The heated exchange came early in the second quarter of the Thunder's 98-89 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday night.Westbrook was on the bench and stood when he heard what the fans said. He said they told him to "get down on my knees like I used to." After that, Westbrook was seen on video cursing at the man and threatening him and his wife.After the game, Westbrook spoke of verbal abuse he and teammates hear from spectators on the road. Much of it has been directed at their families, according to Westbrook. He said he will no longer tolerate such disrespect."There's got to be something done," Westbrook said. "There's got to be some consequences for those type of people that come to the game just to say and do whatever they want to say. I don't think it's fair to the players."Westbrook recently objected to a young fan touching him on the sideline... [More]

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Russell Westbrook got into a heated verbal altercation with a fan and the man's wife during the second quarter of Oklahoma City's 98-89 victory over Utah on Monday night.Early in the quarter, Westbrook stood up from the bench when he felt both fans directed a racial taunt at him. According to the Thunder guard, they told him to "get down on my knees like I used to." After that, Westbrook was seen on video cursing at the man and threating him and his wife.Westbrook expressed concern following the game with the verbal abuse he and teammates have received from fans on the road. Much of it has been directed at their families, according to Westbrook. He said he is done tolerating their disrespect."There's got to be something done," Westbrook said. "There's got to be some consequences for those type of people that come to the game just to say and do whatever they want to say. I don't think it's fair to the players."Westbrook recently objected to a young fan touching him... [More]

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Russell Westbrook got into a heated verbal altercation with a fan and the man's wife during the second quarter of Oklahoma City's 98-89 victory over Utah on Monday night.Early in the quarter, Westbrook stood up from the bench when he felt both fans directed a racial taunt at him. According to the Thunder guard, they told him to "get down on my knees like I used to." After that, Westbrook was seen on video cursing at the man and threating him and his wife.He expressed concern following the game with the verbal abuse he and teammates have received from fans on the road. Much of it has been directed at their families, according to Westbrook. He said he is done tolerating their disrespect."There's got to be something done," Westbrook said. "There's got to be some consequences for those type of people that come to the game just to say and do whatever they want to say. I don't think it's fair to the players."Westbrook recently objected to a young fan touching him on the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Oklahoma City guards Raymond Felton and Dennis Schroder were suspended for one game without pay Wednesday for leaving the bench area during an altercation and participating in the melee that spilled over into the stands.Chicago center Robin Lopez was fined $25,000, and Thunder forward Jerami Grant was fined $20,000, both for escalating the altercation in Oklahoma City's 121-96 home victory Monday night. Bulls guard Kris Dunn was fined $15,000 for instigating the altercation by shoving Thunder star Russell Westbrook.Felton and Schroder will sit out the Thunder's game Wednesday night at Sacramento.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder have re-signed guard Raymond Felton.The Thunder made the announcement Thursday without details on the deal.Felton appeared in all 82 games last season and averaged 6.9 points, 2.5 assists and 1.9 rebounds as Russell Westbrook's backup.Felton has appeared in 938 career games, with averages of 11.4 points, 5.4 assists and 3.0 rebounds. The 13-year NBA veteran ranks eighth among all active players with 5,044 assists.Felton was selected fifth overall by Charlotte in the 2005 NBA Draft and was later named to the All-Rookie Second Team. In college, he helped North Carolina win the 2005 national championship and was selected to the all-tournament team.

NEW YORK (AP) — Russell Westbrook has been fined $10,000 and assessed a postgame technical foul for initiating a confrontation with Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert on Monday.The league made the announcement Tuesday.The Oklahoma City Thunder guard came onto the court as a substitution following a stoppage with 7:55 remaining in the fourth quarter of a 113-96 Game 4 loss to the Jazz. He intervened in an incident between Gobert and Oklahoma City backup point guard Raymond Felton.Westbrook committed four fouls in the first half and finished with five. He had 23 points and 14 rebounds, but had just three assists and made 7 of 18 shots.The Thunder trail the Jazz 3-1 and host Utah on Wednesday in an elimination game.___For more AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook and forward Carmelo Anthony both missed the Thunder's game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night because of ankle injuries.Anthony sprained his right ankle in the first quarter of the Thunder's 125-105 win at the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night. Westbrook is dealing with a sprained left ankle, but it is not known when the injury happened.The Thunder are playing the Lakers for the second time in five days. They dropped the first meeting 108-104 in Oklahoma City on Sunday. Westbrook had 36 points and nine assists in the loss, and Anthony had 10 points and 13 rebounds.Raymond Felton was expected to start at point guard in place of Westbrook, while Jerami Grant was likely to take Anthony's place in the starting lineup. Grant had 16 points, four rebounds and three blocked shots in 35 minutes against the Warriors filling in for Anthony.___More AP basketball: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook and forward Carmelo Anthony both missed the Thunder's game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday because of ankle injuries.Anthony sprained his right ankle in the first quarter of the 125-105 win at the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. Westbrook is dealing with a sprained left ankle, but it is not known when the injury happened.The Thunder are playing the Lakers for the second time in five days. They dropped the first meeting 108-104 in Oklahoma City on Sunday. Westbrook had 36 points and nine assists in the loss, and Anthony had 10 points and 13 rebounds.Raymond Felton was expected to start at point guard in place of Westbrook, while Jermani Grant was likely to take Anthony's place in the starting lineup. Grant had 16 points, four rebounds and three blocked shots in 35 minutes against the Warriors filling in for Anthony.___More AP basketball: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

G Raymond Felton had his best game as a Thunder player, scoring 12 points on Sunday night in a loss to the Timberwolves.

G Raymond Felton had 18 points Wednesday.

G Raymond Felton had 26 points and five rebounds with eight assists in 31 minutes.

G Raymond Felton returned to the lineup after missing the previous two games due to a family matter. He scored 10 points Monday against the Blazers.

G Raymond Felton missed his second game due to a family matter

G Raymond Felton missed the Wednesday game because of a family matter, coach Doc Rivers said.

G Raymond Felton scored 21 points to lift Dallas to an 85-84 victory over the Thunder at the Chesapeake Energy Arena, evening the series at one game apiece."We showed what type of fight we have," Felton said. "It was difficult. You're missing a lot of key guys. But we fought, kept going, kept grinding, and we got it done."Felton shot 8-for-16 from the field and grabbed 11 rebounds.

G Raymond Felton scored 22 off the bench to lead Dallas in a loss at San Antonio on Wednesday.

G Raymond Felton led the Mavericks with 21 points Sunday in a road loss to the Clippers.

G Raymond Felton sat out Friday night with a right groin strain.