PHILADELPHIA (AP) — How's this for a blown call: Amir Johnson was busted showing Philadelphia 76ers All-Star teammate Joel Embiid his cellphone on the bench late in a Game 1 playoff loss.Johnson was caught by TV cameras sitting on the bench and scrolling through his phone late in the fourth quarter and the Sixers losing by double digits. Johnson showed Embiid whatever message was on the phone and then slid the device into his warmup pants pocket."I just looked down because he said his daughter was extremely sick and he was checking on her," Embiid said.The Sixers made the easy call and fined Johnson an unspecified amount for conduct detrimental to the team."It's not something that we are about," Sixers coach Brett Brown said.Johnson, who averaged 3.9 points in 51 games, was inactive and apologized for his mistake."I take full responsibility and will accept the consequences of my actions," he said. "I also apologize to my teammates, the 76ers organization and the fans for the distraction... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — How's this for a blown call: Amir Johnson was busted showing Philadelphia 76ers All-Star teammate Joel Embiid his cell phone on the bench late in a Game 1 playoff loss.Johnson was caught by TV cameras sitting on the bench and scrolling through his phone late in the fourth quarter and the Sixers down 16 points. Johnson showed Embiid whatever message was on the phone and then slid it into his warmup pants pocket."I just looked down because he said his daughter was extremely sick and he was checking on her," Embiid said.Sixers coach Brett Brown called Johnson's actions "completely unacceptable.""It's not something that we are about," Brown said.Brown said he would deal with Johnson but declined to address any specific discipline.Johnson was inactive. Embiid scored 22 points and had 15 rebounds.The Nets beat the Sixers 111-102 in Game 1.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid expects to return to the lineup next week from a sore left knee that has cost him the last five games.Embiid sat out again Saturday night against the Golden State Warriors and has not played since the All-Star game. The 24-year-old Embiid is averaging 27.3 points and 13.5 rebounds in 54 games for the Sixers. Embiid underwent an MRI last week, which revealed no structural damage, and he will undergo physical therapy"It's all about long term preservation and making sure I'm ready not just for the playoffs, but also for the next 15 years," Embiid said.Embiid said he could "for sure" play through the mild tendinitis but wanted to rest up for the stretch run and the playoffs. Embiid also dismissed any connection between his soreness and playing 23 minutes in the All-Star game.He did not give a specific game for his return, but the Sixers play again Tuesday against Orlando, and three more times through March 10.The Sixers played... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Opera Philadelphia took a break from its rehearsal for "Carmen" to record an a capella version of the Philadelphia 76ers' catchy retro anthem , "Here Come the Sixers."Philly can belt out the words ."No. 1, Philadelphia. Here they come, team of the year. One, two three, four, five, Sixers."Keep counting — all the way to 16.The Sixers roar into the postseason on a 16-game winning streak, both the longest for a franchise that boasts The Big Dipper, AI, Dr. J and The Boston Strangler on its all-time roster and also the longest in NBA history to end a season.Perhaps it's fitting an opera company saluted the Sixers' first postseason berth since 2012 because it's another masked man who has terrorized the NBA and whose status has the league buzzing — the self-proclaimed "Phantom of the Process ."Joel Embiid will not be lurking in the bowels of the Wells Fargo Center when Game 1 opens Saturday against the Miami Heat (44-38). He'll start the postseason just as he did during the... [More]

Semi Ojeleye, Cedi Osman and Royce O'Neale have never started in an NBA game. Cameron Payne last played in April. Matt Costello has scored two points in his NBA career.They're not stars.Yet somehow, someone in an NBA locker room apparently thought they should start in this year's All-Star Game.Only 10 players will start in Los Angeles on Feb. 18, but 249 players — roughly half the league — were listed on at least one ballot in the player portion of the All-Star selection process. And while some of the results might suggest not everyone took it seriously, making the list seemed to leave Philadelphia's Amir Johnson genuinely moved."That's pretty cool, man," Johnson said Thursday night when told that he got a vote. "That shows you how together we are. ... It's just everybody against the world. It's us against everybody."So guys like Ojeleye, Osman, O'Neale, Payne and Costello all got a vote from at least one player. Andre Iguodala, a recent NBA Finals MVP, did not.The league is trying a new... [More]

F Tyler Johnson scored 25 points off the bench in Wednesday's 117-105 loss at San Antonio.

C Amir Johnson contributed 11 rebounds and two blocks Wednesday.

C Amir Johnson had eight points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots while playing 21 minutes off the bench Monday against Utah.

F Amir Johnson scored 12 points plus 10 rebounds Monday.

F Amir Johnson agreed to a one-year, $11 million deal with Philadelphia, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports. Johnson, 30, spent the last two seasons with the Boston Celtics, averaging 6.5 points and 4.6 rebounds in 80 games last season.

J.J. Redick is joining the Philadelphia 76ers on a one-year deal worth $23 million, according to a published report.Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN first reported the deal and Redick, 33, confirmed the signing on his Twitter account Saturday, writing "Trust the process" -- a reference to the 76ers' rebuilding slogan."It's where I wanted to be," Redick told ESPN about the signing.The veteran sharpshooter was enticed by the prospect of playing with Philadelphia's young talent and in coach Brett Brown's system, per Wojnarowski.Redick recently relocated his home to the East Coast after spending the past four seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, averaging 15.8 points and shooting 44.0 percent from 3-point range.The former Duke standout played his first six-plus seasons with the Orlando Magic from 2006-07 to 2012-13 before being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. He signed as a free agent with the Clippers the following season.Redick has averaged 11.9 points in 690 games over 11 NBA seasons.The 76ers are also adding veteran forward Amir Johnson on a one-year, $11 million deal, Wojnarowski reports. Johnson, 30, spent the last two seasons with the Boston Celtics, averaging 6.5 points and 4.6 rebounds in 80 games last season.

F Amir Johnson (sprained right shoulder) was able to play Thursday in the Celtics' season-ending loss to the Cavaliers. He scored one point in six minutes.

F Amir Johnson (sprained shoulder) did not play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday.

Boston Celtics forward Amir Johnson will not start in Game 4 against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night due to a right shoulder sprain, coach Brad Stevens said prior to the game.Kelly Olynyk will start in Johnson's place.Stevens said he is not sure whether Johnson will play at all Tuesday.Johnson injured his shoulder early in Sunday's Game 3 after getting tangled with up Cleveland's Tristan Thompson. Johnson later returned to that game but did not practice on Monday.Johnson is averaging 2.7 points and 2.1 rebounds in 13 postseason appearances, including nine starts.This will be Olynyk's first playoff start of his career. He started six regular-season games this season. He is averaging 8.9 points and 3.0 rebounds in the postseason.The Celtics, who trail in the series 2-1, are also without guard Isaiah Thomas due to a hip injury.

F Amir Johnson was listed as questionable for Tuesday's game in Cleveland, Celtics coach Brad Stevens told the Boston Globe on Monday. Johnson sprained the AC joint in his right shoulder in Boston's stunning come-from-behind victory in Game 3. Stevens said he was scheduled for an MRI exam.

The short-handed Boston Celtics could be without another player for Game 4 of their Eastern Conference final against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Power forward Amir Johnson was listed as questionable for Tuesday's game in Cleveland, Celtics coach Brad Stevens told the Boston Globe on Monday.Johnson sprained the AC joint in his right shoulder in Boston's stunning come-from-behind victory in Game 3. Stevens said he was scheduled for an MRI exam.The 6-foot-9, 250-pound Johnson drew the start in Sunday's victory, which saw the Celtics storm back from a 21-point deficit in the second half to win on Avery Bradley's 3-pointer at the buzzer.Johnson played just over nine minutes in the contest before he was hurt. He averaged 6.5 points and 4.6 rebounds during the regular season for Boston but is struggling in the playoffs with 2.7 points and 2.1 boards per game.The Celtics, who trailed the best-of-seven series 2-1, already are without leading scorer Isaiah Thomas, who was ruled out of the playoffs after aggravating a hip injury during Game 2 of the conference final.

F Amir Johnson also rejoined the Boston lineup after being replaced by Gerald Green in Game 2. Johnson scored two points in nine minutes, while Green scored five points in seven minutes.

F Amir Johnson was reinserted into the starting lineup for Game 4. F Gerald Green started Game 1 and 3 with Johnson in that spot for Game 2. Johnson had seven points in 12 minutes.

F Amir Johnson amassed 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists Sunday in the Cetlics' win over the Heat.

F Amir Johnson added 14 points for Boston, which opened a four-game Western Conference road trip by having its longest winning streak since February 2013 snapped.