LOS ANGELES (AP) — After two seasons that felt like one relentless grind interrupted only by a strange championship celebration, the Los Angeles Lakers simply need a rest. The 2020 NBA champs weren't happy to be headed home this weekend after the Phoenix Suns knocked them out of the first round. Yet the early playoff exit came with the consolation of a title memory that's still fresh in many players' minds — and an abiding belief they will contend again next year if they just rest up and then stay healthy. “The one thing that bothers me more than anything is we never really got an opportunity to see our full team at full strength,” LeBron James said. “Either because of injury or COVID or something going on with our ballclub this year, we could never fully get into a rhythm and never really see the full potential of what we could be capable of.” When these Lakers were healthy, they were outstanding. But that period was brief, and it ended early. Los Angeles was 21-6 on Valentine's Day when... [More]

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers have re-signed veteran Jared Dudley to a one-year contract. The NBA champions announced the move Tuesday, giving them 13 players under contract as they head into training camp for the new season. The 35-year-old Dudley was a minor bench contributor during the Lakers' championship season, averaging 1.5 points and 1.2 rebounds in 45 regular-season games and appearing sparingly in the playoffs. He is heading into his 14th NBA season and has played for seven teams. Dudley has hit 39.3% of his 3-pointers during his career, and he serves as a key veteran leader in the Lakers' locker room, particularly as a mentor to Kyle Kuzma. The Lakers still haven't re-signed Anthony Davis, but the All-Star big man is expected to finalize the length of his new contract with the team this week. ___ More AP NBA: https;//apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Montrezl Harrell did not make the trip lightly when he moved down the Staples Center hallway last weekend to join the Los Angeles Lakers. The NBA's reigning Sixth Man of the Year realizes the gravity of his decision to leave the Los Angeles Clippers after three seasons — and to leave them for their bigger, more successful intra-city rivals, no less. The decision turned out to be surprisingly simple, though. According to Harrell, the NBA champion Lakers made it clear they badly wanted him in the opening minutes of free agency. The Clippers did not. “If you spend your career in any place long enough, you're going to want to continue playing there and growing there,” Harrell said Monday. “Of course, I still have great respect for those guys and for that organization. But as far as if they wanted me back? Obviously, it just doesn't seem that way, does it?” The tenacious forward who plays much bigger than his 6-foot-7 frame agreed to a two-year deal during the Lakers' impressive... [More]

The NBA Board of Governors met again without a consensus opinion emerging on how many teams should be back on the floor for the planned late-July resumption of the pandemic-interrupted season, three people familiar with details of the call said Friday.The people, speaking on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because no details of the call were publicly released, said Commissioner Adam Silver is still collecting information on multiple options ranging from 16 to 30 teams returning to action when the season begins again at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex near Orlando, Florida.One person said the idea of bringing back 20 teams — possibly a few more, but not all 30 — continues to resonate as the most likely scenario, as of now. Another plan discussed Friday, the person said, would bring any team within six games of a playoff spot back for the resumption of the season, a scenario where based on the current standings 13 teams from the Western Conference and nine from the Eastern... [More]

The NBA is in talks with The Walt Disney Company on a single-site scenario for a resumption of play in Central Florida in late July, the clearest sign yet that the league believes the season can continue amid the coronavirus pandemic.The National Basketball Players Association is also part of the talks with Disney, the league said Saturday. Games would be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, a massive campus on the Disney property near Orlando.NBA spokesman Mike Bass said the conversations were still “exploratory,” and that the Disney site would be used for practices and housing as well.“Our priority continues to be the health and safety of all involved, and we are working with public health experts and government officials on a comprehensive set of guidelines to ensure that appropriate medical protocols and protections are in place,” Bass said.The ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is a 255-acre campus with multiple arenas that could host games simultaneously and has been home... [More]

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — All-Star forward Anthony Davis sat out Tuesday night's showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers.Less than an hour after coach Frank Vogel said Davis would be a game-time decision, the team put him on the inactive list with a sprained right ankle.Davis has played a key role in the Lakers' early-season success. At 24-3, they have the best record in the league. And the Lakers have won 14 consecutive road games.A win at Indiana would give the Lakers a chance to match the league record for consecutive road wins Thursday at Milwaukee. Los Angeles won 16 straight road games in 1971-72.Davis was replaced in the lineup by Jared Dudley.Davis is averaging 27.4 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.6 blocks this season. He came to the Lakers in a summer trade.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — From the Warner Bros. soundstages to a private workout retreat in Las Vegas, LeBron James and Anthony Davis spent a whole lot of their long summer together.The Los Angeles Lakers superstars say they've already formed a bond before they hit the court as teammates. That offseason work is the foundation for their efforts to build an immediate contender together with this long-struggling franchise.When the Lakers reported to their training complex Friday, LeBron and AD were the center of attention amid the revamped roster they helped to create. They posed for photos, joked easily with themselves and their teammates, and generally looked like they've been together for years."It's exciting to have such a beautiful young mind, a beautiful player, but also a great leader as well," James said. "I think it's a great opportunity for this franchise to have such an all-around great person. The basketball will speak for itself."Although Davis has one year left on his contract... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — D'Angelo Russell was an All-Star and the Brooklyn Nets became a playoff team. Neither looked likely four months ago.So it was a surprisingly successful season, though there's plenty of work left for the Nets to do — including deciding whether Russell will have a role.Nets players were proud of their accomplishments but realistic about the future Wednesday, a day after they were routed by the 76ers in Game 5 of their return to the postseason.Changes are necessary if the Nets want to contend with a team like Philadelphia. So players heading into free agency can't be certain of their futures in Brooklyn.Not even Russell, the former No. 2 pick, who had a breakout season."Hell yeah, I definitely want to be here," he said. "But I also know it's a business too, so I'm not going to play that role like I don't know what could possibly happen."Early in the season, Caris LeVert was the Nets' best player and Russell sometimes sat on the bench in the fourth quarter. But with the Nets... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — D'Angelo Russell was an All-Star and the Brooklyn Nets became a playoff team. Neither looked likely four months ago.So it was a surprisingly successful season, though there's plenty for the Nets to build on — including a decision on whether Russell will have a role.Nets players were proud of their accomplishments but realistic about the future Wednesday, a day after they were routed by Philadelphia in Game 5 of their return to the postseason.Changes are necessary if the Nets want to contend with a team like Philadelphia. So players heading into free agency can't be certain of their futures in Brooklyn.Not even Russell, the former No. 2 pick, who had a breakout season."Hell yeah, I definitely want to be here," he said. "But I also know it's a business too, so I'm not going to play that role like I don't know what could possibly happen."Early in the season, Caris LeVert was the Nets' best player and Russell sometimes sat on the bench in the fourth quarter. But with the Nets... [More]

DENVER (AP) — In response to an early call, Toronto coach Nick Nurse formed the perfect "O'' with his mouth and held it for a dozen or so seconds.Oh, these playoffs. They can leave your mouth agape — just like Nurse's gone-viral expression on the bench during a win Sunday in Orlando.Now leading 3-1, Nurse and the Raptors look to close out their series with the Magic at home Tuesday. The same goes for Philadelphia against Brooklyn and Portland against Oklahoma City.The second-seeded Denver Nuggets return home Tuesday following their first victory in San Antonio since 2012. Tied at 2, they've reclaimed home-court advantage as Nuggets coach Michael Malone finds himself in quite a chess match with his counterpart Gregg Popovich."He's Bobby Fischer," Malone said, in comparing Popovich to the chess prodigy. "He's a savant. So I'm not worried about matching wits with Gregg Popovich. I'm worried about helping our team."Face it, this was comical: The look of Nurse, who instantly became a meme with... [More]

DENVER (AP) — In response to an early call, Toronto coach Nick Nurse formed the perfect "O'' with his mouth and held it for a dozen or so seconds.Oh, these playoffs. They can leave your mouth agape — just like Nurse's gone-viral expression on the bench during a win Sunday in Orlando.Now leading 3-1, Nurse and the Raptors look to close out their series with the Magic at home Tuesday. The same goes for Philadelphia against Brooklyn and Portland against Oklahoma City.The second-seeded Denver Nuggets return home Tuesday following their first victory in San Antonio since 2012. Tied at 2, they've reclaimed home-court advantage as Nuggets coach Michael Malone finds himself in quite a chess match with his counterpart Gregg Popovich."He's Bobby Fischer," Malone said, in comparing Popovich to the chess prodigy. "He's a savant. So I'm not worried about matching wits with Gregg Popovich. I'm worried about helping our team."Face it, this was comical: The look of Nurse, who instantly became a meme with... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Brooklyn minority owner Joe Tsai was fined $35,000 by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on Monday for public statements detrimental to the league, becoming the latest member of the Nets organization to be penalized for actions during their playoff series against Philadelphia.Tsai tweeted support Sunday for general manager Sean Marks, who was suspended one game without pay and fined $25,000 for entering the referees' locker room following the Nets' Game 4 loss."My partners and I have spoken and the entire Nets ownership group support our GM Sean Marks for protesting the wrong calls and missed calls," Tsai wrote Sunday on Twitter. "NBA rules are rules and we respect that, but our players and fans expect things to be fair."The Nets also fined Jared Dudley $25,000 for escalating an altercation during the game, which the Nets lost 112-108 to fall into a 3-1 hole.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Nets general manager Sean Marks was suspended one game without pay and fined $25,000 by the NBA on Sunday for entering the referees' locker room after Brooklyn's loss to Philadelphia in Game 4 of their playoff series.The Nets lost 112-108 on Saturday in a game in which Brooklyn's Jared Dudley and Philadelphia's Jimmy Butler were ejected after a scuffle broke out following Joel Embiid's flagrant foul against Jarrett Allen in the third quarter.The Nets were already angry about a flagrant foul Embiid committed against Allen in Game 2, believing it should have warranted an ejection, and coach Kenny Atkinson complained that the 76ers held Allen before he turned the ball over on the Nets' last chance to tie Saturday's game. Atkinson said coaches were told that wrapping players as they tried to roll to the basket would be a point of emphasis this season.The NBA agreed with Atkinson on Sunday in its Last 2 Minutes report, determining that Tobias Harris should have been called for... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Nets general manager Sean Marks was suspended one game without pay and fined $25,000 by the NBA on Sunday for entering the referees' locker room after Brooklyn's loss to Philadelphia in Game 4 of their playoff series.The Nets lost 112-108 on Saturday in a game in which Brooklyn's Jared Dudley and Philadelphia's Jimmy Butler were ejected after a scuffle broke out following Joel Embiid's flagrant foul against Jarrett Allen in the third quarter.The Nets were already angry about a flagrant foul Embiid committed against Allen in Game 2, believing it should have warranted an ejection, and coach Kenny Atkinson complained that the 76ers held Allen before he turned the ball over on the Nets' last chance to tie Saturday's game. Atkinson said coaches were told that wrapping players as they tried to roll to the basket would be a point of emphasis this season.The NBA agreed with Atkinson on Sunday in its Last 2 Minutes report, determining that Tobias Harris should have been called for... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Nets general manager Sean Marks was suspended one game without pay and fined $25,000 by the NBA on Sunday for entering the referees' locker room after Brooklyn's loss to Philadelphia in Game 4 of their playoff series.The Nets lost 112-108 on Saturday in a game in which Brooklyn's Jared Dudley and Philadelphia's Jimmy Butler were ejected after a scuffle broke out following Joel Embiid's flagrant foul against Jarrett Allen in the third quarter.The Nets were already angry about a flagrant foul Embiid committed against Allen in Game 2, believing it should have warranted an ejection, and coach Kenny Atkinson complained that the 76ers held Allen before he turned the ball over on the Nets' last chance to tie Saturday's game. Atkinson said coaches were told that wrapping players as they tried to roll to the basket would be a point of emphasis this season.The NBA agreed with Atkinson on Sunday in its Last 2 Minutes report, determining that Tobias Harris should have been called for a foul for wrapping his arm around Allen and restricting his movement with 12 seconds remaining.Marks' penalty was announced by Byron Spruell, the NBA's president of league operations. He will serve his suspension Tuesday, when the 76ers try to wrap up the series in Game 5 in Philadelphia.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Nets general manager Sean Marks has been suspended one game without pay and fined $25,000 for entering the referees' locker room after Brooklyn's loss to Philadelphia in Game 4 of their playoff series.The Nets lost 112-108 on Saturday in a game in which Brooklyn's Jared Dudley and Philadelphia's Jimmy Butler were ejected after a scuffle broke out following Joel Embiid's flagrant foul against Jarrett Allen in the third quarter.The Nets were already angry about a flagrant foul Embiid committed against Allen in Game 2, and coach Kenny Atkinson complained that the 76ers held Allen before he turned the ball over on the Nets' last chance to tie the game.The penalty was announced Sunday by Byron Spruell, the NBA's president of league operations.Marks will serve his suspension Tuesday, when the 76ers try to wrap up the series in Game 5 in Philadelphia.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Nets general manager Sean Marks has been suspended one game without pay and fined $25,000 for entering the referees' locker room after Brooklyn's loss to Philadelphia in Game 4 of their playoff series.The Nets lost 112-108 on Saturday in a game in which Brooklyn's Jared Dudley and Philadelphia's Jimmy Butler were ejected after a scuffle broke out following Joel Embiid's flagrant foul against Jarrett Allen in the third quarter.The Nets were already angry about a flagrant foul Embiid committed against Allen in Game 2, and coach Kenny Atkinson complained that the 76ers held Allen before he turned the ball over on the Nets' last chance to tie the game.The penalty was announced Sunday by Byron Spruell, the NBA's president of league operations.Marks will serve his suspension Tuesday, when the 76ers try to wrap up the series in Game 5 in Philadelphia.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Jared Dudley didn't like the way Joel Embiid has been delivering fouls.Jimmy Butler didn't like the way Dudley tried to show it.They both ended up getting ejected Saturday after their reactions led to a scuffle.Butler and Dudley were thrown out in the third quarter of the Philadelphia 76ers' 112-108 victory over the Brooklyn Nets after pushing and shoving that spilled into the stands.Dudley reacted to Embiid's hard foul on Jarrett Allen, bumping the 76ers' All-Star center. Butler then shoved Dudley from behind to start the scrum.Dudley had been inserted into the starting lineup in Game 4 and was agitating the 76ers with his defense and his talking to Ben Simmons."I don't be paying attention to him too much," Butler said. "I just don't think you should run up on anybody like that.""Especially because the foul was actually all ball," Embiid interjected.That's not the way the referees saw it, with crew chief Ed Malloy saying they ruled it a flagrant 1 after a video review because... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jared Dudley didn't like the way Joel Embiid has been delivering fouls.Jimmy Butler didn't like the way Dudley tried to show it.They both ended up getting ejected Saturday after their reactions led to a scuffle.Butler and Dudley were thrown out in the third quarter of the Philadelphia 76ers' 112-108 victory over the Brooklyn Nets after pushing and shoving that spilled into the stands.Dudley reacted to Embiid's hard foul on Jarrett Allen, bumping the 76ers' All-Star center. Butler then shoved Dudley from behind to start the scrum.Dudley had been inserted into the starting lineup in Game 4 and was agitating the 76ers with his defense and his talking to Ben Simmons."I don't be paying attention to him too much," Butler said. "I just don't think you should run up on anybody like that.""Especially because the foul was actually all ball," Embiid interjected.That's not the way the referees saw it, with crew chief Ed Malloy saying they ruled it a flagrant 1 after a video review because... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jimmy Butler and Jared Dudley were ejected Saturday in the third quarter of Game 4 between Philadelphia and Brooklyn after a scuffle that spilled into the stands.Dudley reacted to Joel Embiid's hard foul on Jarrett Allen, bumping the 76ers' All-Star center. Butler then shoved Dudley from behind to start the pushing and shoving, with Ben Simmons and Dudley — who had exchanged words earlier — tumbling into the front row as referees rushed in to intervene.After a lengthy video review, Embiid's foul was ruled a flagrant one, and Butler and Dudley were given technicals and thrown out.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports