SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs understand how they can be overlooked in the Western Conference given the flurry of trades and free agent signings in the offseason that reshaped so many of their rivals.That doesn't mean they have to like it."We've got a lot of dogs," Spurs guard Dejounte Murray said. "A lot of dudes with chips on their shoulders. A lot of guys are ready to go and go to war against any team in the NBA."That resolve is needed if San Antonio hopes to earn its 23rd straight postseason berth under Gregg Popovich.Already long regarded as the league's strongest conference, the West got even tougher during a whirlwind first week in July.Former Spurs star Kawhi Leonard has teamed with Paul George on the Los Angeles Clippers. Anthony Davis joined LeBron James on the Los Angeles Lakers. Russell Westbrook is again playing alongside James Harden but this time in Houston. Utah traded for Mike Conley to pair with Donovan Mitchell.The Spurs' offseason consisted of adding DeMarre... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Forward Davis Bertans has been traded to the Washington Wizards by San Antonio as part of a three-team deal that allowed the Spurs to acquire DeMarre Carroll from the Brooklyn Nets.The 6-foot-10, 225-pound Bertans ranked sixth in the NBA last season in 3-point shooting percentage, making 42.9 percent of his attempts. He averaged 8.0 points and 3.5 rebounds for San Antonio.Bertans was a second-round draft pick in 2011, but the Latvian played professionally in Europe until joining San Antonio in 2016. His brother, Dairis, is with the New Orleans Pelicans.Carroll agreed to a $12 million, two-year contract with the Spurs.The Wizards sent the draft rights to forward Aaron White to Brooklyn in the trade. Washington took White in the second round in 2015 and he has been playing overseas.Washington announced the swap after new league year officially opened Saturday.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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]

NEW YORK (AP) — Jeremy Lin didn't even make it through one full game this season.He plans to return next season playing a different way so he can stay on the floor and help the Brooklyn Nets keep building.Lin played in just 36 games in 2016-17 due to hamstring injuries and ruptured his right patella tendon in a loss at Indiana on opening night of this season. His plan to stay healthy focuses on ditching all the on-court motor skills that started Linsanity six years ago across the city with the New York Knicks in exchange for a new range of motion."So, like, at every level of ability to be more dynamic, I'm not just looking at whether my knee will hold up. I'm looking at whether I have done enough to completely change pre-existing movement patterns," Lin said Thursday, a day after the Nets finished 28-54, their third consecutive 50-loss season after three straight playoff appearances.The Nets won seven of their last 13 games after losing 19 of 22.The 29-year-old Lin spent a large chunk of... [More]

LOS ANGELES -- Stephen Curry scored 13 of his 28 points in overtime to lift the Golden State Warriors to a 127-123 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.Curry was 1 of 7 from 3-point range before starting overtime with back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Warriors a 115-109 lead. He shot 5 of 6 from the free-throw line in the final 1:14 to hold off Los Angeles.Kevin Durant scored 29 points and Klay Thompson had 20 for the Warriors. Draymond Green had 15 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, and Zaza Pachulia matched his season high with 11 points Brandon Ingram scored a career-high 32 points to lead the Lakers. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Jordan Clarkson contributed 21 points apiece, and Julius Randle scored 20.Rockets 118, Pacers 97HOUSTON -- James Harden posted 29 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists as Houston beat Indiana.With the Rockets leading 70-64, Harden scored 13 points over the final 3:54 of the third, including three consecutive 3-pointers after starting the... [More]

F DeMarre Carroll scored 22 points Wednesday in a win at Dallas. He returned after missing Monday's loss at Houston with an upper respiratory illness.

F DeMarre Carroll was sidelined by an upper respiratory illness against the Rockets on Monday, one night after scoring a season-high 24 points at Memphis,

MINNEAPOLIS -- Karl-Anthony Towns had 32 points and 12 rebounds, and Jimmy Butler chipped in with 25 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves held on for a 119-108 win against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.Towns recorded his league-leading 16th double-double, and Andrew Wiggins scored 21 points with a season-high four 3-pointers for Minnesota, which survived another strong shooting night from an opponent. Phoenix shot 50.6 percent from the field and was 13 of 26 from 3-point range despite playing without leading scorer Devin Booker.Taj Gibson had 16 points and a season-high 14 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who had lost three of their previous four games. Minnesota is off to its best start since 2005-06 when it also started 12-8.Mike James scored a career-high 26 points off the bench and TJ Warren added 18 for the Suns, who have lost three in a row. Phoenix got 61 points from its bench. Heat 100, Bulls 93CHICAGO -- Goran Dragic scored 24 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, and Wayne Ellington... [More]

F DeMarre Carroll scored 11 of his 24 points in a dominating third quarter. Carroll said the key was the opening possessions of the third quarter when the Nets started with back-to-back 3-pointers, including one from Carroll, to break away from a 47-47 halftime score. "We came out and wanted to throw the first punch," Carroll said.

F DeMarre Carroll (15 points, 11 rebounds) and F Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (16 points, 12 rebounds) had double-doubles for Brooklyn in a loss to Golden State on Sunday.

F DeMarre Carroll scored 14 points, including five in the final two minutes, for Brooklyn.

F DeMarre Carroll finished with 11 points, eight rebounds and four assists on Friday night against the Nets.

F DeMarre Carroll (sore right ankle) missed his first game of the season Sunday.

F DeMarre Carroll, among those defending LeBron James, who recorded a triple-double, scored 18 points Wednesday.

F DeMarre Carroll and 2018 first- and second-round draft picks were acquired by the Brooklyn Nets for C Justin Hamilton. The trade makes official what had been reported last Saturday. The Raptors plan to waive the 7-foot, 255-pound Hamilton after acquiring him in a salary move, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported. Carroll was a disappointment last season when he averaged 8.9 points and shot 40 percent from the field.

F DeMarre Carroll reportedly will be traded by the Raptors to the Nets for C Justin Hamilton, a 2018 lottery-protected first-round pick and a second-round pick.Carroll is owed $30 million over the next two seasons as part of the four-year, $60 million deal he signed upon joining the Raptors two years ago.Carroll, 30, was a disappointment last season when he averaged 8.9 points and shot 40 percent from the field. Injuries limited him to 26 games in his first season with the Raptors when he averaged 11 points.

F DeMarre Carroll finished with 12 points and four assists in Friday's win.

F DeMarre Carroll returned to the lineup after missing two straight games with a sore lower back.

F DeMarre Carroll (sore lower back) did not play for the second straight game Monday. F P.J. Tucker took his starting spot at small forward.