DETROIT (AP) — Quincy Acy sat out the Brooklyn Nets' game Wednesday night at Detroit because of a sprained right middle finger.The Nets also were without Caris LeVert, who was evaluated for a possible concussion after being knocked out of Tuesday night's game against Houston by a pick by Nene.The Pistons are still without point guard Reggie Jackson, who is sidelined because of a sprained right ankle.Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson said before the game that LeVert was still being evaluated. He is also listed with a sprained right knee.Acy is averaging 5.7 points.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

The Houston Rockets signed free agent forward P.J. Tucker and re-signed center Nene, the team announced Thursday.Both deals had been reported a few days ago, but the Rockets made them official.Nene agreed to a new three-year, $11 million contract, according to ESPN. Their original four-year contract agreement was nullified Saturday based on the NBA's over-38 rule that limits long-term deals.In his first season as a Rocket, Nene appeared in 67 games with eight starts, while averaging 9.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in 17.9 minutes per game. Dating back to 1979-80, he was one of three players with at least 40 games played to have averaged at least 9.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in fewer than 18.0 minutes per game in a single season."Nene was a big part of our success last season, especially in the playoffs," said Rockets general manager Daryl Morey. "He is a true professional and we are fortunate to have him remain a Rocket."Nene has the seventh-highest field goal percentage (54.8) among active... [More]

The Dallas Mavericks are in the process of finalizing a two-year, $10 million deal with Dirk Nowitzki, ESPN reported Thursday.The Mavericks declined Nowitzki's $25 million team option on his existing contract, but there was never a doubt that the Mavs would re-sign Nowitzki, considered the greatest player in the team's history.Dallas reportedly plans to re-sign restricted free-agent Nerlens Noel, and the team's moves suggest the Mavericks may not be pursuing any high-salary free agents.The 39-year-old Nowitzki, who was the NBA MVP in 2007, played in 54 games last season, all as a starter, and averaged 14.2 points, his lowest since his rookie season in 1998-99.--The Los Angeles Clippers have reached agreement with Serbian guard Milos Teodosic on to a two-year, $12.3 million deal, ESPN.com reported.The flamboyant 30-year-old Teodosic is considered a creative playmaker. He had to pay an expensive contract buyout with CSKA Russia to move to the NBA this season.Teodosic was named to the all-EuroLeague... [More]

Free agent center Nene agreed to a new contract with the Houston Rockets on Sunday after the team was forced to pull back an accepted four-year, $15-million deal due to the NBA's age rule.Nene's new deal is for three years and $11 million, a league source told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.Nene turns 35 in September before next season starts. Houston was not permitted to offer a four-year contract because of the "over-38 rule" in the collective bargaining agreement that would have extended Nene's deal past his 38th birthday in the fourth season.After the first deal was pulled, Nene planned to talk to other NBA teams during free agency that opened Saturday.The Rockets wanted to work out a new deal and re-sign Nene to play alongside All-Stars James Harden and newcomer Chris Paul.The 6-foot-11, 250-pound Nene averaged 9.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in 67 games (eight starts) as a reserve in his first season with the Rockets last season.The 15-year veteran from Brazil sustained a season-ending tear in a muscle in his left thigh during Game 4 of the Western Conference finals against the San Antonio Spurs in May. The injury did not require surgery.

Stephen Curry signed the richest contract in NBA history when he and the Golden State Warriors agreed to a five-year, $201 million super-max deal shortly after the NBA's free agency period began on Saturday morning.Multiple outlets reported the deal, which was done under the NBA's designated veteran player extension. The designated veteran player extension was added into the current CBA and Curry was eligible for it since he won at least one MVP award in the last three seasons.Curry was paid $12.1 million last season in the final season of a four-year deal worth approximately $44 million signed after the 2012-13 season. He won the MVP award in the second and third seasons of his last contract.Curry averaged 25.3 points and shot 41.1 percent from 3-point range in 79 games last season. During the postseason, he averaged 28.1 points and shot 41.9 percent from 3-point range as Golden State won its second title in three seasons.--Free agent point guard Jrue Holiday decided to stay with the New... [More]

The Houston Rockets were forced to pull back an accepted four-year, $15- million deal to free agent center Nene due to the NBA's age rule.Nene, who turns 35 in September before next season starts, is "back at square one" in free agency, a source told ESPN's Marc J. Spears on Saturday.The "over-38 rule" in the collective bargaining agreement would have extended Nene's deal past his 38th birthday in the fourth season.Nene and the Rockets agreed to the deal Friday night, but they were not permitted to offer a four-year contract because of the age rule.The Rockets have countered with a three-year, $10-million offer to Nene that he has not accepted, according to ESPN.Nene plans to talk to other NBA teams during free agency that opened Saturday.The Rockets still hope to work out a deal and re-sign Nene to play alongside All-Stars James Harden and newcomer Chris Paul.The 6-foot-11, 250-pound Nene averaged 9.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in 67 games (eight starts) as a reserve in his first season with the Rockets last season. The 15-year veteran from Brazil sustained a season-ending tear in a muscle in his left thigh during Game 4 of the Western Conference finals against the San Antonio Spurs in May.Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers are close to a deal to trade guard Iman Shumpert to the Rockets, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. In exchange, Cleveland is expected to recoup a future draft pick and a trade exception.

The Houston Rockets announced Monday that reserve center Nene will miss the remainder of the NBA playoffs with a torn left adductor.Nene suffered the groin injury in the first quarter of Sunday's Game 4 win over the San Antonio Spurs. The Rockets won 125-104 to even the Western Conference semifinal series at two games apiece.Game 5 is Tuesday night in San Antonio.The 34-year-old Nene played just two minutes before suffering the injury. He missed the rest of the game and left the Toyota Center in Houston to undergo an MRI exam.Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni opted to play forward Ryan Anderson as the team's backup center behind Clint Capela after Nene's departure on Sunday."I hate it for Nene," D'Antoni told reporters Monday. "He's been so valuable all year and such a good guy. The good news is I don't think it's as bad as I'm hoping it wouldn't be. I think it's going to turn out that way. Obviously he's done for this series. We're just hoping he gets well quick."The 6-foot-11, 250-pound Nene... [More]

The Houston Rockets announced Monday that reserve center Nene will miss the remainder of the NBA playoffs with a torn left adductor.Nene suffered the groin injury in the first quarter of Sunday's Game 4 win over the San Antonio Spurs. The Rockets won 125-104 to even the Western Conference semifinal series at two games apiece.Game 5 is Tuesday night in San Antonio.Nene played just two minutes before suffering the injury. Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni opted to play forward Ryan Anderson as the team's backup center behind Clint Capela after Nene's departure.The 6-foot-11, 250-pound Nene entered Sunday's game averaging 10.8 points and 5.3 rebounds in 19.9 minutes per game during the playoffs. He averaged 9.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in the regular season.

Houston Rockets reserve center Nene was fined $15,000 for "escalating an altercation" by pushing San Antonio Spurs center Dewayne Dedmon above the shoulders, the NBA announced Wednesday.The incident occurred at the conclusion of the third quarter of the Rockets' 126-99 win over the Spurs on Monday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinal playoff series. Nene was assessed one technical foul and ejected. Dedmon was ejected as well.Nene grabbed Dedmon in the neck area after the Spurs' backup center and Rockets star James Harden went face-to-face and exchanged words.Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Wednesday night at AT&T Center in San Antonio.

Washington Wizards forward Nene Hilario did not practice Monday because of a calf injury, according to CSN.

Washington Wizards forward Nene Hilario did not practice Monday because of a calf injury, according to CSN. Hilario missed Friday's preseason contest against the Philadelphia 76ers because of the injury.

Hilario is preparing to come off the bench as the center for the Wizards' second unit this season, Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post reports.

Wizards coach Randy Wittman hasn't confirmed as much, but given Hilario's usage during the preseason, it appears safe to conclude that the 13-year veteran will regularly come off the bench for the first time in his career. Wittman did deploy Hilario in a reserve on a few occasions in 2014-15, much to the big man's chagrin. For his part, Hilario seems to be taking well to the new role in the first three preseason games, as he's shot 13-for-22 (59 percent) from the field while not turning the ball over once in 45 minutes of action. With Hilario out of the starting picture, Khris Humphries appears poised to start at power forward, as the Wizards roll out a pace-and-space lineup that deploys four players with three-point range.

Hilario collected six points (3-4 FG), an assist, and two steals over nine minutes in Friday's 115-104 loss to the Knicks.

If the first pair of preseason contests is any indication, Hilario appears to have an uphill battle to claim the starting position he has held throughout his Wizards tenure. Coach Randy Wittman appears intent on providing Kris Humphries a legitimate sample size of minutes to prove his worth as a potential starter, and Hilario has been relegated to a bench role over the first two exhibitions as a result. The veteran was nevertheless productive in his abbreviated opportunity Friday, shooting 75 percent and tallying two swipes as part of his nine minutes on the floor. Hilario's role certainly appears in flux at this time, and his draft status is therefore undeniably muddled at this stage of preseason.

Hilario came off the bench in Tuesday's preseason opener against the Sixers, scoring 12 points (5-11 FG, 2-4 FT) while adding six rebounds, two steals, and a blocked shot.

Wizards coach Randy Wittman said after the game not to read too much into Tuesday's lineup, but it still seems worth noting that Hilario was absent from the starting five after Wittman spoke at the end of last season about utilizing more speed-oriented small-ball lineups in 2015-16. Wittman's decision to start the 6-foot-9 Kris Humphries, who had spent all offseason expanding his range and went 2-for-4 from the three-point line Tuesday, seems to align with his stated goal, and it could be something the Wizards continue to explore throughout the preseason. If Humphries, and to a lesser degree, Drew Gooden, continue to shoot well from deep in the preseason while functioning as stretch fours, Hilario could serve primarily as a bench player for the first time in his three and a half seasons with the Wizards. In such a scenario, he could notice a considerable decline in his fantasy value due to the expected drop in minutes that would come with a bench role.

Nene said he is willing to come off the bench next season, the Washington Post reports.

Coach Randy Wittman told the media during Monday's exit interviews that the team would utilize smaller and faster lineups next season. Such changes will likely require Nene to spend more time at center or simply spend more time on the bench. Marcin Gortat should be getting the majority of the center minutes next season, and after the team showed a willingness to use Paul Pierce and Otto Porter at power forward, it's possible Nene could be moved exclusively into a bench role next season.

Hilario, who had been virtually invisible through the first two games, led the Wizards with 17 points (7-9 FG, 3-7 FT), grabbing seven rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block in 30 minutes Saturday.

In his last four appearances, Nene had totalled 18 points, before exploding in Game 3. In fact, he had yet to hit a single field goal in all of Round 2 before Saturday, and despite his big night in Game 3, using him in playoff fantasy leagues is fraught with danger, as he is averaging just 7.6 points and 6.0 rebounds.

Hilario (ankle) notched a double-double in the Game 1 win over the Raptors on Saturday, recording 12 points (6-13 FG, 0-2 FT), 13 rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 21 minutes.

Hilario's minutes were capped with coach Rady Wittman employing smaller lineups. After sitting the entire fourth quarter, Hilario snagged five of his 13 rebounds in overtime.

Hilario (ankle) will start Saturday's game against the Raptors.

He was banged up down the stretch, but the Wizards will have all their key pieces in the starting lineup for Game 1 of their first round matchup. Hilario will matchup against Tyler Hansbrough to start the game.

Hilario (ankle) took part in Thursday's practice, J. Michael of CSN reports.

This is great news for the Wizards after Nene sat out the final two games of the regular season. His ankle injury was never considered serious, but the team obviously wants him as close to 100 percent as possible for the start of the postseason. Barring a setback Friday, Nene should be expected to start Saturday's opener in Toronto.

Hilario (ankle) will sit out of Wednesday's regular season finale against Cleveland, Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post reports.

Hilario has been limited down the stretch, including an ankle injury that sidelined him Tuesday. The added rest should boost his chances at returning to the lineup when the postseason begins, but Kris Humphries will fill in for Hilario on Wednesday.

Hilario has a right ankle injury and will miss Tuesday's game, CSN Washington's J. Michael reports.

The Wizards will use Tuesday's game as an opportunity to rest Hilario, as it's the first game of a back-to-back to finish the season. Consider him questionable for Wednesday's regular season finale against the Cavs. Kris Humphries and Drew Gooden will see increased minutes Tuesday.