LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — All the Brooklyn Nets were missing Tuesday were their leaders in salary, points, points per game, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and 3-pointers. If that wasn’t enough, the feel-good story of Jamal Crawford’s return to the NBA lasted for about six minutes.And they won.The severely undermanned Nets beat Milwaukee 119-116 on Tuesday, temporarily delaying what will be the Bucks’ clinching of the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Bucks didn’t use Brook Lopez or Wesley Matthews at all, plus didn’t play All-Stars Giannis Antetokounmpo or Khris Middleton after halftime, though it should be noted that the Nets were winning at intermission anyway.Who the Bucks played or didn’t play wasn’t all that relevant to the Nets. The walls of the temporary locker rooms at the Visa Athletic Center are paper thin and don’t hold sound, but the Nets probably didn’t mind the fact that anyone within 100 feet could have heard their raucous postgame celebration.“Very... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Kyrie Irving won't allow anyone to rush Kevin Durant back to the court this time.Irving said Friday that Durant wasn't ready to play when he returned in the NBA Finals, where he was quickly injured again. Irving said his new teammate's health wasn't valued enough, and that won't be the case now that they are together on the Brooklyn Nets."We all know K was not ready to play in that environment. We all know that, whether people want to admit it or not," Irving said. "He was out 31 days and we put him on the national stage in the finals to end up selling a product that came before the person, Kevin. And now, I'm here to protect that."Durant injured a calf playing for Golden State during the second round of the playoffs and missed a little more than a month before returning for Game 5 of the NBA Finals in Toronto. He lasted just 12 minutes before going down with a ruptured Achilles tendon that required surgery.The Nets expect Durant to miss the season, though Durant said he... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Knicks have waived veteran forward Lance Thomas.The Knicks made the move Saturday, saving themselves $1 million of Thomas' salary for next season that would have been guaranteed if he was still on the roster after Sunday.His entire $7.6 million salary for 2019-20 was non-guaranteed before then.Thomas joined the Knicks during the 2014-15 season but played sparingly last season as the team focused on youth. The forward averaged 4.5 points in 46 games, including 17 starts.

F Lance Thomas (sore right hip) missed his fourth consecutive game.

F Lance Thomas contributed 15 points and 10 rebounds Thursday in the Knicks' loss to the Nets.

F Lance Thomas scored 17 points Monday

F Lance Thomas scored a season-high 21 points for the Knicks, who are 4.5 games out of the Eastern Conference's eighth and final playoff spot.

F Lance Thomas had 11 points and made four of his five shots.

F Lance Thomas completed New York's fifth four-point play of the season in the second quarter.

F Lance Thomas returned after missing 14 games with a fractured left orbital bone. He scored two points in 17 minutes.

F Lance Thomas (fractured left orbital) saw a specialist Wednesday afternoon. He has been out since Jan. 15.

F Lance Thomas (fractured left orbital bone) did not play Thursday against Washington.

F Lance Thomas will be out at least a week after sustaining a fractured left orbital bone when he was hit with an inadvertent elbow from Toronto Raptors C Jonas Valanciunas during Sunday's game. Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said Thomas passed the concussion protocol, but will be fitted with a facemask.

F Lance Thomas will be out at least a week after sustaining a fractured left orbital bone when he was hit with an inadvertent elbow from Toronto Raptors C Jonas Valanciunas during Sunday's game. Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said Thomas passed the concussion protocol, but will be fitted with a facemask.

F Lance Thomas was hit with an elbow on the left side of his face, left the game and did not return.After the game, the team announced Thomas has a left orbital fracture and concussion-like symptoms. He will be re-evaluated on Monday in New York and is expected to miss the next game against Atlanta.

F Lance Thomas missed his fourth straight game with an assortment of injuries. He has a bone bruise in his left ankle and plantar fasciitis in both feet.

F Lance Thomas (sore left ankle) might be able to return to the lineup early next week, coach Jeff Hornacek said. Thomas last played Nov. 12.

F Lance Thomas (sore left ankle) missed his second straight game on Wednesday night.

F Lance Thomas came off the bench to score five points and grab two rebounds after missing the Chicago game with a sprained left ankle.

F Lance Thomas was inactive Friday against the Bulls.