MIAMI (AP) — Pat Riley has never doubted Magic Johnson, and isn't about to start now.Riley believes Johnson will succeed in what looks like a daunting task of getting the Los Angeles Lakers back to prominence. After the Lakers cleaned house this past week, Johnson and Riley are contemporaries — Riley as president of the Miami Heat, Johnson in the same role out in L.A., where they won four titles together in the 1980s.Trade talks, he cautioned, will be dangerous for both sides."He's going to try to rifle my pockets and I'm going to try to rifle his," Riley said. "But I'm happy for him, and I'm also happy for the Lakers."The news took Riley back to 1991, when Johnson delivered the shocking word that he was HIV-positive and had to retire from basketball. Riley was gone from Los Angeles by that point, and was then coach of the New York Knicks. But it resonated deeply within Riley, who has maintained a very close relationship with Johnson.Hearing Johnson speak about taking over the Lakers this... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Robin Lopez scored 24 points to help the Chicago Bulls beat the Phoenix Suns 116-101 on Monday night, snapping a five-game losing streak.Zach LaVine had 17 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and Lauri Markkanen added 17 points and nine boards for Chicago. Lopez shot 11 for 14 from the field as the Bulls were 52 percent (46 for 89).Deandre Ayton had 25 points and 12 rebounds, and Devin Booker also scored 25 for Phoenix, which has lost three of four after a 5-2 stretch.The Suns played without one of their top scorers and main contributors to their recent run of improved basketball, as Kelly Oubre Jr. missed the game with a left thumb sprain. Guard Tyler Johnson did not play due to a sore knee, missing his third straight game, and forward T.J. Warren hasn't played since Jan. 22 due to an ankle injury. Backup center Richaun Holmes also sat out with a quadriceps strain, his second straight game missed.Lopez hit four different types of hook shots in the first quarter, helping... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Robin Lopez scored 24 points to help the Chicago Bulls beat the Phoenix Suns 116-101 on Monday night, snapping a five-game losing streak.Zach LaVine had 17 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and Lauri Markkanen added 17 points and nine boards for Chicago. Lopez shot 11 for 14 from the field as the Bulls were 52 percent (46 for 89).Deandre Ayton had 25 points and 12 rebounds, and Devin Booker also scored 25 for Phoenix, which has lost three of four after a 5-2 stretch.The Suns played without one of their top scorers and main contributors to their recent run of improved basketball, as Kelly Oubre Jr. Oubre missed the game with a left thumb sprain. Guard Tyler Johnson did not play due to a sore knee, missing his third straight game, and forward T.J. Warren hasn't played since Jan. 22 due to an ankle injury. Backup center Richaun Holmes also sat out with a quadriceps strain, his second straight game missed.Lopez hit four different types of hook shots in the first quarter,... [More]

The Chicago Bulls re-signed forward-center Cristiano Felicio, the team announced Thursday.The move had been reported several days ago, but the team has now made it official.Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but multiple media outlets reported the deal is for four years and worth $32 million.In his two seasons in Chicago, Felicio averaged 4.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in 14.0 minutes per game while shooting 57.3 percent from the field.Last season, he averaged 4.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 15.8 minutes per game with a field goal percentage of .57.9.The Brazilian played in all six of the Bulls' postseason games against the Celtics, and averaged 3.2 points and 4.3 rebounds in 13.7 minutes.