The All-Star Game is going to have plenty of new faces.The NBA released the list of the players Thursday voted by the league’s head coaches as reserves for the Feb. 16 game in Chicago, including six who will be All-Stars for the first time.Kyle Lowry of the NBA champion Toronto Raptors is headed back to the game, as are Miami’s Jimmy Butler, Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons, Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton, Portland’s Damian Lillard, Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Houston’s Russell Westbrook and — for the first time since 2016 — Oklahoma City’s Chris Paul.The other reserves are all first-time selections: Miami’s Bam Adebayo, Boston’s Jayson Tatum, Indiana’s Domantas Sabonis, New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram and the Utah duo of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.“Definitely it is an honor,” Tatum said in a statement. “I am extremely blessed and grateful. Third year, to make the All-Star team, it is a surreal feeling. I’m just very excited and it is a dream come true.”Those six — combined with starters Pascal Siakam,... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — San Antonio forward LaMarcus Aldridge missed the Spurs' game at Chicago on Monday night because of a sprained right thumb.The 34-year-old Aldridge had 10 points and 10 rebounds in 34 1/2 minutes during Sunday's 110-106 loss to Toronto.Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Aldridge stayed back in San Antonio while the team traveled to Chicago.The 6-foot-11 Aldridge is averaging 19.1 points and 7.5 rebounds in 43 games this season.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — Celtics guard Kemba Walker wasn’t seriously injured during a scary collision with a teammate last week that led to him being taken from the court on a stretcher, Boston’s team doctor said Monday, but Walker will be kept out of the lineup until he goes through a full practice.Walker was on the bench for Monday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings, the team’s first game since the injury.Walker collided with teammate Semi Ojeleye’s abdominal area head-first and went down to the court in a heap against the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.A brace was placed around his neck and he was strapped to a backboard before being placed onto a gurney and wheeled off the court.“It looked like it was going to be a very serious injury, but thankfully it turned out not to be a very a serious injury,” team physician Dr. Tony Schena told reporters Monday.Schena said Walker had “numbness and tingling in his hands” immediately after the collision, which is why trainers were so cautious with... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker collided with teammate Semi Ojeleye late in the second quarter, striking Ojeleye's abdomen area head-first and going down on to the court in a heap against the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.In a tweet, the Celtics said Walker has been diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms. He was taken to a hospital for further evaluation.Walker grimaced in pain as he went down and play was stopped as medical personnel from both teams tended to the star guard who was prone on the floor for several minutes.His teammates gathered round as did Nuggets players, plainly concerned about Walker. A brace was placed around his neck to stabilize the area and he was strapped to a backboard before being placed onto a gurney and wheeled off the court.Walker entered the game averaging a team-leading 22.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in his first season with Boston.Earlier this month, the Celtics lost Gordon Hayward to a fractured left hand. He suffered the injury when he collided with LaMarcus Aldridge in a Nov. 9 game against San Antonio.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — Forgive Gregg Popovich for not being in much of a mood to discuss the current state of the San Antonio Spurs.Fact is, he’s just not used to losing like this.Here’s how long it’s been since the Spurs dropped seven games in a row, the way they now have after DeMar DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge and the rest of the team were beaten by the lowly Washington Wizards 138-132 on Wednesday night: You have to go all the way back to the 1996-97 season to find such a rut for Pop and Co.That was before Tim Duncan had even played a game for them — and that guy was in the arena Wednesday, sitting on the sideline as an assistant to Popovich. Before Popovich led the franchise to five NBA championships and 22 consecutive playoff appearances. Before folks such as Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili and Kawhi Leonard had come and gone.After the latest setback, Popovich spoke to reporters only briefly.“All in all, if you score 132 points, you should probably have a pretty good chance to win a game.... [More]

Plenty has changed since Carmelo Anthony last played an NBA game.Zion Williamson had just made his Duke debut. Kyrie Irving had said only a month earlier he planned to re-sign in Boston.There’s been turnover all over the league — including a blockbuster trade between Anthony’s last two teams that sent Russell Westbrook to Houston and Chris Paul to Oklahoma City.When Anthony joins the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday in New Orleans, he will come to an NBA that’s much different since Nov. 8, 2018, and he will try to show he still fits in it.“I just look at that opportunity, that team, and say, ‘Look, this is what I can bring to the team, this where I can help,’ and it will only work if all parties see it the same way,” Anthony said in a video posted Monday.Plenty of fellow players think he can. A former coach hopes he will.“Hopefully this is a good situation,” Houston’s Mike D’Antoni said. “You never know why this didn’t happen before. For whatever reason. Maybe he wasn’t ready. I hope it... [More]

Plenty has changed since Carmelo Anthony last played an NBA game.Zion Williamson had just made his Duke debut. Kyrie Irving had said only a month earlier he planned to re-sign in Boston.There’s been turnover all over the league — including a blockbuster trade between Anthony’s last two teams that sent Russell Westbrook to Houston and Chris Paul to Oklahoma City.When Anthony joins the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday in New Orleans, he will come to an NBA that’s much different since Nov. 8, 2018, and he will try to show he still fits in it.“I just look at that opportunity, that team, and say, ‘Look, this is what I can bring to the team, this where I can help,’ and it will only work if all parties see it the same way,” Anthony said in a video posted Monday.Plenty of fellow players think he can. A former coach hopes he will.“Hopefully this is a good situation,” Houston’s Mike D’Antoni said. “You never know why this didn’t happen before. For whatever reason. Maybe he wasn’t ready. I hope it... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward said he considers it “relatively good news” that his latest injury is only expected to keep him out for six weeks, even though it struck just as he was returning to form from the broken leg that cost him almost a full season.“It’s a drop in the bucket, for sure,” Hayward said on Wednesday night before watching from the bench in street clothes as Boston beat the Wizards 140-133. “Just happy that it shouldn’t be that long. Obviously frustrated. It sucks watching and not being able to go out there and play, especially with the start that we’ve had.”Hayward broke his hand when he collided with LaMarcus Aldridge in Saturday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs. The Boston forward had surgery Monday.“You always think about the worst-case scenario, and certainly on the play I didn’t know exactly what happened,” he said. “But I heard it, and felt it and knew something immediately was wrong.”Hayward missed all but five minutes of the 2017-18... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward said he considers it “relatively good news” that his latest injury is only expected to keep him out for six weeks, even though it struck just as he was returning to form from the broken leg that cost him almost a full season.“It’s a drop in the bucket, for sure,” Hayward said on Wednesday night before watching Boston’s game against the Washington Wizards from the bench in street clothes. “Just happy that it shouldn’t be that long. Obviously frustrated. It sucks watching and not being able to go out there and play, especially with the start that we’ve had.”Hayward broke his hand when he collided with LaMarcus Aldridge in Saturday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs. The Boston forward had surgery Monday.“You always think about the worst-case scenario, and certainly on the play I didn’t know exactly what happened,” he said. “But I heard it, and felt it and knew something immediately was wrong.”Hayward missed all but five minutes of... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward says he’s frustrated over his broken hand, which is expected to sideline him for six weeks just as he was back to form from his last injury.Hayward said before Wednesday night’s game against the Washington Wizards that he’s happy about the prognosis from doctors. He says it was “relatively good news.”Hayward broke his hand when he collided with LaMarcus Aldridge in Saturday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs. The Boston forward had surgery Monday.Hayward missed all but five minutes of the 2017-18 season after breaking his leg in the first quarter of the season opener. He returned last season, playing mostly off the bench. But it wasn’t until this season that he was matching his numbers from before the injury.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward was having surgery on his broken left hand, a move that is expected to keep him out for about six weeks.Celtics coach Brad Stevens told the media before the game: "Last I heard: having surgery at 5 p.m., have not heard any thing since. We were told we would be updated as soon as it was over."Hayward's agent, Mark Bartelstein, confirmed on Monday that Hayward needed surgery. Stevens had said after the team's morning shootaround that the surgery would take place as soon as the doctor's schedule allowed it.Hayward broke his hand in a collision with Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge in the second quarter of Saturday night's game in San Antonio. He left the game and did not return."He was frustrated. He was down," coach Brad Stevens said. "But this isn't like last time."Hayward, 29, missed all but five minutes of the 2017-18 season after breaking his leg in the first quarter of the opener against Cleveland.Forward Jayson Tatum also said Hayward... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward needs surgery on his broken left hand, a move that is expected to keep him out for about six weeks.Hayward's agent, Mark Bartelstein, confirmed on Monday that Hayward needed surgery. Celtics coach Brad Stevens said after the team's morning shootaround that the surgery would take place as soon as the doctor's schedule allowed it.Hayward broke his hand in a collision with Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge in the second quarter of Saturday night's game in San Antonio. He left the game and did not return."He was frustrated. He was down," coach Brad Stevens said. "But this isn't like last time."Hayward, 29, missed all but five minutes of the 2017-18 season after breaking his leg in the first quarter of the opener against Cleveland.Forward Jayson Tatum also said Hayward seemed frustrated after the latest setback."I feel bad for him. He was just getting back to being himself," Tatum said. "It's a bummer."Hayward returned last season and played... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward was meeting with doctors on Monday to determine whether he needed surgery on his broken left hand.Hayward's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said they were still evaluating options. Celtics coach Brad Stevens said after the team's morning shootaround that the surgery, if necessary, would take place as soon as the doctor's schedule allowed it.Hayward broke his hand in a collision with Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge in the second quarter of Saturday night's game in San Antonio. He left the game and did not return."He was frustrated. He was down," Stevens said. "But this isn't like last time."Hayward, 29, missed all but five minutes of the 2017-18 season after breaking his leg in the first quarter of the opener against Cleveland.Forward Jayson Tatum also said Hayward seemed frustrated after the latest setback."I feel bad for him. He was just getting back to being himself," Tatum said. "It's a bummer."Hayward returned last season and played in 72... [More]

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward will miss at least a month with a broken left hand after colliding with San Antonio's LaMarcus Aldridge on Saturday night.The Celtics say Hayward was sent for an X-ray that confirmed the diagnosis. Hayward, who did not return to the game, could undergo surgery that will keep him out a few weeks to a month, Boston coach Brad Stevens said."Going to get with the doctors tomorrow and decide if he needs to do surgery or not," Stevens said. "Sounds like should he decide that the surgery option (is best, it) might actually be a better timeline. So, we'll see what that all plays out to be."Hayward winced in pain after banging his left hand against Aldridge's chest attempting to get past the Spurs forward on a screen late in the first half. Hayward appeared to jam the hand once or twice more against Aldridge before exiting the game.Hayward had nine points and two rebounds in 15 minutes before exiting. He is averaging 20.3 points this season for the Celtics, who have won six straight entering Saturday's game.The 6-foot-7 forward missed most of the 2017 season after breaking his leg six minutes into Boston's season opener."This one doesn't feel near as bad as it did two years ago," Stevens said. "So, he'll be back. Be off for a few weeks or a month or whatever it is."___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward has a broken left hand after colliding with San Antonio's LaMarcus Aldridge on Saturday night.The Celtics say Hayward was sent for an X-ray that confirmed the diagnosis. Hayward will not return to the game against the Spurs and no timetable was provided for his return.Hayward winced in pain after banging his left hand against Aldridge's chest attempting to get past the Spurs forward on a screen late in the first half. Hayward appeared to jam the hand once or twice more against Aldridge before exiting the game.Hayward had nine points and two rebounds in 15 minutes before exiting. He is averaging 20.3 points this season for the Celtics, who have won six straight entering Saturday's game.The 6-foot-7 forward missed the 2017 season after breaking his leg six minutes into Boston's season opener.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Preseason numbers often mean almost nothing. Rotations are unusual, starters rarely play much, and few if any teams are putting a premium on winning games.As such, it's tough to glean much from exhibition stats.But what the Boston Celtics and New Orleans rookie Zion Williamson — the No. 1 pick in this year's draft — have been doing so far in the preseason certainly stands out.The Celtics are 3-0 after beating Cleveland on Sunday — and have put together a huge run in all three of those games. The latest was a 50-17 spurt against the Cavaliers, a game that was close for most of the first quarter before Boston built what eventually became a 54-point lead.Boston's other big runs of note in this preseason were a 41-17 stretch last Sunday against Charlotte, and opening the game with a 29-4 burst at Orlando on Friday. On top of the 50-17 run against the Cavs, they added a 26-8 run in the fourth quarter as well.No matter who the Celtics have on the court, defense has been the constant. Boston is... [More]

Preseason numbers often mean almost nothing. Rotations are unusual, starters rarely play much, and few if any teams are putting a premium on winning games.As such, it's tough to glean much from exhibition stats.But what the Boston Celtics and New Orleans rookie Zion Williamson — the No. 1 pick in this year's draft — have been doing so far in the preseason certainly stands out.The Celtics are 3-0 after beating Cleveland on Sunday — and have put together a huge run in all three of those games. The latest was a 50-17 spurt against the Cavaliers, a game that was close for most of the first quarter before Boston built what eventually became a 54-point lead.Boston's other big runs of note in this preseason were a 41-17 stretch last Sunday against Charlotte, and opening the game with a 29-4 burst at Orlando on Friday. On top of the 50-17 run against the Cavs, they added a 26-8 run in the fourth quarter as well.No matter who the Celtics have on the court, defense has been the constant. Boston is... [More]

Preseason numbers often mean almost nothing. Rotations are unusual, starters rarely play much, and few if any teams are putting a premium on winning games.As such, it's tough to glean much from exhibition stats.But what the Boston Celtics and New Orleans rookie Zion Williamson — the No. 1 pick in this year's draft — have been doing so far in the preseason certainly stands out.The Celtics are 3-0 after beating Cleveland on Sunday — and have put together a huge run in all three of those games. The latest was a 50-17 spurt against the Cavaliers, a game that was close for most of the first quarter before Boston built what eventually became a 54-point lead.Boston's other big runs of note in this preseason were a 41-17 stretch last Sunday against Charlotte, and opening the game with a 29-4 burst at Orlando on Friday. On top of the 50-17 run against the Cavs, they added a 26-8 run in the fourth quarter as well.No matter who the Celtics have on the court, defense has been the constant. Boston is... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — A person familiar with Cleveland's schedule tells The Associated Press that the Cavaliers will interview San Antonio assistant Ime Udoka to be their coach.The Cavs, who have been taking a methodical approach in finding their next coach, will meet with Udoka on Sunday, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Cavs are not revealing any of their search plans.Udoka has worked on Gregg Popovich's staff since 2012, a year after he retired as a player. Udoka has been praised for developing players such as Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge.The Cavs continued their interviews on Friday, meeting with Utah assistant Alex Jensen. Jensen worked with Cleveland's organization in the past.The team has previously interviewed NBA assistants Jamahl Mosley, Juwan Howard and J.B. Bickerstaff. The club also plans to meet with Denver assistants Jordi Fernandez and Wes Unseld Jr., and Portland assistants Nate Tibbetts and David Vanterpool.Cleveland mutually parted ways with Larry Drew following a 19-63 season.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The Spurs suffered through an odd, erratic season filled with injuries, strife and drama before a second straight ouster from the playoffs in the first round.Gregg Popovich enjoyed it so much he is coming back for a 24th season as coach in San Antonio.Normally extremely private, Popovich said Monday he is negotiating a new deal with the Spurs after his current contract expired this season. There was some uncertainty surrounding his return, but the 70-year-old Popovich put an end to that with a quip or two."I'm currently in negotiations and could very well end up with either the Portofino Flyers or the Positano Pirates (or the Spurs)," Popovich said dryly. "I think it's like one-third Positano, one-third Portofino and one-third San Antonio. So, we'll see where I end up."There is little chance Popovich ends up anywhere but San Antonio, where he has enjoyed unprecedented success. His desire to return was apparent during an 18-minute news conference to wrap up a season that... [More]