NEW ORLEANS (AP) — James Harden has had a setback with his hamstring injury and will be sidelined “indefinitely,” the club announced on Tuesday evening. “Back to square one," Nets coach Steve Nash. “We'll rehabilitate him and get him back whenever we can. Who knows when that'll be, but we'll support James and we'll support our performance team in getting him back in his best condition as possible, and hopefully that comes sooner than later. But there's no guarantee. So, we just keep chipping away. We keep moving forward and we hope for a speedy recovery.” Harden, who was acquired by Brooklyn in January in a trade with Houston, is averaging 25.2 points 10.9 assists and eight rebounds per game. He has not played since April 5 and was ruled out for a seventh straight game on Tuesday night in New Orleans. Nash said he was at the workout when Harden sensed trouble. “He just felt it. He didn't fall or stumble or anything out of the ordinary," Nash said. "He just felt something maybe in the ballpark of a strain, just a setback. “Not much more to it other than just disappointment and we have to rebuild and get him going again,” Nash added. ”He'll be back when he's back. That might not be until the playoffs. It might be sooner. I don't know, and we have no control over that, other than working as hard as we can to support him and get him back to full health." ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Never. That’s the last time the NBA saw a shooting stretch like the one Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors has assembled over the past few weeks. It’s been 45 years since the last instance of an NBA MVP being selected from a team that wasn’t at least 10 games over the .500 mark, but Curry has shot his way into serious consideration. He’s averaging 31.4 points on 49% shooting this season; the only other season in which he averaged more than 30 points was 2015-16, when he averaged 30.1 on 50% shooting — and was the unanimous MVP. Those Warriors were 73-9. These Warriors are 29-29. That’s the big difference, the biggest reason why Curry isn’t even more prevalent in the MVP talks. “He’s never played any better, that’s for sure,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “It’s been incredible to watch.” Bob Pettit and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are the only players to win MVP awards on teams that had winning percentages below .560. The award typically goes to the best player on a team that finishes high... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Brooklyn forward Kevin Durant will not play Tuesday when the Nets visit the New Orleans Pelicans because of a left thigh contusion. It will be Durant's 34th missed game this season. He has appeared in 24, the latest of those being Sunday in Miami. He had to leave that game after four minutes because of the thigh issue, and Brooklyn went on to lose 109-107. Brooklyn has also ruled out James Harden again because of his right hamstring injury. Durant has missed 24 games because of a left hamstring injury, six others in accordance with the league’s health and safety protocols related to the coronavirus and three more for injury management. Durant is averaging 27.3 points this season. ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — A smile crept across Tom Thibodeau’s face. A coach who has said he’s never happy couldn’t hide that he was. New Orleans coach Stan Van Gundy had called Thibodeau’s New York Knicks a throwback to the 1990s version, a rough and tough team hated by opponents and beloved by its fans. Thibodeau was an assistant then to Van Gundy's brother, Jeff, during the last sustained success the franchise enjoyed. “It was a great period for the Knicks,” Thibodeau said. “I think that that period is long gone, but when you look at it, the same things go into winning.” For the first time in years, that’s just what the Knicks are doing. With Julius Randle carrying a team built on defense in an era when offenses rule, the Knicks have surged into the Eastern Conference playoff race after six consecutive wins, their longest streak in seven years. At 31-27, they began the week sixth in the East but only a half-game out of fourth place. That put them not only in good shape to at least qualify for... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — A smile crept across Tom Thibodeau’s face. A coach who has said he’s never happy couldn’t hide that he was. New Orleans coach Stan Van Gundy had called Thibodeau’s New York Knicks a throwback to the 1990s version, a rough and tough team hated by opponents and beloved by its fans. Thibodeau was an assistant then to Van Gundy's brother, Jeff, during the last sustained success the franchise enjoyed. “It was a great period for the Knicks,” Thibodeau said. “I think that that period is long gone, but when you look at it, the same things go into winning.” For the first time in years, that’s just what the Knicks are doing. With Julius Randle carrying a team built on defense in an era when offenses rule, the Knicks have surged into the Eastern Conference playoff race after six consecutive wins, their longest streak in seven years. At 31-27, they began the week sixth in the East but only a half-game out of fourth place. That put them not only in good shape to at least qualify for... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Kevin Durant's thigh is the new big concern for the Brooklyn Nets. Durant was forced to leave the Nets' game in Miami on Sunday early in the first quarter with a bruised left thigh, and Brooklyn coach Steve Nash said it'll likely be Monday at the earliest before the team knows whether it will keep the two-time NBA Finals MVP out of more games. “We'll see how he wakes up and go from there," Nash said. “But right now, nothing's been determined." Durant exited with 7:57 to go in the opening quarter. He scored Brooklyn's first eight points of the game before coming out, and the team quickly announced he would not return because of what was being called a contusion. “I imagine they're going to assess him in the morning and see if a scan is necessary or not," Nash said. Durant has missed 33 games this season, with 24 of those related to a left hamstring injury. He missed six others in accordance with the league's health and safety protocols related to the coronavirus and three more... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Brooklyn's Kevin Durant was forced to leave the Nets' game in Miami on Sunday early in the first quarter with a left thigh injury. Durant exited with 7:57 to go in the opening quarter. He scored Brooklyn's first eight points of the game before coming out, and the team quickly announced he would not return because of what was being called a contusion. Durant has missed 33 games this season, with 24 of those related to a left hamstring injury. He missed six others in accordance with the league's health and safety protocols related to the coronavirus and three more for injury management. He appeared to be injured on a drive just 1:33 into the contest and missed both free throws — only the second time this season that he went 0 for 2 on a trip to the foul line. He remained in the game for about 2 1/2 more minutes before leaving for further evaluation and ultimately the diagnosis that would keep him out for the remainder of the game. The Nets were also without James Harden while he works his way back from a hamstring issue. Miami was playing Sunday without Jimmy Butler, sidelined with an ankle sprain. ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MIAMI (AP) — Brooklyn's Kevin Durant was forced to leave the Nets' game in Miami on Sunday early in the first quarter with a left thigh injury. Durant left with 7:57 to go in the opening quarter. He scored Brooklyn's first eight points of the game before coming out, and the team quickly said he would not return because of what was being called a contusion. Durant has missed 33 games this season, with 24 of those related to a left hamstring injury. He missed six others in accordance with the league's health and safety protocols related to the coronavirus and three more for injury management. He appeared to be injured on a drive just 1:33 into the contest and missed both free throws — only the second time this season that he went 0 for 2 on a trip to the foul line. He remained in the game for about 2 1/2 more minutes before leaving for further evaluation and ultimately the diagnosis that would keep him out the remainder of the game. The Nets were also without James Harden while he works his way back from a hamstring issue. Miami was playing Sunday without Jimmy Butler, sidelined with an ankle sprain. ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA fined the San Antonio Spurs $25,000 on Sunday for violating the league's player resting policy — in a game the Spurs won by 26 points. The Spurs sat DeMar DeRozan, Patty Mills and Jakob Poeltl to give them rest on Saturday night in Phoenix. It didn't matter, as six Spurs players scored in double figures in a 111-85 rout of the Suns. According to the league's resting policy, teams should not rest multiple healthy players for the same game. When they do rest healthy players, it is supposed to be in home games. Under Gregg Popovich, the Spurs have long rested players even when they are healthy, one of the reasons the league first implemented a resting policy in 2017. Teams can be fined $100,000 for violating it. ___ More AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Heat are losing, and their highest-paid player isn’t happy. Jimmy Butler labeled the reigning Eastern Conference champions as “soft” after a loss in Minnesota on Friday night, Miami’s third straight defeat and one that dropped the Heat to 28-28 with 16 games left in the regular season. It was Miami’s 10th loss in its last 16 games. “It’s not frustrating because we do it so often,” Butler said. “It’s almost like it’s expected, in a bad way to put it. We just think we’re such a good team, and then reality hits us, we’re humbled. And I’m glad because that’s what this game does for you. Home, away, no matter what opponent you’re playing against, you just stroll into the game thinking you’re nice, you’re good, this is what happens. “I’m glad it happened to us,” he added. “And if we don’t fix it, I hope it continues to happen to us.” Minnesota entered Friday with the NBA’s worst record. The 119-111 win allowed the Timberwolves to pass Houston and escape the league’s basement... [More]

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Dwyane Wade is an NBA owner. The Utah Jazz announced Friday that the 13-time NBA All-Star will join the youngest ownership group in the league. The group is headed by technology entrepreneur Ryan Smith, who along with his wife, Ashley, acquired majority interest in the Jazz in late 2020. Wade and Smith have known each other for several years and had discussed working with each other in various capacities. “Dwyane is not only a basketball legend, he is also a great leader, businessman, and human being,” Smith said in a statement. ”As we continue to build on the incredible legacy of the Utah Jazz franchise, we are excited to add Dwyane’s experience and expertise to the equation. Utah is an amazing place and I couldn’t be more thrilled about the future of the franchise and the future of this state. Dwyane’s influence will be important to both.” Wade played 16 NBA seasons with Miami, Chicago and Cleveland before retiring after the 2018-19 season. He won three NBA titles... [More]

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Dwyane Wade is an NBA owner. The Utah Jazz announced Friday that the 13-time NBA All-Star will join the youngest ownership group in the league. The group is headed by technology entrepreneur Ryan Smith, who along with his wife, Ashley, acquired majority interest in the Jazz in late 2020. Wade and Smith have known each other for several years and had discussed working with each other in various capacities. “Dwyane is not only a basketball legend, he is also a great leader, businessman, and human being,” Smith said in a statement. ”As we continue to build on the incredible legacy of the Utah Jazz franchise, we are excited to add Dwyane’s experience and expertise to the equation. Utah is an amazing place and I couldn’t be more thrilled about the future of the franchise and the future of this state. Dwyane’s influence will be important to both.” Wade played 16 NBA seasons with Miami, Chicago and Cleveland before retiring after the 2018-19 season. He won three NBA titles... [More]

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Dwyane Wade is an NBA owner. The Utah Jazz announced Friday that the 13-time NBA All-Star will join the youngest ownership group in the league. The group is headed by technology entrepreneur Ryan Smith, who along with his wife, Ashley, acquired majority interest in the Jazz in late 2020. Wade and Smith have known each other for several years and had discussed working with each other in various capacities. “Dwyane is not only a basketball legend, he is also a great leader, businessman, and human being,” Smith said in a statement. ”As we continue to build on the incredible legacy of the Utah Jazz franchise, we are excited to add Dwyane’s experience and expertise to the equation. Utah is an amazing place and I couldn’t be more thrilled about the future of the franchise and the future of this state. Dwyane’s influence will be important to both.” Wade played 16 NBA seasons with Miami, Chicago and Cleveland before retiring after the 2018-19 season. He won three NBA titles... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — LaMarcus Aldridge retired from the NBA on Thursday after saying he experienced an irregular heartbeat during his final game with the Brooklyn Nets. Aldridge, 35, posted a statement on social media saying the heart concerns he had during and after Brooklyn's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday were one of the “scariest things” he's experienced. Aldridge, who was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome — an abnormality that can cause a rapid heartbeat — as a rookie in 2007, said he feels better now after getting it checked out but nevertheless decided to end his 15-year career. “For 15 years I've put basketball first, and now, it is time to put my health and my family first,” Aldridge wrote. The seven-time All-Star signed with the Nets on March 28 and he had become their starting center. He missed the last two games with what the team had called a non-COVID-19 illness. Nets general manager Sean Marks said the team fully supported Aldridge's decision. “We know... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Serge Ibaka and Patrick Beverley are all out for the Los Angeles Clippers for their game at Detroit on Wednesday night. Leonard is out with a sore right foot, Ibaka has lower back tightness, Beverley has a broken left hand, and the Clippers said they will rest George for this game. Los Angeles beat Indiana 126-115 on Tuesday night for its sixth straight victory. The Clippers play at Philadelphia on Friday night. Rodney McGruder (sprained right elbow) and Dennis Smith Jr. (left knee inflammation) are sidelined for the Pistons. ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports.

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets will be without Jamal Murray indefinitely after the dynamic point guard suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. The Nuggets announced the diagnosis in a statement Tuesday. It's a big blow to a team coming off a season in which it advanced to the Western Conference finals and is hoping to make another deep postseason run. Murray was hurt late in a loss at Golden State on Monday night. He drove the lane, tried to elevate off his left foot and fell to the ground, instantly grabbing his knee in pain. Coach Michael Malone expressed immense concern soon after Murray's injury. Same with his teammates and players around the league, who posted their well-wishes on social media. Before Monday, the 24-year-old Murray had missed four games with a sore right knee. He is averaging 21.2 points and 4.8 assists this season as the Nuggets sit in fourth place in the West. Murray drew rave reviews for his postseason performance inside the NBA bubble in Florida last season. He... [More]

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets will be without Jamal Murray indefinitely after the dynamic point guard suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. The Nuggets announced the diagnosis in a statement Tuesday. It's a big blow to a team coming off a season in which it advanced to the Western Conference finals and is hoping to make another deep postseason run. Murray was hurt late in a loss at Golden State on Monday night. He drove the lane, tried to elevate off his left foot and fell to the ground, instantly grabbing his knee in pain. Coach Michael Malone expressed immense concern soon after Murray's injury. Same with his teammates and players around the league, who posted their well-wishes on social media. Before Monday, the 24-year-old Murray had missed four games with a sore right knee. He is averaging 21.2 points and 4.8 assists this season as the Nuggets sit in fourth place in the West. Murray drew rave reviews for his postseason performance inside the NBA bubble in Florida last season. He... [More]

DALLAS (AP) — JJ Redick made his Dallas debut Monday night after being sidelined by a sore right heel since being acquired from New Orleans at the trade deadline. The veteran shooting guard returned against one of his former teams and former coaches in the Philadelphia 76ers and Doc Rivers, who had Redick for four of his seven seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Mavericks added Redick just before the deadline March 25, looking for a boost at the 3-point line as they try to climb into the top six in the Western Conference and avoid the play-in round for the playoffs. Redick entered late in the first quarter and missed two shots from inside the arc before hitting his first attempt from 3. He finished with four points, going 1 of 7 from the field and 1 of 3 from deep in Philadelphia's 113-95 victory. The 36-year-old Redick's last game for the Pelicans was March 3, when he scored 22 points despite going 1 of 5 from long range in a 128-124 loss to Chicago. The Mavericks also got Nicolo Melli in the deal, with Wesley Iwundu, James Johnson and a 2021 second-round pick going to New Orleans. Redick has averaged 12.9 points on 42% 3-point shooting over 15 seasons. He led the NBA at 48% shooting from long range in one of his seasons with the Clippers. This season Redick is averaging 8.7 points while shooting a career-low 36% from 3. ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DALLAS (AP) — JJ Redick made his Dallas debut Monday night after being sidelined by a sore right heel since being acquired from New Orleans at the trade deadline. The veteran shooting guard's return comes against one of his former teams and former coaches in the Philadelphia 76ers and Doc Rivers, who had Redick for four of his seven seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Mavericks added Redick just before the deadline March 25, looking for a boost at the 3-point line as they try to climb into the top six in the Western Conference and avoid the play-in round for the playoffs. Redick entered late in the first quarter and missed two shots from inside the arc before hitting his first attempt from 3. The 36-year-old Redick's last game for the Pelicans was March 3, when he scored 22 points despite going 1 of 5 from long range in a 128-124 loss to Chicago. The Mavericks also got Nicolo Melli in the deal, with Wesley Iwundu, James Johnson and a 2021 second-round pick going to New Orleans. Redick has averaged 12.9 points on 42% 3-point shooting over 15 seasons. He led the NBA at 48% shooting from long range in one of his seasons with the Clippers. This season Redick is averaging 8.7 points while shooting a career-low 36% from 3. More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DALLAS (AP) — JJ Redick is set for his Dallas debut after being sidelined by a sore right heel since being acquired from New Orleans at the trade deadline. The veteran shooting guard's return comes Monday night against one of his former teams and former coaches in the Philadelphia 76ers and Doc Rivers, who had Redick for four of his seven seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Mavericks added Redick just before the deadline March 25, looking for a boost at the 3-point line as they try to climb into the top six in the Western Conference and avoid the play-in round for the playoffs. The 36-year-old Redick's last game for the Pelicans was March 3, when he scored 22 points despite going 1 of 5 from long range in a 128-124 loss to Chicago. The Mavericks also got Nicolo Melli in the deal, with Wesley Iwundu, James Johnson and a 2021 second-round pick going to New Orleans. Redick has averaged 12.9 points on 42% 3-point shooting over 15 seasons. He led the NBA at 48% shooting from long range in one of his seasons with the Clippers. This season Redick is averaging 8.7 points while shooting a career-low 36% from 3. More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports