MILWAUKEE (AP) — Golden State star Stephen Curry won't play on Friday night against Milwaukee, the second straight game the sharpshooting guard will have been sidelined by a right ankle injury.Curry re-sprained the troublesome ankle before the Warriors' loss Wednesday night to the Los Angeles Clippers.Coach Steve Kerr said Curry lobbied to return Friday and felt good at shootaround, but that the ankle still wasn't well enough for him to play.The Warriors are beginning a five-game trip. Kerr said Curry will also be listed as questionable for the game Saturday night in Toronto.Golden State is getting Klay Thompson back on Friday night after the guard was rested against the Clippers.___For more NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Isaiah Thomas and Dwyane Wade were out of the lineup for the Cleveland Cavaliers against Indiana.Thomas has not yet been cleared to play on consecutive nights as he continues to play his way back from an injured right hip. Wade was resting.Two other guards, Iman Shumpert and Derrick Rose, were also unavailable for the Cavs on Friday night.Shumpert missed his 20th consecutive game since having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. Rose hasn't played since early December because of a sprained left ankle.Domantas Sabonis made his second straight start at center for the Pacers as Myles Turner sat with an injured right elbow.The Central Division-leading Cavaliers have lost six of eight and are 0-2 against the Pacers this season.___More NBA basketball: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood has been fined $35,000 by the NBA for slapping a phone out of a fan's hand.Hood was forced to leave Wednesday's game against the Washington Wizards after receiving a second technical foul. He knocked the phone out of a fan's hand while walking past the man who was sitting courtside and looked to be recording Hood exiting the court.The incident took place with 2:21 left in the third quarter of a 107-104 Jazz victory at Washington.The 6-foot-8, 206-pound sharpshooter has averaged a career-high 16.5 points per game this season as the Jazz have struggled to a 17-24 record. He picked up the second technical foul while lamenting a non-call to an official following a missed jump shot over John Wall.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Kevin Durant became the 44th player in NBA history to score 20,000 career points Wednesday night.Durant reached the milestone on a pull-up jumper from the left wing at the 1:41 mark of second quarter. The Warriors announced his accomplishment on the main scoreboard and Durant received a standing ovation, shaking his head in acknowledgment while still very much in game mode.The NBA Finals MVP returned from a three-game absence with a strained right calf and scored 25 points in the first half against the Clippers — KD's biggest half of the season. He came in needing exactly 25 points for 20,000.Durant, who had a four-point play during the second quarter on the way to 14 points in the period, is at 29 the second-youngest player behind LeBron James and the first to reach the 20,000 mark as a member of the Warriors.___For more NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Golden State star Stephen Curry was out for Wednesday night's home game against the Clippers after he slipped during the shootaround and re-sprained his troublesome right ankle.The Warriors updated their injury report to include Curry's status. It's the same injury that recently sidelined him for 11 games, though coach Steve Kerr said "I don't think it's serious." No MRI or X-rays were scheduled for now though Curry was sore and the Warriors won't take any chances."I didn't see anything," Kerr said before the game. "We just had a normal shootaround and he was in his usual game day routine with Q (Bruce Fraser) and he just rolled his ankle somehow," Kerr said. "Just kind of a fluke thing, kind of caught us off guard, but obviously he won't play."The reigning Western Conference player of the week, Curry has scored at least 29 points in seven straight games with 30 or more in six of those games. He has 12 30-point performances overall this season.Kevin Durant was set... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker is on target to return from a left knee injury the week before the All-Star break.Coach Jason Kidd said before Wednesday night's game against Orlando that Parker is doing great and is about a month away from playing.Parker, the second overall pick in the 2014 draft, was averaging 20.1 points when he tore his left ACL in a game against Houston on Feb. 8, 2017. It was his second major injury to that knee in three seasons. He had surgery six days later, and the Bucks said it would take a year for him to return.The All-Star Game is Feb. 18 in Los Angeles.___More NBA basketball: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Stephen Curry pumped his fists and flexed his biceps. He dangled that signature mouthpiece from his teeth in sheer delight.Oh, and he knocked down some of those familiar way-back 3-pointers, too.Yes, Golden State's sharp-shooting star is feeling it again, and he's proud to be, in his words, "that presence that kind of gets us going." Yet Curry was ruled out for Wednesday night's game against the Clippers after he slipped during the morning shootaround and tweaked his troublesome right ankle.In a 32-point, nine-assist performance against Denver on Monday, Curry wound up 9 for 17 overall while making 5 of 10 3-pointers. He remains a menace for opposing defenses even without his best shot.Curry's mere existence on the court makes every Warrior better. Teammate Draymond Green shot 42.1 percent from the field while Curry missed 11 games with a sprained right ankle. In the five games since Curry's return, Green has hit 55.6 percent. Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala have... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA has suspended Miami Heat forward James Johnson and Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka one game apiece for throwing punches at each other.The punishment was announced Wednesday by Kiki VanDeWeghe, the league's executive vice president for basketball operations.The fight began with 7:50 remaining in the third quarter of the Heat's 90-89 victory over the Raptors on Tuesday night in Toronto. Ibaka and Johnson started shoving each other while waiting for the ball to be inbounded under the Miami basket. Both received technical fouls and ejections.Johnson is serving his suspension Wednesday night when the Heat visit the Indiana Pacers. Ibaka will serve his suspension Thursday night when the Raptors host the Cleveland Cavaliers.The NBA also fined the Raptors' DeMar DeRozan $25,000 and the Heat's Goran Dragic $10,000 for a separate altercation at the end of the game, during which DeRozan attempted to shove.___For more NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

NEW YORK (AP) — Cleveland Cavaliers guard Isaiah Thomas has been fined $20,000 by the NBA for striking Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins in the throat.The punishment was announced Wednesday by Kiki VanDeWeghe, the league's executive vice president for basketball operations.The incident occurred with 6:47 remaining in the third quarter of the Cavaliers' 127-99 loss to the Timberwolves on Monday night in Minneapolis.Thomas clotheslined Wiggins in the jaw as he drove to the basket. He was ejected for a flagrant-two foul. He said afterward it was an accident and that he was glad Wiggins was all right.Wiggins had 25 points in three quarters. Thomas, still on a playing-time restriction coming off a hip injury, had nine points in 19 minutes.___For more NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

Isaiah Thomas' debut with Cleveland last week came with the same rules as when Kawhi Leonard rejoined the Spurs.His coach could use him, just not too much.Both were playing under the dreaded minute restrictions, which coaches learn to accept but will never learn to love."It really is a pain in the neck," San Antonio's Gregg Popovich said.Popovich has dealt with it this season with Leonard, Tony Parker and Danny Green. In their cases, as well as Thomas, Philadelphia's Joel Embiid and others returning from injuries, the team's medical staff gives the coach guidelines for how much workload they can handle and how often — a challenge even for a coach who's been at the forefront of resting players."It's difficult because it's very strange to try to figure out rotations. You can't do it," Popovich said. "You want to put somebody on the court, but you can't because of minutes, so you put somebody else on the court that shouldn't be on the court based on matchups or what you're trying to do defensively... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls say guard Zach LaVine will make his debut with his new team 11 months after having surgery on a torn ACL in his left knee.LaVine, who was acquired in a draft-day trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves, is expected to start Saturday when the Bulls host the Pistons.John Paxon, Chicago's executive vice president of basketball operations, said Tuesday that the team intends to limit LaVine to 20 minutes per game to ease him back into the rotation.LaVine averaged 18.9 points per game for Minnesota last season. He hasn't played since he tore his ACL in a Feb. 3 game against Detroit.The 22-year-old had surgery on Feb. 14 and was traded to Chicago along with Kris Dunn and the pick used to select first-rounder Lauri Markkanen.___More NBA basketball: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

BOSTON (AP) — Isaiah Thomas wanted to make thing one perfectly clear during his return to Boston: He isn't holding onto any hard feelings about the way he left.Thomas returned to TD Garden on Wednesday night for the first time since he was dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers in August as part of the blockbuster trade that brought Kyrie Irving to the Celtics.It was the lowest point of a whirlwind summer for Thomas, which was compounded by his ongoing recovery from the hip injury that cut short his postseason run with Boston last season.The injury sidelined him for Cleveland's season opener against his former team back in October. He missed the Cavs' first 36 games before returning to action against Portland on Tuesday night, scoring 17 points in 19 minutes.For now, his minutes are restricted, and he isn't playing on back-to-back nights. So he returned to action Tuesday knowing that he'd sit against the Celtics."I was out seven months. There's no way I was gonna come back against Boston and... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid went from doubtful to dominant, using a sprained right hand that nearly sidelined him to instead rock the rim, swat shots and stop the Spurs."I want to be out there with them. I don't want to quit on them," Embiid said.Ruled out by the 76ers before tipoff, Embiid made the call to push through and play, and then dealt San Antonio a rare bad hand in Philadelphia. Embiid had 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead the 76ers to a 112-106 win over the Spurs on Wednesday night.The Sixers needed all 35 minutes from Embiid to knock off short-handed San Antonio and snap a 12-game losing streak to the Spurs.It was the same old Embiid during the 76ers' fast start. He grabbed a rebound and had a putback for the first score of the game and had six points and six rebounds in the first quarter.He slammed home an alley-oop in the third and never even looked at his hand as he sank a free throw to finish the play."I was fine. Nothing to worry about," Embiid said.Embiid, who blocked... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls hope to decide on a return date for guard Zach LaVine early next week.LaVine will travel with the team to games at Dallas and Indiana on Friday and Saturday. Coach Fred Hoiberg says the two-time slam dunk champion will meet with doctors, trainers, management and coaches after the Bulls return home.LaVine averaged 18.9 points in 47 games for Minnesota last season before tearing the ACL in his left knee. The Bulls acquired him along with Kris Dunn and Lauri Markkanen in the trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves.Hoiberg spoke before Wednesday's matchup with Toronto. The Bulls' first home game after the upcoming trip is against Houston on Monday.___More NBA basketball: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid was in the starting lineup against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night after his coach said he was "very doubtful" to play because of a sprained right hand.Embiid had said his hand was swollen and it made him unable to shoot. Embiid, who leads the Sixers with 23.9 points and 10.9 rebounds in 27 games, was hurt Saturday when he took a hard fall against the Suns.Coach Brett Brown said before the game that Embiid was not likely to play. Embiid used a soft touch to sink a couple of shots during pregame drills, and that was enough to convince the Sixers he could play through the injury."When you see it, you see the bruising on his palm," Brown said. "When you go back and look at how he fell, you're surprised that's all it is. It's a club hand. And it's his shooting hand."The Sixers had been used to playing without their cornerstone center. He missed his first two seasons with foot injuries and was limited to 31 games last season.... [More]

Gregg Popovich was the coach nobody wanted.It's hard to fathom now, after five NBA championships as coach of the San Antonio Spurs and with him now alone in fifth place on the league's all-time victory list. But it's true — Popovich's decision to fire Bob Hill and make himself coach and general manager in December 1996 was horribly received at first, leaving even some of his own players baffled.The San Antonio Express-News took a poll after that season and found that 92 percent of Spurs fans wanted Popovich fired.As Popovich would suggest now (on politics, one of his favorite topics), sometimes voters get it wrong."The pressure is always there for any coach," Popovich said. "You've got to get the job done. If you don't, you're not there. If you do get it done, you get to stay."He said those words in 1997. He was right.Popovich now has 1,176 wins. He's 34 away from No. 4 Pat Riley, 45 shy of No. 3 Jerry Sloan, and should catch both next season. He would need 156 to catch No. 2 Lenny Wilkens,... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Isaiah Thomas is back on the court doing what he does best.The All-Star point guard made his long-awaited debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night, his first action since re-injuring his right hip on May 19 in the Eastern Conference finals.With the crowd stirring, Thomas sat at the scorer's table before checking in to a loud ovation with 4:33 left in the first quarter of the Cavs' game with the Portland Trail Blazers.It didn't take long for the 5-foot-9 Thomas to get involved in the action as he quickly picked up an assist on a pass to Jae Crowder, who came along with him from Boston in a blockbuster trade last summer.Wearing his familiar headband and No. 3, the playmaker missed his first shot and got fouled on a drive to the basket. Moments later, Thomas dropped a 14-foot pull-up jumper to pull the Cavs within 28-25.Then, Thomas drove the lane and scooped in a left-handed layup while being fouled, the type of play he perfected in Boston. As he picked himself... [More]

WASHINGTON -- Otto Porter scored 26 points and Bradley Beal had 21 as the Washington Wizards handed the Houston Rockets their fifth consecutive loss with a 121-103 win on Friday night.Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 10 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter for the Wizards (20-16), who turned a nine-point lead entering the fourth quarter into a rout. John Wall finished with 17 points.James Harden led the Rockets (25-9) with 20 points. Chris Paul started and scored eight points in 25 minutes after sitting out the previous three games with a left adductor strain.The Rockets, who average more 3-point attempts than any team, shot 5-for-25 from beyond the arc in the first half and finished 14 of 48.Porter sank 7 of 11 shots from long distance and the Wizards shot 18 of 36 on 3-pointers. Washington finished at 53.4 percent from the field compared to Houston's 42.7 percent.Hornets 111, Warriors 100OAKLAND, Calif. -- Dwight Howard totaled a season-high 29 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists to propel... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Stephen Curry returned from an 11-game absence due to an ankle injury and set an NBA season-high by hitting 10 3-pointers as the Golden State Warriors beat the Memphis Grizzlies 141-128 on Saturday.In his first game since Dec. 4, Curry scored 38 points on 13 of 17 shooting. He made 10 of 13 as Golden State (29-8) shot 54.5 percent (18 of 33) from behind the arc and 58.8 percent overall.Klay Thompson added 21 and hit five 3-pointers while Kevin Durant contributed 20 for the defending champions.Marc Gasol led the Grizzlies (11-25) with 27 points while Tyreke Evans added 22 as Memphis shot 52.1 percent and 71.4 percent (15 of 21) from 3-point range.Jazz 104, Cavaliers 101SALT LAKE CITY -- Rookie Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points and Utah held off Cleveland.Derrick Favors added 19 while Ricky Rubio totaled 16 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists as Utah (16-21) beat Cleveland for the fourth straight time.LeBron James turned 33 and played for the seventh time on his birthday.... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Rockets star James Harden will miss at least two weeks with a left hamstring strain.The team announced Monday that the NBA's leading scorer has a grade 2 strain and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.Harden was injured on a missed layup late in the fourth quarter of Houston's 148-142 double-overtime win against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night. He said after the game that he didn't think the injury was serious, but the guard was walking with a pronounced limp.The Rockets have the second-best record in the Western Conference behind Golden State at 26-9, and Harden leads the NBA with his scoring average of 32.3 points per game. He also is averaging 9.1 assists, ranking third in the league.Harden, who has played every game this season, has been extremely durable during his career, missing just two games since the start of the 2014-15 season.