DETROIT (AP) — Blake Griffin is back in the lineup for the Detroit Pistons for the first time this season.Griffin missed Detroit's first 10 games with hamstring and knee issues, but he started Monday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Pistons went 4-6 without him.Point guard Reggie Jackson is still out for Detroit because of a lumbar stress reaction, but Derrick Rose is back after missing four games with a right hamstring injury. Minnesota point guards Jeff Teague (illness) and Shabazz Napier (right hamstring strain) are out for a fourth straight game.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The tension that the Minnesota Timberwolves lugged into last season has been long stamped out, replaced by talk of creating culture, establishing process and building relationships under a new regime.This team will be flying under the radar in the star-bursting Western Conference, facing a steep climb to the fringe of the playoff picture after finishing in 11th place in 2018-19. How much impact a fully healthy roster, an upbeat mood and a modernized on-court strategy will ultimately have on performance remains a mystery, but for now it's clear at least that these players have been enjoying each other's company.Whether through a trip to the Bahamas led by center Karl-Anthony Towns or the well-attended informal workouts on the court at team headquarters, the Timberwolves didn't have to share how-they-spent-their-summer-vacation stories when they showed up on Monday for the start of training camp. They spent so much of the offseason together they already knew the details."They've... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Rarely has a pro sports team experienced such a difference in drama levels from the start to finish of one season that these Minnesota Timberwolves did.As the Timberwolves wound down the second half of their schedule that was as dull as the first part was eventful, they were outspoken in their desire to establish a healthier and steadier environment for 2019-20 in which the excitement would be confined to contention for the playoffs instead of off-the-court issues."Stability is such a big key component in winning in the NBA," All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns said this week. "So hopefully this summer we can find that stability in our coaching staff and everything and find a way to come back ready to go and have a head start this time."Soap opera status was achieved before training, when Jimmy Butler's wish to be traded after just one season in Minnesota became public. Tom Thibodeau, one of the rare dual-role president-coach authorities remaining in the league who acquired Butler... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves will make hiring a new president of basketball operations their first offseason priority.The Timberwolves announced Wednesday before their final game of the season in Denver they will start an immediate search for a front office leader, with the fates of general manager Scott Layden and interim head coach Ryan Saunders yet to be decided. The team said it has no timeline for completing the hire.Tom Thibodeau, who was fired Jan. 6, held the dual role of president of basketball operations and head coach for 2½ seasons, one game short of the halfway point of his contract. Layden stayed on in charge of the roster, and Saunders was promoted to run the team. Owner Glen Taylor said then he would evaluate Layden and Saunders over the balance of the season before determining whether they would return.In a statement distributed by the team, Taylor thanked Layden, Saunders and the rest of the basketball staff for navigating through the challenge of such... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves will make hiring a new president of basketball operations their first offseason priority.The Timberwolves announced Wednesday before their final game of the season in Denver they will start an immediate search for a front office leader, with the fates of general manager Scott Layden and interim head coach Ryan Saunders yet to be decided. The team said it has no timeline for completing the hire.Tom Thibodeau, who was fired Jan. 6, held the dual role of president of basketball operations and head coach for 2½ seasons, one game short of the halfway point of his contract. Layden stayed on in charge of the roster, and Saunders was promoted to run the team. Owner Glen Taylor said then he would evaluate Layden and Saunders over the balance of the season before determining whether they would return.In a statement distributed by the team, Taylor thanked Layden, Saunders and the rest of the basketball staff for navigating through the challenge of such... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — The playoff field is largely set.The positioning, that's still anyone's guess.So even while some of what we could have had for drama over the final 2½ weeks of the NBA regular season won't materialize — LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are already out of the playoffs, robbing us of one potential story line — the races for seedings and home-court edges are almost certain now to go down to the final days of the season.Milwaukee has the edge over all other teams in the race for the No. 1 overall seed. Dwyane Wade's career still isn't guaranteed of going past Miami's regular-season finale in Brooklyn on April 10. Golden State, bidding for a third straight NBA championship and fourth in five years, still has a fight on its hands just to get the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference."We're ready to take on any challenger," Warriors forward Draymond Green said.There have been nights where that's looked like a very accurate statement. Others, not so much.The Warriors have lost... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves have more than likely shut down three of their top five scorers for the rest of the season with lingering injuries: Robert Covington, Derrick Rose and Jeff Teague.The Timberwolves announced before their game Thursday at Charlotte that Covington, who was the centerpiece of the package received in the Jimmy Butler trade, recently suffered a setback with the bone bruise on his right knee. Covington had been progressing closer to a return since getting hurt on Dec. 31. He played in only 22 games for the Wolves after arriving from Philadelphia.Rose has missed the last four games with soreness and swelling in his right elbow. He had an MRI test on Tuesday that revealed a bone chip and a loose body in the joint. Teague has also missed the last four games after aggravating a left foot injury that initially occurred in mid-December. He had an injection on Tuesday to treat chronic inflammation.The team said all three players are not expected to play anymore this season. The Wolves are on the verge of being eliminated from the playoff race.___More AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Saying he respects the gay and lesbian community, Minnesota forward Andrew Wiggins tried Wednesday to clarify comments he made about Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder's behavior during a heated game.Thunder center Nerlens Noel was taken off the court on a stretcher in the third quarter after Wiggins collided with Noel on a dunk attempt Tuesday night. Schroder, unhappy about the play and other incidents, eventually was given a technical foul for an altercation with Timberwolves guard Jeff Teague.After the game, Wiggins said Schroder's actions were unwarranted. According to audio from the locker room, Wiggins appeared to say: "He was just gay. He was acting crazy for no reason."A few hours later, Wiggins went on Twitter and tried to explain what he said ."I'd like to clarify what I said tonight during my post game media session. I said: 'I don't know what's wrong with him he was just getting... acting crazy for no reason,'" he tweeted.In his next post , Wiggins... [More]

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Thunder's Nerlens Noel has been placed in the NBA's concussion protocol after he collided with Andrew Wiggins and hit the floor Tuesday night during Oklahoma City's game with the Minnesota Timberwolves.The team announced that Noel was held overnight at the University of Oklahoma's hospital for tests and observations and was released Wednesday. There is no timetable for Noel to complete the protocol process.Noel took an elbow in the face as Wiggins drove to the basket, and Noel's head hit the ground hard . The team said Noel lost consciousness while being knocked to the floor. A defensive foul was called on Noel. The play was reviewed, and no additional fouls were accessed. Noel was down for several minutes before being taken from the court on a stretcher. Players from both teams exchanged words while Noel was on the ground.Noel has been a critical reserve for the Thunder this season, averaging 5.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 14 minutes per contest.Wiggins... [More]

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Minnesota forward Andrew Wiggins attempted to clarify comments Wednesday that he used the word gay to describe Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder's behavior during their game.Thunder center Nerlens Noel was taken off the court on a stretcher in the third quarter after Wiggins collided with Noel on a dunk attempt Tuesday night. Schroder, unhappy about the play and other incidents in what was a testy game, eventually was given a technical foul for an altercation with Timberwolves guard Jeff Teague.Wiggins thought Schroder's actions were unwarranted."He was just gay," Wiggins said afterward. "He was acting crazy for no reason."A few hours later, Wiggins tried on social media to clarify his comments ."Id like to clarify what I said tonight during my post game media session. I said: "I don't know what's wrong with him he was just getting... acting crazy for no reason," he said on Twitter.In his next post , Wiggins did not use the word apology, but said: "I have... [More]

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Minnesota forward Andrew Wiggins has apologized for using the word gay to describe Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder's behavior during their game.Thunder center Nerlens Noel was taken off the court on a stretcher in the third quarter after Wiggins collided with Noel on a dunk attempt Tuesday night. Schroder, unhappy about the play and other incidents in what was a testy game, eventually was given a technical foul for an altercation with Timberwolves guard Jeff Teague.After the game, Wiggins says he thought Schroder's actions were unwarranted and that "he was just gay. He was acting crazy for no reason."Later, on Twitter, Wiggins apologized, saying: "I have the utmost love and respect for the LGBTQIA community and I would never use any term to disrespect them in anyway."___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Thunder center Nerlens Noel was taken off the court on a stretcher in the third quarter of Tuesday's game against Minnesota after the Timberwolves' Andrew Wiggins made contact with him on a dunk attempt.Noel took an elbow in the face as Wiggins went up, and Noel's head hit the ground hard. A defensive foul was called on Noel. The play was reviewed, and no additional fouls were called. Noel was down for several minutes before being taken from the court. Players from both teams jawed at each other while Noel was on the ground.Thunder coach Billy Donovan said after the game that Noel was taken to the University of Oklahoma's OU Medical Center. He did not offer details on the injury.Wiggins said he didn't mean to hurt Noel."I just tried to make an aggressive move and dunk," Wiggins said. "He tried to contest it. I think he fell wrong. I didn't really see it until I saw him on the ground. Hopefully, he's good. I hope nothing but the best for him. I hope he gets healthy soon and comes back stronger."A few minutes after the collision, there was a skirmish between Thunder guard Dennis Schroder and Timberwolves guard Jeff Teague. Two technicals were called on Teague and he was ejected. Schroder also was called for a technical.Minnesota won the game 119-117.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Thunder center Nerlens Noel was taken off the court on a stretcher in the third quarter of Tuesday's game against Minnesota after the Timberwolves' Andrew Wiggins made contact with him on a dunk attempt.Noel took an elbow in the face as Wiggins went up, and Noel hit the ground hard. A defensive foul was called on Noel. The play was reviewed, and no additional fouls were called. Noel was down for several minutes before being taken from the court. Players from both teams jawed at each other while Noel was on the ground.A few minutes later, there was a skirmish between Thunder guard Dennis Schroder and Timberwolves guard Jeff Teague. Two technicals were called on Teague and he was ejected. Schroder also was called for a technical.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Jeff Teague will miss Monday's game against the Sacramento Kings with left ankle inflammation.Coach Tom Thibodeau said Teague, who averages 11.6 points and a team-high 8.3 assists per game, didn't sustain a particular injury, but the inflammation built over time.Teague had been considered a game-time decision. He missed seven games earlier this season with a left knee injury. Derrick Rose will start in Teague's place.Sacramento is without rookie Marvin Bagley III (left knee bone bruise) and guard Iman Shumpert (personal reasons). Bagley will miss his second straight game with the injury. Shumpert missed the last game with a hip contusion.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves ruled out All-Star Jimmy Butler before their game Wednesday night against Utah for "precautionary rest."Coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters at the morning shootaround that Butler's absence was not related to his trade request."He missed all of training camp, basically, so he has just general soreness," Thibodeau said.Butler told ESPN he planned to attend the game against the Jazz at the Target Center and travel with the team on its five-game trip that begins Friday night at Golden State. Butler told the network he would play against the Warriors and disputed speculation that he was sitting out Wednesday in protest of the lack of action by the Wolves on his desire to be dealt elsewhere."Because my body is hurting and I don't want to go out there and risk an injury, people make stuff up?" Butler said.Thibodeau was noncommittal when asked if Butler would join the team on the trip.Butler scored 32 points in 37 minutes in Minnesota's win Monday night... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves ruled out All-Star Jimmy Butler in advance of their game Wednesday against Utah for "precautionary rest."Coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters at the morning shootaround that Butler's absence was not related to his trade request ."He missed all of training camp, basically, so he has just general soreness," Thibodeau said.Butler told ESPN he planned to attend the game against the Jazz at the Target Center and travel with the team on its five-game road trip that begins Friday at Golden State. Butler told the network he would play against the Warriors and disputed speculation that he was sitting out Wednesday in protest of the lack of action by the Wolves on his desire to be dealt elsewhere."Because my body is hurting and I don't want to go out there and risk an injury, people make stuff up?" Butler said.Thibodeau was noncommittal when asked if Butler would join the team on the trip.Butler scored 32 points in 37 minutes in Minnesota's win Monday against... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves have ruled out All-Star Jimmy Butler for their game against Utah for what they're calling "precautionary rest."Coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters at the morning shootaround Wednesday that Butler's absence wasn't related to his trade request. Butler scored 32 points in 37 minutes in Minnesota's win Monday against the Los Angeles Lakers. Players didn't practice Tuesday.Thibodeau was noncommittal about whether Butler would join the team on the upcoming road trip, with the first stop Friday to face the Golden State Warriors.The Wolves also have declared point guard Jeff Teague out against the Jazz with a sore left knee. He was hurt in the game against the Lakers.___More AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Jimmy Butler is still with the Minnesota Timberwolves, at least in an official sense.In reality, it remains a mess.Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau Friday acknowledged the team's efforts to grant Butler's trade request."Obviously, we're trying to get something done," Thibodeau told reporters in Minneapolis.What that "something" is, that's still unknown.Friday was Day 18 of the Butler saga, starting from when the four-time All-Star swingman told Thibodeau of his desire to play elsewhere. Butler has not practiced with the Timberwolves during training camp, and Friday night's Wolves preseason game against Oklahoma City will be the third exhibition that he's missed — with no end to the impasse in sight.Multiple teams have been engaged in trade talks with the Timberwolves since Butler's intentions to play elsewhere became known. Miami is one of those teams, and has been involved in the Butler negotiations with Minnesota almost from the very beginning. A person with knowledge of those negotiations... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — For a team that didn't make any major moves during the summer, the Minnesota Timberwolves sure have their share of new players this season.The critical process of familiarization and integration will speed up over the next week, in the form of a trip to California to continue training camp and play a couple of exhibition games while Jimmy Butler's unresolved trade request looms in the background .The Timberwolves will be out of town for seven days, a prime time for bonding."They can spend a lot of time together. We'll have good practices, some film sessions, some team dinners, so I think it's good," coach Tom Thibodeau said Thursday, before the traveling party boarded a plane for the Bay Area. The Wolves play the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors on Friday night.With draft picks Josh Okogie and Keita Bates-Diop and veterans Anthony Tolliver and Luol Deng, the Wolves will sport a significantly different look to their bench. When — or if, as Thibodeau has insisted... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves made major strides this season in ending their 13-year absence from the NBA playoffs after a franchise-altering trade for All-Star Jimmy Butler.With cornerstones Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins in their early 20s and veterans Taj Gibson and Jeff Teague coming off productive debuts in Minnesota, there is a sturdy starting lineup in place around Butler to ideally take the Timberwolves deeper in the next postseason.Advancement is easier stated than consummated.The Wolves, even with coach Tom Thibodeau's preference to give his first-teamers heavy minutes, need to add depth this summer with defense and 3-point shooting atop the skill-set wish list. There is no clear way to acquire more of it, though, after making the logical first moves by drafting versatile wing players Josh Okogie and Keita Bates-Diop last week .Wiggins will begin playing on his maximum contract in 2018-19, with a $25 million-plus salary that will account for more than 20... [More]