The Sacramento Kings hired Scott Perry as executive vice president of basketball operations, the team announced FridayPerry will report directly to general manager Vlade Divac and assist in all aspects of the day-to-day operation of the Kings' front office, including roster management and development, player personnel matters, scouting strategy and free agency negotiations.Perry joins the Kings after serving the last five seasons in a similar capacity with the Orlando Magic, who fired general manager Rob Hennigan and assistant GM Perry last week as part of the front office overhaul."I'm thrilled that Scott will be joining our front office team," Divac said in a statement. "His extensive experience in the league and management talents will help build on our progress as we work to develop a winning franchise."Prior to his time in central Florida, Perry spent parts of 12 seasons with the Detroit Pistons as a collegiate scout, director of player personnel and later as vice president of basketball operations. The Pistons won the NBA title in 2004 during Perry's tenure. He also served as the then-Seattle Supersonics assistant general manager in the 2007-08 season, during which the franchise drafted Kevin Durant No. 2 overall.Before entering the NBA executive ranks, Perry spent three seasons as head coach at Eastern Kentucky (1997-2000) and nine years as an assistant coach at Michigan, California and Detroit Mercy.

Washington Wizards backup center Ian Mahinmi will miss at least Games 3 and 4 of the first-round Eastern Conference playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks, the team announced Friday.Wizards coach Scott Brooks said Mahinmi's strained left calf was re-evaluated and he has "definitely improved, feeling better each day but he definitely won't play the next few games."The 6-foot-11, 262-pound Mahinmi has missed the start of the postseason after being injured late in the regular season. He averaged 5.6 points and 4.8 rebounds in 31 games this season."There's really no timetable, other than whenever he's ready, he's ready," Brooks said before the team traveled to Atlanta for Saturday's Game 3 at Phillips Arena. "There's no pressure from me or our staff."The Wizards lead the Hawks 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.

Washington Wizards forward Kelly Oubre Jr. was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Friday for kicking the ball into the stands.The incident occurred at the conclusion of the 109-101 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night that gave the Wizards a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference series. Oubre had one point and one rebound in 13 minutes.Game 3 switches to Atlanta on Saturday.

Chicago Bulls point guard Rajon Rondo suffered a fractured right thumb in Game 2 on Tuesday night against the Boston Celtics and will be out indefinitely, the team announced Friday.The Bulls said Rondo underwent a subsequent exam and X-rays confirmed the thumb fracture. His injury will not require surgery.Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said Friday that Rondo will be re-evaluated in seven to 10 days and is wearing a cast. Rondo also has been dealing with a wrist injury that caused him to miss three games in the final week of the regular season.Second-year point guard Jerian Grant will start in Rondo's place for Game 3 on Friday night in Chicago.The eight-seeded Bulls beat the Celtics 111-97 on Tuesday to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven series against the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Rondo just missed with a triple-double, finishing with 11 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds, and added five steals.Hoiberg said the injury occurred during the third quarter of Game 2 after Rondo... [More]

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook was fined $15,000 by the NBA on Friday for using inappropriate language during a postgame media interview.Westbrook made his comments after the Thunder's 115-111 loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night to go down 2-0 in the first-round Western Conference playoff series.Westbrook scored 51 points in Game 2 and recorded the highest-scoring triple-double in playoff history. He set a franchise playoff scoring record and added 13 assists and 10 rebounds. It was the sixth career playoff triple-double for Westbrook, who had an NBA-record 42 in the regular season.At the postgame press conference after the game, Westbrook did not want to talk about his statistics."I don't give a (expletive) about the line," Westbrook told reporters. "We lost."Game 3 will be played in Oklahoma City on Friday night.

INDIANAPOLIS -- LeBron James recorded 41 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists, and the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied from a 26-point deficit to stun the Indiana Pacers 119-114 on Thursday night in Game 3 of their opening-round Eastern Conference playoff series.Cleveland grabbed a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.James, who has won 20 consecutive first-round playoff games, scored 28 second-half points and completely dominated the fourth quarter. Channing Frye's clutch 3-pointer with 54.8 seconds to play gave the Cavaliers a 114-107 lead.Cleveland outscored Indiana 70-40 in the second half. Kevin Love, J.R. Smith, Kyrie Irving and Frye each scored 13 points for the Cavs, and Kyle Korver added 12. Paul George scored 36 points, including 21 during a dominating second quarter, but Indiana could not stop James and Cleveland after halftime.Grizzlies 105, Spurs 94MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Mike Conley scored 24 points and added eight assists as Memphis defeated San Antonio to climb back in their first-round... [More]

F LeBron James recorded 41 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists in Thursday's 119-114 victory in Indiana. "They came out and jumped on us in the first half, but when we came into the locker room at halftime, I told the guys, 'Let's just get a couple of stops and see what happens,'" said James, who helped Cleveland erase a 26-point deficit. "Then we took the ball right at them and got back in the game. For me, it's always just about trying to get better and being the best that I can be. That's what I was trying to do tonight. Then, we got some great play from our guys off the bench." James, who has won 20 consecutive first-round playoff games, scored 28 second-half points and completely dominated the fourth quarter.

C Rudy Gobert has been declared out of Friday's Game 3 because of the knee injury he suffered in the opener of the seven-game series against the Los Angeles Clippers. Gobert was ruled out Thursday as he continues his recovery from the injury he suffered 17 seconds into Saturday's game. Gobert banged knees with Clippers F Luc Mbah a Moute and suffered a hyperextended left knee and a bone contusion.

G J.R. Smith was listed as questionable because of a left hamstring injury, but was in the starting lineup Thursday.

G DeMar DeRozan missed all eight of his attempts from the floor and finished with eight points in Thursday's 104-77 loss in Milwaukee. DeRozan failed to make a shot from the floor for the first time in his playoff career.

F Paul George scored 36 points, including 21 during a dominating second quarter, in Thursday's 119-114 loss to Cleveland. "We came out in the second half with a 25-point lead and had a chance to put our foot on their throat," said George, who also had 15 rebounds and nine assists. "Instead, we came out relaxed and just allowed them to step into wide-open 3-pointers.''

F Khris Middleton scored 20 points in Thursday's 104-77 victory over Toronto.

F Zach Randolph recorded 21 points and eight rebounds in Thursday's 105-94 victory over San Antonio. First-year coach David Fizdale asked Randolph to embrace a sixth-man role this season, but decided to start the veteran Thursday in an effort to change the game. "He was like a secret weapon tonight," Memphis PG Mike Conley said. Randolph started slowly, scoring two points in the first quarter. But he had 11 points on 5-for-6 shooting in the second quarter. He added eight points in the third quarter as the Grizzlies outscored the Spurs 31-17 and led 81-63 entering the fourth. "Z-Bo was fantastic," Fizdale said. (Winning) just matters so much to him."

C Marc Gasol had 21 points, six rebounds and three assists in Thursday's 105-94 victory over San Antonio.

PG Mike Conley recorded 24 points and eight assists in Thursday's 105-94 victory over San Antonio.

PF LaMarcus Aldridge recorded 16 points and 11 rebounds in Thursday's 105-94 loss in Memphis.

HOUSTON -- Eric Gordon and Lou Williams caught fire from the perimeter in the fourth quarter and the Houston Rockets erased a 15-point deficit to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 115-111 on Wednesday night at Toyota Center in Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series.Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook posted a triple-double of 51 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds. However, he shot 4 of 18 in the fourth quarter.Gordon gave the Rockets their first lead with his 3-pointer at the 8:07 mark of the fourth quarter. Williams followed with a trey 27 seconds later before James Harden nailed a 3 to push Houston to a 104-100 lead with 5:16 left.Gordon delivered the decisive shot with 1:48 remaining, drilling a 28-footer off a Harden pass to extend the lead to eight and give Houston a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 is scheduled for Friday night in Oklahoma City.Warriors 110, Trail Blazers 81OAKLAND, Calif. -- Golden State tightened the defensive screws with star forward Kevin Durant out... [More]

G Marcus Smart was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Wednesday for making an obscene gesture toward a fan during the Game 2 loss to the Chicago Bulls. The incident occurred with 6:07 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Celtics' 111-97 loss to the Bulls at TD Garden on Tuesday night in their first-round Eastern Conference best-of-seven playoff series. Smart finished with 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting over 27 minutes.

G Stephen Curry had 19 points and four steals in a 110-81 win over Portland. Curry, who had shot just 2-for-9 in the first half, finally caught fire, nailing three 3-pointers while single-handedly outscoring the Trail Blazers 13-12 in the third.

PG Damian Lillard was held under 25 points for the first time in eight playoff games. He had tied SG Clyde Drexler's franchise record of seven straight with 25 or more when he tallied 34 in Game 1. Lillard, who missed all four of his 3-point attempts, finished with 12 points in Game 2.