CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine will miss two to four weeks with a sprained left ankle, the team said Wednesday.LaVine leads the team with 23.8 points and 4.8 assists per game and is averaging 4.9 rebounds.He was injured late in the Bulls' 97-91 loss to the Orlando Magic last Thursday in Mexico City. He had an MRI in San Antonio on Saturday and was reevaluated earlier this week when the team returned to Chicago."The good news, I guess, is it's just an ankle sprain," LaVine said.The 23-year-old signed a four-year, $78 million contract with the Bulls over the summer. LaVine played in 24 games last season after missing nearly a year following ACL reconstruction on his left knee.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans left Wednesday night's game against the Milwaukee Bucks after appearing to injure his left ankle.Davis limped off the court and went directly to the locker room in the waning seconds of the first quarter after his legs got tangled with teammate Andrew Harrison underneath the basket as Harrison drew a charge on Milwaukee's Thon Maker.Harrison fell backward into Davis, who fell to the floor and immediately clutched his lower left leg.Davis, who also appeared shaken up on the previous play after blocking a shot and falling to the court, returned to the bench for a brief period at the start of the second quarter before again heading to locker room.The Pelicans announced he was questionable to return due to an illness.Davis scored 14 points and had five rebounds in the first quarter in a much-anticipated match-up with Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo.New Orleans entered the game short-handed in the front court due to a rash of injuries.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A Milwaukee police officer fired over social media posts he made mocking the stun-gun arrest of an NBA basketball player lost his appeal to get his job back.The Fire and Police Commission upheld the firing of Erik Andrade Wednesday after a two-day hearing. Police Chief Alfonso Morales said he fired Andrade because his posts violated the department's social media policy and compromised the officer's ability to testify in other cases.Milwaukee Bucks guard Sterling Brown sued the police department in June and accused officers of using excessive force and targeting him because he's black. A group of officers swarmed on him in a Walgreens parking lot because he didn't immediately remove his hands from his pockets while he waited for a parking citation on Jan. 26.

NEW YORK (AP) — Oklahoma City guards Raymond Felton and Dennis Schroder were suspended for one game without pay Wednesday for leaving the bench area during an altercation and participating in the melee that spilled over into the stands.Chicago center Robin Lopez was fined $25,000, and Thunder forward Jerami Grant was fined $20,000, both for escalating the altercation in Oklahoma City's 121-96 home victory Monday night. Bulls guard Kris Dunn was fined $15,000 for instigating the altercation by shoving Thunder star Russell Westbrook.Felton and Schroder will sit out the Thunder's game Wednesday night at Sacramento.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MIAMI (AP) — Goran Dragic had surgery to clean out his right knee on Wednesday, and the Miami Heat expect him to be out until around the All-Star break.Dragic has already missed 15 of Miami's last 22 games, most of them because of right knee soreness. He tried other treatments, including getting the knee drained, but continued issues with the knee made the scope — a 45-minute procedure performed by team surgeon Dr. Harlan Selesnick — unavoidable.Dragic played in two of the first three games on Miami's recent six-game road trip, but swelling and pain issues persisted. The Heat ultimately decided the scope was needed to determine the cause of the problem.Dragic has averaged 15.3 points and a team-high 4.9 assists for the Heat this season.___More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns have waived guard Austin Rivers, a day after he was obtained in a trade with the Washington Wizards.In a deal finalized over the weekend and announced Monday, the Suns acquired Rivers and Kelly Oubre from the Wizards in exchange for Trevor Ariza.If he clears waivers, Rivers becomes an unrestricted free agent.Rivers appeared in 29 games for Washington, averaging 7.2 points per game while shooting 39 percent from the field. He averaged 15.1 points per game last season for the Los Angeles Clippers.Rivers, the 10th overall pick in the draft by New Orleans in 2012, is the son of Clippers coach Doc Rivers.

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

DETROIT (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon is out for a second straight game because of left hamstring soreness.Ersan Ilyasova is also missing Monday night's game at Detroit with a nose contusion. The Pistons are without guard Ish Smith (right adductor tear), forward Glenn Robinson III (left ankle sprain) and forward Henry Ellenson (left ankle sprain).Tony Snell replaced Brogdon in the starting lineup. Brogdon is averaging 15.3 points per game this season and started every game until he was inactive Friday against Cleveland.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DENVER (AP) — The topic: Denver leading the Western Conference and whether teams are starting to take the Nuggets more seriously.The look from Nikola Jokic: Nearly expressionless. The Joker doesn't jest about this subject."To be honest, I don't really care," Jokic said . "Because we know that we're good."Denver is missing three starters and still boasts a percentage points lead over Golden State in the conference standings . This marks the latest into a season the Nuggets have been leading the conference since December 18, 1984.The Nuggets have swagger, confidence and Jokic, the big Serbian center/forward/guard who's blossoming into one of the league's most hard-to-defend players."A lot of people just think we are on a hot run right now," said forward Torrey Craig, whose team has won 10 of 12 heading into Tuesday's game against Dallas. "They don't really believe in us. But I think we have started to open a lot of eyes. We just have to realize how we win."Grind it out? They can do that.... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Wizards have completed a trade to acquire forward Trevor Ariza from the Phoenix Suns for forward Kelly Oubre Jr. and guard Austin Rivers.Washington general manager Ernie Grunfeld announced the deal Monday after it was agreed to in principle over the weekend. Grunfeld called Ariza "one of the most effective, efficient and versatile players at his position for over a decade."Ariza, 33, returns to Washington, where he played the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons. The 6-foot-8, 215-pound swingman is averaging 9.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 26 games with the Suns this season, the last remaining on his contract.Oubre, 23, goes to the Suns in the middle of his fourth NBA season after the Wizards selected him 15th overall in the 2015 draft. Rivers, 26, will be on his third time in two seasons after a trade from the Los Angeles Clippers to Washington in the summer.Grunfeld says the Wizards commend Oubre on his growth and development and appreciate Rivers' contributions during his brief time with them.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — This was hardly the ideal way for LeBron James and his Los Angeles Lakers to cap what amounted to an eventful week of highs and lows.And arriving one night after what seemed to be a breakthrough performance, this dud demonstrated just how much more room for improvement four-time NBA MVP James and his new teammates have.James shot just 5 for 16, managing merely a season-worst 13 points. He and the rest of the Lakers put up barely any resistance at the defensive end and trailed by as many as 27 points while stumbling their way to a 128-110 loss to the Washington Wizards on Sunday night."We're a good team," James insisted afterward. "Tonight was just one of those instances where we didn't play well."That's certainly true, at both ends of the court and in various ways.The 22 turnovers. The 51-43 rebounding deficit. The 0-for-8 start on 3-point attempts. The way they allowed Wizards point guard John Wall to dominate en route to a 40-point, 14-assist performance."Not a lot of... [More]

With eight shopping days to Christmas, the NBA's decision to have Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo and Philadelphia's Joel Embiid in its holiday lineup is more than just sides in another hoop smorgasbord.It puts the spotlight on — and raises a question — about the MVP race, as in, who in the Eastern Conference is a legitimate contender. It's a question because the last East MVP, LeBron James going on six years ago, has moved West.Of course, the conversation has to include the biggest name to go the opposite direction this past offseason: Toronto's Kawhi Leonard, who forced his way out of San Antonio in a trade after missing most of last season with a mysterious leg injury."Oh yeah," first-year Atlanta coach Lloyd Pierce declared about the East's MVP hopes."We missed Kawhi last year and the people that coached against him didn't for a reason," said Pierce, who was an assistant with the 76ers for Embiid's first two seasons. "He's a dominant two-way player. Antetokounmpo is unbelievable and... [More]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry says guard E'Twaun Moore is ready to return from a lower leg strain that sidelined him for two games and is expected to play Sunday night against Miami.Gentry says forward Nikola Mirotic is missing his second straight game with a right ankle injury.Moore, who has started all but three of 27 games in which he has played, has averaged 14 points per game this season. Recently he shifted into primary reserve role.Mirotic has been New Orleans fourth-leading scorer, averaging 17.4 points.Heat coach Erik Spoelstra says guard Goran Dragic is sitting out his third straight game and fourth in five because of sore right knee. Dragic is with the team on its six-game trip that ends in New Orleans and could be seen working out before tip-off.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — Jimmy Butler returned for the Philadelphia 76ers against the Cleveland Cavaliers after missing two games because of a strained groin.Sixers coach Brett Brown said before Sunday's matchup that Butler would be a game-time decision. The four-time All-Star went through warmups and was in the starting lineup.Butler was injured in the first quarter Monday against Detroit and went scoreless in 10 minutes. Philadelphia won that game, but lost to Brooklyn and Indiana with the 6-foot-8 guard sidelined.Butler was coming off back-to-back 38-point games when he got hurt. He's averaging 19.8 points in 13 games since being acquired from Minnesota on Nov. 12 and 20.4 points overall.The Cavaliers beat the Sixers 121-112 in Philadelphia on Nov. 23.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — After a three-way trade fell apart over mistaken identity, the Wizards are getting Trevor Ariza after all.Washington agreed in principle Saturday to acquire Ariza from the Phoenix Suns for Kelly Oubre Jr. and Austin Rivers, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it had not been announced by either team.This Ariza trade came together hours after a potential three-way deal involving the Grizzlies fell apart late Friday night over whether Memphis was including Dillon Brooks or MarShon Brooks. The saga included general managers informing players they'd been traded, awkward conversations to explain they weren't and finally the talks coming to an end.Wizards players went through the emotional roller coaster of the failed trade after their loss at Brooklyn as Oubre and Rivers were still on the team bus to the airport and the flight home."We all understand it's a business," guard John Wall said after... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — After a three-way trade fell apart over mistaken identity, the Wizards are getting Trevor Ariza after all.Washington agreed in principle Saturday to acquire Ariza from the Phoenix Suns for Kelly Oubre Jr. and Austin Rivers, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it had not been announced by either team.This Ariza trade came together hours after a potential three-way deal involving the Grizzlies fell apart late Friday night over whether Memphis was including Dillon Brooks or MarShon Brooks. The saga included general managers informing players they'd been traded, awkward conversations to explain they weren't and finally the talks coming to an end.Wizards players went through the emotional roller coaster of the failed trade after their loss at Brooklyn as Oubre and Rivers were still on the team bus to the airport and the flight home."We all understand it's a business," guard John Wall said after... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Wizards are getting Trevor Ariza after all.Washington agreed in principle to acquire Ariza from the Phoenix Suns for Kelly Oubre Jr. and Austin Rivers, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Saturday because it had not been announced by either team.This Ariza trade came together hours after a potential three-way deal involving the Memphis Grizzlies fell apart late Friday night. Wizards players went through the emotional roller coaster of the failed trade after their loss at Brooklyn as Oubre and Rivers were still on the team bus to the airport and the flight home."We all understand it's a business," guard John Wall said after practice Saturday. "You never know what's going to happen, when it's going to happen. The first time I've ever seen a trade go dead and guys are on a bus talking about it. Kind of devastating for those guys."Ariza, 33, returns to Washington, where he played the 2012-13 and... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Wizards are getting Trevor Ariza after all.Washington agreed in principle to acquire Ariza from the Phoenix Suns for Kelly Oubre Jr. and Austin Rivers, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Saturday because it had not been announced by either team.This Ariza trade came together hours after a reported three-way deal involving the Memphis Grizzlies fell apart late Friday night. Wizards players went through the emotional roller coaster of the failed trade after their loss at Brooklyn as Oubre and Rivers were still on the team bus to the airport and the flight home."We all understand it's a business," guard John Wall said after practice Saturday. "You never know what's going to happen, when it's going to happen. The first time I've ever seen a trade go dead and guys are on a bus talking about it. Kind of devastating for those guys."Ariza, 33, returns to Washington, where he played the 2012-13 and... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Wizards have an agreement in principle to acquire Trevor Ariza from the Phoenix Suns for Kelly Oubre Jr. and Austin Rivers, a person familiar with the deal said Saturday.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it had not been announced by either team.Ariza, 33, returns to Washington, where he played the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons. The 6-foot-8, 215-pound swingman is averaging 9.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 26 games with the Suns this season.To get Ariza, the Wizards gave up the 23-year-old Oubre, who they wouldn't part with in a potential trade for Jimmy Butler earlier this fall. Oubre was the 15th overall pick in 2015 and is averaging 12.9 points per game in his fourth NBA season.Rivers goes to Phoenix after Washington had just acquired the 26-year-old from the Los Angeles Clippers over the summer.The Wizards landed Ariza directly from the Suns after a reported three-way trade involving the Memphis Grizzlies... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — A person familiar with the deal says the Washington Wizards have an agreement in principle to acquire Trevor Ariza from the Phoenix Suns for Kelly Oubre Jr. and Austin Rivers.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Saturday because it had not been announced by either team.The Wizards landed Ariza directly from the Suns after a reported three-way trade involving the Memphis Grizzlies fell apart late Saturday night. Rivers was not aware of the details after a loss at Brooklyn but believed he was departing the team that had just acquired him from the Clippers over the summer.To get the 33-year-old Ariza, Washington gave up the 26-year-old Rivers and the 23-year-old Oubre, who was the 15th overall pick in 2015 and averaging 12.9 points a game in his fourth NBA season. Ariza's contract expires after this season.___AP Sports Writer Howard Fendrich and AP Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney contributed.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports