CLEVELAND (AP) — Terrence Ross scored 21 points, Evan Fournier added 18 and Aaron Gordon had a big dunk in the final 20 seconds to lead the Orlando Magic to their fourth straight win, 93-87 Friday night over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have dropped four in a row and 11 of 12.Orlando, which opened the season 2-6, moved to .500 for the first time.Collin Sexton scored 19 points and Cedi Osman 14 for Cleveland, which pulled within 90-87 on rookie Darius Garland's jumper with 42.5 seconds left.The Cavs needed a defensive stop on Orlando's next trip, but instead they gave up a dunk on a baseline out of bounds play with just three seconds left on the 24-second shot clock to Gordon, who managed to get free in the lane and scored over Tristan Thompson.On Cleveland's next possession, Larry Nance Jr. threw away the ball trying to hit Sexton on the opposite wing, ending the Cavs' last chance at a comeback. Cleveland was without star forward Kevin Love, who has been battling a flu bug the past few... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — David Fizdale was the latest coach tasked with trying to turn around the New York Knicks.He was given barely 100 games before the longtime losers decided it was time to try someone else.The Knicks cut ties with Fizdale and promoted assistant Mike Miller to interim head coach Friday after two straight blowout losses dropped them to 4-18,Fizdale ran practice earlier in the day, but was then fired along with assistant Keith Smart. The Knicks made no comment on the decision to release Fizdale after he went 21-83, a .202 winning percentage.The Knicks have lost eight straight games, with the last two by scores of 132-88 to Milwaukee on Monday night and 129-92 to Denver on Thursday night. They have the worst record in the Eastern Conference after finishing with the worst record in the NBA last season in Fizdale's first season.The Knicks went 17-65 in 2018-19 to match the worst record in franchise history and they are on pace to be even worse this season. New York missed out on... [More]

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Thunder guards Terrance Ferguson and Deonte Burton are out against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.Thunder coach Billy Donovan made the announcements during his pregame media session.Ferguson has soreness in his right hip. The starting shooting guard averages 5.7 points per game. Donovan did not say who would start in his place.Burton has been suspended one game because of conduct detrimental to the team. The reserve averages 2.8 points per game.The Thunder already were without guard Hamidou Diallo. He missed the previous five games with a hyperextended right elbow and remains a few weeks from being re-evaluated.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cavaliers star forward Kevin Love is sick and will miss Friday night's game against Orlando.Love has been ill the past two days and Cleveland coach John Beilein is hoping another day's rest will help his best player recover.Beilein said Love could rejoin the team in time for Saturday night's game at Philadelphia.Love is averaging 16.7 points and 10.7 rebounds for the young Cavs. Theyhave dropped four straight games and 10 of 11.Love missed three games recently with a bruised back. He scored just 8 points in 21 minutes Tuesday's lopsided loss to Detroit.

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Knicks fired coach David Fizdale on Friday after two straight blowout losses dropped them to 4-18, a person with knowledge of the decision said.Fizdale ran practice earlier in the day but was then fired, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made.The Knicks have lost eight straight games, with the last two by scores of 132-88 to Milwaukee on Monday night and 129-92 to Denver on Thursday night. They have the worst record in the Eastern Conference after finishing with the worst record in the NBA last season in Fizdale's first season.Fizdale's firing was first reported by ESPN.The Knicks went 17-65 last season to match the worst record in franchise history and they are on pace to even worse this season. New York missed out on the top stars that were available in free agency and the players they did get haven't meshed nearly well enough.Still, team executives expected better results, saying so with an unusual... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Knicks fired coach David Fizdale on Friday after two straight blowout losses dropped them to 4-18, a person with knowledge of the decision said.Fizdale ran practice earlier in the day but was then fired, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made.The Knicks have lost eight straight games, with the last two by scores of 132-88 to Milwaukee on Monday night and 129-92 to Denver on Thursday night. They have the worst record in the Eastern Conference after finishing with the worst record in the NBA last season in Fizdale's first season.Fizdale's firing was first reported by ESPN.The Knicks went 17-65 last season to match the worst record in franchise history and they are on pace to even worse this season. New York missed out on the top stars that were available in free agency and the players they did get haven't meshed nearly well enough.Still, team executives expected better results, saying so with an unusual press conference to express their disappointment after a loss to Cleveland on Nov. 10 dropped them to 2-8.Things didn't get much better from there, especially once the scheduled turned tougher this month.And it led to the second straight quick exit for Fizdale as a head coach. The former Miami assistant led Memphis to the playoffs in his first season, but then was fired after the Grizzlies got off to a 7-12 start in 2017-18 and he clashed with center Marc Gasol.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Portland Trail Blazers have given forward Carmelo Anthony a fully guaranteed contract for the remainder of the season. The team had signed Anthony to a non-guaranteed contract last month and had until a January deadline to guarantee the deal. Anthony, who hadn't played for more than a year before he was formally signed on Nov. 19, has meshed well with the Blazers, averaging 16.9 points and 5.9 rebounds since joining the team. The 10-time NBA All-Star was named Western Conference Player of the Week after he averaged 22.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists over Portland's three-game winning streak last week. Anthony, 35, played seven-plus seasons for the Nuggets before being traded in 2011 to the New York Knicks, where he spent six-plus seasons. He also has played one season each with Oklahoma City and Houston. The Rockets traded him to Chicago in January but the Bulls cut him before he played a game.Anthony filled an immediate need for the Blazers, who became short-handed at forward when Zach Collins injured his shoulder and required surgery that is expected to keep him out for at least four months. ___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — In what could best be described as a veteran move, Rui Hachimura tried to duck out of doing a postgame media session by pleading that he was worried about missing the Washington Wizards' team flight out of town.“I can't be late,” he insisted, wearing a rust-colored hoodie and a black backpack. “I'm a rookie.”Yes, that's true, of course. A rookie that's learning the ways of the NBA quite quickly, however.Hachimura, a 21-year-old from Japan, relented and took a few questions Thursday night after his latest in a series of strong performances, putting up a team-high 27 points to help Washington surprise the Philadelphia 76ers and their collection of stars such as Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons by a score of 119-113.“He’s like a seven- or eight-year vet. He just chips away at the game, every time. He’s a winner. He just plays the right way. He plays hard. He plays for his team. He’s not searching for stats. He just competes," Wizards coach Scott Brooks said. "And he wants to get... [More]

No team in the NBA has a better record than the Los Angeles Lakers, who are off to a 19-3 start. LeBron James looks very much like an MVP candidate. They are grabbing headlines almost every night. There is a buzz around them again.The Lakers have been so good, in fact, that they've manage to cast a shadow over Milwaukee.Just like the Lakers, no team in the NBA has a better record than the Bucks, who are also off to a 19-3 start. Giannis Antetokounmpo not only looks like an MVP candidate — he is the reigning MVP. They lead the league in scoring. They lead the league in field-goal percentage, rebounds and scoring margin.So it's a mistake, even a disservice, to forget the Bucks.The Lakers have earned every bit of their attention, of course. James is playing like a man on a mission. Anthony Davis might be the top early candidate defensive player of the year. They’ve won 10 in a row on the road, just the fourth time in franchise history they’ve put together such a streak.“I believe in our guys,”... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Wizards forward C.J. Miles is out indefinitely after having surgery on his left wrist.Miles had an operation Wednesday to repair ligament damage. He was hurt in Washington's 117-104 loss at the Denver Nuggets on Nov. 26.The Wizards say there is no timeline for his return. Miles is averaging 6.4 points in 10 games this season, his first with the Wizards.He is part of a lengthy list of missing players for Washington, which is 6-13 heading into its game against the visiting Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night. All three centers on the roster — Thomas Bryant, Ian Mahinmi and Moe Wagner — are out with injuries. ___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — The Golden State Warriors are no longer must-see TV.The NBA is taking two upcoming Golden State games off the national TV schedule, with the injury-riddled former dynasty now owning the worst record in the league.Golden State was scheduled to play on ESPN against Utah on Dec. 13 and against Portland on Dec. 18. The league announced Tuesday that both games would be replaced.The Warriors are playing without Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson because of injuries, after Kevin Durant left Golden State for Brooklyn in the summer, and are forced to use a number of unfamiliar players.Golden State was one of the league’s biggest draws during its run to five straight NBA Finals but is currently 4-18.The Los Angeles Clippers’ game at Minnesota was added on Dec. 13, and Boston at Dallas was elevated to the national schedule on Dec. 18.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

TORONTO (AP) — Five-time All-Star Kyle Lowry is back in the starting lineup for the Toronto Raptors for Tuesday’s game against Miami after missing the past 11 games because of a fractured left thumb.Lowry, who is averaging 21.8 points and 6.5 assists, was injured in the first quarter of a win Nov. 8 at New Orleans.Lowry had offseason surgery to repair ligaments in his left thumb. The injuries are unrelated.Coach Nick Nurse said Lowry’s playing time will not be restricted against the Heat.The defending NBA champions went 9-2 without Lowry and have won a season-high seven straight overall. Toronto is 9-0 at home this season, a franchise record for home victories to begin a season.Raptors forward Serge Ibaka, who sprained his right ankle in the same game that saw Lowry injured, returned to the lineup in Sunday’s win over Utah.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) — Wizards center Thomas Bryant has a stress reaction in his right foot and will be sidelined for at least three weeks before he’s re-evaluated.“Hopefully we get good news then,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks said before Tuesday’s game against the Orlando Magic.Bryant, who is averaging 13.9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, was diagnosed Tuesday after experiencing pain in his foot following the team’s 150-125 loss at the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.Brooks said rookie forward Rui Hachimura would slide over to the center spot against the Magic with Davis Bertans starting at forward.In another lineup change, Brooks said Isaac Bonga would start in place of Troy Brown Jr., who will come off the bench.Washington was also without reserve center Moritz Wagner (left ankle sprain) and reserve guard C.J. Miles (left wrist ligament injury).___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis Grizzlies rookie Brandon Clarke has aggravated a sore left oblique muscle and now is week to week.The Grizzlies detailed Clarke’s medical status Tuesday.Clarke hurt his oblique muscle in the first half of Sunday’s win at Minnesota. He did not return for the second half and did not dress for Monday night’s loss to Indiana.The Grizzlies already are without their top draft pick, Ja Morant, who is week to week because of back spasms. Clarke was the 21st pick out of Gonzaga by Oklahoma City, who traded his draft rights to Memphis. Clarke helped lead the Grizzlies to the summer league title.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Steve Kerr is teaching. And learning.That is his silver lining from this season.After five consecutive years of being No. 1 in the Western Conference — and ending up as NBA champions in three of those seasons — the Warriors are at the bottom of the league. Everyone knows why: Kevin Durant left, Stephen Curry got hurt, Klay Thompson got hurt, D’Angelo Russell got hurt, Andre Iguodala got traded, Shaun Livingston retired, DeMarcus Cousins left ... it goes on and on.“You can’t have worse luck than they’ve had,” Orlando coach Steve Clifford said.But to Kerr’s credit, the Warriors are desperate to make the best of their situation.This will be a losing season for Kerr, his first in more than a quarter-century. He was a winner almost every year as a player, a winner in each of his three seasons as an executive in Phoenix, a huge winner in his first five seasons as coach. He won five titles as a player, three more as a coach. And next year — with Curry back, Thompson back, a top-five lottery pick... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Dion Waiters returned to practice with the Miami Heat on Saturday, apologizing publicly for the incident on the team plane that led to his 10-game suspension.Waiters will be with the team for its three-game trip to Brooklyn, Toronto and Boston that starts on Sunday. He has yet to play this season and has been suspended for 11 of the first 18 Heat games — costing him about $920,000, pending appeals.“I would like to apologize to my teammates, coaches, basketball staff, the fans and the entire organization for the incident that happened on the team plane,” Waiters said in a statement distributed by the team. “I was wrong and take responsibility for what happened and am sorry for what it put everyone through.”Waiters was not available for interviews Saturday.“We just want to put this all behind us,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.Spoelstra said he would not divulge what went on in the team meeting when Waiters returned to the locker room Saturday.“We understand that a lot of things... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Adding one more spectacular game to a November full of them, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic provided more evidence that he’s quickly emerging as one of the best players in the NBA.Doncic tied a career-high with 42 points in a 120-113 win over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night and narrowly missed a triple-double with 11 assists and nine rebounds. The performance assured that he would become just the third player in NBA history to average a 30-point triple-double over a calendar month.He averaged 32.4 points, 10.3 rebounds and 10.4 assists over 15 games in November. The only other two players to accomplish the same feat are Oscar Robertson (five times) and Russell Westbrook (twice), according to the Elias Sports Bureau.“I’ve learned over my many years not to take anything for granted,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. “He’s just an exceptional player. Exceptional person. Exceptionally tough. You don’t find that combination in 20-year-old guys coming into the NBA very often.Doncic... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — The Charlotte Hornets were without center Cody Zeller for a second straight game when they took on the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.Zeller hurt his left hip against Miami on Monday night, and he was sidelined for a home game against Detroit on Wednesday.The Pistons are still without point guard Reggie Jackson (lumbar stress reaction).Zeller is averaging 11.2 points on the season in 17 games. Bismack Biyombo made his third start of the season. At 6-foot-8, he was the tallest player in the starting lineup for the Hornets.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Nets point guard Kyrie Irving has begun working on the court but will miss at least one more game because of an injured right shoulder.Irving sat out for the eighth straight time Friday. The All-Star watched from the bench as Brooklyn beat the Boston Celtics 112-107.The Nets hoped he could return for the second part of their home-and-home against his former team but instead ruled him out once more with an impingement. He was at the arena for an evaluation and coach Kenny Atkinson said afterward that Irving has started shooting, though not participating in any workouts with contact.Atkinson said Irving would miss the Nets’ game Sunday against Miami and the team will see how he is progressing next week.Irving averaged a team-high 28.5 points in 11 games before he was hurt.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Nets point guard Kyrie Irving is missing an eighth straight game because of an injured right shoulder. He is again unable to face his former team, the Boston Celtics.Brooklyn hoped he could return Friday for the second part of its home-and-home against Boston. Instead, the Nets ruled him out once more with an impingement and hoped to have an update after the game.Coach Kenny Atkinson said Irving would be at the arena for further evaluation. Irving averaged a team-high 28.5 points in 11 games before he was hurt.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports