Thabo Sefolosha knows what it’s like to be a black man, on the ground, surrounded by police officers.Such was the scenario when George Floyd died in Minneapolis last week.And when Sefolosha watched that video, his memories came flooding back.“I was just horrified by what I saw," Sefolosha said. “That could have been me."Time has not healed all wounds for Sefolosha, the NBA veteran who said he was attacked by a group of New York Police Department officers in April 2015 while they were arresting him outside a nightclub in the city’s Chelsea neighborhood. The leg that was broken in the fracas is fine now. The emotional pain returned last week when he saw video of Floyd, a handcuffed black man who pleaded for air in the final moments of his life as a white police officer — subsequently charged with murder — pressed a knee on his neck.Sefolosha has not watched much news since. His experience with police in New York has left him with a deep distrust of law enforcement, the pangs of angst flooding... [More]

Thabo Sefolosha knows what it’s like to be a black man, on the ground, being beaten by police officers.Such was the scenario when George Floyd died in Minneapolis last week.And five years ago, Sefolosha found himself in a similarly frightening place.“I was just horrified by what I saw," Sefolosha said. “That could have been me."Time has not healed all wounds for Sefolosha, the NBA veteran who said he was attacked by a group of New York Police Department officers in April 2015 while they were arresting him outside a nightclub in the city’s Chelsea neighborhood. The leg that was broken in the fracas is fine now. The emotional pain roared back last week when he saw video of Floyd, a handcuffed black man who pleaded for air in the final moments of his life as a white police officer — subsequently charged with murder — pressed a knee on his neck.Sefolosha has seen the video. He hasn't watched much news since. His experience with police in New York has left him with a deep distrust of law enforcement,... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — The Celtics are preparing for their Game 2 matchup with the Pacers aware their series-opening win was notable more for its ugliness more than the outcome.Meanwhile, the Rockets and Bucks are heading into their respective Game 2s with the Jazz and Pistons expecting more competitive games after dominating victories.Boston limited Indiana to eight points in the third quarter of its 84-74 Game 1 win. It was the Celtics' lowest point total of the season and the first time they won a game in 2018-19 in which they didn't reach 100 points.Change is on the minds of both teams.For the Celtics that could mean tweaks to the starting lineup as they continue to adjust to the absence of Marcus Smart, who is recovering from a torn left oblique."It's frustrating, but you have to take it day-by-day and one day at a time," Smart said Tuesday.Celtics coach Brad Stevens acknowledged Smart's absence forced them to play differently and will continue to require adjustments.Without Smart to help with... [More]

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Restless nights became common for Donovan Mitchell during his rookie season.Mitchell worried about being able to make the playoffs and he worried about whether he was doing enough of the right things to get the Utah Jazz there."There would be nights where I just couldn't fall asleep," Mitchell said. "I'd just be in bed and couldn't sleep because I was thinking about it. This is crazy how all this has come together to be honest."Crazy sums up how the season played out for Mitchell and the Jazz.Few NBA teams have ever experienced as dramatic an in-season turnaround as Utah. The Jazz fell to 19-28 in mid-January and seemed headed for a lottery pick rather than a playoff spot. Things changed dramatically once Rudy Gobert came back from a knee injury and Mitchell emerged as the team's top playmaker on offense.The Jazz won 29 of their final 35 regular-season games to claim a playoff spot. They beat Oklahoma City in six games to reach the Western Conference semifinals, where... [More]

F Thabo Sefolosha had 12 rebounds and 10 points for his 14th career double-double of the season on Saturday night for the Jazz.

G Thabo Sefolosha played Tuesday one night after being removed by referees when he took an elbow to the head from teammate Raul Neto. He scored 11 points.

F Thabo Sefolosha and G Ricky Rubio each scored 15 points for the Jazz,

F Thabo Sefolosha returned to the lineup Saturday after sitting out Friday's game with right knee soreness. He scored eight points in 17:42 as Utah beat Orlando 125-85.

F Thabo Sefalosha made his first start of the season and collected nine points and nine rebounds in Saturday's win over Brooklyn. He was starting for F Derrick Favors, who moved over to center to replace Rudy Gobert (knee).

G-F Thabo Sefolosha had 11 points and 12 rebounds in Tuesday's 102-84 loss to the Clippers in Los Angeles.

G/F Thabo Sefolosha agreed to two-year deal with Utah Jazz, according to multiple reports Wednesday. The deal is worth a reported $10.5 million for the 33-year-old Sefolosha, who spent the past three seasons with the Atlanta Hawks.The 6-foot-7 veteran averaged 7.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.5 steals in 62 regular-season games (42 starts) in 2016-17. He played just eight minutes in a six-game opening-round series playoff loss against the Washington Wizards.Sefolosha had previous stops with the Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder before signing with Atlanta in 2014. He owns career averages of 5.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 740 games (467 starts).Sefolosha suffered a fractured fibula and ligament damage in his right leg when police officers arrested him outside a Manhattan nightclub in April 2015. He sued the New York Police Department, claiming false arrest, excessive force, malicious prosecution and false imprisonment. The suit was settled in April for $4 million.

The Utah Jazz agreed to a two-year deal with free agent swingman Thabo Sefolosha, according to multiple reports Wednesday. The deal is worth a reported $10.5 million for the 33-year-old Sefolosha, who spent the past three seasons with the Atlanta Hawks.The 6-foot-7 veteran averaged 7.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.5 steals in 62 regular-season games (42 starts) in 2016-17. He played just eight minutes in a six-game opening-round series playoff loss against the Washington Wizards.Sefolosha had previous stops with the Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder before signing with Atlanta in 2014. He owns career averages of 5.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 740 games (467 starts).Sefolosha suffered a fractured fibula and ligament damage in his right leg when police officers arrested him outside a Manhattan nightclub in April 2015. He sued the New York Police Department, claiming false arrest, excessive force, malicious prosecution and false imprisonment. The suit was settled in April for $4 million.

Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki will be one of the captains for the NBA's Africa Game on Aug. 5.The NBA and National Basketball Players Association announced Monday that Nowitzki, who is from Germany, will be a co-captain of Team World along with Charlotte Hornets All-Star Kemba Walker.Team Africa will be captained by the Los Angeles Lakers' Luol Deng, a two-time NBA All-Star who is from the South Sudan, and the Atlanta Hawks' Thabo Sefolosha, an 11-year NBA veteran whose father was born in South Africa.Nowitzki is a 13-time NBA All-Star and 2011 NBA champion. Last season, he became the first international player with 30,000 career points.NBA Africa Game 2017, which will take place in Johannesburg, will once again feature a Team Africa vs. Team World format and will be played in support of UNICEF, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and SOS Children's Villages South Africa. In February, the NBA and NBPA announced that Bismack Biyombo (Orlando Magic, Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Emmanuel... [More]

G/F Thabo Sefolosha entered the game in the second quarter and finished with four points in 16 minutes Tuesday. He missed the previous eight games with a right groin strain.

G/F Thabo Sefolosha (groin) did not play Sunday against Cleveland.

G Thabo Sefolosha missed his sixth straight game with a right groin strain.

G/F Thabo Sefolosha (right groin strain) missed his fourth straight game Saturday against the Bulls.

G Thabo Sefolosha sat out his third straight with a strained groin.

G Thabo Sefolosha missed his second straight game with a right groin strain.

Atlanta Hawks All-Star forward Paul Millsap will miss at least three more games due to tightness in his left knee, the team announced Tuesday night.Millsap already has sat out five consecutive games due to the issue. He was diagnosed with synovitis in the knee when he visited Dr. James Andrews on Monday in Pensacola, Fla.Millsap, who averages 18.1 points and 7.7 rebounds, will be re-evaluated after sitting out the three games.The Hawks have struggled without Millsap, losing seven consecutive games entering a Tuesday game against the Phoenix Suns.Swingman Kent Bazemore (knee) will miss his fifth straight game, and forward Thabo Sefolosha (groin) will sit out for the second game in a row."At this point, it doesn't matter who's out on the floor," Atlanta center Dwight Howard said. "The guys who step on the floor have to get the job done."