INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The already short-handed Indiana Pacers will play Oklahoma City on Wednesday night without forward JaKarr Sampson after the NBA announced he would serve a one-game suspension following his ejection during Monday's loss to San Antonio. Sampson received a flagrant two foul and automatic ejection early in the fourth quarter against the Spurs. The incident began as Sampson and San Antonio guard Patty Mills fought for a rebound, resulting in a shoving match. Sampson then confronted Mills and headbutted him before Spurs forward Rudy Gay shoved Sampson. Mills and Gay both received technical fouls for their part in the altercation. The league fined Mills $25,000 and Gay $20,000. Indiana has lost three in a row. Oklahoma City has lost 11 consecutive games. ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls won't make any bold predictions about Year Two of their rebuilding project. They also won't deny that a growth spurt on the court for Lauri Markkanen and Zach LaVine would accelerate the process in a big, big way.The 23-year-old LaVine and 21-year-old Markkanen were front and center Monday, when the team held its media day amid cautious optimism for the season ahead."I want to see growth," coach Fred Hoiberg said. "Last year guys made significant progress in their careers, but it's our job now to take that to the next level."That goes for Markkanen and LaVine in particular.LaVine, Markkanen and guard Kris Dunn were part of the Jimmy Butler trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves shortly after the 2016-17 season. They will be the linchpins of a more up-tempo offense that plays to their athleticism and one that Hoiberg prefers. Camp opens as the Timberwolves listen to trade offers for the unhappy Butler after just one season."(Butler) did a lot of really good... [More]

The Denver Nuggets waived forwards JaKarr Sampson and Axel Toupane on Saturday.Sampson was signed by Denver on Feb. 22 and played the final 26 games (22 starts) of the 2015-16 season, averaging 5.2 points and 2.3 rebounds in 18.0 minutes. He has appeared in one game this preseason, with 10 points, three rebounds, one steal and one block in 20 minutes.Toupane signed with the Nuggets on March 24 and averaged 3.6 points, 1.5 rebounds and 14.5 minutes over the final 21 games last season. He has appeared in one game this preseason, with 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists in 19 minutes.The Nuggets also waived guard D.J. Kennedy to get their roster down to 17 players. Kennedy was signed by Denver on Aug. 16 and has appeared in one preseason game, posting four points, two rebounds, three assists and three steals in 12 minutes.

Sampson collected 10 points (3-7 FG, 4-8 FT), an assist, and four rebounds over 24 minutes in Monday's 94-88 loss to the Knicks.

Sampson hit double figures in scoring for the first time in four exhibition contests, and also tallied a preseason-high 24 minutes on the court. The second-year shooting guard averaged 5.2 points over 74 games (32 starts) for the Sixers in 2014-15, and has boosted that figure to 7.5 to date in the preseason. While he added muscle in the offseason and was a college power forward, Sampson could potentially primarily back up both guard spots for the Sixers in 2015-16 if he makes the final roster.

Sampson has added 13 pounds of muscle during the offseason and possesses aspirations of playing power forward this season, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Sampson, the quintessential jack-of-all-trades, master of none, has been competing with the Sixers during their summer league circuit. Through two games, he's shooting 8-of-28 from the field and scoring 11.0 points in 27 minutes per game. He still has room for improvement, and should the Sixers enter the season with lacking point guard depth, Sampson will moonlight as the team's primary ballhandler.

Sampson averaged 5.2 points (42% FG, 24% 3Pt, 67% FT), 1.0 assist, 2.2 rebounds, 0.5 steals, and 0.4 blocks in 15 minutes per game for 74 regular season games in 2014-15. His contract is non-guaranteed for 2015-16.

Sampson played forward in college, but was converted to a guard by the 76ers in his rookie year. His minutes went up post All-Star break due to team injuries, but for the most part he's a role player off the bench. Owners should keep an eye on him over the offseason, as his contract is non-guaranteed for next season. At 22-years-old, Sampson is an interesting young prospect, but will need a larger role in order to warrant fantasy consideration in standard leagues.

Sampson finished with 22 points (8-15 FG, 0-5 3Pt, 6-7 FT), five rebounds, six assists, three steals and a blocked shot in 35 minutes during Wednesday's loss to the Heat.

It was a nice finish to the season for Sampson, as he ended up with a new season-high in both points and assists. Over his last three games, he's averaged 16.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals, so he'll look to use this strong end of the year to fuel even more momentum going into next season.

Sampson had 18 points (7-13 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 3-4 FT) with seven rebounds and four assists in 28 minutes as the starter at point guard on Saturday in the loss to the Bulls.

Sampson was a power forward in college but has converted into a big guard in his first year with the 76ers. He had been limited to two points in each of his two previous games, but if Ish Smith (groin) remains out Sampson could be a decent DFS play.

Sampson will get the nod at point guard Saturday at Chicago with Ish Smith (groin) sidelined, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

In 30 nods this season, Sampson has averaged 5.7 points (on 41 percent shooting), 2.6 rebounds, 1.0 assist, and 0.8 steals in 19 minutes.

Sampson will come off the bench Saturday against the Hornets, Keith Pompey of the Philly Inquirer reports.

Coach Brett Brown has switched between Sampson, Jason Richardson and Robert Covington in the starting shooting guard spot, and with Richardson (knee) out Saturday, Covington will get the call as Sampson shifts back to the bench. Sampson started Wednesday versus Washington but played only eight minutes.

Sampson is moving into the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Lakers in place of Jerami Grant (illness), the Inquirer reports.

Sampson has been used as a starter in 28 games for the Sixers this season but has averaged just 19 minutes per game in those contests. Unless he starts seeing 28+ minutes per game, Sampson is essentially unuseable in standard leagues and daily games. Avoid him like the plague or a Big Bang Theory marathon.

Sampson will get the start Wednesday against the Pistons, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Sampson, who did not play in Monday's game against Boston, will get the start at shooting guard as Hollis Thompson shifts back to the bench. The St. John's product is struggling this month, averaging 4.5 points on a paltry 30.8 percent shooting.

Sampson will get the start at shooting guard Monday against the Raptors, Tom Moore of Calkins Media reports.

With Robert Covington (elbow) and Jason Richardson (knee) both sidelined, coach Brett Brown will turn to Sampson, who's started 15 games this season. The St. John's product averaged 8.4 points and 2.0 rebounds in 19.4 minutes in February while shooting an impressive 50 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from three. He figures to see significant minutes Monday, as the Sixers will dress only 10 available players.

Sampson returned to the bench against the Pacers Friday. He scored 11 points (4-12 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT) and added two rebounds, one assist, and two steals in 20 minutes.

Sampson was replaced in the starting lineup by Jason Richardson (foot), who was playing his first game in over two years. Richardson is a big unknown at this point in his career, given his age, injury history, and time off the court, but it seems as though he'll have the starting job as long as he is healthy. That's bad news for Sampson, since it makes it harder for him to earn extra playing time.

Sampson will make his second straight start against the Timberwolves on Friday, the Bucks County Courier Times reports.

Sampson spent 24 minutes on the court during a stint in the starting lineup against the Pistons on Wednesday. He compiled 13 points, eight rebounds, and two steals during that outing and will likely be limited to a similar role Friday.

Sampson will get the start Wednesday against the Pistons, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Sampson will step into the lineup after coming off the bench to score four points in 18 minutes Monday versus New Orleans. He figures to see a moderate bump in minutes, but the Sixers' rotations are difficult to predict, so he's probably best avoided in daily formats.

Sampson provided 11 points (5-7 FG, 1-2 3Pt), seven rebounds, add five assists in the loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday. He played 24 minutes.

Sampson played just two minutes in the win over Cleveland on Monday, so his minutes are not guaranteed. The rookie out of St. John's had his most productive game of the season and may have earned more minutes in Friday's game against the Nets.

Sampson is coming off the bench Monday versus the Cavaliers, the Philadelphia Daily News reports.

The Sixers made an error with their starting five, initially listing Sampson as a starter over Robert Covington. However, Sampson will return to the pine, where he's been a bit player this season (2.4 points and 1.5 rebounds in eight minutes per game).

Sampson will start Monday's outing against the Cavaliers, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Sampson will enter the starting five a small forward for Robert Covington. However, in Sampson's previous seven nods, he's averaged only 5.6 points (on 42 percent shooting), 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 0.7 steals in 20 minutes, making him an unpalatable fantasy option.

Sampson was moved back to the Sixer's bench Friday . He finished with just two minutes.

Sampson averaged more than 15 minutes a game over the Sixer's six games prior to Friday. Sampson can be left on the waiver wire in anything but the deepest of leagues. He has yet to score double digit points in any game this season and does not produce enough in other areas to warrant a roster spot.