Gilgeous-Alexander, young Thunder brimming with optimism after second-round playoff exit

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder might just be scratching the surface of their potential. Oklahoma City’s season ended Saturday night with a loss to Dallas in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. But the fact that the Thunder even got that far should...

OG Anunoby and Josh Hart are in the Knicks' starting lineup for Game 7 against the Pacers

NEW YORK (AP) — OG Anunoby and Josh Hart are in the New York Knicks' starting lineup Sunday for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Indiana Pacers. Anunoby has missed the past four games after he strained his left hamstring in Game 2. He scored a career...

P.J. Washington's free throws finish rally as Mavericks beat Thunder 117-116 to reach West finals

DALLAS (AP) — Kyrie Irving probably wondered if his uncanny run of closeout victories without a loss in his career was finally near an end. The streak lives, and the Dallas Mavericks are through to the Western Conference finals for the second time in three seasons. ...

Dallas Mavericks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in six games to advance to the Western Conference finals

Hart, Anunoby listed as questionable to play for Knicks on Sunday in Game 7 against the Pacers

NEW YORK (AP) — Starting forwards Josh Hart and OG Anunoby are both listed as questionable to play for the New York Knicks on Sunday in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Indiana Pacers. The Knicks have been without Anunoby since he strained his left...

NBA features two Game 7s Sunday between teams that have experienced both ends of blowouts

DENVER (AP) — Denver coach Michael Malone calls them “the two greatest words in sports.” Game 7. The NBA has two of them Sunday, and all four teams — the Nuggets, Timberwolves, Knicks and Pacers — have experienced both ends of blowouts in their otherwise...

Siakam helps Pacers beat Knicks 116-103 in Game 6 to send Eastern Conference semifinals to the limit

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle challenged his team to play more physically and more tenaciously Friday night. His desperate team responded with one of its most inspired performances all season. Pascal Siakam finished with 25 points and seven...

Josh Hart leaves Game 6 versus Pacers with what Knicks say is abdominal soreness

INDIANPOLIS (AP) — Josh Hart left in the fourth quarter of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Indiana Pacers on Friday night with what the New York Knicks said was abdominal soreness. Hart was seen holding his midsection multiple times during the game and asked...

Timberwolves force Game 7 by blowing out Nuggets 115-70 behind 27 points from Anthony Edwards

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards flashed seven fingers to the roaring crowd as he walked off for a fourth-quarter timeout during a blowout by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He had that tenacious look of a superstar player refusing to cede to the defending champs all night. ...

The Celtics are in a good headspace as they head to a 3rd consecutive Eastern Conference finals

BOSTON (AP) — Opposing fans have been begging for matchups with the Celtics this postseason. And they are all now wishing that they hadn’t. Miami Heat fans chanted, “We Want Boston!” after earning a first-round matchup with the Celtics last month. Boston beat...