Pistons reach agreement to hire former Suns coach Monty Williams, AP sources say

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Pistons made a bold move in their latest attempt to become relevant in the NBA again. Detroit reached an agreement to hire former Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams, according to two people familiar with the situation. One of the people,...

The Detroit Pistons have reached an agreement to hire former Suns coach Monty Williams, AP sources say

Betting interest expected to be down with NBA, NHL finals lacking marquee matchups

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The NBA Finals could've featured glamour teams like the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, and conventional thinking before the NHL playoffs stated the dominant Boston Bruins and star-studded Edmonton Oilers were on a near-collision course to meet in the Stanley Cup Final. ...

Busy at French Open, Novak Djokovic keeping tabs on countryman Nikola Jokic in NBA Finals

PARIS (AP) — Novak Djokovic might be busy trying to win the French Open but he definitely will be keeping tabs on how his friend and countryman Nikola Jokic fares in the NBA Finals with the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets will host Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat on...

Wembanyama's NBA summer debut may come in Sacramento, not Las Vegas

DENVER (AP) — Victor Wembanyama’s NBA summer debut might come in Sacramento. The San Antonio Spurs, who hold the No. 1 pick in the June 22 draft and are widely expected to choose Wembanyama, are among six teams that will play in Sacramento at the California Classic, one of the...

There's going to be a new NBA champion from Serbia: Nikola (something)

DENVER (AP) — Congratulations, Serbia. You're about to have another NBA champion. His name is Nikola. (The last name is TBA.) Denver has two-time MVP Nikola Jokic. Miami has rookie Nikola Jovic. They met earlier this season for the first time to have dinner and get...

Butler, Jokic lead Heat, Nuggets into a NBA Finals after unconventional paths

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic wasn’t supposed to be here. Neither was Jimmy Butler, for that matter. Jokic was drafted behind 40 other players in 2014. Butler was drafted behind 29 others in 2011. Jokic grew up in Serbia, not even thinking about the NBA. Butler didn’t have the...

NBA Finals preview capsule: Breaking down the Nuggets vs the Heat

Preview capsule for the NBA Finals, which start Thursday in Denver: East No. 8 MIAMI HEAT (44-38, 12-6) vs. West No. 1 DENVER NUGGETS (53-29, 12-3) How they got here: Heat — beat No. 1 Milwaukee 4-1, beat No. 5 New York 4-2, beat No. 2 Boston 4-3. Nuggets — beat...

2 teams, 2 chances at titles: Heat, Panthers ready for their finals tests

DENVER (AP) — They were No. 8 seeds. They barely got into the playoffs after up-and-down regular seasons. They had to face the No. 1 overall seeds in Round 1 of the postseason. They had to win Game 7s in Boston just to keep their seasons alive. They are Eastern Conference champions. They are each...

Bob Myers departing as Warriors president, GM after 4 NBA titles, 11 seasons

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Bob Myers can no longer put all of his energy into running the Golden State Warriors, and that's why he is ready to walk away as one of the most successful professional sports executives ever. “This is tough, this is hard. I have so many different things,...