Men's basketball

FILE - In this March 23, 2019, file photo, Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic, right, shoots as Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore. Jusuf Nurkic is back and healthy. So are Zach Collins, Meyers Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis and plenty of others. If the four-month NBA shutdown had a silver lining, it’s that a lot of ailing players got well. (AP Photo/Steve Dipaola, File)

NBA shutdown allowed many in league unexpected time to heal

Jul. 3, 2020 5:05 PM EDT

Portland guard Damian Lillard was in the gym a few days ago and took notice of what injured Trail Blazers big men Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins were doing during their individual workouts. That’s when he realized a bright side of the NBA’s coronavirus shutdown. The injured guys weren’t...

Salvador Hernandez, a groom at Emerald Downs Racetrack in Auburn, Wash., wears a mask as he watches a race Wednesday, June 24, 2020, on the first day of thoroughbred horse racing at the track since all professional sports in Washington state were curtailed in March by the outbreak of the coronavirus. No spectators were allowed, but online wagering was available and the races were streamed. Organizers hope to continue racing into October on a modified schedule. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

The Latest: AP source: Virus forces Heat to close facility

Jul. 3, 2020 4:32 PM EDT

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world: ___ A person with knowledge of the situation says that the Miami Heat have closed their training facility after a second player tested positive for coronavirus. The Heat will have players at the arena over the coming days to satisfy...

FILE - In this Oct. 17, 2019, file photo, Milwaukee Bucks' Khris Middleton (22) shoots after driving past Minnesota Timberwolves' Jake Layman during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game in Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers already have just about guaranteed themselves the top two playoff seeds and face a delicate balancing act when the NBA returns to action. They must try to shake off the rust after a 4 ½-month hiatus while also staying as healthy as possible for the postseason.(AP Photo/Aaron Gash, File)

Bucks, Lakers look to shed rust or rest for playoffs?

Jul. 3, 2020 1:28 PM EDT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers have all but guaranteed themselves the top two playoff seeds and face a balancing act when the NBA returns to action. While other teams will be fighting for a postseason berth or playoff seedings when they play the final eight regular season games...

FILE - In this March 6, 2020, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, right, shoots as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles. Davis and the Lakers were leading the Western Conference when the coronavirus pandemic caused the suspension of the NBA season, but he is confident they’ll be able to resume their title chase. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

Anthony Davis: Lakers' title chances improved after break

Jul. 2, 2020 9:01 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The sudden suspension of the NBA season was a double disappointment for Anthony Davis. “It happened on my birthday, which is kind of a bummer because I couldn't do anything,” the Los Angeles Lakers' seven-time All-Star big man said with a laugh. Davis turned 27 on March 11...

FILE - In this March 4, 2020, file photo, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson shoots free throws prior to an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas. Pelicans rookie Williamson says he feels like he is in good shape as he prepares to help lead New Orleans' eight-game push to make the NBA playoffs. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

Zion Williamson confident in his health, Pelicans' prospects

Jul. 2, 2020 8:49 PM EDT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson credits his mother’s wisdom with helping him manage life’s unanticipated twists and inevitable assortment of successes and setbacks. It has served the NBA’s top overall draft choice well during a highly unusual debut season that has...

FILE - In this March 10, 2020, file photo, Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, right, passes the ball as Orlando Magic center Mo Bamba (5) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Memphis, Tenn. Morant has taken advantage of the NBA's hiatus, adding 12 pounds of muscle to help absorb contact when the NBA's likely rookie of the year fearlessly attacks the basketball. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill, File)

Grizzlies' Morant adds 12 pounds before heading to Florida

Jul. 2, 2020 8:20 PM EDT

Ja Morant has taken advantage of the NBA's hiatus, adding 12 pounds of muscle to help absorb contact when the NBA's likely rookie of the year fearlessly attacks the basketball. And the Memphis Grizzlies point guard knows exactly what he wants when he leads his team to Orlando. “Going out there to win,...

FILE - In this Feb. 12, 2020, file photo, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic drives as Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Denver. A person with knowledge of the situation says Jokic has tested positive for the coronavirus and is quarantining in his native Serbia. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

As Florida virus numbers rise, NBA arrivals draw closer

Jul. 2, 2020 5:42 PM EDT

The coronavirus numbers kept climbing Thursday, with a single-day record for new cases being set in Florida and the NBA revealing that the count of players and staff from the 22 remaining teams that have confirmed diagnoses of COVID-19 continues to grow. The NBA numbers: nine more positive players from tests...

FILE - In this Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 file photo, Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons moves the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets in New York. All-Star guard Ben Simmons says he’s feeling strong in his recovery from a lower back injury and expects to be at full strength once the NBA season resumes. Simmons, who averaged 16.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists in 54 games, was hurt in a Feb. 22 game at Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

76ers' Simmons recovered from back injury for restart

Jul. 2, 2020 4:18 PM EDT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ben Simmons’ back pain threw his postseason status into uncertainty had the NBA season reached its natural conclusion. Check out Simmons these days on Instagram. He’s muscular, spry — and throwing down dunks without a wince on his face. The All-Star guard who...

A worker carries a shovel in front of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., Tuesday, June 23, 3030. The museum is scheduled to reopen in the beginning of July 2020 with a whole new look after a $22 million renovation. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

After renovation, Hoops Hall ready to show off its new look

Jul. 2, 2020 2:20 PM EDT

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Workers wearing black masks and white gloves move through the corridors of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, pushing a cart loaded with high-top sneakers from some of the sport’s biggest stars. The gloves are to protect the collection; the masks are to protect...

A crow sits on fencing erected around the Epsom Downs racecourse, in Epsom, England, Tuesday, June 30, 2020. The Derby annual horse race will take place behind closed doors on Saturday amid the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

The Latest: Oklahoma athletics cutting $13.7M from budget

Jul. 2, 2020 12:43 AM EDT

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world: ___ The Oklahoma athletics department has announced $13.7 million in budget cuts it blames on fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, including a 10% salary drop for any employee earning at least $1,000,000 per year. Athletic...

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