INDIANAPOLIS -- After a devastating loss to the Indiana Pacers on Friday night, J.R. Smith noted how the Cavaliers always rise up to adversity, even though the reason is inexplicable.

Smith was proved right, although there were some tense moments as the Cavs built a 16-point second-quarter lead only to see the Pacers go ahead in the fourth ...Read more

Houston soundly swept the Timberwolves 4-0 in their regular-season series due to simple mathematics and this reliable fact: 3 > 2.

In their best-of-seven playoff series that the Rockets still lead 2-1, the Wolves have noticeably narrowed a 3-point shot disparity in which they were lapped during the regular season. In Saturday's rollicking 121-...Read more

SAN ANTONIO -- The intensity started with the Spurs playing suffocating defense and aggressively hunting 3-point attempts. The sloppiness started with the Warriors committing turnovers and missing shots.

And so for nearly an entire first half, the Warriors played with the same kind of complacency that plagued them periodically through the 2017-...Read more

SAN ANTONIO -- The Warriors were correct in saying that Stephen Curry would not play in the first round of the playoffs. But will he play in the second round of the NBA playoffs?

"Steph is not going to play anytime soon," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "But he's come along well and has looked good in practice."

The Warriors will have a better...Read more

Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau offered a very matter of fact answer when asked if he had seen anything different out of point guard Derrick Rose in Saturday's 121-105 victory over the Rockets.

"Nope." Thibodeau said.

Next question.

Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni also didn't feel much like elaborating on Rose's turn-back-the-clock performance ...Read more

Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau offered a very matter of fact answer when asked if he had seen anything different out of point guard Derrick Rose in Saturday's 121-105 victory over the Rockets.

"Nope." Thibodeau said.

Next question.

Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni also didn't feel much like elaborating on Rose's turn-back-the-clock performance ...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- When the clock strikes midnight Sunday night, college underclassmen can no longer enter their names in this year's NBA draft. Those who met the NBA's deadline -- six Kentucky players in this group -- will continue the process of trying to improve their draft stock.

So how does a player do that? What are the do's and don'ts ...Read more

INDIANAPOLIS -- Kevin Love found himself the team spokesman by default, surrounded by the media while he iced his knees as the other Cavaliers left Bankers Life Fieldhouse after Saturday's practice.

But he was a good gauge of the mood since the five-time All-Star got only two shots in the second half as the Cavs blew a 17-point lead and lost by...Read more

MIAMI -- Brett Brown predicted this.

The 76ers coach said on Friday that the already physical Miami Heat would elevate their physicality in Saturday's Game 4 of the teams' Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup. He said the Sixers would have to welcome it.

They did just that, escaping with a 106-102 victory at AmericanAirlines Arena to take a...Read more

SAN ANTONIO -- Warriors forward Kevin Durant will play in Game 4 of the first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday after rolling his left ankle toward the end of Game 3 on Thursday. The Warriors listed reserve guard Shaun Livingston as probable after he sprained his left ankle at the end of Game 3.

"I'm good," Durant said. ...Read more

SAN ANTONIO -- As he moved around the court, Warriors guard Stephen Curry kept sinking shots into the net. It did not matter the distance. He attempted 3-pointers from the corner. He hoisted jump shots from the elbow. He took more shots from the top of the key.

As he completed a shooting workout at the end of the Saturday's practice with ...Read more

TOMBALL, Texas -- If you don't know how four-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler defied the odds to get from there to here, his social media account bios will tell you.

His Twitter profile reads "From Tomball, all the way to the Minnesota Timberwolves," while on Instagram it's "small town to a big city = tomball to minneapolis."

And if you don't ...Read more

ATLANTA -- The Knicks will interview Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer for their vacant head coach position this weekend, according to a person with knowledge of New York's plans. Budenholzer talked to the Suns this week about their open head coach position before deciding to withdraw from consideration Thursday.

Budenholzer declined to comment ...Read more

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Udoka Azubuike has decided to enter his name in the 2018 NBA draft but not hire an agent, which means Kansas' 18-year-old center from Delta, Nigeria, has left open the option to return to KU for a junior season.

"I'm going to wait and see where I stand among other bigs out there," Azubuike, KU's 7-foot, 280-pound sophomore ...Read more

SAN ANTONIO -- Warriors guard Stephen Curry could return as early as the beginning of the Western Conference semifinals, but that hinges on two variables.

When will the Western Conference semifinals start? How well does Curry progress his rehab on his Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee?

The Warriors will have more clarity on both of those ...Read more

MIAMI -- With much of the blame being placed on his struggling center, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra once again took some of it upon himself.

For a second consecutive day, Spoelstra said he needs to do a better job of getting Hassan Whiteside involved offensively. Whiteside has been non-existent through three games of the Heat's first-round ...Read more