Basketball

BOSTON (AP) — The Celtics ended last season in the spotlight for all the right reasons.

TORONTO — Scottie Barnes, last season's NBA rookie of the year, has been slowed by an ankle issue that has affected his conditioning, according to Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse.

PHOENIX (AP) — There were many things Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams enjoyed about his lengthy offseason, particularly the opportunity to relax for a long period for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic condensed the league's schedule in 202

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — San Antonio is going to have a difficult time adding to the NBA-record career victories held by Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. Take it from him. “To be a championship program, you have to have a couple of superstars on your team.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Charlotte Hornets breathed a sigh of relief Tuesday after an MRI on All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball confirmed the initial diagnosis of a sprained left ankle and revealed no significant long-term injury.

TORONTO — Back in the day, a basketball player might sneak into a gym to work on his shot late at night. Now a Toronto Raptor can do it and have a machine verbally and visually track his shot. And then file it away for future comparison.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Darvin Ham was still a fringe NBA player during the first two seasons of LeBron James' career.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies have more experience now along with some painful postseason heartbreak. What matters most for these still very young Grizzlies? What's next. And they want it all.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Zion Williamson's return to a Pelicans squad that made a captivating postseason appearance without him last spring could transform New Orleans' long-beleaguered NBA franchise into a marquee team.

CLEVELAND (AP) — As Donovan Mitchell worked his way around Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse's floor recently, stopping to pose for photographers on media day, something stood out about the Cavaliers' star guard. He couldn't stop smiling.