Basketball

TORONTO — Jontay Porter has been banned from the NBA for life. The former Toronto Raptors backup centre's punishment was announced on Wednesday after the NBA completed its investigation into gambling allegations against Porter.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Damian Lillard took a small step forward Wednesday in his bid to be ready for the start of the Milwaukee Bucks' Eastern Conference first-round playoff series with the Indiana Pacers.

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets met coach Michael Malone's challenge not to let up after winning the franchise's first NBA title.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kawhi Leonard has yet to practice five-on-five with the Los Angeles Clippers as they prepare to face the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs.

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics know that no one cares about everything they’ve accomplished during the regular season. Being the only team to win 60 games? That’s cool.

TORONTO — A year ago, Masai Ujiri declared that the Toronto Raptors had to change their culture. But after a challenging and disappointing 2023-24 season, the team's president said that their culture is just fine.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Zion Williamson has been ruled out of the New Orleans Pelicans' Western Conference play-in game against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night because of a left hamstring injury — and is expected to miss up to two weeks should New Or

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson guard Chase Hunter said he's entering the NBA draft, but maintaining his eligibility should he want to return for a sixth year in college.

USA Basketball studied every men's basketball game it has played for about two decades and a clear trend eventually appeared. When the defense isn't good enough, the Americans tend to get themselves into trouble.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Klay Thompson has provided so many memorable moments during his decade-plus run as Stephen Curry's Splash Brother running mate for the Golden State Warriors dynasty. The Game 6 heroics. The scores of 3-pointers.