Meyers Leonard
FILE - Miami Heat forward Meyers Leonard, center, greets his teammates before an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020, in Miami. Leonard made an ethnic slur while streaming a video game, a comment that was quickly condemned by the NBA shortly after it learned of the matter Tuesday, March 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, file)
Heat trade Meyers Leonard to Thunder for Trevor Ariza

By Tim Reynolds Mar. 17, 2021 07:54 PM EDT

FILE - Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban arrives at the NBA Awards in Santa Monica, Calif., in this Monday, June 24, 2019, file photo. The NBA said Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, the national anthem will be played in arenas “in keeping with longstanding league policy” after Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban revealed he had decided not to play it before his team's home games this season. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)
Mavs' Cuban relents on anthem after NBA reiterates policy

By Schuyler Dixon Feb. 10, 2021 02:36 PM EST

Miami heat head coach Erik Spoelstra looks on from the bench during an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021. (Mike Stobe/Pool Photo via AP)
Tests await Heat, who open longest road trip since 2009

By Tim Reynolds Feb. 10, 2021 12:00 PM EST

Washington Wizards forward Troy Brown Jr., left, loses control of the ball as Miami Heat guard Avery Bradley (11) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Heat's Bradley on COVID-19 diagnosis: 'I was really nervous'

By Tim Reynolds Feb. 09, 2021 12:50 PM EST

Washington Wizards forward Rui Hachimura, right, is fouled by Miami Heat forward Kelly Olynyk (9) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Beal scores 32, Wizards top reeling Heat 103-100

By Tim Reynolds Feb. 03, 2021 11:05 PM EST

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) drives past Charlotte Hornets forward P.J. Washington (25) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Monk runs wild, scores 36 as Hornets top Heat 129-121 in OT

By Tim Reynolds Feb. 01, 2021 10:25 PM EST

Miami Heat players Udonis Haslem, left, talks to Jimmy Butler during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Miami. Butler has missed multiple games because of the NBA's health and safety protocols(AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
'We have to figure this out': Heat say turnaround will come

By Tim Reynolds Jan. 29, 2021 02:19 AM EST

Fans watch during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Clippers, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Miami. The Miami Heat allowed a limited number of fans to attend the game. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Clippers rally from 18 points down, top ailing Heat 109-105

By Tim Reynolds Jan. 28, 2021 10:34 PM EST

Toronto Raptors center Aron Baynes (46) goes up to block a shot by Miami Heat forward Kelly Olynyk (9) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Powell, Raptors regroup after blowing lead, beat Heat 101-81

By Dick Scanlon Jan. 22, 2021 10:01 PM EST

Detroit Pistons head coach Dwane Casey gestures during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Heat rally from 19 down, top Pistons 113-107 to end slide

By Tim Reynolds Jan. 18, 2021 10:47 PM EST

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, left, shoots over Detroit Pistons center Mason Plumlee (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Pistons come into Miami and roll past reeling Heat, 120-100

By Tim Reynolds Jan. 16, 2021 11:18 PM EST

Visitors walk around the recently completed Memorial to Enslaved Laborers at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville in November 2020. The memorial is a tribute to the enslaved people whose work building and maintaining the school founded by Thomas Jefferson had long gone unrecognized. Devon Henry's Virginia construction company completed over 350 projects in 2020 but this one, he said, was the most meaningful by far. Henry, a Black man who faced death threats after it came to light that his company also handled this year's removal of Richmond's Confederate monuments, took his family to visit the Charlottesville site in November. He snapped this shot, which he said more than anything else, exemplifies 2020 for him. "This was a year, for me, of reflection," he said. (Devon Henry via AP)
Cellphones offer look back at most personal moments of 2020

By The Associated Press Dec. 29, 2020 11:56 AM EST

FILE - In this Jan. 24, 2020, file photo, Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward moves the ball on a fast break against the Orlando Magic during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Orlando, Fla. Hayward has been a player that the Charlotte Hornets have wanted for years. On Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, they finally landed him, according to Priority Sports, the agency that represents the veteran forward. ESPN, which first reported the agreement, said Hayward would sign a four-year deal worth $120 million. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
AP source: VanVleet staying with Raptors; Hayward to Hornets

By Tim Reynolds Nov. 21, 2020 01:36 PM EST

FILE - In this Feb. 20, 2020, file photo, Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox drives during the team's NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies in Sacramento, Calif. Fox agreed to a five-year, $163 million contract with the Kings on Friday, Nov. 20. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)
Free agency opens: Fox and Kings agree on $163 million deal

By Tim Reynolds Nov. 20, 2020 09:29 PM EST

FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2020, file photo, New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday (11) shoots a basket as Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum (3) defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans. Jrue Holiday is being traded from New Orleans to Milwaukee, which is aiming to give two-time reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo the improved roster that he seeks with the decision on his supermax contract extension looming, a person with knowledge of the situation said Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020. The Pelicans are getting Eric Bledsoe, George Hill and a package of future first-round draft picks from the Bucks, the person told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no deal had been finalized. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza, File)
NBA's offseason sprint continues with free agency starting

By Tim Reynolds Nov. 19, 2020 03:18 PM EST

FILE - In this July 29, 2020, file photo, a security guard wearing a face mask stands near a basketball arena inside thre NBA bubble at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The NBA had teams in the bubble for three months. The NHL playoff bubble lasted 65 days from the time teams arrived in Toronto and Edmonton, Alberta, until Tampa Bay won the Stanley Cup. Officials from both leagues beamed that mask, distancing and other protocols were still being followed strictly on the final day. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
It's done: The NBA comes back on Dec. 22, a 72-game season

By Tim Reynolds Nov. 10, 2020 12:12 AM EST

Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler (22) passes the ball against Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) during the second half in Game 3 of basketball's NBA Finals, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Adebayo upgraded to questionable for Game 4 of NBA Finals

By Tim Reynolds Oct. 05, 2020 05:59 PM EDT

Los Angeles Clippers' Ivica Zubac (40) dinks on Dallas Mavericks' Tim Hardaway Jr. (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Mavericks' Luka Doncic (77) looks on during the play. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
Welcome to the playoffs: The NBA's best time of year is here

By Tim Reynolds Aug. 16, 2020 02:46 PM EDT

Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard, left,and Memphis Grizzlies' Jonas Valanciunas tangle during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP)
Blazers make playoffs, oust Grizzlies with 126-122 victory

By Tim Reynolds Aug. 15, 2020 05:15 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 21, 2020, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, stands with forward Anthony Davis during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies in Los Angeles. James and Davis had the Lakers on course to contend for another NBA title before the coronavirus pandemic upended their first season together. The superstars see no reason they can’t continue their quest in Orlando, and Davis even thinks the Lakers’ chances have improved.(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Davis could miss Lakers' 1st game back after poke in eye

By Tim Reynolds Jul. 28, 2020 07:37 PM EDT