Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Luguentz Dort, left, goes up for a shot in front of New Orleans Pelicans center Willy Hernangomez during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 29, 2021, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Williamson scores 27 as Pelicans top Thunder 109-95

By Cliff Brunt Apr. 30, 2021 12:44 AM EDT

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

Referee Brian Forte, right, walks away from New Orleans Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy after discussing a call during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
76ers-Thunder called off as virus concerns still trouble NBA

By Tim Reynolds Jan. 17, 2021 06:41 PM EST

Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg shakes his head as he walks back to the sideline after Indiana scored a 3-point shot in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Lincoln, Neb. (Kenneth Ferriera/Lincoln Journal Star via AP)
The Latest: 76ers-Thunder game postponed

By The Associated Press Jan. 17, 2021 12:27 PM EST

Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) looks to pass over Oklahoma City Thunder center Al Horford (42) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Gilgeous-Alexander scores 31 as Thunder beat Nets 129-116

By Denis P. Gorman Jan. 10, 2021 08:57 PM EST

Houston Rockets guard James Harden, top right, joins the huddle while talking to guard Brodric Thomas (33) during the fourth quarter of a preseason NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, in Houston. (Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle via AP)
Harden must quarantine until Friday; could play in opener

By Tim Reynolds Dec. 24, 2020 01:29 PM EST

Houston Rockets guard James Harden, top center, joins the huddle during the fourth quarter of a preseason NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, in Houston. (Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle via AP)
OKC-Houston game postponed, Harden out after COVID violation

By Kristie Rieken Dec. 23, 2020 05:51 PM EST

FILE - In this Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, file photo, then-Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan, left, talks with an official during the second half of an NBA first-round playoff basketball game against the Houston Rockets, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Chicago Bulls made sweeping changes to their front office for the 2020-21 season and snagged Donovan, one of the top coaches on the market, hoping an overhaul in leadership will carry them back to respectability. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
New NBA coaches for 9 teams navigating compressed timeline

By Brett Martel Dec. 19, 2020 11:31 AM EST

FILE - Oklahoma City Thunder's Luguentz Dort (5) dunks against the Houston Rockets during the first quarter of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., in this Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, file photo. The young guys who emerged for the Oklahoma City Thunder last season will have more responsibility now that veterans Chris Paul, Steven Adams and Danilo Gallinari have moved on. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP, File)
Overhauled roster, timeline, pandemic test new Thunder coach

By Cliff Brunt Dec. 15, 2020 01:41 PM EST

FILE - In this Aug. 30, 2020, file photo, Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell, center, goes up to shoot as Denver Nuggets' Jerami Grant, left, and Paul Millsap, right, defend during the second half of an NBA basketball first round playoff game in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Mitchell agreed Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, to a five-year, $163 million extension to remain with the Jazz. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
Making a splash: Mitchell, Jazz agree on max extension

By Tim Reynolds Nov. 22, 2020 05:12 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

Joshua Wilson, left, a junior at Winston-Salem State University, speaks with NBA star and current Winston-Salem State University student Chris Paul about where Paul can pick up his student ID on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020, in Winston-Salem, N.C. Paul led nearly 2,500 people on a march to an early-voting site at a university in North Carolina where he also takes classes. (Andrew Dye/The Winston-Salem Journal via AP)
Chris Paul, on upcoming NBA season: 'Nothing is perfect'

By Tim Reynolds Nov. 12, 2020 05:34 PM EST

Miami Heat forward Kelly Olynyk (9) dribbles against Indiana Pacers guard Aaron Holiday (3) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
The NBA's regular season, at long last, is about to close

By Tim Reynolds Aug. 13, 2020 03:29 PM EDT