Dennis Schroder
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots next to Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) during the second half of Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series Saturday, May 22, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
A year after Finals, Lakers and Heat set to play before fans

By Tim Reynolds May. 26, 2021 02:36 PM EDT

Los Angeles Lakers center Montrezl Harrell (15) passes the ball as his path to the basket is blocked by Orlando Magic center Mo Bamba (5) and forward Robert Franks, back left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, April 26, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Schroder, Davis lead Lakers' late rally past Magic

By John Denton Apr. 26, 2021 09:40 PM EDT

Los Angeles Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker (5) goes for a layup in front of Toronto Raptors guard Malachi Flynn (8) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Lakers build big early lead, cruise past Raptors 110-101

By Dick Scanlon Apr. 06, 2021 10:28 PM EDT

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

Orlando Magic coach Steve Clifford talks to players during a timeout in the first half of the team's NBA preseason basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
John Wall back on floor, NBA opens preseason in empty arenas

By The Associated Press Dec. 11, 2020 09:56 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

Houston Rockets, from left to right, Tyson Chandler, Ben McLemore, James Harden and Russell Westbrook knell during the national anthem before an NBA basketball first round playoff game against the Oklahoma City Thunder Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Players try to stay busy, ready sitting on the bubble bench

By Brian Mahoney Sep. 02, 2020 02:23 AM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 27, 2019, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James speaks during the NBA basketball team's media day in El Segundo, Calif. This season’s NBA MVP has won the award before. A trio of past winners of the award — reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, four-time MVP LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and 2017-18 winner James Harden of the Houston Rockets — were announced Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020, as the finalists for this season’s top NBA individual honor. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu, File)
The NBA MVP finalists: Antetokounmpo, James and Harden

By Tim Reynolds Aug. 08, 2020 03:41 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 24, 2020, file photo, Milwaukee Bucks guard George Hill (3) goes to the basket next to Washington Wizards guard Ish Smith (14) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Washington. Hill was shooting 48% from 3-point range - well above his career average of 38.5% and light years better than his 2018-19 average of 28% - before the stoppage in play. The 34-year-old guard as well as teammate Donte DiVincenzo could be even bigger factors in the early part of the restart since Bucks teammates Eric Bledsoe and Pat Connaughton have tested positive for coronavirus, though both are now in Florida. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
Depth could be even more critical in teams' NBA title chase

By Steve Megargee Jul. 27, 2020 09:53 AM EDT