Mike Budenholzer
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra watches a shot during the first half of Game 1 of their NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks Saturday, May 22, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Miami Heat at Milwaukee Bucks 5/22/2021

May. 22, 2021 03:02 PM EDT

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra watches a shot during the first half of Game 1 of their NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks Saturday, May 22, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Unmasked: NBA coaches allowed to open playoffs without masks

By Tim Reynolds May. 22, 2021 11:58 AM EDT

Milwaukee Bucks' Khris Middleton, left, eyes the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves' Josh Okogie rushes in during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 14, 2021, in Minneapolis. Middleton led his team's scoring as the Bucks won 130-105. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Middleton leads Bucks in 130-105 breeze by Timberwolves

By Dave Campbell Apr. 14, 2021 07:17 PM EDT

Toronto Raptor guard Kyle Lowry (7) discusses a call with referee Rodney Mott (71) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
In the NBA this season, teams will see same refs more often

By Tim Reynolds Jan. 05, 2021 02:18 AM EST

RJ Barrett, left, of the New York Knicks drives towards the basket against Pat Connaughton, right, of the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in New York. (Mike Stobe/Pool Photo via AP)
Knicks rout Bucks 130-110 for first victory under Thibodeau

By Brian Mahoney Dec. 27, 2020 10:54 PM EST

Los Angeles Lakers' Anthony Davis handles the ball during the third quarter of Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP)
Toughest NBA rival is bubble, where 'every day is Wednesday'

By Brian Mahoney Aug. 21, 2020 12:51 PM EDT

FILE - In this Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, file photo, Orlando Magic head coach Steve Clifford claps during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Magic and Milwaukee Bucks open the Eastern Conference playoffs Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, at Disney’s Wide World of Sports. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)
Bucks seeking return to form as they open against Magic

By Steve Megargee Aug. 15, 2020 12:17 PM 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

Fans wearing face masks to help protect against the spread of the new coronavirus watch the KBO league game between Doosan Bears and LG Twins in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, July 27, 2020. Masked fans hopped, sang and shouted cheering slogans in baseball stadiums in South Korea on Sunday as authorities began bringing back spectators in professional sports games amid the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
The Latest: Bears place DT John Jenkins on COVID-19 list

By The Associated Press Jul. 30, 2020 08:31 AM 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

FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2020, file photo, Los Angeles Clippers' Lou Williams brings the ball up during the team's NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers in Philadelphia. Clippers coach Doc Rivers says Williams is expected to join the team for the NBA’s restart in Florida. Williams has described himself as “50-50” on whether he would finish out the pandemic-interrupted season because he didn’t want to distract from the ongoing push for social justice in the wake of George Floyd’s death while in police custody. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
Williamson returns to bubble, as others dealing with issues

By Tim Reynolds Jul. 24, 2020 05:34 PM EDT

Mick Hoffman, executive director of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, poses for a photo, Thursday, July 16, 2020, sitting in the empty stands of the Renton School District's Renton Memorial Stadium, which is used for high school football, soccer, and track events in Renton, Wash. Hoffman and other administrators across the country are facing difficult decisions regarding the overwhelming uncertainty of whether high school sports can go forward this fall as the clock ticks closer to the start of the 2020-21 school year with little clarity in place for an obvious and safe path moving forward for athletics. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
The Latest: Big Sky delays start of fall Olympic sports

By The Associated Press Jul. 24, 2020 07:08 AM EDT

FILE - In this March 6, 2020, file photo, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo knocks down Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis as he drives to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles. Jusuf Nurkic is back and healthy. So are Zach Collins, Meyers Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis and plenty of others. If the four-month NBA shutdown had a silver lining, it’s that a lot of ailing players got well. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
NBA-leading Bucks eager to recapture their pre-hiatus form

By Steve Megargee Jul. 23, 2020 08:21 AM EDT

Cutout photos of Brighton fans fill the empty stands during the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton and Newcastle United at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, England, Monday, July 20, 2020. (Glyn Kirk/Pool via AP)
The Latest: SWAC postpones fall sports, eyes spring football

By The Associated Press Jul. 20, 2020 10:55 AM EDT

Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe tests positive for coronavirus

Jul. 17, 2020 08:43 PM EDT
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer confirmed Eric Bledsoe tested positive for COVID-19, but remains cautiously optimistic the...

Kansas City Royals pitcher Brad Keller watches from the dugout during baseball practice at Kauffman Stadium Friday, July 3, 2020 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
The Latest: Dodgers CF Pollock considered skipping season

By The Associated Press Jul. 17, 2020 06:41 AM EDT

FILE - In this Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018 file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Artie Burns reacts on the sideline after a play during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Fla. The Chicago Bears and cornerback Artie Burns agreed to a one-year contract, agent Drew Rosenhaus said on Saturday, March 21, 2020.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
The Latest: Outlaws run in front of limited fans in Missouri

By The Associated Press May. 22, 2020 10:36 AM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 22, 2020, file photo, Winnipeg Jets' Blake Wheeler plays against the Columbus Blue Jackets during an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio. Wheeler and the Winnipeg Jets would have been on the road last week, trying to make a final push for the playoffs had the National Hockey League season not been called off because of the pandemic. Now the seven-time All-Star forward is home for dinner each night with his family. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)
On-the-go sports stars embrace family time during shutdown

By Dave Campbell Apr. 10, 2020 02:37 AM EDT

Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter (11) drives against Brooklyn Nets forward Wilson Chandler (21) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 3, 2020, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
NBA coaches prepare for possible intriguing playoff matchups

By Kyle Hightower Apr. 06, 2020 11:30 AM EDT