LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kawhi Leonard has been fighting “very, very stubborn inflammation” in his surgically repaired right knee for nearly three weeks and he'll be listed as questionable for the Los Angeles Clippers' playoff opener against the Dallas Mavericks. The fourth-seeded Clippers host Luka Doncic and the fifth-seeded Mavs on Sunday. “Progress has been made but the inflammation needs to continue to reduce so he can do functional basketball movements,” Lawrence Frank, president of basketball o
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. and the rest of Golden State's front office staff had a feeling this season would wind up short of the ultimate goal for a franchise that has won four NBA championships over the past decade. That's the way the season went for Stephen Curry and Co. — losing big leads, making costly mistakes, repeatedly unable to deliver the big defensive stop when it mattered most. Coach Steve Kerr had hoped the 10th-seeded Warriors could somehow fight throug
MIAMI (AP) — The results are in: Jimmy Butler is out. Butler will not be able to play for the Miami Heat in a win-or-else game on Friday night against the Chicago Bulls in the NBA's play-in tournament because of a right knee injury, one that will sideline him for several weeks. An MRI exam on Thursday showed that he sprained the MCL ligament, an injury that typically takes at least four weeks or more to heal. That means if Miami wins Friday, it still won't have Butler for a Round 1 playoff match
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — San Antonio Spurs center Zach Collins has a torn labrum that will require surgery but is expected to be ready for the start of next season. The injury to Collins' right shoulder happened in the third quarter of the Spurs' season finale against Detroit on Sunday. An MRI confirmed the labrum tear, the team said Thursday. Collins played 69 games, the second-most of his six-year career, and averaged 11.2 points and 5.4 rebounds. The Spurs finished 22-60 for the second consecutive