SPORTS NEWS: NBA

Derrick Rose: No pain in knee

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TORONTO -- <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/chi/chicago-bulls" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Chicago Bulls</a> point guard <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3456/derrick-rose" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Derrick Rose</a> said Wednesday he has no pain in his surgically repaired right knee and remains optimistic that he can return before the regular season ends.</div>
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Rose, who had a meniscectomy on his right knee Feb. 27, is hopeful that he can start taking contact in practice "this week or next week."</div>
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"That would be the plan, but who knows?" Rose said before Wednesday morning's shootaround in advance of the Bulls' <a href="http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400579357" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">116-103 win</a> over the <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/tor/toronto-raptors" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Toronto Raptors</a>. "Whenever I'm ready to come back, that's when I'm going to come back."</div>
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<a class="enlarge" credit="Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty Images" href="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2015/0309/nba_g_rose01jr_E_600x600.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #999999; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[+] Enlarge<img alt="Derrick Rose" border="0" height="300" src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2015/0309/nba_g_rose01jr_E_300x300.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 4px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="300" /></a><div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;">
<cite style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #ababab; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty Images</cite>Derrick Rose said he has no pain or swelling in his right knee and hopes to rejoin the Bulls for a few games before the playoffs begin.</div>
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Rose, who tore the ACL in his left knee in April 2012 and the medial meniscus in his right knee in November 2013, is feeling good about how this particular rehab process is coming along. The Bulls announced after the latest surgery that he would be out four to six weeks.</div>
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While Rose has been noncommittal regarding a comeback date, he says the process has been "smooth, same as the other two" and that there has been no pain or swelling in the knee.</div>
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"I don't have it," Rose said. "I don't have any. So that's a good sign. The swelling is gone. So it's all about just getting on the court."</div>
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Rose is hopeful that after a week or two of taking contact in practice that he could return to the floor, but he isn't sure exactly how his body will respond. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said Rose has been doing everything in practice aside from taking contact and likes the way the former MVP is progressing.</div>
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"I'm feeling good," Rose said. "I'm trying to do all the right things, put all the positives in the bag and just try to go with it. It's something that I've been doing for a long time with rehab. It's a grind -- definitely a grind -- but I'm getting used to it."</div>
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Rose says he is not concerned about trying to find a rhythm before the playoffs begin. The Bulls have just 10 regular-season games remaining.</div>
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"It's different, but I'm a pro," Rose said of the short window. "I think I'm good enough to be able to fit my way in."</div>
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Like many within the organization, veteran big man <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/996/pau-gasol" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Pau Gasol</a> is hopeful Rose will be able to return before the regular season ends so that he gets some games under his belt.</div>
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"I think if he could get those four or five that would be great," Gasol said. "I think that would be ideal. If he [can't] get those four or five, then it would be a little tougher to be on the spot at playoff time. So that would be a little harder on him and on us as well."</div>
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Bulls center <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3224/joakim-noah" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Joakim Noah</a> also remains hopeful that Rose will be back soon.</div>
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"I think he's in a good place right now," Noah said after Wednesday's win. "And Pooh's working really, really hard and it's good to see. He's excited and I think that when he comes it's just going to give us that extra boost. Hopefully he can come back and have a little time in the regular season. And only time will tell, only time will tell, but we really -- we're looking forward to getting him back."</div>
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The Bulls will be happy whenever Rose returns because they understand the emotional lift it would give a group that still believes it can win a title this season. Rose sees the potential, as well.</div>
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"We can be pretty good. We can be really good," Rose said. "It's just all about everybody being healthy, a little bit of luck, and everybody staying together."</div>
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The next step is for Rose to take contact in practice -- one his teammates and coaches are hoping he is able to make soon.</div>
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"It's been good," Rose said of his knee. "Just been taking my time, being patient, doing everything I was supposed to do. Doing all the right things, and everything else is out of my control."</div>
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Thibodeau remained hopeful but noncommittal while discussing the possibility that Rose would be back before the regular season ended.</div>
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"We go step by step," Thibodeau said before Wednesday's game. "Just keep working at it as hard as you can. We're still -- we have a lot of other guys, too, that we're trying to work into a rhythm. So that's our challenge."</div>
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As for whether he would be surprised if Rose didn't play, Thibodeau remained optimistic that Rose would return sooner than later.</div>
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"Everything's going according to plan," Thibodeau said. "I don't want to jump ahead. So as long as it's going according to plan and there are no setback, I don't see why not."</div>

NBA Derrick Rose: No pain in knee

TORONTO -- Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose said Wednesday he has no pain in his surgically repaired right knee and remains optim...

Patrick Beverley has torn ligaments

11:00 Unknown 0

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<a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/hou/houston-rockets" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Houston Rockets</a> starting point guard <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3964/patrick-beverley" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Patrick Beverley</a> will seek input from specialists before a decision is made about potential season-ending wrist surgery in a week to 10 days, coach Kevin McHale told reporters at Wednesday's shootaround in New Orleans.</div>
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Beverley was ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Pelicans with torn ligaments in his left wrist.</div>
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<cite style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #ababab; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Scott Halleran/Getty Images</cite>Rockets guard Patrick Beverley is consulting with specialists before a decision is made about potential season-ending wrist surgery.</div>
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Beverley visited with a doctor back in Houston on Wednesday and is getting a second opinion on his options, which could include surgery. Sources tell ESPN.com's Marc Stein that Beverley and the Rockets are holding out hope for a more favorable prognosis when the injury is re-evaluated.</div>
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Beverly has to wait for the swelling to subside to determine a possible course of action.</div>
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Beverley, who is averaging 10.1 points and 3.4 assists per game, was injured in a victory over the <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/ind/indiana-pacers" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Indiana Pacers</a> on Monday night.</div>
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<a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/841/jason-terry" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jason Terry</a> and <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/4182/pablo-prigioni" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Pablo Prigioni</a> will try to pick up the slack at point, with Terry moving into the starting lineup to replace Beverley.</div>
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Terry had two points and three assists in 27 minutes and Prigioni had two points and four assists in 20 minutes in Wednesday's <a href="http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400579360" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">95-93 win</a> over the Pelicans.</div>

NBA Patrick Beverley has torn ligaments

Houston Rockets starting point guard Patrick Beverley will seek input from specialists before a decision is made about potential season-...

Sterling lawyer cites Stiviano audio

10:58 Unknown 0

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LOS ANGELES -- The wife of Donald Sterling sought revenge Friday against a woman whose recording cost her husband ownership of the <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/lac/los-angeles-clippers" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Los Angeles Clippers</a> by playing audio that showed the billionaire showered her with millions of dollars in gifts.</div>
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In closing arguments in the trial seeking the return of more than $2.8 million in community property the Sterlings acquired over six decades of marriage, Shelly Sterling's lawyer relied on the words of V. Stiviano to show that Donald Sterling was her sugar daddy.</div>
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"The truth is that everything that I have, you've given me from your heart without me begging or asking or throwing myself all over you," Stiviano said in snippet.</div>
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<cite style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #ababab; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">AP Photo/Nick Ut</cite>Lawyers for Shelly Sterling went to great lengths to show that checks her husband, Donald, drew from his real estate business ended up in accounts that financed most of V. Stiviano's $1.8 million duplex.</div>
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"That's it, that's over. End of case," attorney Pierce O'Donnell said.</div>
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Testimony in Los Angeles Superior Court wasn't as clear-cut even after Shelly Sterling's lawyers went to great lengths to show that checks Donald Sterling drew from his real estate business ended up in accounts that financed most of Stiviano's $1.8 million Spanish-style duplex near Beverly Hills.</div>
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While an accountant for Shelly Sterling conservatively estimated that Stiviano got more than $3.6 million in Donald Sterling gifts that included a Ferrari and Paris shopping spree, O'Donnell said he would seek only the return of the house and more than $1 million in cash, saying the lower figure lined up with Stiviano's own admissions on the witness stand, depositions and court filings.</div>
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Judge Richard Fruin Jr., who didn't indicate how soon he would rule, had noted earlier that there was no clear documentation that funds went from the Sterling family's real estate company to Stiviano's bank accounts.</div>
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Defense lawyer Mac Nehoray reiterated that point in his closing argument. He attacked the credibility of witnesses, particularly Donald Sterling, who had suggested Stiviano got her name on the home title illegally because she was part Hispanic and had buddied up to a Hispanic banker and escrow officer.</div>
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The Sterling trial comes nearly a year after a recording of Donald Sterling telling Stiviano not to publicly associate with black people culminated with his ouster from the NBA and led to a record $2 billion sale of the team.</div>
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Nehoray spent most of his argument trying to convince the judge that the law doesn't allow Shelly Sterling to go after a third party such as Stiviano because of a breach of fiduciary duty by her husband.</div>
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"Say he gave $2,000 to a call girl," Nehoray said. "Mrs. Sterling can't go and try to get that money back. We know that's not how it works."</div>
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Although such cases are unusual to see at trial, the law is well settled and dates back to a 1949 case involving the widow of actor and comedian W.C. Fields, said Herma Hill Kay, a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley.</div>
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The California Appeals Court ruled that Fields' widow was entitled to half the $482,450 he clandestinely gave 10 people in gifts.</div>
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Stiviano said Donald Sterling regularly gave her gifts and assured her he would take care of her needs if she stuck by his side. She said she spent 12 hours a day with him over more than two years, driving him to view real estate or attend Clippers meetings and games together.</div>
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Stiviano, 32, who witnesses said once boasted of becoming the next Mrs. Sterling, said she once considered the 80-year-old a sweet and loving father figure. She called him a lover, although she said they never were romantic.</div>
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When asked to explain the contradictions in her descriptions of him, she said he treated her differently than the businessman other people saw.</div>
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"The real Donald Sterling is a con artist, a cheat, a racist, a bigot," she said. "He's a horrible, despicable man."</div>
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NBA Sterling lawyer cites Stiviano audio

LOS ANGELES -- The wife of Donald Sterling sought revenge Friday against a woman whose recording cost her husband ownership of the Los Ang...

Jazz mourn loss of Hot Rod Hundley

10:58 Unknown 0

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PHOENIX -- Hot Rod Hundley, the former NBA player who broadcast Jazz games in New Orleans and Utah for 35 years, died Friday. He was 80.</div>
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The Jazz said Hundley died at his home in the Phoenix area.</div>
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<a class="enlarge" credit="Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE/Getty Images" href="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2015/0327/nba_g_hundley_mb_600x400.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #999999; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[+] Enlarge<img alt="Hot Rod Hundley" border="0" height="200" src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2015/0327/nba_g_hundley_mb_300x200.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 4px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="300" /></a><div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;">
<cite style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #ababab; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE/Getty Images</cite>The Jazz honored beloved broadcaster Hot Rod Hundley during a 2010 game, hanging a banner in the rafters next to the team's retired numbers and dedicating the press room to him.</div>
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Hundley broadcast 3,051 Jazz games from 1974 to 2009. He joined the franchise before its first season in New Orleans in 1974-75 and moved with the team to Salt Lake City in 1979-80.</div>
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The Jazz honored Hundley in 2010, hanging a banner in the rafters next to the team's retired numbers and dedicating the press room to him.</div>
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As part of the tribute, the Jazz redecorated the press room in Hundley's honor. A timeline of his career, including blown-up quotes from some of his more famous calls, and photos from Hundley's decades calling games line the walls of the Hot Rod Hundley Media Center.</div>
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The mural features a big and bold "You Gotta Love it, Baby!" -- Hundley's signature line.</div>
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"Hot Rod was the voice of the <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/utah/utah-jazz" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Utah Jazz</a> for 35 years and his voice was synonymous with Jazz radio," Jazz owner Gail Miller said in a statement. "The expressions he used throughout the game broadcasts are legendary. He had the unique ability to make the game come to life so that you felt as though you could see what was happening on the floor when listening to him call the games.</div>
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"Rod was a very special talent and will be missed by our family as well as Jazz fans everywhere. Our thoughts and condolences are with the Hundley family."</div>
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Hundley also was a broadcaster for four seasons with the <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/phx/phoenix-suns" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Phoenix Suns</a> and four with the Lakers and called NBA games for CBS.</div>
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As a player, Hundley starred at West Virginia, averaging 24.5 points in three varsity seasons. He was drafted first overall by the Cincinnati Royals in 1957 and was immediately traded to the Minneapolis Lakers.</div>
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He averaged 8.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists in six seasons with the Lakers in Minneapolis and Los Angeles, playing in the 1960 and 1961 All-Star games.</div>
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"I am saddened by the news of the passing of my longtime friend, Rod Hundley," Hall of Famer<a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/4151/jerry-west" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jerry West</a> said in a statement. "I first met Rod when I was 18 and he encouraged be to attend West Virginia University. We were Laker teammates and never lost contact.</div>
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"Rod was not only a great basketball player, but one of the best play-by-play announcers in the game. He will be missed by all those he touched through his legendary career as will his colorful story-telling."</div>
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Added current Lakers president Jeanie Buss: "Hot Rod was a colorful player and man, and an important member of the early Lakers teams in the 1960s and therefore the history of our franchise. We're saddened by his passing, and send our condolences to his family."</div>
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Current West Virginia coach Bob Huggins tweeted out condolences after learning of Hundley's death Friday:</div>

NBA Jazz mourn loss of Hot Rod Hundley

PHOENIX -- Hot Rod Hundley, the former NBA player who broadcast Jazz games in New Orleans and Utah for 35 years, died Friday. He was 80. ...

Shaq: Should have been more patient

10:57 Unknown 0

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ORLANDO, Fla. -- It's been nearly two decades since Shaquille O'Neal left the <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/orl/orlando-magic" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Orlando Magic</a> to pursue the championship that eluded him during his first four seasons in the NBA.</div>
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He returned Friday to be inducted into the Magic's Hall of Fame, a moment he said was an "unexpected" celebration of his contributions to the franchise. It was also a reunion that prompted O'Neal to acknowledge regrets about leaving his original NBA team.</div>
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<a class="enlarge" credit="AP Photo/John Raoux" href="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2015/0327/nba_a_oneal_b1_600x400.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #999999; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[+] Enlarge<img alt="Shaquille O'Neal" border="0" height="200" src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2015/0327/nba_a_oneal_b1_300x200.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 4px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="300" /></a><div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;">
<cite style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #ababab; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">AP Photo/John Raoux</cite>Shaquille O'Neal is presented with an award by Magic CEO Alex Martins during his induction into the team's Hall of Fame on Friday night.</div>
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"It's unexpected because I came here to win. We won games, and then I made a business decision," said O'Neal, who becomes the third member of the Magic's hall, joining co-founder Pat Williams and first-ever draft pick <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/14/nick-anderson" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Nick Anderson</a>. "It's never personal. The [team owner Rich] DeVos family knows that. And I accomplished [a championship] somewhere else. It's not like I didn't think they weren't going to be upset or anything. But it's business. It was all business.</div>
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"Do I regret it? I never fully answer it. I regret it sometimes. Is this where I started and should have stayed? I actually wish they made it a law that whoever drafts you, you gotta stay there your whole career."</div>
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O'Neal was just a potential-filled 20-year-old when he arrived from LSU as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1992 draft. Almost immediately, the 7-footer commanded the attention of the entire league with his dominant presence on the court and gregarious personality off it.</div>
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It all helped him take the Magic from an infant expansion team to their first NBA Finals appearance in 1995.</div>
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So it's not lost on O'Neal why the backlash was so strong when he joined the <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/lal/los-angeles-lakers" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Los Angeles Lakers</a>, where he would go on to win three of his four NBA championship rings.</div>
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<blockquote class="mod-quote-box quote-box-left mod-inline" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-color: rgb(194, 194, 194); border-right-style: solid; border-width: 0px 1px 0px 0px; float: left; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.6200008392334px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 261.890625px;">
<span class="quote-start" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #aaaaaa; float: left; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 60px; font-weight: bold; height: 20px; line-height: 40px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“</span><div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 7px 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
That's why I kind of regret it, because we had a young, fabulous team ... And it's a shame that we got torn apart. But I think about that all the time. I try not to live my life now on 'ifs' or 'would've, should've,' but do I regret leaving here in '96, yes I do.</div>
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<span class="quote-end" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #aaaaaa; float: right; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 60px; height: 20px; line-height: 40px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">”</span><cite style="background: transparent; border: 0px; clear: right; display: block; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px 10px 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;">- Shaquille O'Neal</cite></div>
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O'Neal said the DeVos family deserves "a couple" of championships and that the Magic's 1995 Finals team, which also featured a core of <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/302/penny-hardaway" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Penny Hardaway</a> and Anderson, had a chance to get back.</div>
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"That's why I kind of regret it, because we had a young, fabulous team," O'Neal said. "We really did. And it's a shame that we got torn apart. But I think about that all the time. I try not to live my life now on 'ifs' or 'would've, should've,' but do I regret leaving here in '96, yes I do."</div>
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Williams said he was happy to hear O'Neal acknowledge regrets about leaving and dispelled the popular narrative that the Magic simply chose not to match the Lakers' seven-year, $120 million contract in the summer of 1996.</div>
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At the time, Williams said "there was a tiny little piece of time" in which NBA rules allowed first-time contract guys to be unrestricted free agents.</div>
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"The league had put it in place, and that meant that any free agent could sign and you couldn't match it," Williams said. "He was gone. Right after that they realized it was terribly unfair and they changed it. And from that point on you could now match on a restricted. But in that little window, Shaq was gone. It is the Shaq rule. And we came back later and beat the Lakers' offer in the closing minutes. But emotionally, Shaq was gone."</div>
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Now as a 43-year-old, O'Neal said he would have handled the whole thing differently.</div>
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"I wish I would have had more patience," he said. "I wanted to be protected from the bashing. What I mean by that is I wanted to win then. Even when I got [to Los Angeles], I still got bashed. It took four years to win. But I was very impatient. I was very young, and I thought that if I go there, with those guys out there, I could win right away and that wasn't the case.</div>
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"Now that I'm older now, I wish as a youngster I would have had more patience."</div>
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Stan Van Gundy, who had a rocky relationship with O'Neal when the two were with the <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/mia/miami-heat" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Miami Heat</a>, said Friday's induction was well-deserved.</div>
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"I think it's fitting that they're honoring him," Van Gundy said before his <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/det/detroit-pistons" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Detroit Pistons</a> faced the Magic.</div>
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"I mean, he really -- very early in the franchise's history -- put Orlando on the map. Most teams have to wait a long, long time to get to where they're contenders and everything else. And because of Shaq, this team was relevant very early on in the franchise's history. So I think it's fitting that he gets honored."</div>

NBA Shaq: Should have been more patient

ORLANDO, Fla. -- It's been nearly two decades since Shaquille O'Neal left the Orlando Magic to pursue the championship that elude...

Furthering their playoff push, Nets snap Cavaliers' winning streak

10:56 Unknown 0

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NEW YORK -- The <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/bkn/brooklyn-nets" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Brooklyn Nets</a> played with the intensity of a team fighting for its postseason future, and the <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/cle/cleveland-cavaliers" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> couldn't match it.</div>
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<a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/1007/joe-johnson" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Joe Johnson</a> and <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3448/brook-lopez" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Brook Lopez</a> each scored 20 points, and the Nets snapped the Cavaliers' four-game winning streak with a 106-98 victory Friday night.</div>
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<a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3593/bojan-bogdanovic" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Bojan Bogdanovic</a> added 18 points for the Nets, who held <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/1966/lebron-james" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">LeBron James</a> to two baskets in the second half and won for the sixth time in eight games as they chase a playoff berth. They took sole possession of ninth place in the East, a half-game behind Boston for the final spot.</div>
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"At this point for us, every game is important. I was glad, man, that we could just come out and get off to a great start and just sustain for 48 minutes," Johnson said. "That was the main thing, to just give ourselves a chance. This was definitely a much-needed victory."</div>
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James finished with 24 points and nine assists for Cleveland, while <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6442/kyrie-irving" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Kyrie Irving</a> led the Cavaliers with 26 points and <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3449/kevin-love" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Kevin Love</a> had 18 points and seven rebounds.</div>
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The Cavaliers had won the first three meetings this season, outscoring the Nets by 17 points per game. But Brooklyn turned up its defense in the second half to cool off what had been the NBA's hottest team for more than two months.</div>
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"There's no excuses," James said. "That team over there played better than us tonight."</div>
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And the Nets did it at home, where they have struggled all season. Brooklyn improved to just 13-20 at Barclays Center while playing without starting forward <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3244/thaddeus-young" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Thaddeus Young</a> because of a strained left knee that could keep him sidelined through the weekend.</div>
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"I think we've been getting better each game for six, seven games now," Lopez said. "We've had some setbacks, but we responded, which is something we absolutely would not have done earlier in the season."</div>
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The Cavaliers lost for just the second time in 10 games and seventh in 35 games since Jan. 15. They appeared frustrated with each other at times and with the referees all the time, complaining about almost every call down the stretch as the Nets broke away at the free throw line.</div>
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"We did not play well today. I didn't think we played as we normally do," Cavs coach David Blatt said. "Really hard to sit here and point out one thing. There was a lot of things that we just didn't do well."</div>
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It was 79-all after three before the Nets finally opened a bit of a cushion at 98-91 after four straight free throws by Lopez. Irving made two for Cleveland, but Johnson nailed a 3-pointer and<a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2768/jarrett-jack" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jarrett Jack</a> hit two more from the line to make it 103-93 with 2:25 left, the first double-digit lead for either team.</div>
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Brooklyn led 57-56 after a well-played first half in which each team shot better than 50 percent. James had 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting at the break.</div>
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TIP-INS</div>
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Cavaliers: Cleveland finished just 8-of-30 (27 percent) from 3-point range. The Cavs had made 10 or more 3-pointers in nine straight road games. ... The Cavs had won four straight meetings dating to last season.</div>
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Nets: Veteran forward Earl Clark, signed to a 10-day contract earlier Friday, made his Nets debut in the third quarter and scored seven points in 12 minutes. Asked before the game what Clark needed to do to get minutes, coach Lionel Hollins responded: "I need to put him in the game. 'Earl, go in the game.' That's how he gets minutes. It's not rocket science out there." ... Official scorer Herb Turetzky worked his 1,300th consecutive game, a streak that began in the second round of the 1984 playoffs. He has scored 1,240 games in the regular season and 60 in the postseason.</div>
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EVALUATING THE EFFORT</div>
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James, on the Cavs' effort: "It was spotty. I know at times we were flying around and at times we were kind of in a trance. One thing we can do is try to control how hard play and how much we communicate, and I don't think we did that to our capabilities tonight</div>

NBA Furthering their playoff push, Nets snap Cavaliers' winning streak

NEW YORK -- The Brooklyn Nets played with the intensity of a team fighting for its postseason future, and the Cleveland Cavaliers could...

Monta Ellis hurt; Mark Cuban irked

10:55 Unknown 0

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Coach Rick Carlisle said Saturday morning that Ellis, who has played in 237 consecutive games, is "very doubtful" for Sunday's road game against the <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/ind/indiana-pacers" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Indiana Pacers</a> due to the right calf injury suffered when he was defending Spurs sixth man <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/272/manu-ginobili" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Manu Ginobili</a>.</div>
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"He's on crutches, which is never good," Carlisle told reporters in San Antonio. "So he appears to be very doubtful for tomorrow. We don't think it's serious. But we are concerned."</div>
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Ellis has played in 237 consecutive games, a streak that dates to the 2012-13 season opener. He has played through several injuries during his two-year tenure in Dallas, including a strained left hip suffered two games before the All-Star break that bothered him for weeks.</div>
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"We're not going to do anything foolish in terms of rushing him back until he's absolutely ready," Carlisle said. "I trust [athletic trainer] Casey Smith and I trust Monta too to be reasonable about this. He knows how important he is to us. We can't take a foolish risk at this point."</div>
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<br />He got hit in the face, Duncan got his body lower, hand was down like this in the replay, and then [referee] Monty McCutchen says he was straight up and down," Cuban said. "Say you missed it, cool. Say you'll look at it, cool. Say you weren't sure, cool. Say it wasn't your call, cool. But when the second defender doesn't jump, it can't be up and down. When a drive starts at the top of the key and you go straight down, it's not lower box, it can't be up and down unless you jump.Cuban, who has calmly mentioned in the past that Ellis doesn't get as many calls as he should, said he was set off after seeing Spurs power forward <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/215/tim-duncan" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tim Duncan</a> smack Ellis in the face without a foul being called.</div>
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"That's crazy, and it happens three times a game for Monta, every game. It's ridiculous."</div>
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Cuban said the Mavs have sent "a long list" of non-calls they believed should have been fouls on Ellis drives to the league office this season. Cuban isn't satisfied with the "ridiculous feedback" the Mavs have received from the NBA, so he decided to take an aggressive public stance on the issue, asking for help from the fans.</div>
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"I'm not allowed to say how many and what, but we literally have a play list of all the calls of Monta getting smacked and no call," Cuban said. "It's crazy. It's crazy. It's always the same: 'Oh, it's incidental,' or 'It's not this, it's not that.' We tried. We tried to play the game.</div>
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<a class="enlarge" credit="D.Clarke Evans/NBAE/Getty Images" href="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2015/0327/nba_g_ellis2_mb_600x400.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #999999; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[+] Enlarge<img alt="Monta Ellis" border="0" height="200" src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2015/0327/nba_g_ellis2_mb_300x200.jpg" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 4px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="300" /></a><div style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;">
<cite style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #ababab; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 4px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">D.Clarke Evans/NBAE/Getty Images</cite>Monta Ellis has played in 237 consecutive games, a streak that dates to the 2012-13 season opener.</div>
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"Maybe it will all change next year. I'm not even expecting the league to change anything. I'm hoping fans, every time that happens, fans post a video of it so everybody can see it."</div>
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According to NBA.com's player-tracking data, Ellis ranks 10th in the league with 609 drives this season. He ranks 35th in the league in free throws attempted with 277.</div>
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"It's just some of the most ridiculous feedback we get," Cuban said. "You turn it in, and it's like, 'That's incidental.' He got hit in the face. Incidental. Knocked the ball loose. Incidental. You know, it's crazy. The guy [is] one of the leading guys in driving, attacking the basket, went to the line zero times tonight."</div>
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Cuban has been fined well more than $1 million during his 15-year tenure as the Mavs' owner, much of it for publicly complaining about officiating. His last fine was assessed in January 2014, just before commissioner David Stern's retirement, when Cuban was fined $100,000 for confronting officials on the court and directing inappropriate language toward them at the conclusion of a loss to the <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/lac/los-angeles-clippers" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Los Angeles Clippers</a>.</div>
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Cuban's comments Friday could result in his first fine from Stern's replacement, Adam Silver.</div>
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"I don't care one way or the other," Cuban said, joking that he'd have Mavs radio play-by-play man Chuck Cooperstein pay the fine.</div>

NBA Monta Ellis hurt; Mark Cuban irked

Coach Rick Carlisle said Saturday morning that Ellis, who has played in 237 consecutive games, is "very doubtful" for Sunday'...

Raptors beat Lakers, earn second straight Atlantic Division crown

10:52 Unknown 0

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TORONTO -- Last season, the <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/tor/toronto-raptors" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Toronto Raptors</a> defied expectations to win the Atlantic Division.</div>
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Taking the title again is just part of what they expect to achieve this time around.</div>
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Toronto won the Atlantic for the third time in its 20-year history by beating the <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/lal/los-angeles-lakers" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Los Angeles Lakers</a> 94-83 on Friday night behind 18 points from Lou Williams and 19 from <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6477/jonas-valanciunas" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jonas Valanciunas</a>.</div>
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"We had three goals," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "One was to make the playoffs, two was to win the division, and three was to continue on and win into the playoffs."</div>
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Toronto, which clinched its seventh playoff berth Wednesday, has won just one round in six previous postseason appearances.</div>
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"It's a lot more that we need to do," <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3978/demar-derozan" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">DeMar DeRozan</a> said, wearing a red T-shirt that said "Atlantic Claimed" above the Raptors logo. "Get in the playoffs, win games in the playoffs, look forward, keep moving forward and not just think one game or one round."</div>
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<a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3999/james-johnson" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">James Johnson</a> had 17 points, <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2769/amir-johnson" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Amir Johnson</a> 11 and <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6619/terrence-ross" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Terrence Ross</a> 10 as the Raptors snapped a two-game skid and beat the Lakers for the first time since Dec. 8, 2013.</div>
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<a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/4299/jeremy-lin" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jeremy Lin</a> scored 18 points and <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2528426/jordan-clarkson" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jordan Clarkson</a> had 14 for the Lakers, who were outscored 48-35 in the second half and lost for the 11th time in 14 games.</div>
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"They turned it up in the second half defensively," Lin said of the Raptors.</div>
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A turnaround was the tale of Toronto's division title last season, when they started 6-12 but rebounded to go 42-22 after trading <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3005/rudy-gay" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Rudy Gay</a> to Sacramento.</div>
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It's been the opposite story this time, as the Raptors raced out to a 24-7 start and looked like a contender for the Eastern Conference crown. They have faded ever since, and a 7-13 record since All-Star Weekend has left Toronto battling to hold on to home-court advantage in the first round.</div>
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"Last year was so unexpected," DeRozan said. "We never looked at it as 'We can win our division.' All the odds were against us. This time around, the start that we had ... we kind of were expected to win it. It's kind of different, but it still means a lot."</div>
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DeRozan scored six points, making just one of his 10 field goal attempts and missing a dunk in the fourth quarter, but he had 10 rebounds and seven assists, both team highs.</div>
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James Johnson scored four points as Toronto put the game away with a 9-0 run midway through the fourth quarter. Johnson started the spurt with a fadeaway jumper, DeRozan and Williams added jump shots, and <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3991/tyler-hansbrough" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tyler Hansbrough</a> made one of two from the line before Johnson connected from the corner, putting Toronto up 87-72 with 5:17 remaining.</div>
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Hansbrough was later called for a flagrant foul 1 after he pulled <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2528393/tarik-black" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tarik Black</a> down from behind as the two fought for a rebound. The two players exchanged a high five after the whistle.</div>
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Raptors guard <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3012/kyle-lowry" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Kyle Lowry</a> sat for the fourth time in five games with a sore back. Casey said there is no timetable for Lowry's return.</div>
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Toronto missed six straight shots during an 8-0 Lakers run in the opening quarter as Los Angeles built a 24-17 lead after one, boosted by 10 points from Lin. The Lakers also benefited from seven offensive rebounds in the first.</div>
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Valanciunas scored nine points in the second as Toronto closed the gap, but the Lakers held a 48-46 lead at halftime.</div>
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Held scoreless in the first half, Ross had 10 points in the third, including two of Toronto's four 3-pointers, as the Raptors took a 71-66 lead into the fourth. The Lakers missed 12 of 17 field goal attempts in the third.</div>
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SHARING THE BALL</div>
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Toronto had 25 assists, the 10th time in 14 games this month they have had 20 or more. The Raptors are 32-14 this season when they finish with 20 or more assists. DeRozan has led the team in assists in four straight games.</div>
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LOVE IN THE AIR</div>
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A member of the Raptors cheerleading team accepted a marriage proposal from her boyfriend following a dance routine in the second quarter.</div>
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TIP-INS</div>
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Lakers: Coach Byron Scott returned after missing the previous two games following his mother's death. ... Lin started despite having a respiratory infection. ... The Lakers have never lost the season series against the Raptors.</div>
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Raptors: In its final night of 20th anniversary celebrations, Toronto paid tribute to former GM Isiah Thomas and the team's six founders. Thomas received a huge ovation when he and the other original owners were honored on the court during a second quarter timeout. "It's great to come back and see this," Thomas said of Toronto's rise from expansion team to division champion playing in front of regular sellout crowds.</div>

NBA Raptors beat Lakers, earn second straight Atlantic Division crown

TORONTO -- Last season, the Toronto Raptors defied expectations to win the Atlantic Division. Taking the title again is just part of wh...

Stephen Curry puts up 38 to lead Warriors' rout of Grizzlies

10:51 Unknown 0

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/gs/golden-state-warriors" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Golden State Warriors</a> matched their franchise record for wins in a season by routing the team closest to them in the Western Conference.</div>
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And, whatever is bothering the <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/mem/memphis-grizzlies" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Memphis Grizzlies</a> continues to plague the team, which now is losing its grip on what once was a solid hold of the second seed.</div>
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<a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3975/stephen-curry" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Stephen Curry</a> had 38 points and 10 assists, leading the Warriors to their 59th win with a 107-84 victory over the Grizzlies on Friday night. <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6475/klay-thompson" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Klay Thompson</a> finished with 28 points and<a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6589/draymond-green" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Draymond Green</a> added 10 as the Warriors (59-13) won their eighth straight, solidifying their hold on the top spot in the Western Conference.</div>
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"I think we executed offensively, for most of that game, the best we have in a while," Curry said. "Obviously, we did what we did on defense, but the ball was moving all around and guys were making plays and it was just fun to watch and fun to play."</div>
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Curry and Thompson were a combined 22-of-39 from the field and 14-of-21 from outside the arc. Golden State was 16-of-31 from 3-point range. It was the Warriors' 13th win in the past 14 games.</div>
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"It was a really good, solid effort, and it continues a stretch we've been on the last couple of weeks," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said, later adding: "We defend like crazy. We take care of the ball. We move the ball. It's a pretty simple formula. It's not that simple to execute, but our guys are doing it real well."</div>
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<a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3195/mike-conley" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Mike Conley</a> and <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3209/jeff-green" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jeff Green</a> led Memphis with 16 points each, while <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3206/marc-gasol" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Marc Gasol</a> scored 13 points.<a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/1017/zach-randolph" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Zach Randolph</a> finished with 10 points.</div>
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The lopsided loss was the second straight for the Grizzlies in which a top-shelf opponent ran away for a big victory. Memphis lost to Cleveland 111-89 on Wednesday night. The loss to the Warriors, coupled with Houston defeating the <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/min/minnesota-timberwolves" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Minnesota Timberwolves</a> 120-110 on Friday night, left the Grizzlies with a scant one-half game advantage over the Rockets.</div>
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"We didn't hit shots; they did," Randolph said, continually shaking his head. "That's a good team. Good shooters. Best shooter in the league in Curry. These last two games have been tough."</div>
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In addition to the Warriors' 3-point shooting, Golden State turned 19 Memphis turnovers into 32 points.</div>
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"Our turnovers are killing us," Memphis coach Dave Joerger said.</div>
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The Warriors basically took over the game in the third and were only slightly threatened the rest of the way in recording their 42nd double-digit win of the season. Curry scored 17 of his points in the third, converting six of nine shots, including four of six from outside the arc.</div>
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That helped the Warriors extend the lead to as many as 22 as Golden State outscored Memphis 31-16 in the quarter, carrying an 85-65 lead into the fourth.</div>
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"I say just moving the ball," Thompson said of the third-quarter difference. "It's that simple."</div>
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Memphis used an 8-0 run early in the fourth to make it interesting for the home crowd. But Curry re-entered, promptly made a 3-pointer and was fouled on his next 3-point attempt. After making all three free throws, the Warriors' lead was back to 20, and Memphis fans headed for the exits.</div>
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TIP-INS</div>
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Warriors: Curry has at least one 3-pointer in 70 straight games. ... Curry's 38 points were the most scored against the Grizzlies since <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/1018/jason-richardson" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jason Richardson</a>'s 38 on Nov. 5, 2010.</div>
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Grizzlies: Memphis had its 14th sellout of the season. ... Memphis G <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2367/tony-allen" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #225fb2; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tony Allen</a> left the game in the third quarter with a left hamstring strain and did not return.</div>
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THAT MAKES EVERYONE</div>
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The Grizzlies were the last team Golden State had not defeated this season. "It's been a weird schedule," Kerr said, noting that Memphis has not traveled to Golden State. "The main thing is to go on the road and beat one of the best teams in the league with a really decisive effort. That's very gratifying."</div>
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UP NEXT</div>
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Warriors: At Milwaukee on Saturday.</div>
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Grizzlies: At San Antonio on Sunday.</div>

NBA Stephen Curry puts up 38 to lead Warriors' rout of Grizzlies

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Golden State Warriors matched their franchise record for wins in a season by routing the team closest to them in th...