The Miami Herald from Miami, Florida • B3

Page: 1stSection, change THURSDAY DECEMBER22 2016 3B NBA MIAMIHERALD.COM H1 CAVALIERS 113, BUCKS 102 MILWAUKEE (102) 1-3 0-0 3, Antetokounmpo 7-13 13-14 28, Henson 2-7 0-0 4, Parker 11-20 1-1 27, Dellavedova 1-4 0-0 2, Teletovic 1-4 1-2 3, Novak 0-0 0-0 0, Maker 1-1 1-2 3, Plumlee 2-4 1-2 5, Monroe 3-7 2-4 8, Terry 0-0 0-0 0, Vaughn 3-7 0-0 8, Brogdon 4-7 2-4 11. Totals 36-77 21-29 102. CLEVELAND (113) 12-24 1-1 29, Jefferson 4-8 0-0 10, Thompson 2-6 1-4 5, Irving 11-17 8-9 31, Liggins 2-5 0-0 5, Frye 4-8 0-0 10, Felder 0-2 0-0 0, Jones 0-0 0-0 0, Shumpert 3-7 1-2 10, Dunleavy 2-4 0-0 5, McRae 3-6 1-3 8. Totals 43-87 12-19 113. 3-Point Milwaukee 9-22 (Parker 4-5, Vaughn 2-3, Snell 1-1, Brogdon 1-2, Anteto- kounmpo 1-4, Monroe 0-1, Teletovic 0-3, Dellavedova 0-3), Cleveland 15-27 (James 4-7, Shumpert 3-4, Jefferson 2-5, Frye 2-5, Liggins 1-1, McRae 1-1, Dunleavy 1-2, Irving 1-2).

Fouled None. Milwaukee 39 (Henson 8), Cleveland 44 (Thompson 15). Milwaukee 24 (Brogdon 7), Cleveland 30 (Irving 13). Total Milwaukee 21, Cleveland 20. Milwaukee defensive three second, Milwaukee team, Monroe, McRae, Jefferson 2.

Jefferson. 20,562 TIMBERWOLVES 92, HAWKS 84 MINNESOTA (92) 9-19 1-1 19, Towns 7-16 3-4 17, Dieng 5-10 2-2 12, LaVine 5-12 4-4 18, Rubio 3-5 2-2 10, Muhammad 3-10 0-0 7, Bjelica 1-6 0-0 3, Dunn 2-5 1-1 6. Totals 35-83 13-14 92. ATLANTA (84) 2-6 0-0 4, Bazemore 3-9 2-4 9, Millsap 7-18 4-6 18, Schroder 10-21 0-0 21, Korver 4-10 0-0 10, Prince 0-2 0-0 0, Muscala 6-9 1-1 16, Scott 1-4 2-2 4, Delaney 0-2 0-0 0, Hardaway Jr. 1-1 0-0 2.

Totals 34-82 9-13 84. 3-Point Minnesota 9-29 (LaVine 4-8, Rubio 2-3, Dunn 1-3, Muhammad 1-3, Bjelica 1-5, Dieng 0-1, Towns 0-3, Wiggins 0-3), Atlanta 7-26 (Muscala 3-3, Korver 2-6, Bazemore 1-2, Schroder 1-7, Scott 0-1, Sefolosha 0-2, Millsap 0-5). Fouled None. Minnesota 52 (Towns 18), Atlanta 35 (Millsap 10). Minnesota 21 (Rubio 8), Atlanta 19 (Schroder, Millsap 7).

Total Minnesota 11, Atlanta 15. LATE TUESDAY MAGIC 136, HEAT 130, 2 OT OrlandoMinFG-AFT-ARAFPt Fournier4411-221-254426 Gordon284-83-451212 Ibaka408-150-092520 Biyombo313-40-49136 Augustin262-92-31627 Vucevic4011-203-5123526 Payton368-136-726222 Green324-96-631214 Meeks131-50-01003 Totals29052-10521-31472425136 Percentages: FG .495, FT .677. 3-Point Goals: 11-22, .500 (Ibaka 4-5, Fournier 3-5, Vucevic 1-1, Meeks 1-2, Gordon 1-3, Augustin 1-4, Green 0-1, Payton 0-1). Team Rebounds: 16. Team Turnovers: 11 (17 PTS).

Blocked Shots: 5 (Vucevic 2, Biyombo, Ibaka, Payton). Turnovers: 11 (Vucevic 4, Gordon 2, Augustin, Biyombo, Fournier, Ibaka, Payton). Steals: 3 (Green, Ibaka, Payton). MiamiMinFG-AFT-ARAFPt McRoberts162-41-21025 Winslow466-171-152413 Whiteside4714-224-6150532 Dragic456-174-645619 Richardson442-123-44649 T.Johnson3813-203-553632 J.Johnson285-100-086112 Babbitt152-42-22018 Reed110-20-04010 Haslem10-00-00000 Totals29050-10818-26482230130 Percentages: FG .463, FT .692. 3-Point Goals: 12-30, .400 (T.Johnson 3-5, Dragic 3-6, Babbitt 2-3, J.Johnson 2-6, Richardson 2-8, Reed 0-1, Winslow 0-1).

Team Rebounds: 18. Team Turnovers: 10 (20 PTS). Blocked Shots: 6 (Whiteside 5, Babbitt). Turnovers: 10 (Dragic 4, Richardson 2, J.Johnson, McRoberts, Whiteside, Winslow). Steals: 4 (T.Johnson 3, Whiteside).

Att. Officials Ayotte, James Williams, Gediminas Petraitis SPURS 102, ROCKETS 100 SAN ANTONIO (102) 5-14 11-13 21, Aldridge 6-15 5-6 17, Gasol 5-8 0-0 10, Parker 3-7 1-2 8, Green 4-8 0-0 12, Bertans 0-0 0-0 0, Lee 3-5 0-0 6, Dedmon 0-0 0-0 0, Mills 5-9 0-0 13, Ginobili 4-9 0-2 12, Simmons 1-2 1-2 3. Totals 36-77 18-25 102. HOUSTON (100) 6-14 1-2 16, Hilario 4-6 2-2 10, R.Anderson 2-8 2-2 7, Beverley 2-7 0-0 4, Harden 10-26 10-10 31, Dekker 3-9 4-4 10, Brewer 0-0 0-0 0, Harrell 4-7 1-3 9, Gordon 4-15 4-4 13. Totals 35-92 24-27 100.

San 3-Point San Antonio 12-23 (Ginobili 4-5, Green 4-8, Mills 3-6, Parker 1-1, Leonard 0-3), Houston 6-38 (Ariza 3-9, R.Ander- son 1-3, Gordon 1-8, Harden 1-11, Dekker 0-3, Beverley 0-4). Fouled None. San Antonio 43 (Aldridge, Gasol 10), Houston 51 (Harden 10). San Antonio 21 (Aldridge 5), Houston 22 (Harden 7). Total San Antonio 17, Houston 17.

Houston defensive three second 2, Houston team 2, Beverley. 18,055 CELTICS 112, GRIZZLIES 109, OT BOSTON (112) 3-8 6-6 13, Johnson 2-4 1-2 5, Horford 8-19 0-1 17, Thomas 10-16 17-17 44, Bradley 5-8 5-6 16, Brown 1-6 0-0 2, G.Green 2-6 0-0 5, Jerebko 0-0 0-0 0, Olynyk 2-7 5-6 10, Rozier 0-4 0-0 0, Smart 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 33-81 34-38 112. MEMPHIS (109) 2-4 1-1 5, J.Green 2-5 3-4 7, Gasol 8-22 5-5 24, Conley 6-16 4-6 19, Allen 5-8 0-0 10, Randolph 4-14 1-2 9, Martin 1-3 1-2 3, Harrison 0-4 2-2 2, Daniels 8-13 4-4 24, Carter 2-5 0-0 6. Totals 38-94 21-26 109.

3-Point Boston 12-37 (Thomas 7-10, Olynyk 1-2, G.Green 1-3, Bradley 1-3, Crowder 1-4, Horford 1-8, Rozier 0-1, Johnson 0-1, Smart 0-2, Brown 0-3), Memphis 12-30 (Daniels 4-7, Gasol 3-4, Conley 3-8, Carter 2-4, J.Green 0-1, Allen 0-1, Randolph 0-2, Harrison 0-3). Fouled Martin. Boston 41 (Horford 14), Memphis 52 (J.Green 12). Boston 22 (Thomas 6), Memphis 23 (Conley 8). Total Boston 22, Memphis 30.

Gasol. Randolph. 16,519 CAVALIERS 114, BUCKS 108, OT CLEVELAND (114) 2-7 3-3 8, James 12-25 5-6 34, Thompson 4-7 2-3 10, Irving 8-23 9-9 28, Smith 2-6 0-0 6, Frye 5-11 2-2 15, Shumpert 2-8 1-2 6, Jones 0-0 1-2 1, Dunleavy 1-2 0-0 3, Liggins 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 37-91 23-27 114. MILWAUKEE (108) 3-7 0-0 8, Antetokounmpo 5-13 13-15 25, Henson 5-7 4-6 14, Parker 13-25 4-7 30, Dellavedova 3-10 0-0 8, Teletovic 4-9 0-0 9, Monroe 3-5 0-1 6, Terry 1-5 0-0 2, Brogdon 3-6 0-0 6.

Totals 40-87 21-29 108. 3-Point Cleveland 17-40 (James 5-9, Irving 3-7, Frye 3-7, Smith 2-4, Dunleavy 1-2, Liggins 1-2, Shumpert 1-4, Jefferson 1-5), Milwaukee 7-27 (Antetokounmpo 2-3, Snell 2-5, Dellavedova 2-7, Teletovic 1-5, Parker 0-2, Brogdon 0-2, Terry 0-3). Fouled Antetokounmpo. Cleveland 43 (James, Thompson 12), Milwaukee 51 Curry 8-18 5-5 25, Thompson 8-13 0-0 17, Looney 0-2 0-0 0, West 2-3 0-0 4, Varejao 0-1 0-0 0, McGee 4-14 0-0 8, Livingston 1-4 0-0 2, Clark 2-5 1-2 6, McCaw 0-1 0-0 0, Iguodala 1-3 0-0 3. Totals 40-90 15-17 104.

Golden 3-Point Utah 9-30 (Ingles 3-7, Exum 2-2, Johnson 2-3, Lyles 2-4, Mack 0-2, Neto 0-3, Hood 0-3, Hayward 0-6), Golden State 9-23 (Curry 4-9, Green 2-5, Iguodala 1-1, Clark 1-2, Thompson 1-3, Durant 0-1, McGee 0-1, Looney 0-1). Fouled None. Utah 44 (Gobert 16), Golden State 50 (Green 11). Utah 13 (Ingles 3), Golden State 24 (Green, Curry, Livingston, Iguodala 4). Total Utah 17, Golden State 18.

Green. 19,596 KINGS 126, TRAIL BLAZERS 121 PORTLAND (121) 5-9 1-3 11, Plumlee 10-13 7-11 27, Leonard 0-3 0-0 0, Lillard 6-20 11-12 24, McCollum 13-22 8-10 36, Davis 4-4 1-2 9, Vonleh 0-0 0-0 0, Napier 2-8 0-0 5, Crabbe 4-7 1-2 9. Totals 44-86 29-40 121. SACRAMENTO (126) 0-4 2-4 2, Cousins 17-28 16-17 55, Koufos 1-2 0-0 2, Collison 3-8 4-5 10, McLemore 2-4 3-3 8, Tolliver 3-5 2-2 11, Cauley-Stein 3-3 0-0 6, Lawson 6-8 4-4 16, Temple 1-3 3-5 5, Afflalo 4-7 2-3 11. Totals 40-72 36-43 126.

3-Point Portland 4-27 (McCollum 2-7, Napier 1-5, Lillard 1-9, Crabbe 0-1, Plumlee 0-1, Harkless 0-1, Leonard 0-3), Sacramento 10-23 (Cousins 5-8, Tolliver 3-4, McLemore 1-3, Afflalo 1-3, Lawson 0-1, Temple 0-1, Collison 0-1, Barnes 0-2). Fouled Harkless. Portland 41 (Plumlee 13), Sacramento 31 (Cousins 13). Portland 30 (Lillard 15), Sacramento 20 (Lawson 8). Total Portland 31, Sacramento 28.

Davis, Leonard, Plumlee, Cousins. 17,608 (Antetokounmpo 13). Cleveland 19 (James 7), Milwaukee 22 (Brogdon, Dellavedova 5). Total Cleveland 21, Milwaukee 21. Milwaukee defensive three second, Milwaukee team.

17,053 CLIPPERS 119, NUGGETS 102 DENVER (102) 6-11 1-2 17, Chandler 5-13 2-4 13, Jokic 4-7 1-2 9, Mudiay 0-9 0-0 0, Harris 1-6 0-0 3, Hernan- gomez 2-4 2-2 6, Barton 9-15 2-3 22, Faried 5-9 5-6 15, Nelson 4-7 0-0 9, Murray 3-9 0-1 8. Totals 39-90 13-20 102. L.A. CLIPPERS (119) 2-6 1-2 7, Mbah a Moute 5-8 3-3 14, Jordan 6-7 1-1 13, Paul 7-14 0-0 16, Redick 10-16 0-0 27, Anderson 0-2 0-0 0, W.Johnson 1-4 0-0 2, Speights 4-5 0-1 10, B.Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Bass 3-3 2-2 8, Stone 0-2 0-0 0, Felton 4-7 0-0 8, Rivers 3-8 2-4 9, Crawford 2-4 0-0 5. Totals 47-86 9-13 119.

L.A. 3-Point Denver 11-39 (Gallinari 4-8, Barton 2-5, Murray 2-8, Harris 1-2, Nelson 1-3, Chandler 1-4, Faried 0-1, Hernangomez 0-1, Jokic 0-2, Mudiay 0-5), L.A. Clippers 16-36 (Redick 7-9, Speights 2-3, Paul 2-5, Pierce 2-5, Mbah a Moute 1-2, Crawford 1-2, Rivers 1-4, Anderson 0-1, Felton 0-2, W.Johnson 0-3). Fouled None. Denver 46 (Faried 11), L.A.

Clippers 37 (Jordan 13). Denver 22 (Nelson 6), L.A. Clippers 32 (Paul 15). Total Denver 15, L.A. Clippers 13.

L.A. Clippers defensive three second, Speights. 19,060 WARRIORS 104, JAZZ 74 UTAH (74) 2-10 2-3 6, Gobert 5-6 1-3 11, Diaw 1-5 0-0 2, Exum 2-2 0-0 6, Hood 0-5 0-2 0, Ingles 4-13 0-0 11, Johnson 5-9 2-2 14, Lyles 2-10 5-6 11, Bolomboy 0-1 1-2 1, Withey 0-1 0-0 0, Mack 3-7 0-2 6, Neto 3-7 0-0 6. Totals 27-76 11-20 74. GOLDEN STATE (104) 8-14 6-6 22, Green 6-11 1-2 15, Pachulia 0-1 2-2 2, SUMMARIES EASTERN CONFERENCE SoutheastWLPctGBL10StrHomeAwayConf Charlotte1613.552—5-5W-29-67-710-9 Atlanta1415.48324-6L-17-77-811-7 Washington1215.44436-4L-110-62-98-10 Orlando1317.4333 1 2 5-5W-15-108-78-11 Miami920.31072-8L-34-115-95-13 AtlanticWLPctGBL10StrHomeAwayConf Toronto208.714—8-2W-211-59-313-4 Boston1612.57146-4W-36-510-712-5 New York1513.53656-4W-110-45-97-7 Brooklyn720.25912 1 2 2-8L-36-71-132-13 Philadelphia721.250133-7L-15-142-75-12 CentralWLPctGBL10StrHomeAwayConf Cleveland216.778—8-2W-314-27-416-4 Chicago1413.51974-6W-18-56-810-7 Indiana1515.5007 1 2 5-5L-111-44-118-9 Milwaukee1314.48184-6L-29-74-79-10 Detroit1417.45293-7L-48-66-118-11 WESTERN CONFERENCE SouthwestWLPctGBL10StrHomeAwayConf San Antonio235.821—9-1W-58-415-113-3 Houston218.7242 1 2 9-1L-110-311-515-5 Memphis1912.6135 1 2 6-4W-111-78-511-5 New Orleans1020.333143-7W-16-94-114-17 Dallas721.250164-6L-16-81-134-13 NorthwestWLPctGBL10StrHomeAwayConf Utah1811.621—7-3L-110-58-613-8 Oklahoma City1612.5711 1 2 6-4L-111-65-68-7 Portland1317.4335 1 2 3-7L-38-45-139-12 Denver1217.41465-5L-16-76-107-10 Minnesota919.3218 1 2 4-6W-24-105-94-12 PacificWLPctGBL10StrHomeAwayConf Golden State254.862—9-1W-512-213-218-4 L.A.

Clippers218.72447-3W-110-411-414-3 Sacramento1117.39313 1 2 4-6W-16-65-118-9 L.A. Lakers1120.355151-9L-26-75-136-13 Phoenix820.28616 1 2 3-7L-34-84-123-16 RESULTS WEDNESDAY Cleveland 113, Milwaukee 102 Memphis 98, Detroit 86 Minnesota 92, Atlanta 84 Oklahoma City at New Orleans, late Washington at Chicago, late Houston at Phoenix, late Sacramento at Utah, late Dallas at Portland, late TUESDAY Orlando 136, Miami 130, 2 OT Charlotte 117, L.A. Lakers 113 New Orleans 108, Philadelphia 93 New York 118, Indiana 111 Toronto 116, Brooklyn 104 Boston 112, Memphis 109, OT Cleveland 114, Milwaukee 108, OT San Antonio 102, Houston 100 Golden State 104, Utah 74 L.A. Clippers 119, Denver 102 Sacramento 126, Portland 121 SCHEDULE THURSDAY L.A. Lakers at Miami, 8 Boston at Indiana, 7 Golden State at Brooklyn, 7:30 Orlando at New York, 7:30 San Antonio at L.A.

Clippers, 10:30 NBA STANDINGS, SCHEDULE PlayerGMINFGM-FGAPCT3PM-3PAFTM-FTAPCTPTSAVG Dragic24824.0167-368.45437-8987-109.79845819.1 Whiteside29982.0221-403.5480-082-154.53252418.1 Waiters16508.088-229.38421-6130-46.65222714.2 TJohnson27839.0130-305.42634-9369-93.74236313.4 Ellington11339.054-123.43926-808-10.80014212.9 Winslow13451.057-163.3507-3121-34.61814210.9 Richardson19559.075-197.38131-9916-22.72719710.4 JJohnson25611.097-197.49225-7638-51.74525710.3 Williams16265.040-102.3925-3323-38.6051086.8 McGruder27691.059-152.38823-7321-29.7241626.0 McRoberts20350.041-113.36312-296-9.6671005.0 Babbitt22330.030-91.33021-647-9.778884.0 Reed21246.032-58.5520-116-34.471803.8 Haslem841.02-8.2500-12-4.50060.8 TEAM297035.01093-2509.436242-730426-642.664285498.4 OPP297035.01104-2480.445223-645515-651.7912946101.6 Dragic2078984.11606.771024775 Whiteside12130943014.819.7960225870 Waiters748553.4633.9410153510 TJohnson181071254.6843.1610333217 Ellington220222.0222.0160951 Winslow1542574.4443.441020224 Richardson1149603.2412.248014248 JJohnson23951184.7562.2591154322 Williams1331442.86.4180674 McGruder43571003.7361.355019218 McRoberts2248703.5482.42809214 Babbitt534391.89.4250882 Reed3840783.76.3270246 Haslem28101.21.170100 TEAM340966130645.059520.55931197380161 OPP.3031001130445.058320.15500186375166 HEAT STATISTICS THROUGH WEDNESDAY POINTS PER GAME Player, TeamGFGFTPTSAVG Westbrook, OKC2828823986630.9 Davis, NOR2829422582929.6 Cousins, SAC2727020279029.3 DeRozan, TOR2828020878127.9 Harden, HOU2923525080627.8 Lillard, POR3026321682027.3 Thomas, BOS2419618963926.6 Durant, GOL2926116874425.7 James, CLE2422411960925.4 Curry, GOL2923314171724.7 REBOUNDS Player, TeamGOFFDEFTOTAVG Whiteside, MIA2912130943014.8 Drummond, DET2911027838813.4 Howard, ATL2612121833913.0 Jordan, LAC2910027737713.0 Gortat, WAS279222731911.8 Chandler, PHX206217423611.8 Gobert, UTA299025134111.8 Towns, MIN279120930011.1 Davis, NOR285425631011.1 Vucevic, ORL277022429410.9 NBA LEADERS THROUGH TUESDAY Thu 22 LAL 8 p.m. Fri 23 8 p.m. SUN Tue 27 OKC 7:30 p.m. SUN Thu 29 7 p.m. SUN NEXT FOR THE HEAT The Heat will retire Shaquille jersey at halftime of Thursday game against the Los Angeles Lakers, a well- earned honor for the big man who catapulted the franchise from a contender to champion for the first time.

But the current big man center Hassan Whiteside who has stolen some of thunder in the past 24 hours. Much like the Hall of Fame center used to complain about not getting enough touches when he played, Whiteside did the same after heartbreaking, double-overtime loss to the Orlando Magic. But instead of creating perhaps an uncomfortable situation a day later, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra embraced feelings as a positive step in his growth. OK with that. You know why? Because it matters right now to him, and learning how to impact Spoelstra said Wednesday after Whiteside said he and his coach and a couple of teammates met to discuss looking for on instincts and all great instincts is give me the Spoelstra continued.

a myriad of plays that you can make to impact winning, but these games matter and it frustrates him not being able to help the team get over the hump and win. I think that is great progress from that standpoint. I had three guys after the game that wanted the ball down the stretch. That is so invaluable for this group. We have a lot of young guys, guys that are experiencing new late-game situations and scenarios with different roles and responsibilities than had before in the past, and growing from a message team president Pat Riley echoed Wednesday.

The growing pains, Riley said, are ulti- mately necessary as players like Whiteside move into bigger roles. Riley said he liked the fact Whiteside was disappointed the Heat lost on a night he poured in a career- high 32 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks in 47 minutes. He also suggested Whiteside should walk into office a clipboard and a pen and diagram some plays he more he goes through this kind of adversity and the sting of losing, the more going to make sure we lose those games and going to be the difference-maker at the Riley said. Riley agreed with in that when Whiteside gets frustrated about his lack of touches again his frustration in another form is the best way to go about went about it like that, and it was definitely the wrong said. just needs to have a conversation with Dragic and say, you missed me a couple of And then whatever he needs to do for other guys, he needs to give out.

lot of times you can use yourself as a decoy and kick it out to Tyler get him an easy bucket, or kick it out to someone else, get them an easy bucket. Then it will become HEAT HASSAN WHITESIDE desire for more touches embraced BY MANNY NAVARRO PEDRO PORTALTNS Coach Erik Spoelstra had no problem with Hassan Whiteside saying he get enough touches after loss. Thursday: Lakers at Heat 8 p.m.; AmericanAirlines Arena. TNT, SUN; WAXY 790, WAQI 710 (Spanish). Series: Lakers lead 31-25.

Scouting report: Heat guard Wayne Ellington (strained right hamstring) will miss his third consecutive game and rookie Rodney McGruder, who missed his first game of the season because of injury on Tuesday, is listed as questionable. Kyrie Irving had 31 points and a career-high 13 assists, and LeBron James scored 29 as the host Cleveland Cavaliers won their second game in two nights over the Milwaukee Bucks, 113-102 on Wednesday despite being without two starters. The NBA champs were not at full strength as Kevin Love dress for the second game in a row with a bruised left knee, and J.R. Smith sat out after breaking his right thumb on Tuesday at Milwaukee. Smith needs surgery, and the Cavs have a timetable on his return until after the operation.

They were missed, but two biggest stars more than made up for the absences as the Cavs won for the eighth time in nine games. The only loss in that stretch was last week at Memphis when James, Irving and Love stayed home to rest. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 28 points and Jabari Parker had 27 for the Bucks, who took the Cavs to overtime at home but fell behind by 21 in the fourth quarter this time and come back. Tristan Thompson added 15 rebounds for Cleveland. A Timberwolves 92, Hawks 84: Andrew Wiggins scored 19 points, Karl-Anthony Towns had 17 points and 18 rebounds, and visiting Minnesota beat Atlanta.

ELSEWHERE A Labor: A new labor deal in the NBA is on the verge of being finalized, after owners voted to approve a proposed seven-year collective bargaining agreement that was tentatively agreed to last week. A Mavericks: Dallas star Dirk Nowitzki return to game action late Wednesday against the Blazers, but his comeback from a strained right Achilles is near. When it happens perhaps Friday at the Los Angeles Clippers or after Christmas at New Orleans will be a slow, gradual process. A Lakers: Los Angeles forward Larry Nance Jr. had an MRI exam that showed a bone bruise but was otherwise inconclusive because of swelling in his left knee.

The Lakers said Nance will be out indefinitely. He will be re-examined by the team doctor on Sunday. A NBA in Africa: The NBA will open an academy in Africa next year, its latest move to unearth talent from outside the United States and extend the reach into new territories. ROUNDUP Irving stars as Cavs beat Bucks again From Miami Herald Wire Services.