Replacement refs have quiet debut in NBA preseason opener; Utah beats Denver 103-87

SALT LAKE CITY — The NBA’s replacement referees were a non-issue in the preseason opener, just as the league wanted.

Catchings flirts with triple-double, Fever beats Mercury to tie WNBA finals 1-1

Catchings flirts with triple-double, Fever wins

Atlanta’s Meadors WNBA coach of the year after leading Dream turnaround

PHOENIX — Marynell Meadors was honored Thursday as the WNBA coach of the year after leading the Atlanta Dream to a remarkable turnaround in the franchise’s second season.

Pairing of Knicks and Darko Milicic could give both what they need

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — The New York Knicks are desperate for someone to bolster the worst interior defense in the NBA.

Atlanta’s Angel McCoughtry wins NBA rookie of the year

WASHINGTON — Atlanta Dream forward Angel McCoughtry is the WNBA’s rookie of the year.

With regular referees locked out, NBA confident starting season with 62 replacements

With its regular referees locked out, the NBA is confident in its roster of replacements — even the two it previously fired.

Teams have tough act to follow in WNBA Finals after record-breaking Game 1

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Mercury and Indiana Fever have a tough act to follow in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals.

Knicks’ Curry out 3-5 days with torn calf muscle

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Knicks center Eddy Curry will have blood drained from a torn right calf muscle and is expected to miss three to five days.

NBA institutes rule prohibiting Twitter and other social media use during games

NEW YORK — The NBA is instituting a policy regarding Twitter and other social media sites, banning players from using them during games.

D’Antoni says he’ll stay patient and positive, even if Knicks lose

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Mike D’Antoni could be forgiven if he sometimes catches himself daydreaming of Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire executing the perfect pick-and-roll.

LeBron, Shaq working well together through Cavs’ first 2 days of practice

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Mike Brown still can’t believe he is coaching two superstars.

US women’s basketball training camp opens in DC under coach Geno Auriemma, with UConn flavor

WASHINGTON — Coach Geno Auriemma was at ease on the first day of the U.S. women’s basketball training camp.

After tough summer, Rockets’ Tracy McGrady says rehab from knee surgery ahead of schedule

HOUSTON — Houston Rockets forward Tracy McGrady said Monday he’s “far ahead of schedule” in his recovery from knee surgery and wants to show that he’s still got a few good years left in him.

Timberwolves star Al Jefferson returns to court, practices for 1st time since knee injury

MANKATO, Minn. — “Big Al” isn’t quite as big these days, and that’s no accident for the Minnesota Timberwolves star as he returns from a major knee injury.

Magic’s Jameer Nelson looks to regain All-Star form after failed finals come back

ORLANDO, Fla. — There was hardly a place Jameer Nelson went this summer where somebody didn’t ask him about the NBA finals, always getting the same question about a mostly forgettable experience.

Westphal takes over as Sacramento Kings coach emphasizing improvement

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Paul Westphal didn’t necessarily want to say that the Sacramento Kings are a team in a rebuilding phase.

Pondexter’s late scores give Mercury 120-116 OT victory over Fever in Game 1 of WNBA Finals

PHOENIX — The WNBA finals was supposed to be Phoenix’s offense against Indiana’s defense.

NBA tells teams it’s going ahead with replacement refs following latest failure in talks

The NBA has told teams it’s going ahead with replacement referees, days after the league thought a deal had been reached with locked-out officials.

Nolan Richardson hired to coach WNBA team that doesn’t exist yet in Tulsa

OKLAHOMA CITY — Investors trying to bring a WNBA franchise to Tulsa said Tuesday that they have hired Nolan Richardson to be the coach — if the city is able to secure a team.

Mercury standout Taurasi wins her first WNBA most valuable player award

PHOENIX — Diana Taurasi was the runaway winner for most valuable player in the WNBA, a style of victory fitting for the multitalented leader of the fast-paced Phoenix Mercury.

Dirk Nowitzki looks refreshed, ready for Mavs’ season after soap opera conclusion to last year

DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki strolled back onto the scene Monday looking like a carefree surfer, his long, curly blond hair framing a wide smile.

With Shaquille O’Neal experiment behind them, Steve Nash and Suns looking to turn up heat

PHOENIX — With the failed Shaquille O’Neal experiment in their rearview mirror, the Phoenix Suns plan to put the pedal to the metal and hope for the best.

NJ prosecutor’s office in spotlight as attorneys for Jayson Williams seek to prove racial bias

SOMERVILLE, N.J. — Current and former employees of a New Jersey prosecutor’s office will be asked whether the manslaughter case against black former NBA star Jayson Williams has been racially biased.

For Dwyane Wade, on-court play _ not off-court issues _ the focus as Heat camp looms

MIAMI — It’s getting tougher for Dwyane Wade to keep his private life private.

Blake Griffin ready to see what he can do to turn around Clippers

LOS ANGELES — Blake Griffin has battled Los Angeles’ famous traffic. He’s played Good Samaritan for a woman in a stalled car. He’s been photographed by paparazzi.

Swingman Jamal Crawford accepts new backup role as newcomer in Hawks’ potent backcourt

ATLANTA — Jamal Crawford, a starter through most of his nine years in the NBA, says he’s ready for a new role as a backup with the Atlanta Hawks.

76ers F Brand ready to shoulder the load after injury-riddled 1st season in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA — Elton Brand finally began to feel like his old All-Star self at a Los Angeles gym where summer pickup games featured some of the NBA’s top stars. Brand, Paul Pierce, Ron Artest, Emeka Okafor all played for hours, usually with no refs, banging and shoving and dishing out all kinds of abuse.

Lead negotiator for locked-out referees removes himself from talks

The lead negotiator for the locked-out NBA referees says he is removing himself from the talks in hopes of spurring a deal with the league.

Newlywed Lamar Odom rejoins Lakers after weekend wedding

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Pardon Lamar Odom for looking tired.

Erik Spoelstra’s second season as Heat coach gets underway with desire for continuity, edge

MIAMI — A year ago, the first day of practice may have seemed incredibly significant to Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.

Mercury sends high-powered offense against Fever’s tough defense in WNBA Finals

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Mercury are all about offense, with All-Stars Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter leading a talented cast of scorers in search of the team’s second WNBA title in three years.

Duncan, Ginobili return healthy for overhauled Spurs on eve of training camp

SAN ANTONIO — Tony Parker didn’t see many familiar faces Monday when he returned to work after an unusually long summer for the San Antonio Spurs.

Aqua Man: Hornets’ Stojakovic does water exercises in Mediterranean to help with ailing back

NEW ORLEANS — Peja Stojakovic’s summer on the beaches of Greece wasn’t all about relaxation.

Person familiar with the negotiations: Magic extend contracts for Van Gundy, GM Otis Smith

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic have extended the contracts of general manager Otis Smith and coach Stan Van Gundy, a person familiar with the negotiations said Monday.

Preseason NBA Standings