Basketball

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Memphis agitator Dillon Brooks believes his image as an NBA villain contributed to the decision to eject him from Game 3 of the Grizzlies' playoff series with the Los Angeles Lakers after he struck LeBron James in the groin.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry thought he had a perfect plan, until it backfired. The reigning NBA Finals MVP called a timeout the defending champions didn't have — and nearly cost Golden State a crucial playoff game.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — First, Draymond Green suggested to Warriors coach Steve Kerr that he come off the bench for Game 4 against the Sacramento Kings after Golden State had played so brilliantly without him.

ATLANTA (AP) — Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart was cleared to play in Game 4 on Sunday night against the Atlanta Hawks after landing hard on his tailbone.

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Knicks have had so few chances to join the NBA postseason party that they might forget the real fun hasn’t even started yet. “There’s nothing to celebrate,” Jalen Brunson said. “There’s nothing to be truly happy about.

MIAMI (AP) — Win Game 1, lose Game 2, win Game 3.

MIAMI (AP) — The reactions from Victor Oladipo’s Miami Heat teammates told the story as he sat on the court, holding onto his left knee as fans watched in stunned silence. Kyle Lowry yelled a profanity. Max Strus covered his face with a towel.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Brooklyn Nets finished the same way without Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving as they did with them. The Nets were swept out the playoffs , the first team sent home for the summer for the second straight year.

NEW YORK (AP) — Joel Embiid received news this week that he has heard far too many times in the last few years. He was going to be sidelined in the playoffs.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James and the Lakers came out in front of this franchise's first sellout playoff crowd in a decade and immediately produced one of the greatest first quarters in team history.