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NBCA says it has 'concern' about T-wolves' coaching change

Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)CHICAGO – The leadership of the National Basketball Coaches Association spoke out Wednesday about its “concern and level of disappointment” with the way the Minnesota Timberwolves went about their coaching change earlier this week. The statement came from NBCA president Rick Carlisle of the Dallas Mavericks and NBCA executive director David Fogel. Ad“There were other candidates, minority candidates we considered at this time,” Timberwolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas said. “During this past offseason, we saw many NBA head coaching vacancies where teams led searches that were both diverse and transparent,” Fogel and Carlisle wrote in their statement.

Finch aims to 'breathe some confidence' back into Wolves

FILE - This Dec. 15, 2011, file photo shows Houston Rockets assistant coach Chris Finch during an NBA basketball media day in Houston. Chris Finch is the new coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team announced Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, after dismissing Ryan Saunders the previous night. The team quickly hired Finch, who was in his first season as an assistant with the Toronto Raptors. Finch replaced Ryan Saunders, who was fired Sunday night after Minnesota lost at New York and fell to a league-worst 7-24. “I think we can breathe some confidence back into the roster,” Finch said, "and these guys can maybe find some joy.”___More AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Spurs game at Detroit called off over virus-related concerns

(AP Photo/Darren Abate)Tuesday’s game between San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons has been postponed, marking the second time this month that the NBA has called off a game because of coronavirus-related issues. The NBA does not announce the names of players who test positive; some have revealed positive tests on their own. Being ruled out because of the protocols can suggest any number of things, including a positive test, a suspected positive test or contact-tracing data showing that a player may have been exposed to a person with COVID-19. AdThe only other game called off this month for a virus-related issue was on Feb. 1, also involving the Pistons — Detroit's night game at Denver was postponed because of contact tracing issues involving the Pistons. Miami’s Tyler Herro missed a game last week because of a suspected positive test; subsequent tests showed he was fine and he was permitted to return to the Heat lineup after the one-game absence.

NBA says 1 player has tested positive for virus in past week

(AP Photo/Tony Dejak)NEW YORK – The NBA said one player tested positive for coronavirus in the past week, meaning only two have gotten that diagnosis in the last three weeks. The NBA reported one positive test for the weekly period ending Jan. 26, and no positive tests for the period ending Feb. 3. Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns — who has missed 13 games — tested positive last month and his recovery is complete. The NBA does not reveal which players test positive for COVID-19, but Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton said earlier this week that Bucks guard Jrue Holiday tested positive for the virus. “This is nothing to play around with and once he tested positive, you immediately think about his health, his safety and his family back home,” Middleton said.

NBA: Zero new players tested positive for virus in past week

(AP Photo/Darren Abate)No additional NBA players have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last week, the league said Wednesday, after nearly two dozen games had to be called off in the past month because of virus-related issues. That continued a good two-week trend: After 27 players were positive in results released between Jan. 6 and Jan. 19, only one player has been positive since. We all need it, not just NBA players, coaches, families. The planet needs it.”The NBA has called off 23 games this season for virus issues, 22 since Jan. 10. But it’s important to have weeks like this, because it gives everybody hope.”___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Wizards return to court, Grizzlies see 6th game postponed

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) shoots against Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder (99) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)The Washington Wizards are finally back. The Grizzlies won’t play until at least Saturday, after the NBA called off yet another game -- the 20th since Jan. 10 and the 21st postponement this season. Those were called off late last week and now, the Grizzlies’ home game against Chicago that was scheduled for Wednesday is off as well. In all, 23 teams have seen at least one game called off so far this season.

NBA stars Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns take fight to social media: "I OWN YOU"

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid and Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns were both ejected after getting into a brawl during a game at the Wells Fargo Center, but the fighting didn't stop there. Towns, who's nickname is "KAT," responded with photos of him fighting Embiid and one snapshot of the star crying after losing in the playoffs against the Toronto Raptors. Joel Embiid fights with Karl-Anthony Towns in the third quarter at the Wells Fargo Center. Embiid managed to take Towns to the ground, where he jammed his thumb into Towns' eye. Officials ejected Embiid and Towns from the game after they ruled it a fight.

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NBA stars Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns suspended 2 games after brawl

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid and Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns were both suspended two games on following their fight at the Wells Fargo Center, the NBA announced Friday. The stars were "suspended two games without pay for their roles in an on-court altercation and for their continued escalation following the incident," the league said in a statement. Joel Embiid fights with Karl-Anthony Towns in the third quarter at the Wells Fargo Center. Embiid managed to take Towns to the ground, where he jammed his thumb into Towns' eye. Officials ejected Embiid and Towns from the game after they ruled the altercation a fight.

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