Basketball

CLEVELAND (AP) — Kenny Atkinson has one simple message for his Cleveland Cavaliers going into their Eastern Conference semifinals series against the Indiana Pacers. Put your track shoes on.

HOUSTON (AP) — Fred VanVleet combined for 55 points in the last two games to lead the Houston Rockets back from a 3-1 deficit and force a deciding Game 7 against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night at home in their first-round playoff series.

It was Dec. 4, 2021. The game was over. San Antonio knocked off Golden State 112-107. And when the final buzzer sounded, Draymond Green didn't seem bothered whatsoever by the loss. He just wanted to talk to Pop.

Preview capsule on the Cleveland-Indiana Eastern Conference semifinal series that starts Sunday: No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers (64-18, 4-0) vs. No. 4 Indiana Pacers (50-32, 4-1) Season series: Pacers, 3-1.

Gregg Popovich stepped down. Mike Tomlin moved up.

Los Angeles Clippers (50-32, fifth in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (50-32, fourth in the Western Conference) Denver; Saturday, 7:30 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Nuggets -1.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors went cold for an extended stretch of the fourth quarter, and now they're going to have to do this the hard way.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry had just produced one of his fantastic flurries to get Golden State right back in the game when Fred VanVleet started the fourth quarter with a four-point play that stole the momentum right back.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard had surgery Friday to repair the left Achilles tendon he tore Sunday in a playoff loss to the Indiana Pacers. The Bucks said Dr.

Gregg Popovich stepped down as coach of the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, ending a three-decade run that saw him lead the team to five NBA championships, become the league’s all-time wins leader and earn induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame.