NBA to play two exhibition games in China
The Milwaukee Bucks and the Golden State Warriors will travel to China in October to play two exhibition games, the NBA and Chinese Basketball Association said on Wednesday. The NBA China Games tips off with the Bucks and Warriors meeting on Oct. 15 in Guangzhou and Oct. 18 at the Beijing Olympic Basketball Arena. The NBA will host events in the cities as part of its Sichuan Province earthquake relief efforts. The games will be televised live on ESPN in the United States.NBA/~4/376472108″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Porter shocked by Duckworth’s death

Phoenix Suns head coach Terry Porter says he was shocked to hear about the death of his former Portland Trailblazers teammate, Kevin Duckworth.

Oklahoma City to reveal name, colors on Sept. 3
Oklahoma City’s new NBA franchise has finally set a date to announce its name and team colors. The team said Wednesday that it would unveil the name and colors simultaneously on its Web site and at a downtown event Sept. 3. Clay Bennett’s ownership group has applied for trademarks for six names: Thunder, Energy, Wind, Marshalls, Barons and Bison. Oklahoma City television station KOCO has reported that the choice will be Thunder, but Bennett has refused to comment on what the name will be.NBA/~4/376583219″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Phoenix prosecutor wants Donaghy’s federal files

A Phoenix prosecutor is seeking the federal files in the investigation of disgraced ex-NBA official Tim Donaghy, who was sentenced in July to 15 months in prison in a gambling scandal.

Dare to dream about the ultimate Team USA matchup
The Dream Team had more power. The Redeem Team has better speed. Charley Rosen can’t resist comparing and contrasting.NBA/~4/375355788″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Porter shocked by Duckworth’s death

Phoenix Suns head coach Terry Porter says he was shocked to hear about the death of his former Portland Trailblazers teammate, Kevin Duckworth.

Former Trail Blazers Kevin Duckworth dies at 44 (AP)

Former Portland Trail Blazers center Kevin Duckworth, a “gentle giant” with a feathery touch from the paint, has died. He was 44. Duckworth, part of a Trail Blazers goodwill tour, was scheduled to hold a basketball clinic on the Oregon coast when he died Monday night. The Depoe Bay Fire Department said it responded about 10 p.m.

Rockets trade for ex-major leaguer Strawberry’s son

D.J. Strawberry is a defensive guard who could be part of the solution to the Rockets‘ problem at the point.

Team USA holds off Spain for gold
The United States won the gold medal in Olympic men’s basketball Sunday with a 118-107 victory over Spain. The Americans won their first gold medal since the 2000 Olympics, but not without a fight. They led by just four points with less than 2 1/2 minutes remaining before pulling away to beat the same team they handled by 37 points in pool play. Dwyane Wade scored 27 points and Kobe Bryant added 20 for the Americans.NBA/~4/373312813″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Tempe Police Department stands behind Shaquille O’Neal

Shaquille O’Neal will remain a reserve police officer for Tempe’s police department, despite a restraining order taken out against the Phoenix Suns player.

Original Dream Team is still better … but not much
Nobody is ever going to be as good as the original Dream Team, but Mike Kahn says at least this group is in the discussion.NBA/~4/370222513″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Redeem Team couldn’t have done it without you
It was definitely in Team USA. Jason Whitlock says the NBA stars wouldn’t have found redemption without the criticism of 2004.NBA/~4/374373649″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Phoenix prosecutor wants info on disgraced NBA ref (AP)
A Phoenix prosecutor is seeking the federal files in the investigation of disgraced ex-NBA official Tim Donaghy, who was sentenced in July to 15 months in prison in a gambling scandal. In sentencing Donaghy, the judge said he’d let the sport down by taking thousands of dollars from a professional gambler in exchange for inside tips on games — including ones he refereed.

Breaking down the road to redemption
For the first time since 2000, the U.S. struck gold in an international hoops event. Charley Rosen breaks down how it happened.NBA/~4/373495981″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Suns ship Strawberry to Houston (AP)
The Phoenix Suns traded guard D.J. Strawberry to the Houston Rockets on Monday for rookie guard Sean Singletary. “Sean gives us depth at the point guard spot,” Suns general manager Steve Kerr said. “We like his instincts and his ability to run a team. He also puts a lot of pressure on the ball.” Singletary was the 42nd overall pick in the 2008 draft by the Sacramento Kings, who quickly sent him along…

Woman in Jordan case out of jail
A northwestern Pennsylvania woman who claims Michael Jordan fathered her son is out of jail after agreeing not to bother Jordan. A Crawford County judge released 35-year-old Lisa Miceli, of Meadville, on Friday. She was jailed Aug. 13 for violating an order in civil suit Jordan filed against her in January. The order enforces a 2005 agreement stopping her from contacting him or those close to him after two DNA tests showed he wasn’t the boy’s father.NBA/~4/374671487″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Phoenix prosecutor wants Donaghy’s federal files

A Phoenix prosecutor is seeking the federal files in the investigation of disgraced ex-NBA official Tim Donaghy, who was sentenced in July to 15 months in prison in a gambling scandal.

Team USA holds off Spain for gold
The United States won the gold medal in Olympic men’s basketball Sunday with a 118-107 victory over Spain. The Americans won their first gold medal since the 2000 Olympics, but not without a fight. They led by just four points with less than 2 1/2 minutes remaining before pulling away to beat the same team they handled by 37 points in pool play. Dwyane Wade scored 27 points and Kobe Bryant added 20 for the Americans.NBA/~4/373312813″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Breaking down the road to redemption
For the first time since 2000, the U.S. struck gold in an international hoops event. Charley Rosen breaks down how it happened.NBA/~4/373495981″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

This Team USA is just that … a team
Why is the current Team USA so superior to the ‘04 version? Because Coach K has them playing like a team, Charley Rosen says.NBA/~4/372805144″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Celtics sign 2nd-rounder, K-State star Walker
The Celtics have signed second-round draft pick Bill Walker. Celtics general manager Danny Ainge praised Walker’s “hard work and skill development” over the summer in announcing the signing Friday. Boston obtained the rights to the 6-foot-6 forward out of Kansas State for cash after he was chosen with the 47th pick by Washington in this year’s NBA draft. Walker had minor arthroscopic surgery on his right knee last month after injuring it in a pre-draft workout in June.NBA/~4/372889124″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Jugglin Shaq; on the Attack ? - Now That’s Wack

Shaq may have some serious ’splainin’ to do. MaryJane, the Atlanta hip hop artist who just got a restraining order claiming Shaq has terrorized her since their alleged breakup, claims their relationship ended …

Shaq accused of stalking

NBA star Shaquille O’Neal has been ordered to steer clear of an Atlanta-area woman who took out a restraining order Thursday.

Suns Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

The Suns finally have their backup point guard–-and it’s the one they wanted all along.

Goran Dragic finally reached a buyout agreement with Spanish club Tau Ceramica, clearing the way for the 22-year-old to join Phoenix as Steve Nash’s understudy this season.

Dragic passed his physical Tuesday, but will head home without signing a contract while he works out the formal details of his buyout –- which could take anywhere from a week to a month—and obtains a work visa.

“It’s been the longest summer of my life. The last few days I was very nervous that I was not going to get here, that my old club might not let me come,” said Dragic, penciled in as Nash’s backup from day one of training camp this fall.

Addition Of Artest Has Moved Rockets Up Ladder

There have been some significant moves in the Western Conference during the offseason which should impact the way the West will be won during the 2008-09 campaign.

Original Dream Team is still better … but not by much
Nobody is ever going to be as good as the original Dream Team, but Mike Kahn says at least this group is in the discussion.NBA/~4/369154056″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Team USA crushes Germany, faces Aussies next
The U.S. Olympic team put away Dirk Nowitzki and Germany in a hurry. Next up: the only team so far these Americans couldn’t blow out. After destroying Germany 106-57 on Monday, the Americans (5-0) move on to a quarterfinal matchup Wednesday against Australia, the team that’s provided them with their toughest test in China. The U.S.NBA/~4/368120446″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Iguodala re-signs with Sixers for six years
The Philadelphia 76ers re-signed Andre Iguodala on Sunday, giving the forward a six-year contract worth a reported $80 million. Iguodala, who was a restricted free agent, helped the 76ers reach the playoffs for the first time in three years. An official announcement is expected Monday. Iguodala averaged 19.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.1 steals in 82 games last season. He struggled in the playoffs against Detroit, averaging 13.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.0 assists.NBA/~4/367552714″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Suns lose out again as Pargo goes to Russia

Cross another name off the Suns‘ backup point guard wish list. New Orleans Hornets guard Jannero Pargo is the latest player to turn his back on the NBA for Europe.

Original Dream Team is still better … but not by much
Nobody is ever going to be as good as the original Dream Team, but Mike Kahn says at least this group is in the discussion.NBA/~4/369154056″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Team USA’s swarming defense, offense too much
With a blowout of Germany, Team USA picked up even more confidence heading into the quarterfinals, Charley Rosen says.NBA/~4/368143652″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>