Basketball

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — It was late in the first quarter of the U.S. team's opener at the FIBA World Cup.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Charlotte Hornets have agreed to a three-year, $48 million contract with starting forward P.J. Washington, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Paolo Banchero knows all about the haka, the traditional dance that was performed by New Zealand's players pregame on Saturday as the traditional rallying cry to show national pride and serve as a challenge to opponents.

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Canada has never won a medal at the FIBA Basketball World Cup. France was favoured to collect another one this year. One game in and the conversation for both teams has changed.

Canada has never medaled at the Basketball World Cup. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander evidently has his sights on changing that, and his team sent a serious message on the opening night of the tournament.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — On Day 1 of the Basketball World Cup, the Philippines made history.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Erik Spoelstra had a plan. He was going to finish college and head to the Philippines to play professional basketball in his mother’s homeland.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo says he wants to see how committed the Milwaukee Bucks are to competing for another championship before deciding whether to sign a contract extension.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers will unveil a statue of Kobe Bryant outside their downtown arena on Feb. 8.

Head coach Jordi Fernandez is welcoming the high expectations facing Canada's men's basketball team. The 15th-ranked Canadian men's senior team is getting set to open the FIBA World Cup on Friday with a game against France in Jakarta, Indonesia.