Basketball

Now that their rebuild is complete, the Portland Trail Blazers are looking to build chemistry. The Blazers blew up their roster last season, trading away guard CJ McCollum and a host of others.

After a record 16-year run of futility, the Sacramento Kings are counting on Mike Brown to be the coach that will end the longest playoff drought in NBA history.

NEW YORK (AP) — Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons supply the talent. Embarrassment provides the motivation. The Brooklyn Nets know they made a monumental mess of the 2021-22 season, turning a championship contender into a first-round flop.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are healthy and heading into their fourth season together, giving the Los Angeles Clippers sky-high hopes that they'll win the franchise’s first championship.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — After reacquainting themselves with the playoffs last season, the Minnesota Timberwolves ramped up the rare energy around them by acquiring three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year award winner Rudy Gobert in a blockbuster trade

NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Brunson has the New York Knicks believing the search for a point guard is over at last.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo has virtually the same set of teammates as last season. The Milwaukee Bucks’ goal is also the same: a second NBA championship.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — This could be the year Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reaches All-Star status.

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls made the playoffs for the first time in five years last season and led the Eastern Conference for a little bit.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Pacers open this season with a different goal. They're no longer satisfied with just making the playoffs or advancing beyond the first round.