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File-This March 10, 2020, file photo shows Cleveland Cavaliers' Andre Drummond (3) battling for position against Chicago Bulls' Shaquille Harrison (3) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago. The NBA's interrupted season and invitation-only gathering in Florida to finish it due to the pandemic hurt every team to varying degrees.It devastated the Cleveland Cavaliers. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty, File)

Cavaliers hoping to ‘overachieve’ after long 2020 lay-off

By TOM WITHERS - Associated Press

Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams speaks with Chris Paul (3) during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Revamped roster has Suns taking crash course in chemistry

By DAVID BRANDT - Associated Press

FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2020, file photo, Houston Rockets' James Harden (13) argues a call during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Harden has not reported to training camp with the Rockets and coach Stephen Silas says he did not know when the All-Star guard would arrive. The Rockets had their second workout of training camp on Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, and afterward the new coach addressed the absence of the disgruntled star who reportedly wants to be traded. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

Harden with Rockets as season nears, but future uncertain

By KRISTIE RIEKEN - Associated Press

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet celebrates after scoringing against the Charlotte Hornets during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Charlotte, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Raptors retooled, but VanVleet says they’re still dangerous

By TIM REYNOLDS - Associated Press

New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau gestures during the second half of the team's preseason NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Knicks hope turnaround begins with Thibodeau in New York

By BRIAN MAHONEY - Associated Press

FILE - Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, right, rives past Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Denver, in this Sunday, March 1, 2020, file photo. The Nuggets will open the NBA basketball exhibition season with two home contests against the Portland Trailblazers this week. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Amid new faces, Nuggets bank on dynamic duo Jokic & Murray

By PAT GRAHAM - Associated Press

FILE - Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid speaks with members of the media during a news conference at the NBA basketball team's practice facility in Camden, N.J., in this Monday, May 13, 2019, file photo. Knocked his entire career for conditioning woes, Embiid dedicated his offseason to a fitness program he vowed would keep him with the 76ers. Embiid kept his personal transaction wire humming in the shortened offseason with the additions of a personal chef, nutritionist, physical therapist and a massage therapist to shape the 6-foot-11 center into MVP form.(AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

From Process to pension, Embiid wants career as 76ers lifer

By DAN GELSTON - Associated Press

FILE - Then-Houston Rockets Russell Westbrook, right, grabs a rebound next to Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., in this Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, file photo. On Russell Westbrook's first day of practice with the Washington Wizards, he already was setting a tone -- showing up early, cajoling teammates and calling them to task, teaching younger players. The Wizards hope they charted a new course by swapping John Wall for Westbrook in a deal with Houston and pairing the new point guard with shooting guard Bradley Beal with the aim of getting back to the playoffs after a two-year absence. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

Adding Westbrook to Beal, Wizards hope to return to playoffs

By HOWARD FENDRICH - Associated Press

Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum, center, shoots between Sacramento Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton, left, and center Richaun Holmes during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

Lillard appealed to front office for tools to win title

By ANNE M. PETERSON - Associated Press

Miami Heat forward Moe Harkless attempts to steal the ball from New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Healthy Zion Williamson, new coach, give Pelicans fresh hope

By BRETT MARTEL - Associated Press

FILE - In this Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, file photo, then-Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan, left, talks with an official during the second half of an NBA first-round playoff basketball game against the Houston Rockets, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Chicago Bulls made sweeping changes to their front office for the 2020-21 season and snagged Donovan, one of the top coaches on the market, hoping an overhaul in leadership will carry them back to respectability. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

Bulls set different course with new management team, coach

By ANDREW SELIGMAN - Associated Press

Los Angeles Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker, left, dunks past Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Lakers’ motivation for repeat: Do it again for LA’s fans

By GREG BEACHAM - Associated Press

FILE - In this Aug. 2, 2020, file photo, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich reacts during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. For NBA coaches, masks are required this season. Jackets are not. Rules for coaching attire will be relaxed by the league this year, though not as much as was the case during play at the bubble at Walt Disney World this past summer. Suit jackets or sport coats will not be required — but coaches won’t be able to wear the short-sleeved shirts that most donned for games in the bubble, either. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool, File)

‘Play a different way’: San Antonio Spurs ready for season

By RAUL DOMINGUEZ - Associated Press

Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) passes the ball over San Antonio Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12), guards Lonnie Walker IV, middle right, and Dejounte Murray (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Harden returns to Rockets, scores 12 in preseason debut

By The Associated Press - Associated Press

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) dunks the ball as Phoenix Suns' Jevon Carter (4) and Damian Jones (30) look on during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Jazz eager to move on from playoff collapse

By JOHN COON - Associated Press

FILE - Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum (0) dunks the ball during the first half of an NBA conference final playoff basketball game against the Miami Heat, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., in this on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, file photo. The Celtics felt like they had built a foundation for seasons to come when they added All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward in the summer of 2017. Three seasons later both are gone, and Boston is now shifting its attention back on its youthful core.(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

Celtics have faith youthful core can get them over the hump

By KYLE HIGHTOWER - Associated Press

FILE - In this Sept. 23, 2020, file photo, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, center, talks to the team during a timeout in the second half of Game 4 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference final against the Boston Celtics in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. For NBA coaches, masks are required this season. Jackets are not. Rules for coaching attire will be relaxed by the league this year, though not as much as was the case during play at the bubble at Walt Disney World this past summer. Suit jackets or sport coats will not be required — but coaches won’t be able to wear the short-sleeved shirts that most donned for games in the bubble, either. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

East champion Heat are thinking even bigger this season

By TIM REYNOLDS - Associated Press

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns (32) shoots against Memphis Grizzlies forward Kyle Anderson, right, and guard Dillion Brooks in the first quarter during an NBA preseason basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton- King)

Towns finds increased support from T-wolves on and off court

By DAVE CAMPBELL - Associated Press

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) defends Washington Wizards forward Deni Avdija (9) as Avdija drives toward the Wizards basket during the second quarter of a preseason NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) **FILE**

Deni Avdija, Wizards rookie, impresses in first preseason game

By Andy Kostka - The Washington Times

Miami Heat forward Moe Harkless attempts to steal the ball from New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Zion, Paul get started, Harden expected to on Tuesday

By The Associated Press - Associated Press