Basketball

Capsules on the Western Conference first-round series: No. 2 Houston Rockets (52-30) vs. No. 7 Golden State Warriors (48-34) Season series: Warriors, 3-2 (includes one NBA Cup game). Story line: Experience vs. inexperience.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The Sacramento Kings took little time to hire a new general manager, agreeing to a deal with Scott Perry just hours after parting ways with Monte McNair .

HOUSTON (AP) — When Fred VanVleet joined the Houston Rockets in 2023, they were one of the worst teams in the NBA having won just 42 games combined in the previous two seasons.

PHOENIX (AP) — Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia was sitting in his usual spot courtside back in January when he came to a startling yet unmistakable conclusion.

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics are days away from beginning their quest to repeat as NBA champions . But guard Jrue Holiday is celebrating a much smaller victory.

CHICAGO (AP) — Arturas Karnisovas insisted he has a plan to lift the Chicago Bulls after years of mediocrity. The team's top basketball executive also had a request.

There was Toronto in 2019, the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, Milwaukee in 2021, Golden State in 2022, Denver in 2023 and Boston in 2024. Six different seasons, six different champions. A run of parity like none other in NBA history.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard is off blood-thinning medication and has been cleared for full basketball activity, a major step forward in his return from the deep vein thrombosis that has kept him out for the last month.

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Pistons hit rock bottom not long ago, suffering from the embarrassment of the longest single-season losing streak in league history and slumping to the NBA's worst record for a second straight year.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The Sacramento Kings and general manager Monte McNair have agreed to part ways, two years after McNair helped end the longest playoff drought in NBA history.