2:43 PM ET The NBA found that there was no tampering violation by the Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson in relation to potential contact with Philadelphia 76ers point guard Ben Simmons. “We have concluded that Magic Johnson’s statements regarding Ben Simmons do not constitute a tampering violation,” the NBA said in

12:32 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN TORONTO — Jonas Valanciunas had been one of the faces of the Toronto Raptors the past several years. The gregarious, giant Lithuanian became a fan favorite as a mainstay of Toronto’s rise from Eastern Conference afterthought to perennial power. Valanciunas is a nice player, just like the Raptors had become

8:15 PM ET Associated Press MIAMI — Kevin Durant should have been called for a discontinued dribble on the Golden State Warriors‘ final possession of what became their 120-118 win over the Miami Heat, the NBA said Monday in a report detailing all calls made in the last two minutes of the game. Golden State

10:53 AM ET Associated Press CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers have signed well-traveled guard Nik Stauskas, who was traded three times and released last week, for the rest of the season. Stauskas was briefly with the Cavs, who acquired him from the Portland Trail Blazers in the deal for forward Rodney Hood. He never appeared in

10:20 PM ET The New York Knicks used an image of rookie center Mitchell Robinson playing alongside the Golden State Warriors‘ Kevin Durant in a pitch to season-ticket holders, then deleted the picture to avoid the perception that the organization had an ulterior motive in including Durant, who will be a 2019 free agent, in

1:54 PM ET Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS — Free-agent guard Wesley Matthews has officially signed with the Indiana Pacers. The move was first reported following Thursday’s trade deadline, but the Pacers couldn’t announce it until Sunday. Matthews was waived by the Knicks after a deal that sent Kristaps Porzingis to Dallas. He cleared waivers Saturday. Terms

2:17 AM ET HOUSTON — The first screen came, and like a waiter weaving through a crowded restaurant, Paul George thinly slid in front of it, keeping James Harden checked. It was narrative perfection, two MVP candidates squaring off with the game on the line, both with 40-point games running, a single stop or shot

6:36 PM ET PHILADELPHIA — LeBron James knows that his All-Star draft was perceived as a preemptive recruiting measure for all of the players with flexible contract situations that he targeted, but claims the motivation behind his picks was simply fielding the best team possible. “I think that’s a great conversation,” the Los Angeles Lakers

1:47 AM ET PHOENIX — For the second straight season, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James used the first pick in the All-Star draft to select Golden State Warriors superstar Kevin Durant for his team. For the second straight year, Durant wasn’t surprised at all. “What else is he supposed to do?” Durant said after

9:59 PM ET Michael C. Wright NEW ORLEANS — All-Star Anthony Davis, making his return to the Pelicans’ lineup after nine games with a finger injury, was featured prominently on the scoreboard in the middle of the team picture when the Pelicans first came out of the tunnel Friday night. Last week, following his trade