Yao Ming will return to the city of some of his greatest basketball triumphs when he serves as a judge for the 2013 All-Star Game's slam dunk event in Houston on Saturday.

Michael Jordan, the basketball superstar who won six NBA crowns and boosted the sport's worldwide appeal, celebrates his 50th birthday on Sunday with a powerful legacy 10 years after his final game.

Eastern Conference coach Erik Spoelstra named Chris Bosh, who plays for him on the Miami Heat, as a replacement starter for injured Boston guard Rajon Rondo in Sunday's NBA All-Star Game.

He's an NBA champion who opposing fans call nuts, but Metta World Peace said Friday he's learned to cope with the smack talk, and is now all about helping troubled youths make their way in the world.

Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss remained hospitalized Friday, reportedly fighting an undisclosed form of cancer with his son telling the Los Angeles Times his father was "doing fine."

Nine-time NBA All-Star Gary Payton and six-time NBA All-Star Mitch Richmond were among 12 finalist nominees named on Friday for induction this year into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Brazilian legend Oscar Schmidt, a three-time Olympic scoring champion and 1980s Italian league star, was among five people announced Friday as 2013 inductees to the Basketball Hall of Fame.

LeBron James powered the Miami Heat to a 110-100 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, but fell just short of extending a record-breaking scoring run.

LeBron James powered the Miami Heat to a 110-100 win over Oklahama City on Thursday, but fell just short of extending a record-breaking scoring run.

A year after 'Linsanity' gripped New York Knicks fans and propelled NBA break-out star Jeremy Lin to global fame, the modest point guard is enjoying a more subdued yet substantial role with playoff contenders Houston.

The Los Angeles Clippers set the tone with a 46-point first quarter and rolled to a 106-96 NBA victory over the Houston Rockets.

The Boston Celtics rallied in the fourth quarter to edge the Chicago Bulls 71-69 behind a strong defense and a 12-point performance from forward Kevin Garnett.

The National Basketball Association slapped Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu with a 20-game ban Wednesday after he tested positive for steroids.

LeBron James became the first player to score at least 30 points and shoot 60 percent in six consecutive games as the Miami Heat wrapped up a homestand with a 117-104 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Boston Celtics guard Leandro Barbosa has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee and will be out for the rest of the National Basketball Association season, his club said.

Derrick Rose, the Chicago Bulls playmaker who has not played since tearing left knee ligaments in last year's playoff opener, says he will not return to the NBA until he is "110 percent."

Chris Paul was back in fine form, finishing with 21 points, 11 assists and five steals as the Los Angeles Clippers defeated Philadelphia 107-90 in a wire-to-wire victory.

Disdaining a sleeveless-style jersey for a lightweight shirt, the NBA's Golden State Warriors unveiled on Monday the new alternate jerseys they will wear for three home games this season.

Brooklyn Nets star guard Deron Williams will be sidelined for at least a week until after Sunday's NBA All-Star Game because of ankle injuries, the NBA team announced on Monday.

Guard Dwyane Wade scored 16 of his 30 points in the final quarter as the Miami Heat defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 107-97 in a National Basketball Association matchup at American Airlines Arena.