Irving vows to return to Celtics
Boston point guard Kyrie Irving says he intends to resign with the Celtics next summer.
At a fan event at TD Garden on Thursday , Irving told the crowd, "If you guys will have me back, I plan on re-signing here."
Irving signed a five-year, $94 million deal with Cleveland prior to the 2015-16 season but asked for a trade last summer. He has a player option for next season and can become an unrestricted free agent in 2020.
Despite injuries to Irving and top free agent Gordon Hayward, the Celtics finished with 55 wins last season before losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals in seven games.
Bucks look good in opener
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks put on a smashing openingnight performance at their new arena.
Antetokounmpo had 19 points, 13 rebounds and five assists, and the Bucks routed the Chicago Bulls 116-82 on Wednesday night in the first game at the Fiserv Forum.
The Bucks had the look of contenders under new coach Mike Budenholzer, scoring 63 points in the first half of their preseason opener and leading by as much as 34 points.
Their new arena opened in August and the Bucks looked right at home there against the Bulls, overwhelming them on the backboards with a 64-43 rebound advantage.
The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Bucks in a preseason game Tuesday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Jordan skips Mavs' trip to China
New Dallas Mavericks center DeAndre Jordan missed the team's trip to China for two exhibition games for unspecified personal reasons.
Jordan and fellow starter Harrison Barnes stayed behind when the team left for China this week. Barnes injured a hamstring in practice and could miss all the preseason games.
The 30-year-old Jordan joined the Mavericks this year, three years after agreeing to sign with them in free agency and changing his mind before contracts could be signed. He came to Dallas after opting out of the final season of that contract he signed to stay with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Mavericks play Philadelphia twice in China, early Friday morning and early Monday morning.