CHICAGO - MVP Kobe Bryant will be heading to his first Olympics, and he'll have LeBron James and Dwyane Wade with him. They will lead a U.S. Olympic basketball team that was announced Monday and hopes to capture the gold medal in Beijing in August after a third-place showing in Athens four years ago. They'll have plenty of help.

There is a long-standing wrestling tradition that Anthony Robles just might alter.

There is a long-standing wrestling tradition that Anthony Robles just might alter.

LOS ANGELES — Those wildly inconsistent Lakers showed up for their Western Conference finals opener against Denver and still managed to defend their home court.

It’s a virtue and a great plan to win playoff games if you can execute it.

LOS ANGELES — The Lakers owned the fourth quarter against Denver. Now they have a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference finals.

BEIJING - Don't doubt this U.S. men's basketball team — and sure don't challenge them, either.

When facing Kobe Bryant, the best defense against the NBA’s leading scorer is a good offense. “All we have to do is just keep scoring,” Suns guard James Jones said before the game. “Whatever Kobe’s doing, we just have to keep doing our thing. If he gets 35 or if he gets 40, it won’t matter if we keep scoring. We’ll win.”

When facing Kobe Bryant, the best defense against the NBA’s leading scorer is a good offense. “All we have to do is just keep scoring,” Suns guard James Jones said before the game. “Whatever Kobe’s doing, we just have to keep doing our thing. If he gets 35 or if he gets 40, it won’t matter if we keep scoring. We’ll win.”

In the season opener on Monday night, Mesa boys basketball forward Felipe Velazco missed a 3-pointer which would have beaten Hamilton.

Leonard Davis understands he isn’t playing well. He also seems to realize people are wondering if the onetime No. 2 overall draft choice is bothered by it.

Similar game, different ending for the Los Angeles Lakers. Their 24-year playoff dominance of the Denver Nuggets dissipated over the final 29 seconds of the fourth quarter in the second down-to-the-wire game in the Western Conference finals.

DENVER — Trevor Ariza's clutch steals are punching a dagger in Denver's season just as much as Kobe Bryant's big baskets.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Without a superstar among them and without being given much of a chance, the Detroit Pistons humiliated the Los Angeles Lakers 100-87 Tuesday night in Game 5 of the NBA Finals for their first title in 14 years.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Without a superstar among them and without being given much of a chance, the Detroit Pistons humiliated the Los Angeles Lakers 100-87 Tuesday night in Game 5 of the NBA Finals for their first title in 14 years.

Amaré Stoudemire and Kobe Bryant headline the list of 17 players who are expected to report for U.S. national team minicamp this weekend in Las Vegas.

Outlook: Injuries have struck Gilbert the last couple games and are adding up. That’s not good news for the Tigers as they enter Fiesta Region play tonight against Basha, with the likes of Hamilton and Chandler waiting in the weeks to come.

As Trey Ingram grew comfortable being the third scoring option for the Pinnacle boys basketball team this year, the Pioneers took off.

DENVER —The Denver Nuggets are so much more than just Carmelo Anthony.

LOS ANGELES - What did Leandro Barbosa learn Sunday when it came to guarding Kobe Bryant? “I learned that you can’t touch him,” Barbosa said.