Basketball

BOSTON (AP) — For anyone expecting sweeping changes from the Boston Celtics this offseason , team president of basketball operations Brad Stevens is throwing a bit of cold water on that idea.

DENVER (AP) — The NBA Finals will end in six games. At least, that’s what history says.

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Pistons made a bold move in their latest attempt to become relevant in the NBA again. Detroit reached an agreement to hire former Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams , according to two people familiar with the situation.

Toronto's Zach Edey decided it was the right call to return to Purdue instead of staying in the NBA draft. His predecessor as national player of the year, Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe, is sticking with his pro pursuit.

DENVER (AP) — Congratulations, Serbia. You're about to have another NBA champion. His name is Nikola. (The last name is TBA.) Denver has two-time MVP Nikola Jokic. Miami has rookie Nikola Jovic.

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic wasn’t supposed to be here. Neither was Jimmy Butler, for that matter. Jokic was drafted behind 40 other players in 2014. Butler was drafted behind 29 others in 2011.

KITCHENER, Ont. — When Canadian NBA star Jamal Murray was a teenager at the Orangeville Prep Basketball Academy, he declined to have a mobile phone for most of his two years with the program.

Preview capsule for the NBA Finals, which start Thursday in Denver: East No. 8 MIAMI HEAT (44-38, 12-6) vs. West No. 1 DENVER NUGGETS (53-29, 12-3) How they got here: Heat — beat No. 1 Milwaukee 4-1, beat No. 5 New York 4-2, beat No. 2 Boston 4-3.

Miami Heat (44-38, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (53-29, first in the Western Conference) Denver; Thursday, 8:30 p.m. EDT FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE : Nuggets -8.5; over/under is 219.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Bob Myers can no longer put all of his energy into running the Golden State Warriors, and that's why he is ready to walk away as one of the most successful professional sports executives ever. “This is tough, this is hard.