SPORTS STATS

BEIJING (AP) LeBron James jogged ahead of his teammates, joking with Dwight Howard as he casually glided from baseline to baseline during warmup drills. (MORE)

(AP) -- The Boston Celtics begin defense of their NBA title on opening night against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, and will face the Los Angeles Lakers in a finals rematch on Christmas Day. (MORE)

(AP) -- It's the summer of 2010 and LeBron James is trying to decide whether to stay in Cleveland, leave for New York - or accept a deal for $50 million a year to play in Italy. (MORE)

LOS ANGELES (AP) The Los Angeles Clippers acquired Steve Novak, a forward who can shoot from the perimeter, in a deal with the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. (MORE)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) The Charlotte Bobcats signed guard Shannon Brown to a one-year deal Wednesday for the NBA minimum of about $800,000. (MORE)

LAS VEGAS (AP) Police detained NBA star Paul Pierce in handcuffs during a weekend traffic stop on the Las Vegas Strip, but released him without issuing a summons. (MORE)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) The 76ers re-signed guard Louis Williams on Monday, keeping a key member of Philadelphia's first playoff team in three years. (MORE)

CHICAGO (AP) The Chicago Bulls answered one key question when they took Derrick Rose over Michael Beasley with the first pick in the draft on Thursday. (MORE)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) After the New Jersey Nets missed the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons, club president Rod Thorn took a long, hard look at the team and decided it was time for wholesale changes. (MORE)

GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) Sure, New York will be tough. Danilo Gallinari believes he is ready, since there was plenty of pressure playing in Milan. (MORE)