Basketball

DENVER (AP) — Denver Nuggets guard Bruce Brown has been using the long layoff before the start of the NBA Finals to work on his game — his golf game. “First day of golf I played pretty well,” Brown recounted. “The second day was terrible.

A list of the 15 teams that forced at least a Game 6 in a best-of-seven NBA playoff series after dropping the first three games: ___ 1947 BAA Semifinals: Washington Capitols trailed Chicago Stags 3-0, lost in six.

MIAMI (AP) — Maybe Kevin Garnett was right. Maybe, as he screamed in celebration of Boston’s 2008 NBA championship, anything truly is possible. Even the impossible.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Olivier-Maxence Prosper has announced he is keeping his name under NBA draft consideration rather than returning to Marquette. The 6-foot-8 forward announced his decision Friday.

The Boston Celtics aren't done yet. The Celtics — once down 3-0 in the Eastern Conference finals — are now within 3-2, after leading the whole way and topping the Miami Heat 110-97 on Thursday night.

Boston Celtics (57-25, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. Miami Heat (44-38, eighth in the Eastern Conference) Miami; Saturday, 8:30 p.m.

BOSTON (AP) — The Miami Heat insist they are as confident as ever, even after missing two chances to eliminate the Boston Celtics. They will get the next one, Jimmy Butler said.

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics have looked elimination in the face four times this postseason and still haven't blinked.

BOSTON (AP) — The Miami Heat will start Kyle Lowry at point guard against the Celtics in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals Thursday after starter Gabe Vincent was ruled out with a sprained left ankle.

BEIJING (AP) — Former Houston Rockets star Yao Ming has stepped down as head of China’s struggling national basketball league.