Los Angeles Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak, right, is as much a defender of Dwight Howard, right, as when he signed the big man.(Photo: Kevork Djansezian Getty Images) Story Highlights Kupchak says the Lakers...

Tyrus Thomas and his nearly $8 million salary have appeared in only 18 games this season for the Bobcats.(Photo: Thomas Campbell, USA TODAY Sports) Story Highlights NBA teams have done best to protect...

Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return to Leonardo Mayer of Argentina during their quarter final Mexico ATP Open men's single tennis match, in Acapulco, Guerrero state on February 28, 2013.(Photo: Yuri...

Bangladeshi activists shout slogans demanding the execution of Delwar Hossain Sayedee, one of the top leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, and others convicted of war crimes, in Dhaka.(Photo: A.M. Ahad, AP) DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) —...

Valeri Nichushkin has dominated at international tournaments in 2013.(Photo: Nathan Denette, AP)Story HighlightsAleksander Barkov could fit in the top tier and at the top of second tierValeri Nichushkin and Darnell Nurse...

Kobe Bryant and the Lakers won for the fourth time in five games.(Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports) Story Highlights The Lakers got their 12th win in 17 games to move within two...

Virginia Cavaliers fans celebrate on the court after the Cavaliers' game against the Duke Blue Devils at John Paul Jones Arena. The Cavaliers won 73-68. (Photo: Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports) Rushing the...

When the boat starts to rock, I’m not entirely reassured when the guide says, “Don’t worry. Just a hippo trying to come up under us.” Right. No big deal. We’re about...