LDN - Sports

National Basketball Association roundup

[May 23, 2017] May 22 (The Sports Xchange) - The short-handed Boston Celtics could be without another player for Game 4 of their Eastern Conference final against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Power forward Amir Johnson was listed as questionable for Tuesday's game in Cleveland, Celtics coach Brad Stevens told the Boston Globe on Monday.

Johnson sprained the AC joint in his right shoulder in Boston's stunning come-from-behind victory in Game 3. Stevens said he was scheduled for an MRI.

Johnson, who averaged 6.5 points and 4.6 rebounds in the regular season, played just over nine minutes before he was hurt.

The Celtics already are without leading scorer Isaiah Thomas, who was ruled out of the playoffs after aggravating a hip injury during Game 2 of the conference final.

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Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter, who was detained in Romania over the weekend after his passport was revoked apparently stemming from his political views regarding his native Turkey, said he wants to become an American citizen and revealed he is receiving death threats.

The United States "is my home now," Kanter said Monday. He plans to take steps toward becoming a U.S. citizen.

Kanter has been an outspoken critic of Turkey president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Kanter said Turkey canceled his passport in retaliation for his political views. He said he is receiving death threats "every day" on social media, including two on Monday.

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The 6-foot-11, 245-pound Kanter averaged 14.3 points and 6.7 rebounds in 72 games this season for the Thunder.

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Atlanta Hawks All-Star forward Paul Millsap has opted out of his contract for next season to become a free agent this summer, according to multiple reports.

Millsap, 32, informed the Hawks that he won't exercise his player option for 2017-18, The Vertical reported. His option year was worth $21.47 million.

The 6-foot-8, 246-pound Millsap was Atlanta's leading scorer this season, averaging a career-high 18.1 points and 7.7 rebounds in 69 games and earning his fourth All-Star appearance.

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