Basketball

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The NBA has fined Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Jalen Williams $25,000 for wearing clothing with profane language during a postgame media session, the league announced Monday.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — Koby Altman realizes expectations for the Cleveland Cavaliers going into next season will be much different.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle still prefers brutal honesty to nuance. He doesn't sugar-coat mistakes, doesn't fear taking his critiques public and doesn't shield players from high expectations.

BOSTON (AP) — The past 72 hours since the Boston Celtics were eliminated from the playoffs have been a vortex of emotions, conversations and lack of sleep for Brad Stevens.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Two years ago, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves met in the play-in tournament to determine which would get the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Now, they’ll face off for a trip to the NBA Finals.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks have faced each other eight times in the postseason. Those matchups have produced some memorable NBA moments involving Reggie Miller, Spike Lee and others.

DENVER (AP) — The scars of the Denver Nuggets' season aren't just the fresh ones from the clobbering they endured in Game 7 at Oklahoma City but the short bench they dragged through the playoffs courtesy of Calvin Booth and Michael Malone .

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Malone, who was fired by the Denver Nuggets with three games remaining in the regular season, will join ESPN for its coverage of the Western Conference finals.

Preview capsule on the Minnesota-Oklahoma City Western Conference finals series that starts Tuesday: No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33, 8-2) vs. No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14, 8-3) Season series: Tied, 2-2.

The parity era continues in the NBA. The New York Knicks haven't won an NBA championship since 1973. The Indiana Pacers won their most recent title that year — in the ABA.