Wolves GM: Love Talks Haven’t Heated Up Yet

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves general manager Milt Newton says the team remains patient in its pursuit of a new coach and has yet to see any trade talks start to heat up.

Newton spoke Thursday after the Wolves held a workout for prospective draft prospects. He says the Wolves do not feel rushed to find a replacement for the retired Rick Adelman. The Wolves had talks with Memphis coach Dave Joerger last week, but Joerger decided to stay with the Grizzlies.

Newton also says the team's preference is to keep star forward Kevin Love, who can opt out of his contract after next season. But if the Wolves do decide to trade him, Newton says "you can best believe we'll be a better team based on what happens."

Spurs crush Thunder

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs are back in control of the NBA's Western Conference finals after a thorough dismantling of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Tim Duncan had 22 points and 12 rebounds in under 30 minutes of work as the Spurs crushed the Thunder 117-89 to take a three-games-to-two lead. Duncan shot 8-for-13 and was one of six Spurs to score in double-figures. Manu Ginobili came off the bench to add 19 points on 7 of 9 from the field, and Danny Green delivered four 3-pointers and 14 points.

San Antonio shot 50 percent from 3-point range, hitting 13 of their 26 attempts. The Spurs also did a nice job muzzling Serge Ibaka, who provided just two rebounds and six points on 3-of-10 shooting. Ibaka had provided a spark in the Thunder's two victories in Oklahoma City after returning from a calf injury.

Kevin Durant had 25 points and Russell Westbrook added 21 for Oklahoma City, which hosts Game 6 on Saturday.

Ballmer wins bidding for Clippers.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Clippers have found a buyer. The question now is whether they have a willing seller.

An individual with knowledge of the negotiations tells The Associated Press that Shelly Sterling has reached an agreement to sell the franchise to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for $2 billion. The person said Ballmer and the Sterling Family Trust now have a binding agreement which must be presented to the NBA for approval.

Shelly Sterling negotiated the sale after her husband, Donald Sterling, made racist remarks that were made public. Commissioner Adam Silver banned Donald Sterling for life and asked other NBA owners to force him to sell the team.

It's unclear if the deal will go through. Donald Sterling's attorney has said his client isn't going to sell the team. However, a May 22 letter obtained by The Associated Press and written by another one of Sterling's attorneys that says that "Donald T. Sterling authorizes Rochelle Sterling to negotiate with the National Basketball Association regarding all issues in connection with a sale of the Los Angeles Clippers team."

The sale price would obliterate the NBA record of $550 million paid by Marc Lasry and Wesley Edens for the Milwaukee Bucks this year. Sterling bought the team for $12 million 33 years ago.

Pacers pair fined for hitting the floor in Game 5

MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is fining Lance Stephenson and Roy Hibbert of the Indiana Pacers for flopping in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Stephenson was fined $10,000 for his second violation of the playoffs. Hibbert was fined $5,000.