AROUND THE NBA Saturday’s news & notes

League

Durant’s, Green’s technicals rescinded

New York

The NBA has rescinded technical fouls called on Golden State’s Kevin Durant and JaMychal Green of the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series.

The players were called for double technicals early in the third quarter Thursday night at Staples Center as they jawed at each other. The Warriors won 132-105 and lead the series 2-1.

Both players protested the call, and the league rescinded it Friday.

Durant had been ejected from Game 1 with a double technical and he had accumulated three of the seven fouls allotted before the NBA would issue a one-game suspension until the latest tech was withdrawn.

Durant said after the game Thursday that he hoped the foul would be rescinded because he doesn’t want to jeopardize the two-time defending champions going forward.

Golden State Warriors

Cousins unlikely to return in postseason

Oakland, Calif.

Center DeMarcus Cousins is unlikely to return this postseason for the Golden State Warriors yet won’t require surgery on his torn left quadriceps muscle.

Coach Steve Kerr has named Andrew Bogut as his starter in place of Cousins for Game 3 Thursday night of the team’s first-round playoff series against the Clippers in Los Angeles.

Playing in just his second career postseason game after a nine-year wait, the 28-year-old Cousins went down in the first quarter of a 135-131 Game 2 loss Monday night. He fell in front of the Golden State bench after swiping a ball from Patrick Beverley in the back court. Cousins immediately grabbed at his left quad then hobbled to the locker room at the 8:09 mark.

The tear was revealed by an MRI exam Tuesday.

New Orleans Pelicans

Top executive: Gentry staying; maybe Davis

Metairie, La.

The Pelicans newly hired top basketball executive says coach Alvin Gentry will be retained and that he won’t rule out the possibility of talking six-time All-Star Anthony Davis into rescinding his trade request and committing to New Orleans long-term.

David Griffin, who was introduced Wednesday as Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations, is taking over for former general manager Dell Demps, who was fired this past season in the wake of Davis’ trade request.

Griffin says Pelicans owner Gayle Benson convinced him of her commitment to winning by agreeing to what Griffin described as “outrageous demands” related to his desire to bolster staffing and resources in the front office.

Griffin was the formerly the general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers when they won their only NBA title.

Staff/wire reports