DURANT, BIRD, AZZI HELPING LEAD USA BASKETBALL

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

WHEN Kevin Durant was asked about the notion of him and some other Olympic gold medallists potentially getting seats on USA Basketball’s Board of Directors, he liked the idea. That is, on one condition: He didn’t want the seats to be honorary. He wanted a real say.

Durant hasn’t decided yet if he’ll play for the U.S. at the FIBA World Cup this summer, and it’s still unknown if he’ll play at the 2024 Paris Olympics — but he’ll be one of the people continuing to shape policy for the governing body for basketball in this country during that span. He’s one of five gold medallists currently serving on USA Basketball’s board, part of a move to give athletes a louder voice and more input now than ever before.

season-high 21 points. But Oklahoma City shot just 43.9% in its fourth straight loss.

PACERS 124, MAVERICKS 122

DALLAS (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton scored 32 points and won a duel of birthday boys with Luka Doncic, leading Indiana past Dallas. Doncic had 39 points and nine rebounds on his 24th birthday but fell to 1-4 in games with Kyrie Irving since the superstars were paired in a deal with Brooklyn before the trade deadline. Irving scored 16 points, but his 3-pointer just before the buzzer was the last of five misses in the final 1:20 with Dallas trailing by two.

The 23-year-old Haliburton, born on Feb. 29, 2000, was 9 of 18 from the field and 12 of 15 on free throws while adding seven rebounds and six assists.

RAPTORS 104,

BULLS 98

TORONTO (AP) — Pascal Siakam scored 20 points, Gary Trent Jr. had 19 and Toronto beat Chicago for its eighth victory in 10 games.

O.G. Anunoby added 17 points and Jakob Poeltl had 14 to help the Raptors win their fourth straight at home.

Nikola Vucevic led Chicago with 23 points and Zach LaVine had 17.

DeMar DeRozan scored 13 points against his former team.