LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) LeBron James finally got an easy Game 1 in the NBA Finals.

A very easy one, at that.

Anthony Davis scored 34 points, James had 25 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists and the Los Angeles Lakers rolled past the Miami Heat 116-98 on Wednesday night.

Read More...

The Miami Heat were not only badly beaten. They were beaten up.

Bam Adebayo (left shoulder strain) and Goran Dragic (left foot) departed with injuries and Jimmy Butler played through one in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. A series that started so impressively for the Heat could be a short one if their three best players are out or limited.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) NBA Commissioner Adam Silver reiterated Wednesday that the league's hope is to begin next season with teams in their home arenas and with fans in the seats, though cautioned that there are still numerous unknowns to work through before any plan can be finalized.

Silver, in his annual state-of-the-league address before Game 1 of the NBA Finals, also said the protocols that allowed the league to get through a restart in a so-called bubble at Walt Disney World - such as strict adherence to mask-wearing and social distancing - proved that a balance can be struck "between public health and economic necessity."

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) LeBron James' popularity, even in his 17th season, cannot be argued.

The NBA released jersey-sales and social media data Wednesday, with the Los Angeles Lakers' star forward atop both lists. James had the top-selling jersey, measured by online sales through the NBA Store, for the period that started when the season resumed on July 30 through Monday's end of the conference finals.

Last time the Los Angeles Lakers ruled the NBA, Rajon Rondo and Dwight Howard were trying to beat them.

Howard fell short with Orlando in the 2009 NBA Finals. Rondo lost with Boston in Game 7 in 2010.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) The Lakers primarily wear purple and gold. The main Heat colors are red and black.

And these NBA Finals seem tinged in blue - Kentucky blue, to be precise.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) Jared Dudley of the Los Angeles Lakers waited 13 seasons for his first look at the NBA Finals. Goran Dragic's finals debut for the Miami Heat comes in his 12th season. Heat star Jimmy Butler is headed there for the first time in his ninth year.

Long waits, for certain.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) Doc Rivers would easily be considered the best coach in Los Angeles Clippers history. Most wins. Most playoff appearances. Top winning percentage.

And now he's out.

BOSTON (AP) Jayson Tatum emerged as a bona fide star, Jaylen Brown showed he can be a consistent presence in the lineup and Kemba Walker helped the Celtics put the failed Kyrie Irving experiment behind them.

But following their Eastern Conference finals loss to Miami, it's clear there is still work to do in Boston after the Celtics squandered their best opportunity yet under coach Brad Stevens to make it to the NBA Finals.

DENVER (AP) With bags on his back, Nikola Jokic playfully swerved his way through the crowd of family and friends gathered at the airport terminal.

The Denver Nuggets finally returned home after their longer-than-many-anticipated stay inside the NBA bubble.