National Basketball Association

LeBron avoiding war of words with Pistons coach

Published Apr. 19, 2016 3:58 p.m. ET

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INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) LeBron James won't get into any verbal fight with Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy.

Detroit's coach was critical of the officiating during Cleveland's win in Game 1 on Sunday and was fined $25,000 by the NBA for his comments during a TV interview after the first quarter. Van Gundy complained that James ''gets to do what he wants.''

James said after practice Tuesday that he wasn't aware of Van Gundy's comments. But James says the remarks are a non-issue and the coach is trying to gain an advantage for the eighth-seeded Pistons.

James, who uses social media less during the playoffs, also didn't know that Pistons 19-year-old rookie forward Stanley Johnson said the Cavaliers star had tried to throw him to the floor in the opener.

James says he's ''not having an individual matchup with Stan or Stanley or any other Stan they can possess.''

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