NBA Labor Talks Break Down

NEW YORK (AP) —The early portion of the NBA season is in jeopardy in the wake of the latest breakdown in negotiations.

NBA labor talks turned nasty and broke off Thursday when three days of meetings failed to yield a deal to end a 112-day lockout, raising the likelihood that even more games will be canceled in an already fractured season.

After 30 hours of negotiations before a federal mediator, the sides remained divided over two main issues — the division of revenues and the structure of the salary cap system.

NBA labor relations chair Peter Holt, who is also president of the San Antonio Spurs, called it "a tough day, a very tough day."

Union president Derek Fisher of the L.A. Lakers said of the owners: "There was never really a willingness to negotiate beyond certain points. There was just a line drawn."

The first two weeks of the season — exactly 100 games — already have been canceled. The season was supposed to begin Nov. 1, but all games through Nov. 14 have been scrapped, costing players about $170 million in salaries.