Warriors' Stephen Curry has his doubts on moon landing

Stephen Curry had a big day Monday. His team was named Sports Illustrated's “Sportsperson of the Year,” he was named the Western Conference's player of the week, and his comments denying the moon landing happened made him the bane of scientists everywhere.

Curry, who recently returned from injury and rejoined the Golden State Warriors in their quest for a third consecutive championship, was a guest on a podcast called “Winging It,” which is hosted by NBA players Vince Carter and Kent Bazemore as well as Annie Finberg, a digital content coordinator for the Atlanta Hawks.

During a discussion among Carter, Bazemore, Curry and Curry's teammate Andre Iguodala, the topic of the sounds dinosaurs made was being discussed before Curry shifted gears, asking the others if they believed the United States had put a person on the moon.

“We ever been to the moon?” he asked.

The others, in unison, agreed the answer was no.

“They're going to come get us,” Curry replied. “Sorry, I don't want to start conspiracies.”

Finberg expressed some skepticism, asking Curry to clarify, and he said he did not believe the United States had landed on the moon, leading to a short discussion of some popular conspiracy theories, including one that film director Stanley Kubrick staged the entire thing.

In fact, NASA landed men on the moon six times from 1969 to 1972, putting a total of 12 astronauts on the lunar surface.

“We'd love for Mr. Curry to tour the lunar lab at our Johnson Space Center in Houston, perhaps the next time the Warriors are in town to play the Rockets,” said Allard Beutel, a NASA spokesman. “We have hundreds of pounds of moon rocks stored there, and the Apollo mission control. During his visit, he can see firsthand what we did 50 years ago, as well as what we're doing now to go back to the moon in the coming years, but this time to stay.”

Embiid steps up with Butler going out

Joel Embiid stood out on a night when the 76ers lost Jimmy Butler to an injury.

Butler suffered a groin strain in the first quarter of Monday's 116-102 victory over the Detroit Pistons and didn't return.

Embiid had 24 points, eight rebounds, two steals and two blocks after missing Friday's game against the Pistons (13-12) to rest. Before that game, the All-Star center voiced his displeasure with his new role as a stretch five following the acquisition of Butler in a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 12.

On Monday, Butler left the game with 2 minutes, 20 seconds left in the first quarter and didn't return. The four-time All-Star had four rebounds and two assists in 9:40 of action. He failed to score, missing all three of his shots.

Morris delivers with key Celtics out injured

Marcus Morris Sr. had a season-high 31 points Monday to lead a depleted Boston lineup to its sixth straight win, a 113-100 defeat of the Pelicans.

Kyrie Irving, Al Horford, Gordon Hayward and Aaron Baynes all were ill or injured.

Anthony Davis scored 41 points and Julius Randle had 20 and 11 rebounds for New Orleans.

Nuggets sign former Warriors guard Young

The banged-up Denver Nuggets have signed veteran guard Nick Young under the injury hardship relief exception granted by the NBA.

Young spent last season with Golden State, where he appeared in 80 games and averaged 7.3 points.

Wall misses Wizards' game with heel injury

All-Star guard John Wall missed the Washington Wizards' game Monday night at Indiana with bone spurs in his left heel.

Wall sat out Wednesday's victory at Atlanta, returned to action in Saturday's loss at Cleveland and scored one point - a career low.