Time for talking over, time for worry begins

NEW YORK - Talks between NBA players and owners broke down on Thursday, raising the prospect that more games will be cancelled after the two sides failed to resolve financial differences.

Thirty hours of negotiations over the past three days, under the eye of federal mediator George Cohen, had raised some hopes that the parties had made progress toward agreement over two key issues: the division of revenues and a salary cap system.

"Ultimately we were unable to bridge the gap that separates the two parties," NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver said. "We understand the ramifications of where we are. We're saddened on behalf of the game."