NBA sides return, hope to build on progress

NEW YORK (AP) - The NBA owners and players have ended negotiations for the day, meeting for 7.5 hours in an attempt to end the lockout.

Small groups from both sides returned to a hotel Thursday less than 12 hours after finishing a 15-hour meeting that went until past 3 a.m.

Commissioner David Stern said he expected to continue discussing the system Thursday.

Though the first two weeks of the season have been canceled because of the lockout, union executive director Billy Hunter said he believed 82 games were still possible with a deal by Sunday or Monday.

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