NBA cancels first two weeks of season

NEW YORK (AP) - NBA Commissioner David Stern canceled the first two weeks of the season Monday after players and owners were unable to reach a new labor deal to end the lockout and warned that there may further cuts in the schedule.

"With every day that goes by, I think we need to look at further reductions in what's left of the season," Stern said.

The cancellations mark the NBA's first work stoppage since the 1998-99 season was reduced to 50 games.

"The gap is so significant that we just can't bridge it at this time," Stern said. "We certainly hoped it would never come to this."

Union president Derek Fisher agreed, emphasizing that missing any games puts the season in jeopardy.

"This is not where we choose to be," he said. "We're not at a place where a fair deal can be reached with the NBA."

With just three weeks remaining before the start of the season, top negotiators for both sides met for more than seven hours Monday but were unable to reach an agreement. The two sides expect to remain in contact, but no additional formal talks have been scheduled.

Opening night was scheduled for Nov. 1, and the cancellation includes all games scheduled to be played through Nov. 14 - exactly 100 games. Affected arenas have been authorized to release dates for those dates.

With another work stoppage, the NBA risks alienating a fan base that sent the league's revenues and TV ratings soaring during the 2010-11 season.