NEW YORK (AP) — Negotiators for NBA owners and players are meeting again, the first time they have done so on consecutive days during the lockout.

The sides met for about 5½ hours Wednesday, then returned Thursday morning for further discussions. They said they could even continue talking Friday if Thursday’s session is productive.

Neither side is saying if progress is being made to end the work stoppage. But after a six-hour meeting last week, the frequency of their talks is being viewed as a positive after they held only two sessions in the first two months after owners locked the players out on July 1.

Commissioner David Stern said after Wednesday’s meeting they have three weeks to reach a deal, with training camps set to open the first week of October.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.