NBA Playoffs Results

vs(From the Associated Press) - Manu Ginobili stepped off the podium and bumped into Dirk Nowitzki. They shook hands. Nowitzki gave his longtime foe a congratulatory slap on the back and Ginobili disappeared down the hallway.

He was off to celebrate a playoff series win. Just like old times for the Spurs.

“We’re thrilled that we beat them,” Ginobili said. “We’re really proud of it.”

Nowitzki then sat down for a playoff ritual of his own—dissecting yet another first-round failure by the Mavericks.

Ginobili scored 26 points and San Antonio survived blowing a 22-point lead to finish off the Mavericks 97-87 in Game 6 on Thursday night, getting payback after Dallas eliminated the Spurs a year ago in the opening round.

The seventh-seeded Spurs will play the sixth-seeded Suns in the Western Conference semifinals starting Monday night in Phoenix.

The Mavs, meanwhile, slump away into another too-early summer.

Dallas lost in the first round for the third time in four years. The Mavs head into an interesting offseason for a team that’s won 50 games for 10 straight seasons, but has only one trip to the NBA finals to show for it.

“Going into the playoffs as a No. 2 seed, it is all we could have wanted,” Nowitzki said. “We just happened to see a tough No. 7 seed that got rolling at the right time.”

Said Mavs guard Jason Terry, “As of right now this season is a failure.”

Nowitzki nearly carried the Mavs to an unbelievable comeback, getting 25 of his 33 points in a remarkable second half. But George Hill, the hero for the Spurs in Game 4, scored 10 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter to keep the series from going back to Dallas.

The Spurs continue their roll after coming off their worst regular season in the Tim Duncan era, which perhaps makes this series all the more impressive.

It will technically go down as an upset. San Antonio is only the fifth No. 7 seed to win a first-round series, and the first since the opening round became a best-of-7 in 2003. It hadn’t been done since New York beat Miami in 1998.

But with a healthy Big Three and a championship pedigree, the Spurs could hardly be called underdogs.

And with no clear favorite in the West, they might be as good a finals pick as any.

“The only reason (the Spurs) we’re the 7 seed is because they’ve been hurt all year,” Mavs center Brenden Haywood said. “This could have been the Western Conference finals. The teams are that good. This isn’t like a monumental upset or anything. You all are talking like this is the NCAA tournament and the 15 seed just beat the 2.”

As for the Mavs, it was yet another early playoff disappointment.

It comes three years after the Mavs came into the postseason as the No. 1 seed, only to be knocked out by No. 8 Golden State. The Mavs were the NBA’s best road team in the regular season, but went 0-3 in San Antonio and couldn’t pull themselves out of a 3-1 deficit.

This one is especially tough for team owner Mark Cuban, who plunked down an extra $30 million for a deal at the trade deadline that brought Caron Butler from Washington.

Cuban, who needled San Antonio earlier in the series by saying he hated the Spurs, congratulated them afterward and said he’d root for his Texas rivals the rest of the way.

He followed that up with a cryptic comment.

“I’m not proud of the NBA. I’m not proud of my inability over the last 10 years to have an impact like I want to have,” Cuban said. “So I kind of feel like I owe fans an apology. But that’s just the way this business goes.”

Cuban declined to elaborate.

Butler scored 25 points and rookie Rodrigue Beaubois had 16. But aside from them and Nowitzki, no other Dallas player scored more than six points.

Among the questions facing the Mavs is Nowitzki, who could choose to become a free agent this summer. He’s steadily said he won’t, but after the game, Nowitzki was noncommittal about his future.

“I haven’t really thought about my future,” he said. “I guess I have some time now to think about my future and think about my options.”

He and the Mavs will have a long time to sulk over this one.

Plagued by slow starts in this series, Dallas got off to its worst yet when it mattered most. The Mavs trailed 22-8 after the first quarter, hitting just four of their first 18 shots. By halftime it was 47-34, a franchise playoff low for Dallas.

Nowitzki, who had four fouls in the first half, shrugged off the foul trouble and put Dallas ahead 57-56 with a 3-pointer midway through the third quarter. But Ginobili immediately fired back with a 3-pointer, and Dallas never led again.

“I think we took a lot of their energy, a lot of their effort getting back into it after being so far down,” said Duncan, who had 17 points and 10 rebounds. “Hopefully we used that against them and closed the game out.”

PBL Not Dying a Natural Death, Says League Exec

(From GMA News)

The Philippine Basketball League’s (PBL) merger with Liga Pilipinas is not a way of saving these organizations from dying a natural death.

"Contrary to what many people believe, the PBL is not dying a natural death," PBL officer in charge Butch Maniego told GMANews.TV in an interview through social networking site Facebook.

"The league just needed to be reinvented, which would require some time," added Maniego.

The PBL, the country’s longest-running amateur cage league, and Liga Pilipinas agreed to merge and decided to run a joint tournament, which is a step towards the formation of the country’s newest version of the D-League (developmental league) patterned after the US NBA’s National Basketball Development League.

The NBDL is the breeding ground of future NBA players while pro players who were left unsigned by their respective mother teams were given chances to prove their worth to the club’s farm team.

The proposed local version of the D-League will be directly under the supervision of the PBA. PBA chairman Lito Alvarez initiated the merger of the two struggling leagues.

"Signs are not encouraging both for the PBL and Liga Pilipinas. If we don’t come in, chances are, they might not be able to survive the trying times," said Alvarez, also the president and team manager of the Air21 Express.

Alvarez said the joint venture will be the precursor of the planed D-League, which will be headed by Sta. Lucia’s Buddy Encarnado and assisted by Ginebra’s Robert Non and Pato Gregorio of Talk ‘N Text.

But Maniego, who worked for many years as a sports broadcaster, did not hide the fact that the PBL was affected by the economic crisis and is one of the reasons why their group agreed to merge with Liga Pilipinas, an association that caters to provincial teams.

"We needed to cut some costs to make it more attractive to new players and keep our old ones despite the difficult economic times," added Maniego, who took over the helm after long-time PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad resigned last month.

Maniego thinks the merger would give the PBL and Liga a new identity.

"It's an opportunity for both leagues to become more relevant within the local basketball landscape," explained Maniego, whose group has yet to name its candidate to become commissioner of this new joint tournament with Liga Pilipinas.

NBA Playoffs Results

vs(From the Associated Press) - Relying on young and old, the Milwaukee Bucks find themselves one win from an upset that looked improbable just a week ago.

No one is more stunned than the Atlanta Hawks, who figured they would have things all wrapped up by now.

Brandon Jennings scored 25 points, Kurt Thomas drew a crucial charging foul against Joe Johnson and the Bucks stunned the home team with a 14-0 run late in the game, beating the favored Hawks 91-87 on Wednesday night for a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Milwaukee, appearing in the playoffs for the first time since 2006, responded like the seasoned postseason team after getting blown out in the first two games. The third-seeded Hawks, planning for a long run in their third straight playoff appearance, better figure out a way to win on the road or this season will be over much sooner than they expected.

Game 6 is Friday night in Milwaukee.

“The pressure’s not on us,” Jennings said.

Milwaukee center Andrew Bogut is watching the playoffs with a cast on his right hand after taking a gruesome fall late in the regular season, but the 20-year-old Jennings keeps stepping up big with darting moves to the hoop and timely jumpers. The rookie scored 12 straight points early and clinched the victory with two free throws.

Joining him in a duo for the ages is the 37-year-old Thomas, one of the league’s oldest players. Bogut’s replacement doesn’t show up much on the stat sheet—he took only one shot and failed to score—but he came up with perhaps the biggest play of the game when he stepped out to take a charge from Johnson with 2:15 remaining, the Atlanta star’s sixth foul.

“I thought when Joe Johnson came out of the game,” Jennings said, “we had a chance to win it.”

The Hawks appeared to be in control leading 82-73 after Josh Smith’s long jumper with 4:10 remaining. Milwaukee scored the next 14 points while Atlanta was missing seven straight shots. Even though Al Horford finally broke the drought with 19 seconds remaining, then banked in a 3-pointer from the top of the key to finish with 25 points and 11 rebounds, it wasn’t enough to make up for a total collapse.

“This is incredible,” said Jamal Crawford, who had an awful game one day after winning the NBA’s Sixth Man Award. “We had the game won. It just slipped away from us.”

Crawford’s night ended in appropriate fashion—a desperation 3-pointer that missed badly and left him sprawled on the court. He finished 4 of 18 from the field for 11 points. Johnson wasn’t much better, making 6 of 16 for 13 points before fouling out for the first time this season.

“It was a terrible loss,” Johnson said. “It was embarrassing.”

The Bucks ran out the final seconds and celebrated with chest bumps in the center of Philips Arena, while the Hawks straggled to the locker room, hearing nothing but boos from a sellout crowd of 19,304.

“Bye-bye, Woody!” someone shouted at Atlanta coach Mike Woodson, whose contract is up at the end of a season that now finds itself in one loss-and-done mode.

“It’s a tough loss,” Woodson said, “but it’s a seven-game series.”

Atlanta cruised through the first two games at home and fully expected to win at least one game in Milwaukee, which would have set them up to clinch at home in Game 5.

Instead, it’s the gritty Bucks who are on the verge of moving on to face waiting Orlando in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

“We feel great,” Thomas said. “Even after the first two games, we felt very confident we would go home and get the job done.”

Milwaukee shot 41 percent from the field but simply outworked an Atlanta team that seemed stunned more and more to find itself in a tough series. John Salmons added 19 points for the Bucks and Luke Ridnour had 15.

“We know we didn’t play well,” Salmons said. “It was an ugly game.”

But it sure looked pretty at the end. The Bucks continually drove to the hoop in the fourth quarter, drawing foul after foul and hitting 15 of 18 free throws. Stunningly, Atlanta never got to the line in the final period.

Marvin Williams had 22 points for the Hawks, who couldn’t overcome the dismal showings by their two leading scorers, Johnson and Crawford.

The Hawks appeared to be taking control in the third quarter with the sort of play that had been missing since the first two games in Atlanta.

Johnson took things into his own hands, driving right around Thomas for a dunk that broke a 50-50 tie and sparked a 17-4 run that took less than 4 minutes. Johnson also hit a couple of jumpers during the spurt, and he got plenty of support from Horford and Williams.

Horford scored six points, including a couple of ferocious dunks set up by passes from Mike Bibby. After the second jam, Bibby backpedaled down the court with a smile on his face, the Hawks appearing to have fun for the first time all night.

Williams scored the other five points in Atlanta’s outburst, including a three-point play that began at the other end with a turnover by Salmons.

The Bucks just wouldn’t go away, even though both replacement centers, Thomas and Gadzuric, ran into foul trouble. Thomas picked up his fourth less than 4 minutes into the third quarter, while Gadzuric was whistled for his fifth before the period was done.

Unlike Johnson, they both managed to make it to the finish.

The Hawks’ frustration showed early.

Zaza Pachulia sent Jennings flying with a hard whack late in the first quarter, drawing an intentional foul. The 6-foot-1 Jennings hopped off the court as though he wanted to go at the 6-11 Pachulia, but Thomas and the officials stepped in to push the rookie guard away. Ridnour jawed a bit with Pachulia before things calmed down.

Early in the second, Johnson doled out another hard foul on Ridnour, who tumbled to the court after taking a bit of a shove with the forearm.

The Bucks dished out some shots of their own. Thomas stepped out to set a pick on Smith, who tumbled to the court and rolled over with a gash over his right eye. He headed to the locker room to get five stitches, but returned to the court late in the period with a bandage covering the wound.

Alaska Lets Miller Go

(From Inquirer)

Willie Miller, a two-time Most Valuable Player, was shipped by Alaska to his fourth team in the Philippine Basketball Association Wednesday and welcomed the challenge of proving himself again.

“That’s what happens to players who age, they have no protection,” Miller told the
Philippine Daily Inquirer over the phone Wednesday night in Filipino. “I am not sulking, don’t get me wrong. I’m willing to prove myself over again. I have done that in the past.”

The 32-year-old Miller was traded to Barangay Ginebra for Cyrus Baguio as the Aces and the Gin Kings finally consummated the deal they both vehemently denied the past couple of days.

Alaska team manager Joaqui Trillo said they were just giving in to Miller’s long wish to be traded.

“We didn’t want to let go of Willie,” Trillo said. “We just gave in to his wish. We also see Cyrus as a better defensive player.”

The 32-year-old Miller said that he indeed asked to be traded more than two years ago when the Aces lost in the seventh game of an epic championship series with Talk ‘N Text for the Philippine Cup.

He said he was hearing bad things about him after he missed a layup in the final second of the series which would have given the Aces the championship.

“I was hurt that time, although I’ve learned to accept it,” Miller continued. “It’s bad when you hear some nasty things when deep in your heart you know that you were willing to die out there to give your team the win.

“Tao lang ako, hindi perpekto (I’m human, I’m not perfect),” Miller, whose maximum P350,000-a-month contract expires in July, added. “But I still have a lot of years left in these legs.”

Miller captured his second MVP with the Aces after winning his first with Red Bull. He also had a stint with Talk ‘N Text, which he led to two Finals appearances.

He will take his 17-point, 4.5-assist and three-rebound Fiesta Conference averages to Ginebra where he will join a backcourt featuring Mark Caguioa and reigning MVP Jayjay Helterbrand.

Interestingly, Alaska and Ginebra duel at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

“We believe that Cyrus can supply us with some youth and quickness in our backcourt,” Alaska coach Tim Cone said. “His ability to get in the open court and finish will be a new dimension to our style of play.”

Cone expressed sadness in losing the jolly lefty, saying “aside from being a great player, Willie is one of the real good guys in the league and we are going to miss him, me especially. But he made it known to us the last couple of years that he wanted to be traded.”

NBA Playoffs Results

vs(From the Associated Press) - The Boston Celtics have a few days off to prepare for the second round of the NBA playoffs and a matchup with LeBron James.

Dwyane Wade has all summer to recruit him.

Ray Allen scored 24 points, making five 3-pointers in the second half to help Boston beat Miami 96-86 on Tuesday night and eliminate the Heat in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series. The Celtics will play James and the Cavaliers in a seven-game Eastern Conference semifinal series that will open Saturday in Cleveland.

“I think it’s a great matchup. It’s great for basketball—such a classic series,” said Paul Pierce, who scored 21 points on Tuesday. “They’re the team to beat right now. They showed it through the course of the season the way they played. We know this is going to be a tough series, another really, really tough series.”

Wade scored 31 points, far short of the franchise postseason-record 46 he had Sunday in Miami to help the Heat stave off elimination in Game 4. Now that the Heat are done, he can become a free agent—the No. 2 prize in one of the hottest offseason markets in memory.

“I can’t predict the future,” Wade said, his mood somber but his outfit resplendent. “It’s going to be a very important summer. It’s going to be a busy summer. But right now I’ve still got to get this out of my system first. I’m a good sportsman, but I don’t take losing well.”

Rajon Rondo scored 16 points, adding 12 assists and eight rebounds as Boston opened a 21-point lead and then held on after Miami cut the deficit to 73-70 with 10:14 to play. Allen drove and drew a foul and goaltending call on Joel Anthony to make it six points, then hit a 3-pointer 90 seconds later to extend the lead to eight.

Kevin Garnett made a pair of outside shots and Pierce made one from inside to make it a 12-point game with 6 minutes left. With 1:18 remaining and Boston leading by 10, the scoreboard showed the disco-dancing “Gino” video the Celtics has been using to celebrate victories since the championship run in ’08.

“It’s never too early to play ‘Gino’ in this building,” Garnett said.

The Cavaliers beat Chicago 96-94 later Tuesday to clinch their first-round series in five games. But even before it was over, the Celtics were already thinking about James.

“We just have to come out with a defensive mindset, keep LeBron from getting on fire,” center Kendrick Perkins said in the on-court, postgame scoreboard interview while the Cavaliers and Bulls were early in the third quarter.

The Celtics hooked up with James and the Cavaliers for seven games in the conference semis in 2008 on the way to Boston’s unprecedented 17th NBA championship. But Cleveland has since surpassed Boston in the standings and earned the home-court advantage through the NBA finals.

Asked directly if the Celtics can beat Cleveland—the Cavs and Bulls were tied in the fourth quarter at the time—Celtics coach Doc Rivers said, “Well, I’ll let you know.”

The Celtics led by as many as 21 points in the third before Miami scored 16 of the next 18 points to make it 69-62. Wade scored 13 in what turned into a 24-6 run that cut the deficit to 73-70 on his three-point play with 10:14 left in the game.

Wade scored 20 in the second half in all; he also finished with 10 assists and eight rebounds. But he was just 10-for-24 shooting and 2 for 7 from 3-point range in the game. He missed all three of his 3-point tries in the fourth quarter as the Heat tried to eat away at the remainder of the Celtics’ big lead.

Wade, who averaged 33.2 points in the series, can now join James on the free agent market, with the possibility that the two could wind up together in Miami next year or another team that would be an instant title contender.

“This will be my last first-round exit for a while, I can tell you that,” Wade said. “I’m looking forward to continuing to build, and being with some great players next year, continuing to beef up our roster.

“I think I put myself in a great situation three years ago, to sign this deal, to make sure my team stayed competitive. We’ve got some work to do, the front office has (work) to do. You just have to see things being done, being accomplished. If we see that,” he told a Miami-area reporter, “we’ll be talking again.”

It was the second straight night a Boston team clinched a playoff series at the TD Garden. On Monday, the Bruins beat the Buffalo Sabres in Game 6 to advance to the NHL’s Eastern Conference semifinals and a matchup with either the Montreal Canadiens or Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Celtics made four 3-pointers in the first 4:37 of the third quarter and took a 67-46 lead with 7 minutes left. But Mario Chalmers hit back-to-back 3 pointers and Wade followed soon after with a pair of free throws and a pair of 3-pointers to make it 69-62 with 2:18 left in the third.

Miami cut it to three before Allen drove and drew a foul and goaltending call on Joel Anthony.

vs(From the Associated Press) - LeBron James pulled his right arm tightly to his chest, unable to do anything but grimace as the final seconds expired on Cleveland’s series-clinching win.

The Bulls were finally out of the way.

But for the Cavaliers, moving on in the NBA playoffs wasn’t pain free.

James, playing despite an injured right elbow that went numb and forced him to shoot a free throw left-handed in the closing seconds, just missed a triple-double as the Cavs advanced to a playoff date with Boston by beating Chicago 96-94 in Game 5 on Tuesday night in perhaps Vinny Del Negro’s final game as Bulls coach.

James scored 19 points—16 in the second half—and added 10 rebounds and nine assists as the Cavs finally saddled the stubborn Bulls to win the series 4-1. After making one free throw, James then hoisted and missed the second with his left with 7.8 seconds left and the Cavs only ahead by four.

James doesn’t know when he injured the elbow, which he said bothered him the entire second half. He revealed after the game that he underwent an MRI and X-rays two days ago.

“It bothers me because I don’t know what it is,” James said. “Hopefully it doesn’t continue to bother me. But I’m not concerned. Cleveland fans have nothing to worry about. They have no reason to panic. I don’t think it’s that serious.”

Antawn Jamison scored 25 points and Shaquille O’Neal 14 for Cleveland, which will face Boston, reuniting teams that don’t like each other and who played a testy seven-game series in 2008.

Game 1 is Saturday.

“A lot of people are saying they’re too old, but we know they’re going to come out and give us their best shot,” said Jamison, who was not with the Cavs the last time Cleveland met Boston in the postseason. “It’s going to be a hard-fought series. It should be fun.”

Derrick Rose scored 31 points and Luol Deng 26 for Chicago, which had several shots roll in and out in the final minutes.

Given little chance against the league’s top team during the regular season, the Bulls gave the top-seeded Cavaliers all they could handle.

Delonte West had 16 points and O’Neal racked up fouls during the second half against Chicago’s big men.

The Cavs were intent on closing out the series at home but they couldn’t shake the Bulls, who were trying to send the series back to Chicago for Game 6.

When Jamison buried a 3-pointer with 3:30 left, Cleveland was up 93-84, and for the first time all night Cavaliers fans finally started thinking about a matchup with the Celtics, who eliminated Miami earlier.

The Bulls, though, had other plans.

Deng hit a jumper and two free throws before Rose, who made Cleveland defenders look silly all series, made four straight from the line to pull the Bulls within 93-92 with 1:32 remaining. Two free throws by James then gave Cleveland a three-point lead with 1:11 left.

Rose then tried a short shot in the lane that went halfway down before spinning out.

Cleveland’s Mo Williams, who shot a dismal 2 for 13, then missed a baseline runner but the ball went out of bounds off Chicago’s Joakim Noah. The Bulls did get the ball back on a steal, but Rose forced up an awkward left-handed layup over Anderson Varejao that was short.

James grabbed the rebound and was fouled. He made his first attempt to make it 96-92, but with his elbow causing him pain, he tried his second shot left-handed and it was way off the mark.

“I knew we were up four,” James said. “I would have shot it right-handed if I had to make it. I’ve never had problem with my elbow before.”

Down four, the Bulls got a layin by Deng just before the buzzer.

James, who wore a sleeve on his right arm for the second straight game, refused to address his injury before the game.

“I don’t know what is up with it, but I’m ready to play,” he said.

So were the Bulls, who fought until the end to prolong their season—and for Del Negro.

Chicago, which had to win down the stretch to earn the No. 8 seed, entered the playoffs amid controversy surrounding its coach. Del Negro reportedly got into a physical confrontation with vice president of basketball operations John Paxson last month, an incident the team downplayed but could have long-term effects.

“I don’t even think about that stuff,” Del Negro said when asked if he thought he had coached his final game. “I enjoy the experience, I enjoy the competitiveness. It’s about the players to me. I’m proud of the guys, I’m proud of the way they stuck together. They played hard and played through adversity.

“I can’t worry about that. I don’t worry about it. I know how hard my staff has worked and what we’ve done here the last two years. How anyone wants to judge that will judge it and we’ll move on. I’ve been too fortunate in my career and my life to worry about those things. Those decisions will be made now moving forward.”

Rose said he would hate to see his coach fired.

“We both came in as rookies. It would be devastating,” Rose said. “But it’s not up to me, it’s up to the front office. They’re the ones that drafted me, so I guess I’m behind them.”

Rose said it would be hard to imagine the Bulls firing their coach after making the playoffs.

“It would be unusual, especially since it’s our second time (in the playoffs),” Rose said. “But the league changes constantly. I guess that’s how it is in the NBA. It’s tough to coach up here.”

Cleveland’s plan in the fourth quarter was to force the ball inside to O’Neal and let the Big Diesel power his way to the basket.

O’Neal drew two fouls in a five-second span on Chicago’s Brad Miller, who was doing all he could to keep the 325-pounder out of the lane. Del Negro and the Bulls assistants protested the second foul and Miller had to be grabbed by his teammates before he got called for a technical.

One minute later, O’Neal got Noah to reach in and commit his fourth foul. The Cavs immediately went into O’Neal again, and this time he spun on Noah and dunked on the Bulls’ outspoken center, sending the nervous, sellout crowd into a momentary frenzy.

PBA Merges PBL, Liga for Local D-League

(From GMA News)

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is following the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) footsteps in its ambitious bid of expanding Asia’s first play-for-play league.

The PBA, the region’s first professional basketball league, is at the forefront of the merger between struggling clubs – the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) and the Liga Pilipinas.

The PBA will initiate the PBL and Liga Pilipinas merger, thus creating its own development league (D-League) patterned similarly from the National Basketball Association Development league (NBDL).

PBA chairman Lito Alvarez, in a telephone interview by GMANews.TV said the league hopes to introduce the new program next season. “This new league is a perfect venue for the (PBL and Liga Pilipinas) teams since they can maintain a squad (in the PBA developmental league) at a low cost."

“If ever they’ve enjoyed competing here and want to take a step a notch higher, then they can apply for membership in the PBA."

Alvarez added that aside from the PBA’s expansion program, the planned developmental league is also their way of preventing the PBL and Liga Pilipinas to close shop. Both leagues might fold up if not restructured.

“Signs are not encouraging," said Alvarez. “We don’t see positive things happening for (both leagues). If we don’t help them, their leagues might die a natural death and this will also be bad for the PBA because they’re our source of talent."

Alvarez said the planned D-League has the full support of the PBA board where they assigned former PBA chairman Buddy Encarnado of Sta. Lucia as the head of the committee that would supervise the PBA’s new project.

Assisting Encarnado are alternate board governors Robert Non of Barangay Ginebra and Pato Gregorio of Talk ‘N Text. The group will continue its talks with both executives of the PBL and Liga Pilipinas.

Alvarez has also scheduled a meeting with PBL caretaker Butch Maniego and Liga Pilipinas representative Butch Antonio regarding the proposed merger.

The proposed PBA D-League will also serve as a venue for local and Filipino-foreign players from various collegiate leagues, like the UAAP and NCAA, to hone their skills before entering the PBA Annual Rookie Draft.

“We feel that there were players coming from the collegiate ranks who are not yet ready to enter the PBA and this will be a good opportunity for them to hone their skills more," said Alvarez.

“The Fil-foreign players will be required to complete a number of games before entering the PBA. This will also allow PBA teams to scout prospective players," he added.

Alvarez said the initial format will have the PBL teams forming the Northern Conference while Liga squads will compose the South. “Since Liga teams are used to do a lot of traveling."

PBL’s glory days
The PBL has been the country’s premier amateur league since 1983.

NBA Playoffs Results

vs(From the Associated Press) - As the final seconds ticked down, Dwight Howard was back in his familiar spot on the bench and coach Stan Van Gundy was steamed at his superstar for fouling out again.

Then the buzzer sounded and the Orlando Magic became the first team to advance in the NBA playoffs.

Who needs Howard? Not these deep Magic—at least not in the first round.

Vince Carter scored 21 points, Jameer Nelson added 18 and the Magic showcased their depth and pressure shot-making in a 99-90 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Monday night to complete a sweep of their first-round series.

Howard was held to six points in his fourth straight game in foul trouble, but the Magic never flinched to accomplish their first four-game sweep in franchise history. Orlando will face the Atlanta-Milwaukee winner in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

“If you would have told me that he would have averaged well under 30 minutes for the series and we would sweep, I would have said you’re crazy,” Van Gundy said. “I think it’s a testament to our other guys.”

Howard did grab 13 rebounds, but was limited to 23 minutes before fouling out for the second straight game. The Magic, though, got key contributions and big shots from others.

Rashard Lewis scored 17 points, Matt Barnes added 14 and Orlando held Stephen Jackson to 2-of-11 shooting to overcome Howard’s 22 fouls in the series.

“He and I got into it a little bit,” Van Gundy said about their sideline exchange in the last minute. “It wasn’t a bad argument. My point was he was in the restricted area and he’s got to jump. He’s so frustrated now that what he was trying to say is it wouldn’t matter. But, well, let’s jump and find out. What he did was give them the call.”

Tyrus Thomas scored a career playoff-high 21 points for the Bobcats, whose focus will now immediately turn to nomadic coach Larry Brown’s future with the team.

Brown, who has had 13 pro and college coaching jobs, continues to be the focus of reports for openings around the NBA, including Philadelphia, where his wife and kids live.

But he repeated that he’ll only coach for Bobcats owner Michael Jordan.

“I’m not coaching anywhere but Charlotte,” Brown said. “Now am I going to go home and talk to my wife and kids? I’ll be 70 years old with two young kids. Am I going to talk to them and find out what I need to do and am I going to talk to Michael? Yeah, absolutely.”

Could that mean he’d retire or consider a front office job with another team?

“That’s hypothetical,” Brown said. “I love coaching more than anything, except my family maybe. … I’m really, personally, not ready to step down in terms of my desire to keep coaching.”

Brown was down after the 6-year-old Bobcats again wilted in a close game in their first playoff appearance.

After Charlotte cut Orlando’s lead to one on Tyson Chandler’s two free throws, Mickael Pietrus hit consecutive 3-pointers directly across the floor from Jordan’s seat to put the Magic ahead 83-76 with 5:47 left.

Nelson’s 3-pointer less than a minute later—after Gerald Wallace missed two free throws—put it away for the Magic, whose only previous playoff sweep was a 3-0 victory over Detroit in 1996.

“They’re better,” Brown said. “They know how to play playoff basketball. We haven’t figured it out yet.”

Charlotte’s offensive woes were magnified by Howard’s long absences.

The four-time All-Star’s endless foul trouble entering the game made him the focus of ribbing in the morning shootaround. Teammates told him instead of Superman, his nickname was now “Foul on You.” Howard played along in raising his arm and clenching his fist as if to call a foul.

The joking stopped when Howard was called for two fouls in 16 seconds in the first quarter, the second for tripping. He picked up his third for challenging D.J. Augustin after he had released a reverse layup that turned into a three-point play.

“It’s very tough out there,” Howard said. “There’s a lot of things I feel don’t go my way or our team’s way.”

With Howard on the bench, the Bobcats built a 38-31 lead on the strength of Thomas, who hit his first eight shots in his best performance since being acquired from Chicago in a trade-deadline deal.

Orlando cut the deficit to 45-43 at halftime and took the lead on a run that included Carter’s first made 3-pointer after an 0-for-15 start to the series.

Howard was called for his fourth foul on Raymond Felton’s drive with 6:58 left in the third quarter—and stayed on the bench for nearly 10 minutes.

The Magic hung on, and it could be a while before they play again. The Hawks-Bucks series is tied 2-2.

“We’re going to be well rested,” Howard said before laughing. “I’m going to be well rested.”

Philippine National Basketball Team to play with ABA - Hopes to make it to the 2012 Olympics

(From Asian Journal)

The Philippine National Basketball Team is coming to town.

For the first time in Philippine basketball history, a Philippine national basketball squad will play a series of games against teams from the Associated Basketball Association (ABA) professional basketball league in Southern California.

The Smart-Gilas National team will play against the ABA’s San Diego Surf on April 25, Los Angeles Slam on April 26 and Riverside Rainmakers on April 27.

"The Smart-Gilas team’s debut in the American Basketball Association (ABA) league is a historic one," said Paul Monozca, Vice-Chairman of ABA Global. "The country has been dreaming of playing pro basketball in the United States, same as teams from all over the world. Today, the dream has now become a reality. ABA Global is here."

The Smart-Gilas team is headed by coach Rajko Toroman and fields a team that includes PBA number 1 draft pick 6’9" Japeth Aguilar, 7’0" Greg Slaughter and guard Chris Tiu.

The Philippine team is the 2nd team to play in the ABA after China’s Beijing Aoshen team.

The Smart Gilas team will face formidable opponents in The San Diego Surf whose line-up includes seven footers Guy Paselany and Cameron Koford and scoring champion Terry Menefee, as well as seasoned veteran players who have played professional basketball in Europe and China.

The Los Angeles Slam are the current 2009-2010 ABA champions led by 6’5" star "The Game," streetball And1 legend Larry "Bone Collector" Williams and ex-NBA players Jeff Trepagnier and Tony Farmer. And the Riverside Rainmakers is a leading California division team.

Although next week’s games are glorified exhibits or "Friendship Games," it gives Pinoy basketball fans a chance to see a team that has high hopes of making it to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The last time the Philippines National Basketball team qualified for the Olympics was in 1972 in Germany.

Step up in competition

The Smart-Gilas National Team will also step up its competition permanently when it makes its official entry in the ABA next year. The Philippine team will be adopted by Daly City, California for next years pro games and there will also be a Filipino player in a roster of several ABA teams, according to Monozca.

Having the Smart-Gilas National Team train and play in the US is a smart move, said Donald Sanchez, Southern California chairman for the ABA and the general manager and owner of the LA Slams.

The Smart-Gilas team has played in a series of international events from Indonesia to Dubai recently but if the Philippines plan to qualify for the 2012 Olympics, they need to face tough competition on a regular basis and the ABA has some of the best basketball players around, said Sanchez.

"I know the Philippine team recently won a bronze medal in a recent international competition and placed fifth in another," said Sanchez. "But I think this is a good measuring tests for us and them. The ABA wants to show that we have some of the best and strongest teams in the nation and if the Philippines wants to make it to the 2012 Olympics this is a big step for them and this is the road they have to take."

Basketball is arguably the No. 1 or No. 2 sport followed by Filipinos around the world. Only boxing surpasses its popularity.

Having the Philippine National team qualify for the Olympics would not only bring pride to the basketball-crazed island but also signifies a rebound to a once proud basketball team.

Historically, the Philippines once dominated Asia with the national basketball team consistently qualifying for the Olympics from 1948 to 1972. But after 1972, other Asian countries like China, Japan and Korea had caught up. In 2007, the team was filled with PBA all-stars and trained at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Ca. by playing Division 1 teams Cal State University, Fullerton and Cal State University Long Beach. However, the team failed to make it pass the FIBA Asia Men’s Championship tournament.

Playing in the ABA would give the Philippine national team members a step up in competition.

ABA expansion

Sanchez said playing against the Philippines symbolizes more than the US against the Philippines.

"This is the US against the world," he said. "This is an open invitation to show the world what the ABA is all about."

He said the inclusion of the Philippines into the league is part of the league’s global program. He said up to as many as 20 international teams - Japan, Korea, China, Australia, and Europe - would join the league in the next few years.

NBA Playoffs Results

vs(From the Associated Press) - Dwyane Wade watched the 3-pointer drop perfectly through the net, then turned upcourt and extended the fingers on his right hand.

And he screamed.

“In kid-friendly terms,” Wade would say later, “I was telling him he was hot.”

That hand—that player—had never been hotter in a postseason game, either. And that’s why Miami’s season isn’t over.

Playing what might have been his final game in Miami, Wade scored 46 points, 30 in the second half—both franchise records—and the Heat beat the Boston Celtics 101-92 on Sunday in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first-round series. He made 16-of-24 shots, 5 of 7 from 3-point range, and outscored the Celtics 19-15 in the fourth quarter.

“Phenomenal,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said.

“Greatness,” offered Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.

Heat forward Quentin Richardson went even further, likening his teammate to a superhero.

“Sometimes, you know, he puts on the cape, man,” Richardson said. “There’s not a lot of things you can do when he’s playing that way.”

Boston would concur.

The Celtics still lead the best-of-seven 3-1, and get a chance to close it out in Boston on Tuesday night. But their worst fear came true Sunday.

Miami has hope.

“They did what they were supposed to do, which is defend the home court,” Celtics forward Kevin Garnett said. “And now we’re thinking the same thing going back home.”

Richardson scored 20 points and Michael Beasley added 15 for the Heat, who wasted an 18-point, first-half lead before digging deep to extend the season.

Rajon Rondo led the Celtics with 23 points. Garnett had 18 points and 12 rebounds, Paul Pierce scored 16 and Ray Allen added 15 for Boston, which was bidding for its first 4-0 sweep of a series since 1986.

“It’s not a big deal,” Rondo said. “We just have to close it out now in five. We’re confident.”

So is Miami.

Especially Wade.

Leg cramps kept him off the court for the deciding moment of Game 3, the jumper that Pierce hit at the buzzer to give the Celtics a 100-98 win. So he spent Saturday getting his body right, chugging fluids, jumping into the cold tank, hanging out in the pool with his mother Jolinda, visiting from Chicago.

On Sunday, it showed, never more than down the stretch.

He shot 5 for 6 in the fourth quarter and made all four 3-pointers, all coming in a 5-minute stretch and the last putting Miami up 93-82 with 6:12 remaining.

“I just thought, time to be aggressive,” Wade said. “Very aggressive. So I was shooting all those shots, no matter what was going to happen. And I started to make a couple, so I got hot at the right time. Just wanted to will my team to this victory.”

Of course, it’s never easy for Miami against Boston.

The Celtics were 6-0 against Miami this season, and had won 14 of the last 15 between the clubs since April 2007. And yes, Boston made a big run, getting within 96-92 on a free throw by Allen with 2:36 left.

Then a funny thing happened.

Or, more precisely, three funny things.

Not only did Allen—a 91 percent foul shooter this season—miss the second, he missed two more with 1:50 left, keeping it a two-possession game. And when Dorell Wright missed a jumper with 1:29 left, Beasley swooped in, got the rebound and scored, making it 98-92.

Exhale, Miami. The season will go until at least Tuesday.

Wade will opt to become a free agent after the season, and on the slim chance that this was his final home game in Miami, it was nothing short of scintillating.

“He just put it all on his shoulders,” Pierce said. “And did a good job of it.”

Trailing by six entering the final quarter and needing a rally to keep the season alive, Miami opened the fourth on a 25-8 run, fueled mostly by Wade. He hit a pair of 3-pointers about a minute apart, stopping after the second one to scream at his right hand, giving Miami an 85-80 lead.

“When his back is against the wall,” Spoelstra said, “it’s an utter defiance.”

Miami played that way pretty much all day.

Garnett scored the opening basket, only to have Miami reel off the next 12 points. Richardson made his first four shots, three of them from 3-point range, staking Miami to a 15-5 lead.

Wade scored 14 in the first, Richardson ended up with 13, and the Heat seemed well on their way, up 31-14 late in the opening quarter.

That duo combined for two in the second quarter, though, and Boston began chipping away.

Thanks in large part to Glen Davis tripping over his own feet and tumbling to the court in a green heap, Beasley had an alley-oop dunk with 8 minutes left until halftime, putting Miami up 42-24.

The rest of the half was all Boston, which quickly turned the arena mood from celebratory to concerned. The Celtics outscored Miami 19-7 to close the second quarter, with the Heat making six turnovers and missing eight of their next nine shots after the Beasley dunk, and the lead was down to only 49-43 at the break.

“They played how they were supposed to play,” Allen said.

In the third, Wade did the spectacular. Boston did the steady, which worked better.

Wade drove past Allen down the middle of the lane, dunked over the outstretched arm of Garnett and walked into the second row of seats, tying the game at 64 as the crowd roared.

But Garnett, Pierce, Allen and Rondo all had big baskets late in the third, and the Celtics took a 77-71 edge into the final 12 minutes.

But the fourth, thanks to Wade, was all Miami.

“I’m a rhythm player,” Wade said. “And once I get in that rhythm, I think I can make any shot.”

Each Heat player had a sheet of paper at his locker when he arrived Sunday, the words “Easy vs. Hard” typed across the top.

“Making everyone go to Boston,” the sheet said, “is hard.”

And it was.

Getting the Celtics to fly back to Miami will be even tougher.

vs(From the Associated Press) - LeBron James insisted there was nothing unusual about the shot, that he’s perfectly comfortable taking it.

Never mind that he unleashed it from nearly halfcourt.

James’ jumper—from a spot that requires a heave for many players—was just part of the show on a day when he delivered his fifth career postseason triple-double with 37 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. That led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 121-98 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday and a 3-1 lead in their first-round series.

“I’ve done some great things in the past, I’ll do some great things in the future,” he said. “But we’re in the present now, and I’m feeling pretty good.”

The Cavaliers led by 10 at halftime after scoring 38 in the second quarter and broke it open with a 37-point third, putting them in position to close it out at home on Tuesday.

James was at it again after scoring 40 and 39 the previous two games, connecting whenever he wanted and from wherever he wanted. He was 6 of 9 on 3-pointers, including a jumper from just inside midcourt at the end of the third that made it 99-76.

“I can comfortably shoot that shot,” James said. “It was a regular jump shot for me. Comfortably, I can walk and dribble into a halfcourt 3.”

James certainly made it look easy against the Bulls.

“He was extremely active all over the place,” coach Mike Brown said. “He really set the tone defensively. He was terrific for us on the weakside. He was great for us on the ball, and he talked defense the whole game.”

He had plenty of help from Antawn Jamison, who scored 12 of his 24 in the third quarter, not to mention Mo Williams (19 points).

Chicago got 21 apiece from Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, who also pulled down 20 rebounds, but the Bulls settled for jump shots once they fell behind. Now, they are on the verge of their second straight first-round exit after a thorough beating by the Eastern Conference’s top seed.

“I just think we weren’t very tough mentally today,” Noah said. “We were playing good ball and then just collapsed. We’re a young team and have to learn from this.”

The Cavaliers were simply locked in after a two-point loss in Game 3. They shot 53 percent and outscored Chicago 40-34 in the paint after being dominated there 94-70 the previous two games.

The Bulls were leading 43-40 after Luol Deng hit a 17-footer with just over five minutes left in the half. Then, Cleveland took over.

“When we had the lead, we should have run some more effective plays, run some pick-and-rolls and attacked the basket,” Rose said. “And even if you couldn’t make the shot, you could dump it off to a big and maybe they could get to the line.”

James scored nine as the Cavaliers ended the half on a 22-9 run, hitting a 3-pointer that put Cleveland ahead 47-45 with 3:36 left, and they continued to build on it.

James nailed a 22-foot fadeaway from up top just before the halftime buzzer, right after a short bank shot by Rose, to make it 62-52. Cleveland quickly put it away after returning from the locker room, scoring the first seven of the third, with James’ floater making it 69-52. But it was his shot at the end of the quarter that left everyone else in awe.

“Seeing him do that is always fun to watch,” Williams said. “It takes a lot out of a team. We’re already up 20 and he’s hitting shots like that. You just sit back like an opponent and wonder what can we do.”

If the Bulls are demoralized, they weren’t about to let on.

“I know that we have to play another game,” Rose said. “My confidence level is high and my team will follow me.”

North Stars Outrun, Outfox South Rivals In Puerto Princesa

(From PBA)

The North team played up-tempo basketball to overcome the South squad’s height and heft advantage, eking out a 133-130 decision in the 2010 PBA All-Star Game at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum here Sunday night.

Gabe Norwood and his teammates pushed the ball hard and scored heavily on transition plays as they avenged their defeat in the last North-versus-South game held in Bacolod in 2008.

Delivering several highlight plays and knocking in crucial baskets at the finish, Norwood won the Handy Fix All-Star Game MVP award.

The versatile Rain or Shine Fil-Am guard piled up 17 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals and block in the game where the two teams figured in duel of runs with no one leading by more than nine.

Earlier, active players Jeff Chan, Mark Macapagal and Yousif Aljamal humbled old stars Alvin Patrimonio, Kenneth Duremdes and Rhoel Gomez, 51-29, in the Legends Shootout.

Aljamal gave the active players a good start with 15 points, an initial boost sustained by Chan with 19 and concluded by Macapagal with 17. The oldies couldn’t match the youngsters’ hot shooting as Patrimonio and Duremdes could only make 10 each and Gomez nine.

Jonas Villanueva, the Obstacle Challenge winner Friday, had another winning moment, leading his team to victory in the Shooting Stars competition.

Their team clocked 38 seconds through five stages, winning over the teams of Renren Ritualo (52 seconds) and Macapagal (1:14).

Late Saturday, PBA technical chief Ramil Cruz, a former UP Maroon, nailed a charity as the PBA Board/Commissioner’s Office team nipped the PBA Press Corps, 60-59, in another side event of the annual mid-season spectacle.

Ely Capacio, a 6-foot-4 center who played pro ball with Tanduay, starred for the PBA team that included other league governors in Lito Alvarez, Ely Capacio, Robert Non and Rene Pardo.

The All-Star Week had a fitting conclusion with the North team beating the South in a fun, exciting and thrilling contest.

“We used our quickness to the hilt. Knowing they have extreme height advantage, the only way to win is to push the ball and score on fast break. Luckily, the effort was enough,” said North coach Ryan Gregorio.

Also calling the shots for the North team, Gregorio won over Joel Banal in 2005 and lost to Boyet Fernandez in 2008.

Push the ball and score on fast break the North team did as they overcame the South’s domination off the boards.

Asi Taulava and Kelly Washington hauled down 11 rebounds each and the South team totaled 69 as against the North’s 57.

The South team towered in the rebounding battle but couldn’t score at endgame.

Norwood, Macmac Cardona, Willie Miller and Arwind Santos, meanwhile, sizzled for their team at crunch time, enabling the North to take a 5-4 lead over the South in their head-on duels since the All-Star Game was institutionalized in 1989.

Cardona, Santos, Miller, Ranidel de Ocampo and JC Intal also scored in double figures for the North.

Kelly Williams pumped in 17 to pace the South which also drew double-digit outputs from Cyrus Baguio, Sonny Thoss, Jimmy Alapag, James Yap, Asi Taulava and Reynel Hugnatan.

The North put the game beyond reach as Norwood, Cardona and De Ocampo scored six straight points to make it 133-125 with less than a minute left to play.

The two teams played as how the All-Star Game should be in the early goings – show time.

Norwood and Intal sent the crowd rocking early with the former executing three thunderous jams and the latter doing two throw-downs in the opening quarter.

The North started with a 15-6 run then the South answered with nine unanswered points to set the tone of the see-saw duel. (SB)

The scores:


North 133 – Cardona 20, Norwood 17, Santos 17, Mercado 14, Miller 12, De Ocampo 12, Intal 11, Artadi 9, Reyes 7, Pinris 6, Helterbrand 6, Maierhofer 2.


South 130 – Williams 17, Baguio 15, Alapag 14, Thoss 14, Yap, J. 11, Hugnatan 11, Taulava 10, Tubid 9, Devance 9, Yap, R. 7,  Menk 4.


Quarterscores: 38-39; 76-69; 104-101; 133-130

NBA Playoffs Results

vs(From the Associated Press) - In front of a boisterous, hostile crowd and facing a team in desperation mode, the Orlando Magic showcased their depth, grit and poise when it mattered most.

Imagine how good they could be if their superstar center played more than half the game.

No Dwight Howard(notes), no problem for the Magic, who got 32 points from sudden star Jameer Nelson(notes) to overcome another frustrating, foul-filled game by their big man in a 90-86 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday.

Spoiling Charlotte’s return to the playoff stage after an eight-year absence, the Magic took a commanding 3-0 lead in their first-round series despite being without Howard for the final 3:32 after he fouled out.

“You’ve got to admire them with Dwight getting foul trouble and fouling out how they still didn’t fold,” Bobcats coach Larry Brown said. “They were disciplined and executed. They got a well-deserved win.”

For the third straight game and two days after Orlando was assessed $70,000 in fines for complaining about the officiating, Howard played about half the game, finishing with 13 points, eight rebounds and seven blocks.

After Howard was sidelined for good, Nelson had a key bucket and backup center Marcin Gortat(notes) hit two free throws with 12 seconds left to put it away.

The defending Eastern Conference champions can clinch a spot in the second round with a win in Game 4 on Monday.

“I think this is a big test for me, learning how to keep my composure in tough situations,” said Howard, who has played in only 83 of 144 minutes in the series because of chronic foul trouble. “Things may not go my way, but we’re playing for something bigger.”

Stephen Jackson(notes) scored 19 points, but was 6 of 18 from the field and missed a key 3-pointer in the final minute for the cold-shooting Bobcats, who face the prospect of a first-round sweep in their first playoff appearance.

Charlotte hadn’t hosted a playoff game since the Hornets’ last year here in 2002, and towel-waving, white T-shirt-clad fans arrived early for the team’s milestone moment.

But even with excited owner Michael Jordan squirming in his seat and relaying pointers to players from the end of Charlotte’s bench, the 6-year-old Bobcats wilted in a tight fourth quarter.

Gerald Wallace(notes) added 13 points on 4-of-12 shooting for Charlotte. Raymond Felton(notes) also scored 13, but shot 5 of 14 and again couldn’t contain Nelson.

“We’re not good enough to win with one or two guys playing at a high level,” Brown said.

Nelson’s floater in the lane with 1:32 left put Orlando ahead 85-82. After an empty possession for each team, Felton’s driving layup with 52 seconds left cut the lead to one.

Nelson then missed a contested layup, giving Charlotte the ball with 31 seconds left. But Jackson was badly short on a straightaway 3-point attempt.

It was a familiar sight: Charlotte was 5 of 23 from 3-point range.

“It was kind of hard to drive when you know Dwight’s there clogging the paint and nobody’s open,” Jackson said of all the 3-point attempts. “It’s hard not to take the shot.”

Vince Carter(notes) and Gortat combined to hit 5-of-6 free throws to put it away.

Nelson, who also scored 32 points in the series opener, hit 12-of-21 shots and 5-of-9 3-point attempts.

“In this series, when I get in the paint something good has happened for us,” Nelson said. “I just want to stay in attack mode.”

He had to after Howard fouled out after picking up his last two fouls in 11 seconds. The first came after he tangled with Tyson Chandler(notes) in the post on the offensive end, the second when he tried to contest Felton’s driving layup.

Felton’s ensuing free throw put Charlotte ahead 80-79.

The Bobcats immediately went small, putting in an extra guard, but Rashard Lewis(notes) responded with two strong drives to the hoop and four free throws to put Orlando ahead for good.

Lewis added 14 points for Orlando, which overcame 9-of-30 3-point shooting to outscore Charlotte 11-6 after Howard left.

The crowd was giddy when Howard had three fouls—and a technical to boot from referee Joe Crawford(notes)—with 10:40 left in the first half after getting called for an offensive foul tangling with Chandler in the post.

It didn’t matter early with Nelson dominating. As in Game 1, Nelson constantly beat Felton off the dribble for easy layups when he wasn’t hitting 3-pointers. His four-point play that included the sight of Felton flailing away in attempt to grab him, ended a 19-point, 7-for-7 first quarter.

With Howard on the bench, the Bobcats built a 41-33 second-quarter lead before Nelson got hot again in the third quarter in Orlando’s 11-0 spurt.

Then Howard was called for his fourth foul with 3:40 left in the third quarter.

“It’s tough not to get frustrated,” Howard said. “I don’t think you guys understand how it feels to get beat up every night. I just try to keep my composure.”

vs(From the Associated Press) - Brandon Roy(notes) was so antsy to return to the Trail Blazers that he campaigned via text message to coach Nate McMillan.

“Coach, I think I should play,” he texted on the eve of Saturday’s playoff game against the Phoenix Suns.

Luckily for the Blazers, McMillan agreed.

Roy was activated Saturday, then helped Portland to a 96-87 victory that evened the first-round series at two games apiece.

Eight days removed from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, Roy made his surprising return to the court to the strains of the theme from “Rocky” blaring from the Rose Garden sound system, then went on hit a key 3-pointer late in the game that shifted the momentum squarely in the Trail Blazers’ favor.

“I just didn’t feel right sitting in the training room knowing that I could contribute—so I just had to keep begging coach,” Roy said afterward.

The first-round series now moves back to Phoenix on Monday night. It wasn’t supposed to include Roy, but things changed Friday.

McMillan said it was a “long, sleepless night” in deciding to play Roy, the team’s unquestioned leader. He even brought owner Paul Allen, the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft, in on the discussion.

“All kinds of things went through my head, thinking about the risk of him reinjuring himself,” McMillan said. “But our doctors didn’t feel like Brandon could hurt himself.”

LaMarcus Aldridge(notes), who had been double-teamed all series long without Roy, benefited the most from his return, with 31 points and 11 rebounds.

“As soon as he checked into the game, I got my first open shot with nobody guarding me, so I was thinking thank God he’s back,” Aldridge said.

Roy, who had the surgery to repair a torn meniscus, came into the game to a deafening ovation with 4:06 left in the first quarter and made a layup about a minute later to put Portland ahead 20-19.

Roy played a relatively quiet 26 minutes, but hit a 3-pointer with 4:55 left that gave Portland a 85-79 lead.

“I’d certainly say it gave them a lift,” Suns guard Steve Nash(notes) said. “More than anything it just gave everyone a boost in their spirit and attitude. That was good for the crowd and good for his teammates to have him out there.”

Amare Stoudemire led the Suns with 26 points.

After dropping the series opener 105-100 in Phoenix, the Suns cruised to a 119-90 home victory before beating the Blazers 108-89 in Portland to take the series lead going into Saturday’s game.

“We didn’t bring it, we just didn’t bring it,” Stoudemire said. “We realized how important the game was. We didn’t bring the effort, we didn’t bring the energy, we didn’t rebound, we didn’t attack. We had a chance to go up 3-1, which would have been great. Now we’ve got to go back to a must-win situation.”

The Suns in the previous two games had stymied Portland with an up-tempo pick-and-roll, kicking the ball out to Jason Richardson(notes), who had a career playoff-high 42 points in Game 3.

The Blazers caught on in Game 4, limiting Richardson to 15 points. Nash also had 15 points and eight assists.

“For us, the difference in the game was that we didn’t play with the energy that we needed to in order to beat this team,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. “And if you don’t, you struggle. I thought we had the pace of the game where we needed to have it at the start, but we ended up with 37 in the second half. You won’t be able to beat this team doing that.”

The Blazers were much more competitive at the start than they had been the past two games. Rudy Fernandez(notes) hit a 3-pointer that put Portland up 35-33 in the second quarter and the Blazers extended the lead to 51-45 with 2:09 left on Aldridge’s dunk.

The Suns kept it close, narrowing it to 52-50 on Grant Hill’s(notes) pull-up jumper before Marcus Camby’s(notes) tip-in put Portland up 54-50 at the half.

Richardson hit two consecutive 3-pointers to open the second half and gave Phoenix a 56-54 lead.

Portland responded, going up 70-64 on Jerryd Bayless’(notes) fast-break jumper, but the slight cushion was short-lived and Stoudemire’s hook tied it 74 early in the fourth quarter.

The Suns were unable to pull ahead, despite poor shooting by the Blazers from the field. Portland missed 12 straight shots but was able to stay in the game on the free throw line.

Then came Roy’s 3-pointer with 4:55 left to make it 85-79. He also made a pull-up jumper with 2:10 left that gave the Blazers a 91-83 lead, their biggest of the game.

Roy’s injury was the latest to strike the unlucky Blazers this season. Nicolas Batum(notes) missed 45 games to start the season after shoulder surgery, centers Greg Oden(notes) and Joel Przybilla(notes) both had season-ending knee surgery, Fernandez had back problems, and former Blazer Travis Outlaw(notes), later traded to the Clippers, was out for an extended period because of a foot injury.

Roy himself was out for 15 games because of a sore hamstring.

In all, 13 Blazers missed a combined 311 regular-season games, second only to Golden State this season. Only guard Andre Miller(notes) and forward Martell Webster(notes) played in all 82 games.

Roy, who for a long time had a note with the words “Stay Humble” in his locker, gave himself an average grade.

“For the first game in a couple of weeks I thought I did OK,” he said. “Once I get my rhythm back, I’m capable of making shots.”

NBA Playoffs Results

vs(From the Associated Press) - The first order of business after Game 3 for Doc Rivers was making a plea to his Boston Celtics, begging them to not fixate on finishing off a first-round sweep.

Good luck, Doc.
These Celtics have everything going their way against the Miami Heat—and a big chunk of rest before the second round starts might be Boston’s just reward.

Paul Pierce’s 21-footer at the buzzer Friday night gave Boston a 100-98 win over Miami in Game 3 of the teams’ Eastern Conference first-round series. The Celtics lead 3-0, and will try for a sweep in Miami on Sunday afternoon.

“We’re going to be a team that’s tough to beat four times,” Pierce said. “But it’s very demoralizing, I think, for the other team when you go down 3-0.”

There’s an understatement.

No team in NBA history has rallied from a 0-3 deficit in a series, and the hole the Heat are in looks even deeper than that. Miami is 0-6 against Boston this season and 1-14 since April 2007.

But as far as looking ahead to the second round, Rivers is understandably leery.

“I’m not worried about that,” he said. “We’ve just got to keep playing. I told our guys, I don’t want to hear about that. I told them right after the game, we’ve got to focus on basketball. All the other stuff, you focus on the process and the results will happen. Whatever happens out there, it happens. We’ve got to get our job done.”

Pierce got it done Friday.

Game tied at 98, less than 20 seconds left, the Heat had exactly what it wanted—the ball in Dwyane Wade’s hands. The 2006 NBA finals MVP tried a straightaway 3-pointer and missed with 14 seconds left, which is where the game and perhaps the season slipped away from Miami.

Wade crumpled to the court in a heap, his left calf cramping for the second time in the final quarter. He had to be carried back to the Miami bench by Heat reserve center Jamaal Magloire and trainer Jay Sabol, and the Heat huddled together to figure out what to do.

There was no such conversation 60 feet away in the Boston huddle.

Pierce demanded the ball. Rivers agreed. Pierce dribbled the clock down, took the shot over Heat forward Dorell Wright, and the Celtics stormed Miami’s floor in celebration.

“Great player made a great shot,” Wade said. “I couldn’t really see it too much. But I did see the ball go in the basket.”

Pierce finished with 32 points and Ray Allen added 25 for the Celtics, who got 17 from Rajon Rondo and 16 from Kevin Garnett.

Wade finished with 34 points, eight assists and five rebounds for the Heat, who rallied from a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter to take the lead. Michael Beasley scored 16 points, Wright scored 15 and Udonis Haslem and Mario Chalmers each scored 10 for the Heat.

“We’ve just got to go out there Sunday and give them another fight,” Wright said. “That was definitely a backbreaker, right there.”

That long-awaited offseason of 2010, when the Heat are expected to revamp their roster, is closer than Miami ever expected.

“It hasn’t really set in yet,” Wade said. “Down 3-0 hurts. This team’s good. They’ve got a lot of veteran guys who step up to the billing.”

Especially on the road, which is where Boston has excelled all season.

The Celtics were the only playoff team this year to win more games on the road than at home, and they’ve had a flair for drama in Miami. Back on Jan. 6, Rondo caught a lob from Pierce and laid in a buzzer-beater to force overtime, and the Celtics went on to a 112-106 win.

That one hurt Miami plenty. This one was considerably worse.

“We certainly fought the fight in terms of bringing the appropriate level of intensity to the game,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “That was there. Couldn’t ask for much more in terms of effort plays and just bringing the fight.”

Pierce said after the game that the value of rest, especially for a veteran team like Boston, cannot be understated.

Still, Rivers’ words resonated with some Celtics after the game. They know Sunday probably won’t be a cakewalk.

“The job is never really done until we close it out,” Allen said. “You can’t worry about their mental state. … As a team we need to worry about what we’re doing here in the locker room.”

That being said, Boston’s confidence probably hasn’t been higher all season, and a team two years removed from a championship is starting to get that playoff feeling again.

“It’s coming at the right time,” center Kendrick Perkins said.

Strong 2nd Half Help Sophomores To 19-Point Rout Of Rookies

(From PBA)

Talk ‘N Text wingman Jared Dillinger presided over a blistering third quarter assault to lead the Sophomores to a 106-87 rout of the Rookies in the Blitz Game which capped All-Star Week Friday at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum here.

Dillinger, who won MVP honors in the Victorias City leg of last year’s All-Star Game series featuring the Powerade RP Team, had 15 of his 18 points in the second half, nine of them in the third period where the second-year All-Stars outscored their freshmen counterparts 30-10, to turn a 40-48 halftime disadvantage into a 70-58 lead entering the fourth.

“He’s just amazing and such a great talent,” said winning coach Luigi Trillo of Dillinger, adding the University of Hawaii alumnus, who also had three rebounds, four assists and two shotblocks, could be a full-pledge superstar right now if only he were with another team.

“It’s unfortunate that Jared’s in the same team as (Jason) Castro, (Jimmy) Alapag and (Mark) Cardona. Let’s say if he were with Rain or Shine and (Sol) Mercado was with Talk 'N Text, Jared should easily be the man at Rain or Shine,” explained Trillo, one of Tim Cone’s assistants at Alaska.

Trillo revealed Cone gave him valuable advice going into the Rookies-Sophomores Blitz Game.

“Coach Tim gave me a great advice and it was not too overcoach and just let the players play,” added Trillo.

And play his players did led by Dillinger who had three triples in a 28-7 run by the Sophomores which broke the game’s last deadlock at 56-all and gave them a commanding 84-63 lead, the biggest in the game.

It was actually a come-from-behind win for the Sophomores which trailed the Rookies by as much as 16 in the second period.

Jeff Chan and Mark Yee actually led the way in scoring for the Sophomores with their 27 and 24 points, respectively, but most of their points came in the fourth when the game’s outcome was already beyond recall.

Chan had 14 of his points in the final period while Yee had 12 and added a game-high 11 rebounds but had seven turnovers which was also a game-high.

Ogie Menor led the Rookies with his 19 points, Jervy Cruz contributed 18 while Josh Urbiztondo had 17 built around five triples. (FM)

The scores:

Sophomores 106 – Chan 27, Yee 24, Dillinger 18, Gregorio 10, Belga 7, Borboran 7, Rodriguez 7, Reyes 6.

Rookies 86 – Menor 19, Cruz 18, Urbiztondo 17, Ross 11, Marias 9, Timberlake 7, Arellano 6, Burtscher 0.

Quarterscores: 20-17, 40-48, 70-58, 106-87.

Canaleta Regains Slam Dunk Title

(From PBA)

The old slam-dunk champ reclaimed his crown, beating top-class rivals and a pretender.

B-Meg Derby Ace’s KG Canaleta was back on his old haunts, cheered on by peers and foes in winning the highly competitive 2010 PBA All-Star slam dunk competition at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum here.

Grace prevailed over power as Canaleta beat out Sta. Lucia’s Kelly Williams to reclaim the crown he lost to Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood in Manila last year.

Norwood took a shot at back-to-back championships but failed to make it past the elimination round, getting poor scores on his off-timing executions.

Also out after the eliminations was former PBL slam dunk champion JC Intal.

Derby Ace rookie Rico Maierhofer proved to be just a pretender but he was a welcome sight with his game antics.

Missed was Jarred Dillinger who opted out to concentrate on the Obstacle Challenge and the Rookies-Sophomores Bitz Game. The Talk ‘N Text Fil-Am forward provided fun in the competition last year.

“Meaningful ito, kasi talagang ang lakas ng competition,” said Canaleta, who the event thrice from 2005 to 2007.

The 6-foot-4 forward out of University of the East soared past three North All-Star ball boys and elegantly finished it with a right-handed dunk to beat Williams in a slam-off.

He did practically the same routine in two earlier rounds – the first over one man then the second over two men.

“Grabe ang pressure na ibinigay sa akin ni Kelly. Hindi na ako makapag-isip ng gagawin so pinahaba ko na lang ang tinalunan ko. Good thing nagustuhan ng tao at ng mga judges,” said Canaleta, now a four-time slam dunk king in the event where no one else has won more than two.

Will he go for a fifth championship next year? He said: “Mahirap mag-salita. Siguro three-point shootout naman.”

Canaleta barely topped the preliminary round with 95 points to Williams’ 94.

And when Canelata thought he had the championship in the bag with a perfect 50 in the first round of the finale, Williams came to force the slam-off with his own 50 drawn on an off-the-board thunderous two-handed reverse throw-down.

The Sta. Lucia ace then executed another two-hander on a 360-degree turn for 45 points.

On his turn, Canaleta ran from midcourt, soaring high to perform between-the-legs dunk that drew mild response from the crowd.

That prompted Canaleta to opt for a re-dunk.

He summoned three ball boys from the sideline and promptly got the crowd up on their feet.

Doing a perfect execution, Canaleta got another perfect score for the championship cheered on by the highly appreciative crowd in the venue.

Macapagal 3-Point King, Jonas V Obstacle Challenge Champ

(From PBA)

The underdogs pulled the rug from under the favorites in the 2010 PBA All-Star Three-Point Shootout at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum here Friday night.

Coca-Cola’s Mark Macapagal emerged as the new champion, ruling a forgettable contest marked by James Yap’s fall from No. 1 last year to dead last this time.

Other long shots Jeff Chan of Rain or Shine and Yousif Aljamal of Barako Coffee finished runners-up to Macapagal in one of the skills events ushering in the annual PBA mid-season spectacle.

The three will be pitted against Alvin Patrimonio, Kenneth Duremdes and Rhoel Gomez in the Legends Shootout Sunday.

Macapagal had a poor winning score of 13, beating Chan by one and Aljamal by two in the finals.

Macapagal made 17, Chan 16 and Aljamal 19 in the elimination round, beating previous champions Renren Ritualo (14), Ronald Tubid (14), Dondon Hontiveros (13), Jimmy Alapag (13) and Yap (seven) as well as Willie Miller (12) and Josh Urbiztondo (13).

“I can’t believe I was there in the middle of the court holding the championship plaque,” said Macapagal.

“I was expecting James, Dondon and Jimmy to slug it out for the championship. I would be happy finishing fifth,” Macapagal added.

San Miguel’s Jonas Villanueva also took the spotlight in Day One of the 2010 PBA All-Star festivities, reigning supreme in the Obstacle Challenge.

Villanueva was fastest in doing the tricks, clocking 31.7 seconds to Alaska guard Willie Miller’s 34.7 and Air21 shooting guard Ronjay Buenafe’s 37.1 in the Finals.

Failing to make it past the elims were Barangay Ginebra's Cyrus Baguio (39.8 seconds), Barako Coffee's Jojo Duncil (40.3), Rain or Shine's Sol Mercado (43.4), Sta. Lucia's Josh Urbiztondo (44.3), Talk 'N Text's Jared Dillinger (46.4), Coca-Cola's Chris Ross (57.2) and title-holder Paul Artadi (57.1) of B-Meg Derby Ace.

Artadi finished dead last on an error-strewn performance. He got off to a bad start, missing an opening shot as he opted for a dunk instead of a simple layup.

The Llamados guard failed to recover, fumbling his way to the finish. 

PBA Undertakes Community Work

(From Manila Bulletin)

Games Saturday (Puerto Princesa Coliseum)
4:30 p.m. — Shooting Stars, Legends Shootout
5 p.m. — North All-Star vs South All-Star

PUERTO PRINCESA — Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner Sonny Barrios said Friday that the annual PBA All-Star Festivities is not just an event for the players to showcase their skills but an opportunity for the league to give back to the community.

Barrios and the PBA All-Star participants took part in different activities, from tree planting at the City Hall, to the painting of gutter curves on Junction 1 Rizal Avenue and Gawad Kalinga in Barangay Sicsican here courtesy of Rain or Shine.

“Like in every All-Star, of course we want to promote and share with our fans. But aside from showcasing their talents and skills as the best of the best in the country, this is also an opportunity for the league especially the players to show their human side, so to speak,” Barrios said.

“We want to share the blessings with the rest of our countrymen, particularly in the province,” the league commissioner added. “We got to interact with our fans. We also have outreach programs, the so-call corporate social responsibility. There’s more than just the game.”

The league also held free coaching and basketball clinics.

Philippine Cup champion coach Ryan Gregorio of B-Meg Derby Ace conducted the coaching clinic to some 50 local coaches while multi-titled mentor Norman Black led the basketball clinic that gathered 60 10 to 15 years old participants.

PBA referees chief Ramil Cruz and technical consultant Romy Guevara also conducted a referees’ clinic at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum.

“This is a good opportunity for us to impart our knowledge to them, like for me coaching,” Gregorio, who will coach the North All-Star team, said. “This is just one way of giving back and sharing to other aspiring coaches.”

Air21’s Renren Ritualo will lead a Book Reading at the coliseum with several children. This program “Read to Lead” is actually a regular activity of the PBA even in Metro Manila.

Meantime, a regular board meeting is set this Sunday, according to PBA chairman Lito Alvarez of Air21. One of the agendas is the remaining programs under Alvarez this season including the possible approval of expansion with the addition of two teams.

The All-Star Game between the North and South teams is set this Sunday at 5 p.m.

The game resumes with the regular North versus South encounter after the previous All-Star Game last year featured the PowerAde National Team against three PBA Selections.

Old Warriors Taulava, Menk Ready for the All-Stars

(From GMA News)

The Rock Asi Taulava and Major Pain Eric Menk together in one team.

That’s definitely a very formidable frontline combination.

The two elder citizens of the Philippine Basketball Association All-Stars will be the main men up front for the South selection this Sunday in Puerto Princesa.

Taulava, a 6-foot-9 slotman from the Coca-Cola Tigers and mainstay of the all-pro national team since 2002, and Menk, a 6-foot-6 center of Barangay Ginebra, are the oldest players of today’s batch of All-Stars.

The Fil-Tongan Taulava, a two-time Most Valuable Player in the All-Star Game (2004 and 2006), just turned 37 last March 2, but remains to be the most dominant local player in the league.

Menk will turn 36 this August. Since winning the Most Valuable Player award in the PBA’s first transition season -- the 2004-05 season – his career took a tailspin when he suffered a series of injuries.

But Menk worked his way up in 2008 and even led the Gin Kings to the Fiesta Cup crown against the Air21 Express in front of a record-crowd of 22,000-plus fans. During the deciding seventh game of the series, he finished with 21 points and 14 rebounds

Menk will be appearing on his ninth PBA All-Star.

Asked about the team’s chances in the coming event, Taulava had a modest objective – go out and entertain the crowd.

“The All-Star Game is for the fans. It’s a perfect avenue for us to entertain them and give them a treat," said Taulava.

“It’s also a good chance for us to get away from our usual routine wherein we’re tied up within a system. It’s more of a free flowing game in the All-Stars," he added.

Taulava and Menk will bolster the South All-Stars which will also have former MVPs Kelly Williams of Sta. Lucia Realty and reigning long-distance shootout king James Yap of B-Meg Derby Ace and Cyrus Baguio of Barangay Ginebra.

Size and heft will be the advantage of the South All-Stars against the starters from the North All-Stars, which will be composed of last season’s Rookie of the Year Gabe Norwood, energetic players Marc Pingris and Paul Artadi of B-Meg Derby Ace and JC Intal and Jayjay Helterbrand of Barangay Ginebra.

Also included in the North All-Stars, who will be handled by Philippine Cup champion coach Ryan Gregorio of Derby Ace are rookie Rico Maierhofer of B-Meg Derby Ace, Willie Miller of Alaska, Ranidel de Ocampo and Mac Cardona of Talk N Text, Sol Mercado of Rain or Shine, Ryan Reyes of Sta. Lucia and Arwind Santos of San Miguel Beer.

The reserves for the South-All Stars, which will be handled by veteran mentor Tim Cone, are Jimmy Alapag of Talk N Text, Roger Yap of B-Meg Derby Ace, Reynel Hugnatan, Sonny Thoss, and Joe Devance of Alaska, Ronald Tubid of Barangay Ginebra, and Dondon Hontiveros of San Miguel Beer.

NBA Playoffs Results

vs(From the Associated Press) - Derrick Rose(notes) heard the “MVP! MVP!” chants and thought he would faint, the loud chorus rattling the All-Star point guard.

Funny thing, though.

Being guarded by LeBron James(notes) late in the game didn’t faze him. And now, the Cleveland Cavaliers can forget about sweeping the Bulls out of the playoffs.

Rose scored 31 points, Kirk Hinrich(notes) added 27 and Chicago hung to beat the top-seeded Cavaliers 108-106 Thursday night in Game 3 of a first-round series after its 21-point lead dwindled to one.

“We stayed strong,” said Chicago’s Joakim Noah(notes), who fought through foul trouble to finish with 15 rebounds. “D-Rose played huge for us. It just feels really good to come out with a win right now.”

James scored 13 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter but also committed some turnovers down the stretch. Even so, the Cavaliers were within 107-106 after Mo Williams(notes) nailed a 3-pointer with 3.8 seconds left. They immediately fouled Luol Deng(notes), who hit the first free throw but missed the second.

Cleveland’s Anthony Parker(notes) got the rebound and raced up the right side but missed a 3 at the buzzer, and the Bulls escaped with the win despite some shaky foul shooting late in the game.

They will try to tie the best-of-seven series on Sunday.

Hinrich, a career 80.9 percent foul shooter, missed two with 26 seconds left and the Bulls up 104-99.

James then buried a 3-pointer with 11 seconds remaining to make it a two-point game. The Cavaliers immediately fouled Rose, who missed the first free throw before converting the second to make it 105-102 with 10.1 seconds left.

Chicago fouled Anderson Varejao(notes) to prevent a 3-point attempt, and he made the first but missed the second. Brad Miller(notes) got the rebound and converted both foul shots to make it a four-point game, and the Bulls hung on for a wild win.

“They kept us on our heels and we can ill afford to let that happen,” said Antawn Jamison(notes), who scored 19.

Rose was serenaded by that “MVP!” chant late in the third quarter and was guarded down the stretch by the player who figures to win the award. That didn’t shake him, but the chorus did, though.

“I almost passed out,” Rose said. “Hopefully one day, but I’m just worried about winning games right now.”

So is James, who said he made the call to take Rose down the stretch.

The Bulls appeared to be in good shape up 21 in the third, only to see the Cavaliers cut it all the way to 94-92 on a pair of free throws and a layup by Jamison with 4:10 remaining in the game.

Deng, who scored 20, then made a jumper and Noah stole a pass from James. That led to a jumper by Rose, who then buried a fadeaway as the crowd chanted “Let’s go Bulls!” to make it 100-92 with 2:42 remaining.

James charged into Deng with 1:18 remaining and the Bulls up by six, then got stripped by Noah. Deng picked up the loose ball and Hinrich hit two free throws to make it 104-96 with 38 seconds remaining.

About that charge, James didn’t agree with the call.

“I saw him backpedaling,” James said. “Me as a driver, I’m watching the defender’s feet. I’m seeing if he’s stationed or is still moving. To me, I felt like he was still backpedaling, and as soon as I saw him backpedaling, that’s when I decided to take off. They called a charge. I haven’t seen the replay, but I know exactly what I’ve seen on the court with the defender right in front of me.”

Noah said he was particularly concerned Deng would get whistled after seeing James’ shot go in.

“I think one of the refs was about to call a block and then he looked at the other ref because he wasn’t sure, and the other ref—thank God—called a charge,” Noah said. “That was a huge play for us. I’m really happy that play went our way. I think I’m kind of biased, but to me, I thought it was a charge the whole time.”

As for his five fouls?

“Stupid, stupid fouls,” said Noah, who collected several going for offensive rebounds.

Still, at times the Bulls looked as if they might run away with this one.

They were leading 39-23 early in the second after a three-point play by Deng, and they finished the half with a flourish after Cleveland pulled within seven.

Miller hit a 19-footer with a minute left and Hinrich nailed 20-footer from the wing to make it 56-45 before Noah blocked a driving layup by James in the closing seconds. The Bulls continued to pour it on in the third.

Taj Gibson(notes) started it with a jumper and capped the run with another one, making it 68-47 with 7:37 left in the third, before the Cavaliers scored 13 straight.

“I believe we’re going to be fine,” Varejao said. “We just have to play the way we did in the second half.”

vs(From the Associated Press) - Scuffling through a rough shooting night, Kevin Durant(notes) wanted to do anything he could to keep the Oklahoma City Thunder from falling hopelessly behind the Los Angeles Lakers.

So, why not take on the task of defending Kobe Bryant(notes)?

Durant had 29 points and 19 rebounds, and snapped out of a shooting funk while guarding Bryant to lead the decisive run, lifting the Thunder to a 101-96 victory in Game 3 on Thursday night in the first playoff game in Oklahoma City.

“Scoring’s a big part of my game. It kind of overshadows the other parts of my game,” said Durant, who at 21 became the youngest player to lead the NBA in scoring. “But if I continue to play hard on both ends, it’s going to come around for me. I was able to get free and make a couple shots, and that’s what got us going.”

Durant and Russell Westbrook(notes) scored 22 of the final 23 for the Thunder, including every point during a 10-2 surge that put Oklahoma City ahead to stay.

The top-seeded Lakers got back within 98-96 on Bryant’s driving layup with 13.5 seconds left, but the Thunder closed it out from the foul line to pull within 2-1 in the seven-game series.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Oklahoma City.

Durant celebrated by thumping his chest and popping his jersey to show off the “Thunder” printed on the front while Westbrook, who scored 27 points, flapped his arms to egg on the screaming crowd.

“It feels good. Playing against the reigning champs makes it even better. But we have a long ways to go,” said Durant, who missed his first seven shots and 15 of his first 19. “It does feel good to get our first win. It feels even better to bring the first win in the playoffs here to Oklahoma City. That’s what I’m most excited about.”

Bryant scored 24 points to surpass Jerry West’s franchise record for playoff scoring, and Pau Gasol(notes) had 17 points and 15 rebounds for Los Angeles.

But when it came down to crunch time, Bryant couldn’t deliver as he did in scoring 15 fourth-quarter points to seal the Lakers’ 95-92 victory in Game 2. He went 2 for 10 in the final 12 minutes, with Durant stopping between free throws at one point to motion to the bench that he wanted to guard the former MVP.

“It was a matchup that caught me by surprise,” said Bryant, who’s nearly half a foot shorter than Durant. “I think he did a great job.”

Undaunted by a raucous sellout crowd, the Lakers scored the first 10 points of the game and were in control until the Thunder roared back with an electrifying run of eight straight points late in the third quarter.

The fans reached a deafening pitch as the Thunder completed their charge back from an 11-point deficit set off by Westbrook’s right-handed tomahawk dunk. James Harden(notes) and Durant followed with back-to-back 3-pointers to tie it at 74, and Oklahoma City finally took its first lead of the game on its opening possession of the fourth quarter.

“That was the loudest I’ve ever heard a crowd get,” said Harden, a rookie reserve who scored 18 points after going scoreless in Games 1 and 2. “That Russell dunk was just amazing and the back-to-back 3s, it just rattled the place.”

Nick Collison(notes), the only player left from the franchise’s last playoff appearance five years ago in Seattle, said, “It was so loud, it was almost quiet. It’s a weird feeling.”

Andrew Bynum(notes) pulled Los Angeles even for the final time by powering through Collison’s hard foul for a right-handed dunk, then hitting the ensuing free throw to tie it at 80.

Durant answered at the other end with a jumper from the right side with 8:41 left to give Oklahoma City the lead for good, then converted Bryant’s turnover into a two-handed jam on a fast break.

His 19-foot jumper from the right wing put Oklahoma City up 90-82 with 4:28 remaining, and that lead was just big enough for the Thunder to hang on down the stretch.

“We just fell asleep. We probably thought we had it in the bag,” said Ron Artest(notes), charged with defending Durant most of the game. “In this game, especially, you’ve got to respect the possessions. … You really can’t take it for granted.”

Fans wearing free blue “Rise Together” T-shirts were standing even 15 minutes before the game to chant “Beat L.A.!” and rose to their feet again when the Thunder brought out a new pregame video that showed key moments from Oklahoma City’s time in the NBA.

It was billed as the biggest sports day in the city’s history, with three Oklahoma players taken among the top four picks in the NFL draft on the same night as the first home playoff game for the Thunder or the New Orleans Hornets — who were displaced to the Ford Center for two seasons following Hurricane Katrina.

And it came on the 121st anniversary of the date the state, which was formerly American Indian territory, was first settled in a land run.

All that didn’t seem to bother the defending NBA champions.

They kept the fans standing—and waiting for the Thunder’s first basket— until coach Scott Brooks burned a timeout 2:34 into the game with his team already down 10-0. Los Angeles made its first seven shots, taking advantage of three early Thunder turnovers and the 7-foot Bynum’s size advantage inside with a series of lobs.

“I was actually disappointed in the crowd because all year long I thought they were the best crowd. They just gave us so much energy and were so loud throughout the year,” Brooks said. “But now, I realize they were sandbagging.”

vs(From the Associated Press) - —Jason Richardson(notes) kept finding himself alone behind the 3-point line, so he obliged.

Richardson made eight 3-pointers and finished with playoff career-high 42 points Thursday night in the Suns’ 108-89 victory over the Trail Blazers, which gave Phoenix a 2-1 lead in the first-round playoff series.
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 22: Martell Webster(notes) #23 of the Portland Trail Blazers takes a shot against Amar'e Stoudemire(notes) #1 of the Phoenix Suns in Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2010 at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2010 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
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* 1 of 41
* Pho-Por Gallery

Series at a Glance
Portland vs. Phoenix
Suns lead series 2-1

1. Game 1: at PHO

POR 105, PHO 100 - Final
Recap | Box Score
2. Game 2: at PHO

POR 90, PHO 119 - Final
Recap | Box Score
3. Game 3: at POR

PHO 108, POR 89 - Final
Recap | Box Score
4. Game 4: at POR

Sat, Apr 24 - 4:30 pm EDT

TV: TNT, My45
5. Game 5: at PHO

Mon, Apr 26 - 10:30 pm EDT

TV: TNT, FSAZ
6. Game 6: at POR

Thu, Apr 29 - TBA

TV: My45
7. Game 7: at PHO

Sat, May 01 - TBA

TV: TNT, FSAZ

Series Breakdown

“I was surprised they kept leaving me,” Richardson said.

Richardson hit his first three late in the first half as the Suns built a lead that would extend to 31 points. He made 13-of-19 shots from the floor.

The secret to Richardson’s success? Portland was occupied with Amare Stoudemire and Steve Nash(notes).

“They’ve done a good job of taking Amare’s game away on the rolls, but in order to do that you have to have an extra defender in and we’ve done a good job of swinging the ball and finding Jason,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. “Obviously he’s in a good groove shooting the ball right now.”

Portland mounted a rally in the fourth quarter, closing within 91-80 after Rudy Fernandez(notes) hit three consecutive 3-pointers. But the burst came too late for the Blazers, who suffered a setback when starting forward Nicolas Batum(notes) aggravated a shoulder injury in the first half and did not return.

Phoenix dropped the opening game of the series 105-100 at home but rebounded with a 119-90 victory on Tuesday night. Game 4 is Saturday at Portland.

Home-court advantage meant little for the Blazers. The red-clad Rose Garden fans even booed their team as the players left the court with a 66-37 deficit at the break.

LaMarcus Aldridge(notes) led the Blazers with 17 points. Andre Miller(notes), who scored 31 in Portland’s Game 1 win, was off for the second straight game and finished with just 11. And the home team was dismal from the free throw line, making just 16-of-28 attempts.

Stoudemire had 20 points for the Suns, while Nash finished with 13 points and 10 assists. Richardson ended up the beneficiary.

“I think that is my best game as a pro,” Richardson said. “Nine years in the league, only been to the playoffs twice, so it’s been seven summers at home. Right now I don’t take anything for granted.”

The Suns jumped on Portland early, quickly quieting the sellout crowd. Nash’s left-handed layup midway through the first quarter put Phoenix in front 16-6.

The Blazers were conservative, hampered by early fouls on both Fernandez and Aldridge. It didn’t help when Jerryd Bayless(notes) was hit with a technical, and coach Nate McMillan had to signal his team to calm down.

Richardson hit a 3-pointer and Leandro Barbosa(notes) made a layup to close out the first period with a 34-16 Suns lead.

“Once I hit the first 3, it felt like it opened up the basket for me,” Richardson said.

Richardson, who had 29 points in the Suns’ Game 2 victory, had 21 in the first half alone while the Blazers unsuccessfully used second-year guard Bayless to defend him.

Batum was questionable before the game after hurting his shoulder in the second half of Game 2 when he collided with Nash. But he started—and answered any questions about his shoulder with an early two-handed dunk.

But late in the first half, Batum was fouled under the Blazers basket and appeared to re-injure himself. He quickly retreated to the locker room.

The injury was of concern because Batum, the team’s primary perimeter defender, had surgery on the shoulder just before the opener and missed the first 45 games of the season.

The Blazers are already thin because of injuries. All-Star guard Brandon Roy(notes) tore the meniscus in his right knee and had arthroscopic surgery two days before the playoffs got under way.

“We have lost Nick now. We have to keep going through it,” Aldridge said. “This is our season—we take a step forward, and we take a step back.”

Portland mustered some energy in the second half, closing to 82-67 on Bayless’ 20-foot jumper early in the fourth quarter before Fernandez went on his 3-point flurry.

“Tonight we just seemed tight,” Blazers coach Nate McMillan said. “The first half, we seemed to be a little tight, maybe put some pressure on ourselves. The second half, we won that. We started to play basketball. We started to fight and won both of those quarters. Somehow we have to get that fight, that scrappiness, in the first half.”

Batum’s injury was yet another in a string that have afflicted the Blazers all season. Centers Greg Oden(notes) and Joel Przybilla(notes) needed season-ending knee surgeries and Fernandez had midseason back troubles. Former forward Travis Outlaw(notes), who was traded to the Clippers, sat out for a time with a foot injury.

Roy missed more that a dozen games with a sore hamstring earlier this year before the slight meniscus tear was discovered.

In all, 13 Blazers missed a combined 311 regular-season games, second only to the Warriors this season. Only Miller and forward Martell Webster(notes) played in all 82 games.