Kobe Bryant scored 34 points and the Los Angeles Lakers held off a furious rally by Utah in a 108-105 win on Friday, putting the Lakers in the Western Conference finals for the first time in four years. The Jazz trailed by 19 at halftime and 16 at the end of the third quarter, but hit a flurry of 3-pointers to get within two points in the final minute.
The Boston Celtics are going home for another Game 7. They handled the Atlanta Hawks. LeBron James may not be as easy. James scored 32 points -- 19 in the second half -- and the Cavaliers forced a decisive and fitting finale to this home-sweet-home playoff series with a 74-69 victory Friday night over the Celtics, who have gone from regular-season road kings to postseason road kill.
The last thing the New Orleans Hornets wanted was to give the defending champions the whole weekend off before Game 7. "You're playing with fire," coach Byron Scott said before the San Antonio Spurs beat the Hornets 99-80 Thursday night. Too late now. It's back to New Orleans for a winner-take-all matchup Monday night.
Charles Barkley acknowledged he owes a $400,000 gambling debt to a Las Vegas Strip casino and promised Thursday to repay it after a prosecutor said the retired NBA star faced criminal charges. "My mistake," Barkley said in an interview at a pro-am golf tournament in Hoover, Ala. "I'm not broke, and I'm going to take care of it." Barkley was responding to comments by Clark County District Attorney...
In some ways, Tayshaun Prince seems like the same player he was when he suddenly went from the bench to playing for the Detroit Pistons during the 2003 playoffs. Prince slows down opponents with his lanky 6-foot-9, 215-pound frame and basketball IQ. He scores on an array of runners and spin moves around the lane, and from the outside with an awkward stroke.
All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups has practiced with the Detroit Pistons and is expected to be ready to play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. Detroit coach Flip Saunders says Billups looked good enough in practice Thursday that he could have played if there was a game. Billups missed the last two games against the Orlando Magic in the second round with a strained right hamstring.
Manu Ginobili scored 25 points, Tim Duncan had 20 points and 15 rebounds, and Tony Parker added 15 points in the San Antonio Spurs' 99-80 victory over the New Orleans Hornets in Game 6 on Thursday night.
Bryant scored 26 points, his teammates kept Utah at bay down the stretch, and Los Angeles Lakers extended the stunning home success by NBA teams in the second round of the playoffs, beating the Jazz 111-104 on Wednesday night.
Kevin Garnett had 26 points and 16 rebounds, Rajon Rondo added 20 points and 13 assists, and the Boston Celtics beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, 96-89, on Wednesday night to move within a win of the Eastern Conference finals.
David West had career playoff highs of 38 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots, lifting New Orleans to a 101-79 victory over the Spurs on Tuesday night and a 3-2 series lead.
DAILY HERALD reporter Mike McGraw writes that Chicago Bulls GM John Paxson has plans to interview Jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin and Lakers assistant Brian Shaw for the team's head coaching position.
The Atlanta Hawks have established an initial list of four candidates in their search to replace outgoing general manager Billy Knight, according to NBA front-office sources.
