Harden Goes Off - Trip Dub CR3W

#Rockets #NBA http://ow.ly/i/8V8o2 +@James Harden can ball out 38pts, 12rbs, 12asts #NightlyNotable http://on.nba.com/1MeypAv

Wiggins GETS UP! Now it is Up to Lottery team on Where he Lands

Andrew Wiggins is just one of many +NBA draft hopefuls who has elected to skip the league's 2014 predraft combine in Chicago this week, depriving NBA decision-makers of the opportunity to conduct interviews with and physical examinations of multiple top prospects. But while the Toronto-born Wiggins — who led the Kansas Jayhawks in per-game scoring and steals and finished third in rebounding en route to a second-team All-American selection in his lone season in Lawrence — isn't working out in the Windy City, he appears to be doing a fine job of showcasing his measurables all the same, according to this shot of Wiggins demonstrating his vertical, as shared by the folks at Santa Barbara, Calif.-based sports science collective P3, who have worked in the past with a slew of NBA players, including All-Stars Deron Williams, Paul Millsap, Andrei Kirilenko and Brook Lopez.

Remember, if you would, that Wiggins, one and done with +Kansas Jayhawks, measured at 6-foot-8 in shoes at the 2013 Nike Hoop Summit. That's an awful lot of air underneath 6-foot-8.

How much air, exactly, we don't know for sure. For the purposes of comparison, though, here's a split-screen of Wiggins' leap alongside one made by +Utah Jazz forward and 2012 Slam Dunk Contest champion Jeremy Evans, who set the P3 vertical record with a 43-1/2-inch jump:

Rare air: Jeremy Evans' @P3sportscience record 43.5" vertical vs. Andrew Wiggins' high-soaring jump (no height given) pic.twitter.com/J8DB27WKzQ
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) May 15, 2014

The difference in angle and perspective makes it tough to tell, but other indicators (like both guys' heels getting above the black paint) makes it seem like Wiggins could be in Evans' comfortably-above-40 ballpark. That is a hard ballpark to get into, even if you have tickets.

Whether Wiggins' estimable physical talents — which also include a wingspan last measured at 7 feet, excellent second-jump ability that could make him a useful helper on the offensive glass, quick feet that could help him become a plus perimeter defender at the next level, and plenty of other great stuff from this DraftExpress.com scouting video breakdown — translate into NBA stardom remains to be seen, of course. No matter how gifted he is, he will still face hurdles and obstacles, as all rookies do.

But as he and whichever team winds up drafting him high in the lottery go about the business of turning potential into reality, it's awful nice to have access to the sort of raw material that allows you to, y'know, jump clean over at least some of those hurdles and obstacles. For whatever ingredients Wiggins doesn't yet have, he does have that, and it could very well elevate him — see what I did there? — to the very top of June's 2014 NBA draft.

Front-office personnel will reportedly be able to watch Wiggins show off his springs in person next week, when he will participate in "a group workout overseen by his agency, BDA Sports, in Los Angeles on May 23," according to Sean Deveney of +Sporting News.

@DJJazzyJody on Twitter @P3PSportsScience

Tony Parker has strained hamstring, could miss Game 1

Patty Mills has chance to shine after Tony Parker suffers hamstring injury

+The Associated Press

Spurs claimed an unassailable 4-1 lead over Portland in their playoff to reach the Western Conference final courtesy of a 104-82 rout in game five.

DESTINY is calling for Patty Mills

Patty Mills #8 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts as his team defeats the Portland Trail Blazers in Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals. Source: AFP

The Australian +NBA star could find himself in the high-pressure position of +San Antonio Spurs’ starting point guard after superstar Patty Mills was struck down with a grade one hamstring strain.

Mills showed he is up to the task by racking up 18 points and three steals against his former team, the +Portland Trail Blazers, on Thursday after Parker left the court in the second quarter.

RELATED | Spurs ease back into Western Conference Finals, finish Blazers off in Game 5

Mills’ efforts were instrumental in propelling San Antonio to a series-clinching 104-82 victory over Portland, ensuring their progression to the Western Conference finals where they will play the +Oklahoma City Thunder.

Mills has impressed the Spurs with his performances off the bench this season. He was also a significant factor in San Antonio’s 11-3 record in the 14 games Parker missed during the season.

“Patty Mills has been a significant part of our success all year long,” Spurs coach Greg Popovich told +The Oregonian on Thursday. “Tonight was really no different than what he has done for us all year long. He has been magnificent.”

Mills said his game had evolved in the three seasons since he departed Portland for San Antonio.

“Definitely — I feel like I’ve gotten a lot better since then,” Mills said. “I’ve kind of been annoying in picking (Tony Parker and Tim Duncan’s) brain and trying to get better.

“Obviously, I didn’t play last year and much the year before here, but I’ve definitely felt myself getting better as a player just from sitting, learning, watching and seeing it go through on a daily basis. It’s an opportunity that you don’t want to go to waste. I’m here, I want to make the most of it and to learn from these guys any way possible.”

Patty Mills battles Thomas Robinson #41 of the Portland Trail Blazers for a loose ball in Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals. Source: AFP

Parker is a day-to-day proposition ahead of the Spurs’ NBA Western Conference finals.

The Spurs made the announcement on Thursday, a day off after eliminating the Portland Trail Blazers in game five of the semi-finals. Parker missed the entire second half of the clincher. Just as the Spurs appeared to be finding their playoff legs and asserting themselves as the team to beat in the powerful Western Conference, Parker’s gave out. He felt his left hamstring tighten early in the second quarter, went to the locker room to get it examined and only played briefly before calling it a night.

“If we want to have a chance to make it to the finals, we need him healthy,” said guard Manu Ginobili.

Parker suffered a grade-two strain of his right hamstring in game three of the +NBA Finals last season against the Miami Heat. He didn’t miss a game because of it, but the discomfort definitely limited effectiveness. He was nine for 35 in the last two games, including three for 12 for 10 points in the Game-seven loss at the +Miami HEAT.

Tony Parker #9 of the San Antonio Spurs glares over at the bench in the second half of Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals. Source: AFP

But Parker told the +San Antonio Express-News that his latest injury wasn’t as serious as the one that bothered him last June. “It’s OK; not too bad,” Parker said. “Not as bad as the NBA Finals. NBA Finals was a grade two. This one is grade one. So should be fine for Monday.” The Spurs will host the opening game of the Western Conference finals on Monday if Oklahoma City defeat the Los Angeles Clippers in game six of their series on Thursday. If the series goes the full seven games, the next round will open on Wednesday in San Antonio.

This makes the Spurs’ five-game victory over the young Trail Blazers even more important. Parker will have at least four days off, perhaps as many as six, to rest and rehab his hamstring. “Luckily we have a couple of days,” Spurs forward Tim Duncan said after the game. “It worries us, obviously. But he’s been going hard. He’s had a great series thus far, and it just kind of caught up with him.”

The Western Conference finals are to start on Monday vs the Thunder.

Donald Sterling tells NBA he won't pay fine

Jeff Zillgitt, 

+USA TODAY Sports

(Photo: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

Banned +Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling won't pay the $2.5 million fine levied by the NBA, Sterling's attorney wrote in a letter to the +NBA, a person with first-hand knowledge of the letter told +USA TODAY Sports.

The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the letter, which was sent Thursday.

The attorney, Maxwell M. Blecher, also wrote that Sterling doesn't warrant "any punishment at all" for his racist comments that were recorded in a conversation with a female friend and made public.

SHAME: Sterling, not Magic, should be ashamed

LEVERAGE: Sterling's wife holding divorce papers

Blecher, a well-known antitrust attorney, also contends that the fine violates Sterling's due process rights.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on April 29 fined Sterling $2.5 million and issued him a lifetime ban. Silver also said he will urge other owners to force a sale of the Clippers and do everything in his power to ensure that.

If three-fourths of the other 29 owners agree to Silver's recommendation, Sterling will be forced to sell the team he has owned since 1981.

After the ruling, players, fellow owners and civil rights leaders applauded Silver. Union representatives had discussed a boycott of playoff games had Silver not delivered such a strong ruling.

Sterling has already missed the deadline for paying fine, which earlier this week.

It is not a surprise Sterling's attorney threatened a legal battle. Sterling is well-known for litigious tactics, and the league had been expecting Sterling to fight.

LITIGIOUS: Sterling known as 'tyrannical' in court

VIDEO: Did Sterling on CNN do more damage?

The letter was in direct response to the fine and the lifetime ban. The NBA's advisory-finance committee was also notified of the letter.

Blecher is one of Sterling's longtime lawyers and represented Sterling when he moved the Clippers from San Diego to Los Angeles in 1984, and the NBA fined him $25 million. Sterling sued the league for $100 million and dropped it when the NBA reduced his fine to $6 million.

Rivers fined $25K for Justifiably Criticizing Officials by the NBA

+Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers has been fined $25,000 for publicly criticizing the officiating after a controversial call in his team's dramatic Game 5 loss to the +Oklahoma City Thunder.

According to a Clippers statement, the comments that earned Rivers the fine were made in the postgame press conference following the Clippers' 105-104 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on May 13, at Chesapeake Energy Arena. 

The Clippers believed the Thunder's Reggie Jackson had knocked the ball out of bounds with 11.3 seconds remaining, but officials ruled it Oklahoma City ball. After going to replay, the call stood, and the Thunder rallied to win the game.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers was livid, saying the Clippers were ''robbed,'' but +NBA president of basketball operations Rod Thorn said Wednesday in a statement that: ''In order to reverse the call made on the court, there has to be 'clear and conclusive' evidence. Since no replay provided such evidence, the play correctly stood as called with the Thunder retaining possession.''

Photo Courtesy +FOX Sports 

Magic's Agent, with much Validity, Strongly Opposes Sterlings Ignorant, Bitter Remarks by Sterling

+SPORTS CR3W is only briefly talk about a person that time shouldn't be wasted on in our opinion. To Donald Sterling of the +Los Angeles Clippers, if you're gonna go at a gentleman again, maybe know what the hell your're talking about. Magic has paid his penance. You're talking on something nearly 25 years ago?? If you were paying attention, the guy did more for the disease and the advancement of the treatment of it and taught others to not follow in his mistakes. Let alone, all the good will he does. Sad thing is that this guy has obviously had this slanted viewpoint for decades and he is finally being exposed. The leagues, franchise deserve to get rid of such sickness. Racism is a disease and the guy needs counseling/therapy as "Meta World Peace," poignantly said when this came out on his twitter account.

Clippers owner Donald Sterling, right, said in an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper that aired Monday that he didn't think Lakers great Magic Johnson is "a good example for the children of Los Angeles." (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times; Robyn Beck / Getty Images)

Agent: Magic Johnson the 'opposite' of what Donald Sterling said

MIKE BRESNAHAN

The longtime agent and friend of Magic Johnson responded quickly to defend Johnson after Donald Sterling's incendiary comments Monday on CNN.

Johnson is "the exact opposite" of the way Sterling portrayed him on "Anderson Cooper: 360," said Lon Rosen, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of the +Los Angeles Dodgers.

Related story: Donald Sterling slams Magic Johnson, cites HIV status
Shelby Grad

"I've known Earvin since 1979 and his whole mission in life has been to create business opportunities in urban America and to be charitable," Rosen told The Times on Monday. "He has literally donated tens of millions of dollars of his own money to organizations and individuals forever and ever and ever.

"In 1986, he decided to create the United Negro College Fund summer basketball game. He did this while he was a player. He raised millions and millions of dollars. He did this on his own for years.

l

SPORTS NOW

Clippers' interim CEO thinks team will get new owners

"He has opened up movie theaters in urban markets across America. He had 124 Starbucks in urban cities across the country. His business model has revitalized urban America and he continues to do it."

Rosen relayed a story in which he went with Johnson in 1990 to visit a school in Mississippi that benefited from the +UNCF summer game.

"When he was there, he noticed there was a raffle to raise money because they wanted to rebuild a track. He asked how much it was and they said $150,000," Rosen said. "He pulled out his checkbook and wrote a check on the spot.

"And by the way, he's done this at so many of these events. And he doesn’t want press on it."

Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, right, and V. Stiviano, left, watch the Clippers play the Sacramento Kings during an exhibition game earlier this season at Staples Center.Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press

There are 150 students on college scholarships via Johnson's foundation, Rosen said. Johnson has also donated $5 million to the West Angeles church.

Sterling was banned for life by the +NBA two weeks ago for comments he made about blacks. In that audio recording, he derisively asked a female friend why she posted a photo of Johnson on Instagram.

Sterling was not apologetic Monday on +CNN.

"What has he done? Can you tell me? Big Magic Johnson, what has he done?" he asked Cooper. "He’s got AIDS. Did he do any business, did he help anybody in South L.A.?

“What kind of a guy goes to every city, has sex with every girl, then he catches HIV? Is that someone we want to respect and tell our kids about? I think he should be ashamed of himself. I think he should go into the background. But what does he do for the black people? He doesn’t do anything.”

Rosen clarified that Johnson is HIV-positive but does not have AIDS, and declined further comment.

Reliving the GOAT Moments of when he Would not Lose a Trophy Shot Once he got it - "MJ!"

Post by FOX Sports.

+NBA GOAT +Michael Jordan +Chicago Bulls +North Carolina Tar Heels +FOX Sports 

Warriors Oust Mark Jackson as Head Coach

Golden State Warriors fire coach Mark Jackson

Sam Amick
+USA TODAY Sports

(Photo: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

The Golden State Warriors fired coach Mark Jackson Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the situation.

The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition on anonymity because the firing had not been made public.

The Warriors were 51-31 this season and that was the best regular season record since the 1991-92, when they were 55-27. That was also the last time the Warriors reached the playoffs two consecutive seasons.

+TNT analyst Steve Kerr has yet to speak with the Warriors but likely has interest in the job, according to a person familiar with his situation.

Also interested in the job are former +Los Angeles Lakers and +New York Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni and former +Los Angeles Clippers and +Portland Trail Blazers coach Mike Dunleavy, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Jackson had one year left on his contract.

The team released a statement on the firing.

"Mark Jackson has had a big impact on the improvement of our team and the success that we've had over the last couple of years," said Warriors owner and CEO Joe Lacob. "Nonetheless, we must make some difficult decisions in our day-to-day operations of the club and this would certainly qualify as one of those examples. We wish Mark the best of luck in his future endeavors and thank him for his contributions over the last three years."

WARRIORS: Season ends in hallway scuffle

RELIGION: +NBA teams find it divisive, unifying

Jackson, 49, became just the third head coach in franchise history to lead a team to at least 50 wins in a season, joining Don Nelson and Alvin Attles.

With 121 regular-season victories overall, Jackson ranks fourth on the franchise's all-time wins list, trailing Attles (557), Nelson (422) and Eddie Gottlieb (263). Additionally, the 98 regular-season wins posted over the past two seasons (51 in 2013-14 and 47 in 2012-13) represent the Warriors best two-year stretch since the team posted 99 victories combined in the 1990-91 (44) and 1991-92 (55) seasons.

"It's never easy to make a decision of this nature," said Golden State general manager Bob Myers. "Mark has accomplished many good things during his three years with the organization, including his role in helping elevate this team into a better position than it was when he arrived nearly 36 months ago. We're appreciative of his dedication and commitment since his arrival and are extremely grateful for his contributions. However, as an organization, we simply feel it's best to move in a different direction at this time."

Jackson had the support of his players as his team, the seventh seed in the Western Conference, pushed the third-seeded Los Angeles Clippers to seven games in the opening round series.

"I love Coach more than anybody, and I think for him to be in a situation where his job is under scrutiny and under question is totally unfair," Warriors guard Steph Curry said after the team was eliminated by the Clippers. "And it would definitely be a shock to me if anything like (replacing him) were to happen."

Chicago Bulls 100, Washington Wizards 97: Wizards lead series 2-1

Dunleavy with Career game gets Bulls back into Series, down 2-1 vs. Wizards with Game 4 on Docket

+USA Today Sports Media Group (USATSI) - Photo Courtesy/Rights

• We had a little scuffle in this game that cost the Wizards having Nene in down the stretch. He and Jimmy Butler got into it during the fourth quarter. With 8:27 left, Nene ended up putting his forehead against Butler's, before grabbing him around the back of his head and needing to be separated.

• Butler stayed in the game and hit a huge 3-pointer to put the Bulls up 94-91 with 24 seconds left. He finished with 15 points on 3-of-7 shooting from the field and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. 11 of his points came in the fourth.

• Mike Dunleavy had the scoring explosion the Bulls were desperate for in this series. He had 35 points on 12-of-19 from the field and 8-of-10 from 3-point range. He had 16 points at halftime and then came out and scored 13 more in the third quarter. He gave the Wizards' defense someone they had to focus on the rest of the game and it helped space the floor a bit for the rest of the offense. They've been desperate for a guy like that.

• Bradley Beal once again hit some big shots for the Wizards. It's like he craves the big shot when it comes to carrying this team in the fourth. He ran off seven straight points in one minute and seven seconds. He finished with 25 points with 13 of them coming in the fourth quarter.

• John Wall was great as well with 23 points, seven assists, and four steals. He also only had one turnover in the game. But it feels like he needs to create a few more opportunities for his teammates right now. Perhaps that needs to come in transition and Washington couldn't get a ton of stops to create fast break chances.

• It wasn't just the ejection in this game: Nene struggled to score the ball. He was 5-of-15 from the field, but his presence late in the game could have provided some much-needed presence inside. It didn't look like the Wizards had a drop-off option to score inside on late drives or dribble penetration, and Nene is that guy for them.

• Wall's body control is absurd. This was part of an 11-point first quarter that set the tone early for Washington but they eventually lost some offensive steam.

• Joakim Noah had four assists, pushing the Bulls to 34-20 this season when he gets at least four assists in a game.

Raptors Nearly Claw Back, Nets Hold off for 2-1 Series Lead

Nets hold off Raptors, grab 2-1 series lead

Published April 25, 2014

Sports Network

+SPORTS CR3W +NBA 

Brooklyn, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - The +Brooklyn Nets nearly wasted a 15-point lead with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but held off the +Toronto Raptors, 102-98, in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.

Joe Johnson had 29 points and Deron Williams added 22 with eight assists for Brooklyn. The Nets, who also received 18 points from Paul Pierce, bounced back from a 100-95 loss on Tuesday to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

DeMar DeRozan scored 30 for the Raptors. Patrick Patterson, who had 17 points, had a chance to tie the game with 19 seconds remaining, but missed two free throws. The second attempt kicked off the heel of the rim and Toronto's Landry Fields touched the ball as he tried to save it in bounds.

Pierce drained two from the charity stripe with 14.6 seconds to go, but Amir Johnson's putback off a DeRozan miss made it a 100-98 game with 3.7 seconds left.

Joe Johnson made two more from the free-throw line less than a second later to seal the outcome and send the Raptors to their 13th straight road playoff loss. Toronto's last playoff road win came May 6, 2001 at Philadelphia.

"We got a little lackadaisical," admitted Joe Johnson. "It was very uncharacteristic of us to blow a lead like that."

Paul Pierce Drop in 2 pts vs Toronto in 1st Round of 2014 Easter Conference Playoffs - +NBA 

Game 4 of this best-of-seven set is Sunday night, again at  Barclays Center.

Jonas Valanciunas tallied 10 points and 10 rebounds and Kyle Lowry scored 15 before fouling out for Toronto.

A 3-pointer from Joe Johnson raised Brooklyn's lead to 93-78 with 5:02 remaining, but Toronto scored the next eight and the Nets nearly gave the game away.

Williams missed two foul shots with 40.7 seconds remaining, failing to extend a 97-93 lead. DeRozan drained a layup at the other end and was hit by Kevin Garnett, who fouled out. DeRozan made the foul shot with 34.3 seconds on the clock, but Shaun Livingston countered by making 1-of-2 from the charity stripe 14 seconds later.

The Raptors used a big surge in the latter stages of the opening quarter to grab a 23-19 edge after 12 minutes.

The Nets went 10-of-17 from the field in the second and grabbed a 49-45 edge at the half. Included in the period was a 12-1 Brooklyn run.

Brooklyn scored eight straight, all from Joe Johnson, during one juncture in the third to expand their lead to 63-52. The hosts led 77-66 moving to the fourth.

"We have to be aggressive for the whole game," DeRozan said. "Once they had the big lead we tried to fight back. We can't put ourselves in that situation."

Game Notes:
Recording artist +Rihanna sat courtside ... +DeMar DeRozan is the first Raptor to have consecutive playoff games of at least 30 points ... Both teams were 29-of-37 at the foul line ... Andray Blatche had 12 points for the Nets.

SoCal takes this Round

Sometimes it takes more than a chant. SoCal stand UP! @LAClippers @LAKings #BattleofCalifornia pic.twitter.com/F13lQTdgP4
— FOX Sports Live (@FOXSportsLive) April 25, 2014

+Los Angeles Clippers beat the +Golden State Warriors

+Los Angeles Kings avoid a +San Jose Sharks sweep 

+NBA +NHL 

+SPORTS CR3W 

"Pop" named NBA Coach of the Year, Spurs Vital Piece to 15 straight 50 win Seasons

Gregg Popovich named NBA Coach of the Year

+NBA  +SPORTS CR3W 

BY TIM POLZER +Sports Illustrated 

Gregg Popovich joins Don Nelson and Pat Riley as three-time Coach of the Year winners. (Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

+San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has been named NBA Coach of the Year, the league announced Tuesday.

The +Phoenix Suns' Jeff Hornacek finished second in the voting, followed by Tom Thibodeau of the +Chicago Bulls.

Popovich, in his 18th season coaching the Spurs, led the team to an +NBA-best 62-20 record and No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

He joins Don Nelson and Pat Riley as three-time winners, having previously won the award in 2011-12 and 2002-03.

Knicks fire Mike Woodson as Head Coach, Phil Jackson Assures "Change"

Knicks fire head coach Woodson as Phil Jackson promises change

AP

Rocky Widner / NBAE

Mike Woodson compiled a 109-79 record as Knicks head coach.

NEW YORK -- Mike Woodson had the +New York Knicks on top of their division and in the second round of the playoffs, destinations that had become unreachable and practically unimaginable in New York.

A year later, he was out of job.

Phil Jackson fired Woodson and the entire coaching staff on Monday, making his first big move since becoming team president in March and saying in a statement that "the time has come for change throughout the franchise."

The dismissal comes shortly after the Knicks completed a 37-45 season that began with their belief they were a serious contender.

Instead, they started poorly, making Woodson's job security practically a season-long distraction. A late surge wasn't good enough for a postseason spot or another year for Woodson.

It was a stunningly swift fall for Woodson, whose .580 winning percentage with the Knicks ranks behind only Pat Riley and Jeff Van Gundy, and who finished third in the +NBA's Coach of the Year voting after going 54-28 last season.

He and the staff were informed of the decision Monday morning by Jackson, the man the Knicks originally wanted to replace Woodson as coach but preferred to run the team's front office.

Jackson has won an NBA-record 11 championships as a coach. He has repeatedly said he's not interested in returning to the bench, so he will have to hire someone before he turns his attention to the roster. The team said the coaching search begins immediately.

Jackson said he has a "tremendous amount of respect" for Woodson and his staff, which included longtime Knicks assistant Herb Williams. Jackson called this an "extremely difficult" season and said "blame should not be put on one individual."

"But the time has come for change throughout the franchise as we start the journey to assess and build this team for next season and beyond," he added.

Jackson has said he won't insist the Knicks run the triangle, the offensive system he used in +Chicago Bulls and with the +Los Angeles Lakers, but has made clear his belief in it. +TNT analyst Steve Kerr, who played for Jackson with the Bulls but has never been a coach, has repeatedly been mentioned as a top candidate.

Jackson was expected to speak with reporters later in the week.

Woodson, a former Knicks first-round draft pick, was hired as an assistant coach before the 2011-12 season, then engineered an 18-6 finish after replacing Mike D'Antoni on an interim basis the following March to capture a playoff spot. Given a multiyear deal two months later, Woodson then led the Knicks to their first Atlantic Division championship since 1994.

New York then beat Boston in the playoffs, its first series victory since 2000, and general manager Steve Mills picked up next season's option year on Woodson's contract before this season began.

But the Knicks were saddled with some early injuries, including center Tyson Chandler's broken leg, and lacked the veteran leadership they enjoyed last season. Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan was already considering replacing Woodson by December, when he met with Jackson at a holiday party and talked to him about coaching the team.

Carmelo Anthony praised his coach Thursday and even offered to back him publicly if necessary. But it was probably a clear sign Woodson wouldn't be back a few minutes later when Amare Stoudemire said the coach hadn't taken part in the exit meetings with players that Jackson and Mills held.

Woodson previously coached six seasons with the +Atlanta Hawks, leading them to the playoffs in his final three seasons. He has a career record of 315-365.

Woodson went 109-79 with the Knicks, who hadn't even made the playoffs since 2004 before he led them there in 2012. But he lost one of his biggest supporters within the organization when general manager Glen Grunwald, Woodson's college teammate at Indiana, was surprisingly fired last September.

Players and fans sometimes grumbled during the season about Woodson's strategies as the defense regressed and the offense was inconsistent beyond Anthony, who plans to become a free agent in July. Chandler said there probably was some "disconnect" and "misunderstanding" at times.

"Coach Woodson put together a game plan for us on the basketball court and there were times we didn't totally buy into it," Stoudemire said last week.

Still, the Knicks nearly rallied to make the playoffs by winning 16 of their final 21 games. But Woodson, who said he and Jackson had only brief chats in Jackson's first month in charge, said before the season finale he knew the coach often takes the blame.

"Everyone in this franchise owes a great deal of gratitude to what Mike and his staff have done," Jackson said. "We wish him the best."

Grizzlies Outlast Thunder to Tie Series up 1-1: 2014 NBA Playoffs

Grizzlies beat Thunder 111-105 in OT to tie series

Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen (9) jumps up to grab a pass intended for Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, rear,
in the first quarter of Game 2 of an opening-round NBA basketball playoff series in Oklahoma City,
Monday, April 21, 2014. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Zach Randolph scored 25 points to help the +Memphis Grizzlies defeat the +Oklahoma City Thunder 111-105 in overtime on Monday night and tie their first-round Western Conference +NBA playoff series at one game apiece.

Mike Conley added 19 points and 12 assists for the Grizzlies.

Kevin Durant had 36 points and 11 rebounds for the Thunder. Russell Westbrook scored 29 points for Oklahoma City, but he made just 11 of 28 shots.

Randolph's layup with 26 seconds left in overtime put the Grizzlies up by two. Oklahoma City's Serge Ibaka traveled, giving the ball back to the Grizzlies. Courtney Lee made two free throws for Memphis to make it a four-point game. Durant missed a 3-pointer and Randolph made two free throws with nine seconds left to put the game out of reach.

Game 3 is Thursday night in Memphis.

The Thunder trailed by nine early in the fourth quarter, but they finally took the lead when Thabo Sefolosha stole the ball from Randolph, leading to a dunk by Durant with 1:14 remaining.

Mike Miller came back with a 3-pointer to put Memphis up 95-93 with 53.7 seconds left.

Westbrook missed a 3-pointer and Memphis rebounded. Conley missed the first free throw and made the second to make it a three-point game.

Tony Allen stole the ball from Durant, and Conley made two free throws with 18.1 seconds left to push the Grizzlies' lead to five.

Durant answered with a miraculous four-point play with 13.8 seconds remaining. He hit a 3-pointer from the corner as he was being pushed out of bounds by Marc Gasol. Durant then converted the free throw to make it a one-point game.

Conley made one of two free throws with 12 seconds left to make it 99-97. Westbrook missed a wild 3-pointer in the closing seconds, but Kendrick Perkins, who hadn't made a field goal all game, scored on a putback as time expired to force overtime.

NOTES: Memphis F Tayshaun Prince, who played just 4:27 in the opener because of a stomach ailment, started, but played just 14 minutes. ... Ibaka, who led the league in total blocks this season and was second in blocks per game, finished fourth in the Defensive Player of the Year balloting. He finished third in 2013 and second in 2012. Chicago's Joakim Noah won the award this year. ... Ibaka won the NBA's Community Assist Award for April in recognition of his charitable efforts in his home country, the Republic of the Congo. ... The Thunder shot 26.3 percent in the first quarter and fell behind 24-16. ... Memphis' Beno Udrih, a third-string point guard whose minutes have increased because backup Nick Calathes is serving a drug suspension, scored eight of his 14 points in the fourth quarter.

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/gameflash/2014/04/21/36170/index.html#recap#ixzz2zaEeAF00

Durant passes MJ, but Suns get important win over Thunder

AP

Mark J. Rebilas / USA TODAY Sports

Goran Dragic (right) finished with 26 points and 5 assists. He was one of three Suns players to score more than 20 points.

PHOENIX (AP) —

Kevin Durant scored 38 points, surpassing Michael Jordan with his 41st consecutive game of 25 or more, but the Phoenix Suns got 26 points from Goran Dragic and 24 from Gerald Green to beat the +Oklahoma City Thunder 122-115 Sunday night.

Durant has the third-longest such streak in +NBA history and longest since Oscar Robertson did it for 46 in a row in the 1963-64 season.

P.J. Tucker scored a career-high 22 points, including a career-best four 3-pointers, Eric Bledsoe added 18 points, and the Suns pulled a game ahead of Memphis for the No. 8 playoff spot in the West. Phoenix is a half-game behind No. 7 Dallas.

Russell Westbrook had 33 points and eight assists for the Thunder, who are a game up on the Los Angeles Clippers for the No. 2 spot in the West.

Oklahoma City took its final lead, 112-111, on Durant's two free throws with 2:39 to play.

+Phoenix Suns scored the next 10, the first four by Markieff Morris and the last four on free throws by Bledsoe, to lead 121-112 with 20.7 seconds to play. Durant sank a 3-pointer with 12.9 seconds to go, the only Thunder points in the final 3:49.

After struggling at the line all night, Phoenix made its last eight free throws.

The Suns led by as many as 14 points in the third quarter, the last time at 85-71 on Green's 14-footer with 6:10 left, and were up 92-83 after consecutive layups by Dragic and Bledsoe with 4:04 left.

But the Thunder outscored the Suns 8-2 the rest of the quarter, Durant's driving dunk with 13 seconds left cut Phoenix's lead to 94-91 after three.

Durant and Nick Collison scored to start the fourth quarter and Oklahoma City led for the first time since the first quarter, 95-94, with 11:06 to play.

The lead bounced back and forth after that. Tucker's reverse layup put Phoenix up 111-110 with 1:52 to go.

Marcus Morris sank a pair of jumpers in a 12-4 run that put Phoenix up 38-29 early in the second quarter.

Oklahoma City cut it to 44-41 on Reggie Jackson's driving layup, but Tucker sank a 3, Dragic converted a three-point play then scored on another drive and the Suns were back up 52-43 with 3:53 to go and led 62-53 at the break.

NOTES: Dragic scored all 19 of his first-half points in the second quarter, Green scored 17 in the second half. ... Phoenix plays four of its final five games on the road. Its home game is against Memphis on April 14. ... Wilt Chamberlain scored at least 25 points in all 80 games of the 1961-62 season.

Pacers set Tone for Playoff Run? Small Rally Drops the Heat 84 - 83.

By MICHAEL MAROT
The Associated Press-Sports

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Indiana took every shot Miami could muster Wednesday night.

Then the +Indiana Pacers threw a couple of their own punches - and put the two-time defending champs on the mat.

Paul George scored 23 points, Roy Hibbert added 21 and Indiana rallied from a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Heat 84-83, taking a three-game lead over Miami in the chase of the Eastern Conference's top seed.

''They're the champs, they're going to bring out the best in us,'' said David West, who made a 3-pointer with 50.2 seconds to go. ''They bring out the best in anybody. I thought we just had enough fight.''

It was one of those rare grudge matches that actually lived up to the billing.

Before the game, the teams chided one another with dueling comments. Afterward, nobody was ready to make up. And in between, the action got downright nasty.

Wed, Mar 26, 2014

+LeBron James needed a cotton swab in his nose to keep playing in the fourth quarter after getting whacked in the face. Dwyane Wade spent the final minute of the game icing his right hamstring.

Pacers center Roy Hibbert finished the game despite taking an elbow to the face that left him so groggy he didn't even remember getting hit.

James and George both wound up taking spills into basket supports, and Lance Stephenson was ejected midway through the fourth quarter after picking up his second technical foul for celebrating a basket. The angry Stephenson waved his hand at the ref and after leaving the court, threw a towel and kicked a door. Coach Frank Vogel was not amused, saying he had a stern talk with his budding star guard before he went home.

But it typified a rugged night for Miami (48-22).

''It is what it is, they ref the game, we play it,'' James said.

The +NBA best home team ended a two-game losing streak, took a 2-1 lead in the season series and now has the inside track to home-court advantage with just 10 games to play.

And (52-20) Indiana still managed to do all of that on a night James seemed to be at his best.

The four-time MVP finished with 38 points, eight rebounds, five assists, was 9 of 15 from the field and 14 of 15 from the free throw line.

The problem: James also had six turnovers, Wade had six more turnovers and Miami managed only one basket over the final 3 minutes, 23 seconds. James and Bosh both missed late jumpers that would have given Miami the lead, the last an airball by Bosh from just right of the top of the key as time expired.

''Unfortunately, that was what I diagramed,'' coach Erik Spoelstra said. ''It probably wasn't the best call. It might have been a little too gunslinger on my part. I just wanted an open shot.''

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 26: Paul George #24 of the 
Indiana Pacers dunks over LeBron James #6 of the Heat

They were so hard to come by Wednesday night that James was even called for a flagrant foul when he drove to the basket and sent the 7-foot-2, 290-pound Hibbert crashing to the ground. When Hibbert got up, he stumbled. Eventually he had to leave the court to change his blood-spattered jersey, but he refused to sit against the Heat.

Hibbert dominated the first half yet again, scoring 17 points.

But when the Heat decided to make things tough on Hibbert in the second half, George and his teammates took advantage.

George spurred the first fourth-quarter run with two monster dunks - one over the hand of a trailing James - to get the Pacers back in the game.

Later, it was Evan Turner, the trade deadline acquisition, who delivered two of Indiana's biggest baskets of the night. The first came after James' final turnover, on a breakaway layup. The second came courtesy of Mario Chalmers' turnover out of bounds. When the middle of the court opened up, Turner bolted through a clear path for an 81-80 lead with 90 seconds to go.

''I know how to get my space, I've been doing that forever, you know what I mean?'' Turner said, likely adding another spark to a rivalry that needs none. ''Some of my moves I've been doing since I was a little kid, so I can walk a pretty fine line when it comes to that.''

After Hibbert made 1 of 2 free throws, Turner scored on the layups, West hit the knockout 3 and all Miami got was a 3 from Bosh with 2.9 seconds left.

''They're a tough team, psychologically against most teams they have the edge,'' West said. ''They've got the best player in the game. Their pedigree, their entire organization, you understand what you're going to get.''

NOTES: Indiana has won its first back-to-back division titles since 1998-99 and 1999-2000. ... The Heat are now 7-8 in March. ... The Pacers and Heat meet again April 11 in Miami.
---------------

Sources: Kansas center Joel Embiid to enter NBA draft

By Adrian Wojnarowski

H/T +Yahoo Sports

Kansas' Joel Embiid, right, talks with head coach Bill Self during practice for the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 20, 2014, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Kansas star Joel Embiid – a possible No. 1 overall choice – has decided to enter the June NBA draft, sources told Yahoo Sports.

Embiid, a 20-year-old, 7-foot freshman, rapidly emerged as one of college basketball's major talents and moved into competition with +Kansas Jayhawks teammate Andrew Wiggins and +Duke Basketball's, Jabari Parker, to be the No. 1 pick in the 2014 draft.

Wiggins has been consistent in saying he’ll only play one year of college basketball, and Parker says he still is deciding whether he'll enter the draft.

A formal announcement on Embiid's decision is expected soon. In the past week, Embiid has progressed in settling on agent representation, but no final decision has been made, sources said.

Embiid's season ended prematurely with a stress fracture in his back, costing him the final two games of the regular season, the Big 12 tournament and Kansas' two games in the NCAA tournament. Until the injury, Kansas was considered a serious national championship contender.

There's a strong expectation Embiid will make a full recovery, but +NBA  teams will closely examine the long-term fitness of the injury.

Embiid has shown to be a dominating presence on offense and defense, offering NBA executives evidence he could transform into a rare franchise center. A native of Cameroon, he enrolled at a Florida prep school as a 16-year-old with limited experience as a basketball player.

Embiid averaged 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in 23 minutes a game for Kansas this season.

Lakers Drop 51 in 3rd, Crush the Knicks in LA 127 - 96

LAKERS DROP 51 IN 3RD QUARTER, 

BLAST KNICKS 127-96

By GREG BEACHAM

Los Angeles Lakers center Robert Sacre dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Tuesday, March 25, 2014, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — With Knicks President Phil Jackson watching from a luxury suite high above the court, his new team's teetering playoff hopes got a big shove from his old team's incredible offensive show.

Xavier Henry scored 22 points, Nick Young hit five 3-pointers while scoring 20 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers set a franchise record with 51 points in the third quarter of their 127-96 victory over New York on Tuesday night.

Although the Lakers have 16 +NBA championships and a luminous list of former superstars, those teams never had a quarter to compare to the 12 magical minutes played after halftime by Los Angeles' current patchwork roster.

And no Knicks defense had ever given up 51 points in a quarter until this team did it in a key game for its postseason chase. New York dropped three games behind Atlanta for the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Lakers forward Xavier Henry, right, dunks as Knicks guard Iman Shumpert defends during the
first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 25, 2014, in Los Angeles.
(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

"We hit shots all over the place," Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni said. "It's infectious. When you start taking good shots, they start going in, and even the hard shots start going in."

Indeed, the Lakers hit 19 of their 26 shots with six 3-pointers, stretching an eight-point halftime lead to 30. Nine players contributed a field goal to the spree, led by nine points from Chris Kaman in his first game action in March.

"It feels good, but it only lasts one night," said Henry, who played exceptionally well with a torn ligament in his shooting wrist. "We've just got to be encouraged for the rest of the season from it."

Kent Bazemore scored 18 points as the Lakers won consecutive games for the first time in more than three weeks with a season-high 82 points from their reserves, including Henry and Young.

Jodie Meeks had four 3-pointers as Los Angeles finished one 3-pointer shy of the single-game club record during the Lakers' highest-scoring game of the season. Five players hit multiple 3-pointers, including three apiece for Henry and rookie Ryan Kelly.

Carmelo Anthony scored 29 points for the Knicks, who have lost two straight after an eight-game winning streak. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 17 points and Amare Stoudemire had 16 in the +New York Knicks seventh straight road loss to the Lakers since 2007.

"At the end of the day, it's just individual pride," said J.R. Smith, who had 12 points. "You have to have pride in guarding your man, guarding the ball, and we just didn't have that the last three quarters."

The Knicks are assured of a losing season with their 42nd loss, and the Hawks have two games in hand in the playoff race. Those high stakes and Jackson's looming presence weren't enough to spur New York to a competent defensive performance.

"I thought we came out ready to play," New York coach Mike Woodson said. "I mean, we held them to 14 points in the first quarter, and then that second and third quarter, all hell broke loose. We just didn't have any answer for them from a defensive standpoint. I thought the plan was perfect starting the game, and when they went to their bench, they came out blazing and we just couldn't control them."

Jackson's fiancee, Lakers executive Jeanie Buss, watched from the second row. The 11-time NBA champion coach arrived late at the building where he won five titles with the Lakers, who declined to re-hire him early last season, infuriating much of their fan base.

With Pau Gasol sidelined by vertigo, Kaman had 13 points and nine rebounds as the Lakers' starting center. Steve Nash also sat out for the 17th time in the Lakers' last 18 games.

The Lakers missed 13 of their 18 shots in a 14-point first quarter, but rolled off a 22-4 run in 5½ minutes to open the second. Meeks and Jordan Hill then expanded the Lakers' lead with a 12-0 run early in the third before the Lakers really got rolling.

NOTES: Young converted a four-point play in the third quarter. He has six of the Lakers' nine four-point plays this season, both franchise records. ... Gasol will be re-examined Wednesday before the Lakers determine whether he will travel with them to Milwaukee and Minnesota this week. ... Metta World Peace, the former Knicks and Lakers forward, attended the game. New York waived the former Ron Artest on Feb. 24. He got a rousing ovation from the Staples Center crowd when he appeared on the scoreboard in the first half, and he sat in Jackson's box during the second half.