Celtics’ Rondo won’t be penalized for late hard foul on Miller in Game 5WALTHAM, Mass. — The NBA said Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo won’t be penalized for his hard foul on Chicago’s Brad Miller in the closing seconds of Game 5. Orlando’s Dwight Howard suspended for Game 6 against 76ers for elbow on DalembertORLANDO, Fla. — Dwight Howard’s elbow has given the Orlando Magic’s playoff hopes a major hit. Pistons coach Michael Curry will return for a second year on the bench after an awful seasonAUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Michael Curry is coming back as the Detroit Pistons’ coach. Detroit Pistons pick up team option on contract of guard Will Bynum for 2009-10 seasonAUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Will Bynum had the Detroit Pistons pick up his team option for next season after emerging as a reliable scoring threat off the bench. Orlando Magic guard Courtney Lee out for Game 6 against 76ers with fractured sinusORLANDO, Fla. — Starting guard Courtney Lee will miss Game 6 of the Orlando Magic’s playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Lawrence Frank will be back with Nets despite second straight 34-win seasonEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Lawrence Frank is returning to coach the New Jersey Nets next season despite missing the playoffs for a second straight season. Spurs won’t move past first round for 1st time since 2000 after 106-93 loss to Mavs in Game 5SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs are done, and April isn’t even over yet. Aldridge and Roy score 25 and the Blazers avois elimination with an 88-77 Game 5 winPORTLAND, Ore. — Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge each scored 25 points, and the Portland Trail Blazers staved off elimination in the playoffs with an 88-77 victory over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night. Nowitzki scores 31, Mavericks eliminate Spurs with 106-93 road victorySAN ANTONIO — Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks calmly walked off the floor with little more than some high-fives, as if they’ve done this before in the playoffs. Pierce comes through late, Rondo and Perkins help Celtics beat Bulls 106-104 in Game 5BOSTON — Paul Pierce made three straight jumpers in the final 77 seconds of overtime and the Boston Celtics held on to beat the Chicago Bulls 106-104 on Tuesday night to take a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series. Ailing Heat star Dwyane Wade: ‘I’ll be ready’ for Hawks Wednesday nightMIAMI — Dwyane Wade is ailing again in the playoffs, an odd-year coincidence that he and the Miami Heat would love to escape from. Pierce comes through late, Rondo and Perkins help Celtics beat Bulls 106-104 in Game 5BOSTON — Paul Pierce made three straight jumpers in the final 77 seconds of overtime and the Boston Celtics held on to beat the Chicago Bulls 106-104 on Tuesday night to take a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series. Dwight Howard’s 24 points, 24 rebounds power Magic to 3-2 series lead over 76ersORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic are going back to Philadelphia with a chance to close out the 76ers. Dwight Howard made sure of it. Magic guard Courtney Lee leaves Game 5 with injury to head after Howard blockORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando guard Courtney Lee left Game 5 against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night after taking a blow to the head. He was taken to the hospital as a precaution. Adelman, McMillan, Rivers all fined for criticizing officials during NBA playoffsNEW YORK — The NBA has fined three coaches for publicly criticizing referees during the NBA playoffs. Denver Nuggets torn between celebrating and forgetting historic 58-point win over HornetsDENVER — Take it from the man who just won the NBA’s Sportsmanship Award, the Denver Nuggets’ historic dismantling of the New Orleans Hornets left more than just the losers red-faced. Monday’s NBA Playoff BoxesEvans 4-6 1-1 10, Smith 4-14 5-7 13, Horford 1-5 2-2 4, Johnson 5-12 4-6 14, Bibby 5-10 2-2 15, Pachulia 5-8 2-4 12, West 1-1 0-0 2, Murray 3-10 4-4 11, S.Jones 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-66 20-26 81. Kobe Bryant, Lakers close out Jazz with 107-96 win to advance to second roundLOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers can put on quite a show offensively, with 3-pointers, slam dunks and even Kobe Bryant sinking a fadeaway jumper as he fell on his backside. Bryant, Lakers close out Jazz with 107-96 win to advance to second roundLOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers are moving on in the NBA playoffs. With Bryant making everything from 3-pointers to a fadeaway jumper while falling on his backside, the Lakers ran away from the Utah Jazz on Monday night, winning 107-96 to finish the opening-round series in five games. Carmelo’s 26 points lead Nuggets to franchise’s most lopsided playoff win, 121-63 over HornetsNEW ORLEANS — Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets looked like the only ones having fun in this party town. Anthony’s 26 points lead Nuggets to franchise’s most lopsided playoff win, 121-63 over HornetsNEW ORLEANS — Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets looked like the only ones having fun in this party town. Yao Ming and the Rockets can advance to the second round with 1 more win over the BlazersPORTLAND, Ore. — Youth and inexperience are catching up with the Portland Trail Blazers. Road woes no more: Hawks stifle D-Wade, knot series against Heat with 81-71 winMIAMI — That notion suggesting the Atlanta Hawks cannot win on the road at playoff time? Road woes no more: Hawks stifle Wade, knot series against Heat with 81-71 winMIAMI — That notion suggesting the Atlanta Hawks cannot win on the road at playoff time? And the foul! And the foul again! Not 2, not 3, but 4 _ twice in 11 seconds for Heat’s JonesMIAMI — James Jones pulled off a rarity for the Miami Heat — twice in 11 seconds. Judge orders Dennis Rodman to pay $225K to Vegas casino employee who accused him of assaultLAS VEGAS — A federal judge in Las Vegas has ordered former NBA star Dennis Rodman to pay a former casino employee $225,000 for grabbing and humiliating her at work in March 2006. NYC police zap troubled ex-NBA star Jayson Williams with stun gun after he’s reported suicidalNEW YORK — Former NBA star Jayson Williams was zapped with a stun gun by police in his swank hotel suite Monday after the reportedly suicidal athlete resisted attempts by officers to take him to a hospital. Heat, Hawks will both be without small forwards for Game 4, with Moon and Williams ailingMIAMI — Small forwards Marvin Williams of the Atlanta Hawks and Jamario Moon of the Miami Heat will both miss Game 4 of the teams’ first-round Eastern Conference playoff series Monday night. Bulls guard Ben Gordon is day-to-day after straining hamstring in Game 4 against CelticsCHICAGO — Chicago Bulls star Ben Gordon is listed as day-to-day after an MRI confirmed he has a strained left hamstring. Police hit ex-NBA star Jayson Williams with Taser after report he was suicidalNEW YORK — Jayson Williams was stunned with a Taser by police in his swank hotel suite Monday after the reportedly suicidal ex-NBA star resisted attempts by officers to take him to a hospital. |