Get out the brooms: LeBron scores 27 as Cavs complete another sweep with 84-74 win over Hawks

ATLANTA — The Cleveland Cavaliers were able to complete a four-game sweep that put them in the NBA’s conference finals. The Denver Nuggets did not. LeBron James pumped in 27 points as the Cavaliers pulled out an 84-74 triumph in Atlanta to complete their second consecutive four-game sweep. The Cavs led by just four until James converted a three-point play with 2:03 remaining, igniting a game-ending 8-2 run.

The fix isn’t in, but can there be any other scenario than Kobe and LeBron in NBA finals?

Long before anyone ever heard of Tim Donaghy there was always a nagging suspicion among casual fans that the fix was on in the NBA playoffs. To be sure, in a league when almost every foul can be contested and almost every game is decided in the final two minutes, there is always plenty for conspiracy theorists to ponder.

LeBron James scores 27 points, Cavs finish off another playoff sweep with 84-74 win over Hawks

ATLANTA — LeBron James didn’t come close to matching his performance in Game 3.

Warriors finally cut ties with top executive Chris Mullin after lengthy power struggle

OAKLAND, Calif. — Although Chris Mullin apparently stopped running the Golden State Warriors several months ago, this confusing NBA club didn’t bother to make it official until Monday.

Interim coach DiLeo withdraws himself from consideration for 76ers head job

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia 76ers interim coach Tony DiLeo has withdrawn his name from consideration for the permanent coaching job.

James scores 27 points, Cavaliers finish off another sweep with 84-74 win over Hawks

ATLANTA — LeBron James didn’t come close to matching his performance in Game 3.

Unlikely sideshow to Nuggets-Mavericks series: team owner Mark Cuban vs. K-Mart’s mother

DALLAS — An unlikely sideshow developed prior to Monday night’s Game 4 of the Mavericks-Nuggets series: Mark Cuban vs. Kenyon Martin’s mother.

Warriors finally cut ties with GM Chris Mullin after lengthy power struggle

OAKLAND, Calif. — The Golden State Warriors finally cut ties with top basketball executive Chris Mullin on Monday, nearly a year after the former star player apparently lost his authority to run the troubled franchise.

With players citing confusion, NBA says more education may be necessary on flagrant fouls

NEW YORK — After preseason lessons and season-long dialogue with team officials, the man in charge of discipline for the NBA believes players should have an understanding of the league’s flagrant foul rules.

Orlando Magic fan wants apology from Boston Celtics’ Davis for post game-winner bump

ORLANDO, Fla. — The father of the 12-year-old boy bumped by Celtics big man Glen “Big Baby” Davis after Sunday’s game-winning shot is demanding an apology.

Detroit gets 3rd mayor in past 8 months as businessman and ex-NBA star Dave Bing takes oath

DETROIT — Businessman and former NBA star Dave Bing is now the mayor of Detroit, and the third person to hold the job in eight months.

Toronto Raptors drop interim label, sign coach Jay Triano to 3-year deal

TORONTO — Jay Triano signed a three-year contract Monday to coach the Toronto Raptors, dropping the interim tag after taking over the team during the season.

Detroit gets 3rd mayor in past 8 months as ex-NBA star Dave Bing prepares to take oath

DETROIT — Former NBA star Dave Bing will be sworn in Monday as Detroit’s third mayor in eight months.

Jonathan Papelbon and Red Sox close out victorious night in Boston by beating Rays 4-3

BOSTON — The crowd had barely stopped cheering the Bruins’ and Celtics’ highlights when Jason Bay lofted the go-ahead RBI double off the Green Monster.

Chuck Daly, who led US Olympic team to gold and won 2 NBA titles with Pistons, dies at 78

DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons made plenty of enemies while winning titles and throwing blows two decades ago. Chuck Daly, though, was universally admired for his class and coaching acumen.

LeBron James scores 47 points, leads Cavs to 97-82 playoff win over Hawks and 3-0 series lead

ATLANTA — The Cleveland Cavaliers were actually being challenged. Finally, LeBron James had seen enough. James scored 47 points in his best game yet of these playoffs, leading the Cavaliers to the brink of their second straight postseason sweep with a 97-82 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night.

LeBron James scores 47 points, leads Cleveland to 97-82 playoff win over Hawks

ATLANTA — The Cleveland Cavaliers were actually being challenged.

Anthony’s 3-pointer with 1 second left gives Nuggets 106-105 win over Mavericks and 3-0 lead

DALLAS — No matter how many things the Denver Nuggets did wrong Saturday, they somehow always remained within striking distance of the Dallas Mavericks. And with a second left, Carmelo Anthony struck. Anthony broke free of a defender trying to foul him and swished a 3-pointer, giving the Nuggets a 106-105 victory over the Mavericks and a 3-0 series lead that has been insurmountable in NBA history.

NBA admits officials were wrong in not calling intentional foul against Mavs

DALLAS — The NBA admitted officials were wrong when they didn’t call an intentional foul the Dallas Mavericks were trying to commit before Denver’s Carmelo Anthony made a game-winning 3-pointer Saturday.

Rockets try to even series against Lakers after losing Yao for rest of playoffs

HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets are down 2-1 in their Western Conference semifinal against the Los Angeles Lakers and they’ll be down their best player for the rest of the series.

Carmelo Anthony’s 3 with second left gives Nuggets 106-105 win over Mavs, 3-0 series lead

DALLAS — No matter how many things the Denver Nuggets did wrong Saturday, they somehow always remained within striking distance of the Dallas Mavericks. And with a second left, Carmelo Anthony struck.

Anthony’s 3 with a second left gives Nuggets 3-0 lead over Mavericks

DALLAS — No matter how many things the Denver Nuggets did wrong Saturday, they somehow always remained within striking distance of the Dallas Mavericks.

Phoenix Suns make Alvin Gentry head coach, removing “interim” tag

PHOENIX — As expected, the Phoenix Suns are sticking with coach Alvin Gentry.

Rockets’ Ron Artest will play in Game 4 after league downgrades hard foul on Lakers’ Pau Gasol

HOUSTON — The NBA downgraded a flagrant foul called against Ron Artest, determining Saturday that the play should not have been severe enough to warrant an ejection.

Rick Pitino says there’s “absolutely no truth” to rumors that he’s returning to NBA

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville coach Rick Pitino says there is “absolutely no truth” to the rumors that he is returning to the NBA.

Chuck Daly, who led US Olympic team to gold and won 2 NBA titles with Pistons, dead at 78

DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons made plenty of enemies while winning titles and throwing blows two decades ago. Chuck Daly, though, was universally admired for his class and coaching acumen.

Chuck Daly, who led US Olympic team to gold and won 2 NBA titles with Pistons, dead at 78

DETROIT — Chuck Daly, who coached the original Dream Team to the Olympic gold medal in 1992 after winning back-to-back NBA championships with the Detroit Pistons, died at age 78 Saturday morning, the Pistons said.

Former Detroit Pistons coach Chuck Daly dead at 78, team says

DETROIT — Chuck Daly, who coached the original Dream Team to the Olympic gold medal in 1992 after winning back-to-back NBA championships with the Detroit Pistons, died at age 78 Saturday morning, the Pistons said.

Bryant scores 33 points and Lakers beat Rockets 108-94 in Game 3 as Artest gets ejected again

HOUSTON — After jawing with Shane Battier and Ron Artest for much of Game 2, Kobe Bryant let his shooting send the message that the Lakers are back in control of the series.

Sacramento Kings to interview Eddie Jordan for possible return to club

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento Kings plan to interview former coach Eddie Jordan about a possible return to the club he briefly coached in the late 1990s.