AP ENTERPRISE: Hundreds of Africans turn to US hoop teams in hopes of a better life

MARIETTA, Ga. — Growing up in Nigeria, Robert Ojeah fretted over the demands of everyday life, the sort of things that shouldn’t be a burden to a child.

Next? LeBron, Cavaliers waiting again as second straight sweep lands them in conference final

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Team Sweep did some housekeeping on Wednesday.

Former Wizards coach Eddie Jordan interested in 76ers head coaching vacancy

PHILADELPHIA — Former NBA coach Eddie Jordan has expressed interest in the Philadelphia 76ers head coaching job and hopes to meet with team president Ed Stefanski by the end of the weekend.

Lakers can close out undermanned Houston on Thursday night

HOUSTON — The shots stopped falling, the passes that worked in Game 4 were turnovers in Game 5, and every loose ball or whistle seemed to go the Los Angeles’ Lakers way.

Next? LeBron, Cavaliers again play waiting game after second straight sweep

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Team Sweep did some housekeeping on Wednesday.

Hundreds fill Florida church to mourn former Pistons, Dream Team coach Chuck Daly

TEQUESTA, Fla. — Chuck Daly’s team gathered around him one last time. Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn were side by side on one end, Joe Dumars on the right, Isiah Thomas and Vinnie Johnson standing together a few feet back.

Celtics rally from 10-point deficit in 4th for 92-88 victory over Magic and 3-2 series lead

BOSTON — The Magic lost their touch in a series some of their players believe should already be over. The Celtics keep finding theirs just in time. The defending NBA champions wiped out a 10-point deficit in the last five minutes and won Game 5 92-88 on Tuesday night for a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series. If the Celtics lose Game 6 in Orlando on Thursday, they will host Game 7 on Sunday.

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 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.

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.

Thursday’s NBA Playoff Box

Evans 7-12 1-1 16, Jos.Smith 2-13 4-4 8, Pachulia 2-6 3-4 7, Bibby 3-8 3-3 11, Johnson 5-15 0-2 10, Murray 2-5 3-4 8, Jones 0-3 2-2 2, M.West 0-2 1-2 1, Hunter 1-2 0-0 2, Gardner 4-11 1-1 12, Law 3-6 1-1 8. Totals 29-83 19-24 85.

Rafer Alston, Derek Fisher suspended by NBA for separate incidents

NEW YORK — Rafer Alston of Orlando and Derek Fisher of the Los Angeles Lakers have each been suspended for the next game of their playoff series.

LeBron scores 34 as Cavaliers end long playoff layoff with 99-72 win over Hawks in Game 1

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers shook off some rust, and then the Atlanta Hawks.

LeBron scores 34 as Cavaliers end long playoff layoff with 99-72 win over Atlanta in Game 1

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers shook off some rust, and then the Atlanta Hawks.

Chosen One: Cavaliers’ LeBron James captures NBA’s MVP, first Cleveland player to win award

AKRON, Ohio — LeBron James is the NBA’s Chosen One.

Person with familiar with choice tells AP that Cavaliers’ LeBron James is NBA’s MVP

CLEVELAND — Unstoppable at both ends of the floor this season, LeBron James is the NBA’s Most Valuable Player. James, who led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a team-record 66 regular-season wins and the top overall seed in the playoffs, will receive the award Monday, a person with knowledge of the choice told The Associated Press. James chose Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, his alma mater, for the presentation, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement has not been made.

LeBron, Cavs await Hawks, who win first playoff series since 1999 with 91-78 rout of Heat

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Hawks lingered on the court, savoring the cheers as red and silver streamers drifted down from the rafters.

Joe Johnson scores 27 as Hawks blowout Heat 91-78 in Game 7 to advance to face Cavaliers

ATLANTA — The final blowout went to Atlanta, so it’s the Hawks who’ll get a shot at LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Atlanta advances to next playoff round with one final blowout 91-78, Hawks to face King James

ATLANTA — The final blowout went to Atlanta, so it’s the Hawks who’ll get a shot at LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Saturday’s NBA Playoff Box

Salmons 3-12 5-6 12, Ty.Thomas 2-4 0-0 4, Noah 1-2 5-5 7, Rose 9-18 0-0 18, Gordon 7-23 15-15 33, Miller 3-8 3-4 9, Hinrich 5-10 4-6 16, Hunter 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-77 32-36 99.

From Odyssey to oddity: Celtics don’t need OT to beat Bulls 109-99 and reach second round

BOSTON — After a record-setting seven overtimes in the first six games, the Celtics made an early night of it with a dominating stretch in the second. That’s second quarter, not second OT. Ray Allen followed his 51-point Game 6 performance with 23 on Saturday night, Paul Pierce added 20 and Boston pulled away from Chicago just before the half to finish the Bulls off 109-99 — a rare regulation victory in what might have been be the best first-round playoff series in NBA history.

From Odyssey to oddity: Celtics don’t need overtime to beat Bulls 109-99 and reach 2d round

BOSTON — After a record-setting seven overtimes in the first six games, the Celtics made an early night of it with a dominating stretch in the second.

Friday’s NBA Playoff Box

Evans 2-9 0-0 5, Smith 3-13 1-3 7, S.Jones 3-4 0-0 6, Bibby 6-12 5-6 20, Johnson 6-14 0-1 13, Murray 4-13 3-4 13, Pachulia 2-4 2-4 6, Williams 0-1 0-0 0, West 1-3 0-0 2, Law 0-0 0-0 0, Morris 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-73 11-18 72.

Marathon Men: Bulls outlast Celtics 128-127 in triple overtime to force Game 7 in Boston

CHICAGO — Derrick Rose scored 28 points and blocked Rajon Rondo’s potential game-winner, John Salmons scored 35, and the Chicago Bulls beat the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics 128-127 in triple overtime Thursday night to even the first-round series.

Orlando’s Dwight Howard suspended for Game 6 against 76ers for elbowing Samuel Dalembert

ORLANDO, Fla. — Dwight Howard’s elbow has given the Orlando Magic’s playoff hopes a major hit.

Anthony leads Nuggets to 107-86 win over Hornets and first playoff series win in 15 years

DENVER — With a little help from the hometown kid, Carmelo Anthony is finally moving on. Behind Anthony’s 34 points and the floor leadership of Chauncey Billups, the Denver native who came home this season and galvanized a city and a team, the Nuggets advanced to the second round of the NBA playoffs, 107-86 over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night.

With Billups, Anthony leading way, Nuggets beat Hornets for 1st playoff series win since 1994

DENVER — The Denver Nuggets ended a long postseason drought last night while the Atlanta Hawks moved closer to ending theirs. The Nuggets have won a playoff series for the first time since 1994, advancing to the NBA’s Western Conference semifinals by beating New Orleans 107-86 in Game 5. The game was tied at 62 until the Nuggets closed the third quarter on an 18-4 run.

Denver Nuggets topple New Orleans 107-86 for first playoff series win in 15 years

DENVER — With a little help from the hometown kid, Carmelo Anthony is finally moving on. Behind Anthony’s 34 points and the floor leadership of Chauncey Billups, the Denver native who came home this season and galvanized a city and a team, the Nuggets advanced to the second round of the NBA playoffs, 107-86 over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night.