News from April 19.

The NBA suspended Ron Artest (Ind) for 1 game for coming off the bench
during a scuffle during Saturday's Ind-Bos game.  It is an automatic
suspension for leaving the bench.

Ron Artest (Ind) was named as Defensive Player of the Year.  Artest received
80 of 121 possible 1st place media votes.
                            Total    position votes
  Player                    Points   1st 2nd 3rd 
  Ron Artest (Ind) ......... 476      80  20  16
  Ben Wallace (Det) ........ 325      26  51  12
  Theo Ratliff (Por) .......  90       8  10  20
  Bruce Bowen (SA) .........  76       4  10  26
  Andrei Kirilenko (Uta) ...  67       2  12  21
  Kevin Garnett (Min) ......  36       0   7  15
  Tim Duncan (SA) ..........   8       0   1   5
  Clifford Robinson (GS) ...   5       1   0   0
  Kenyon Martin (NJ) .......   2       0   0   2
  Kobe Bryant (LAL) ........   1       0   0   1
  Shaquille O'Neal (LAL) ...   1       0   0   1
  James Posey (Mem) ........   1       0   0   1
  Earl Watson (Mem) ........   1       0   0   1


SA 87, Mem 70  at SA
Tim Duncan (SA) had 23 points including 7-14 FT, 12 rebounds, 5 blocks,
and 6 turnovers.
Tony Parker (SA) had 27 points including 4-6 3-pointers and 7 assists.
Robert Horry (SA) had 14 points on 6-9 FG, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals.
Pau Gasol (Mem) had 20 points and 11 rebounds.
Bonzi Wells (Mem) had 13 points.
SA out-rebounded Mem 53-35 including 12-4 offensive.
SA leads the series 2-0.

LAL 98, Hou 84  at LAL
Karl Malone (LAL) had 17 points and 8 rebounds.
Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 36 points including 16-17 FT.
Derek Fisher (LAL) had 11 points.
Jim Jackson (Hou) had 19 points and 5 rebounds.
Yao Ming (Hou) had 21 points.
Steve Francis (Hou) had 18 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists, and 3 steals.
LAL leads the series 2-0.


Playoff Standings
  1st Round            2nd Round         3rd Round          Finals
  (Best of 7)          (Best of 7)       (Best of 7)        (Best of 7)
1 Minnesota (1) ____
8 Denver (0)        |_              __
                     _                |
4 Sacramento (1) ___|                 |_              __
5 Dallas (0)                           _                |
                                      |                 |
2 LA Lakers (2) ____                  |                 |
7 Houston (0)       |_              __|                 |
                     _                                  |
3 San Antonio (2) __|                                   |
6 Memphis (0)                                           |_ 
                                                         _ 
                                                        |
1 Indiana (1) ______                                    |
8 Boston (0)        |_              __                  |
                     _                |                 |
4 Miami (1) ________|                 |                 |
5 New Orleans (0)                     |_              __|
                                       _ 
2 New Jersey (1) ___                  |
7 New York (0)      |_              __|
                     _ 
3 Detroit (1) ______|
6 Milwaukee (0)