News from May 17. Former NBA player Wayman Tisdale died on Friday at age 44 after battling cancer. Tisdale played 12 season in the NBA with Indiana, Sacramento, and Phoenix. LAL 89, Hou 70 at LAL Pau Gasol (LAL) had 21 points, 18 rebounds including 6 offensive, 3 blocks and 5 turnovers. Trevor Ariza (LAL) had 15 points and 5 rebounds. Andrew Bynum (LAL) had 14 points including 6-7 FG and 6 rebounds. Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 14 points including 4-12 FG, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. Luis Scola (Hou) had 11 points including 4-12 FG and 6 rebounds. Aaron Brooks (Hou) had 13 points including 4-13 FG and 5 turnovers. Von Wafer (Hou) had 10 points. LAL out-rebounded Hou 55-33 including 13-5 offensive. Yao Ming (Hou, stress fracture left foot) did not play. The LA Lakers take the series 4-3 and advance to the Western Conference Finals where they will face Denver. Orl 101, Bos 82 at Bos Rashard Lewis (Orl) had 19 points on 5-14 FG and 7-10 FT and 5 rebounds. Hedo Turkoglu (Orl) had 25 points including 9-12 FG and 4-5 3-pointers, 5 rebounds, and 12 assists. Dwight Howard (Orl) had 12 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Michael Pietrus (Orl)had 17 points including 6-7 FG and 3-3 3-pointers. Paul Pierce (Bos) had 16 points on 4-13 FG and 7-10 FT. Rajon Rondo (Bos) had 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists. Ray Allen (Bos) had 23 points. Orl shot 51.4% (36-70) FG and Bos shot 39.2% (29-74) FG. Orl shot 13-21 3-pointers and Bos shot 4-16 3-pointers. Orlando takes the series 4-3 and advances to the Eastern Conference Finals where they will face Cleveland. Playoff Standings 1st Round 2nd Round 3rd Round Finals (Best of 7) (Best of 7) (Best of 7) (Best of 7) 1 LA Lakers (4) ____ 8 Utah (1) |_ 1 LA Lakers (4) _ _ 5 Houston (3) | 4 Portland (2) _____| |_ 1 LA Lakers (0) _ 5 Houston (4) _ 2 Denver (0) | | | 2 Denver (4) __ | | 7 New Orleans (1) |_ 2 Denver (4) ____| | _ 6 Dallas (1) | 3 San Antonio (1) __| | 6 Dallas (4) |_ _ | 1 Cleveland (4) ____ | 8 Detroit (0) |_ 1 Cleveland (4) _ | _ 4 Atlanta (0) | | 4 Atlanta (4) ______| | | 5 Miami (3) |_ 1 Cleveland (0) _| _ 3 Orlando (0) 2 Boston (4) _______ | 7 Chicago (3) |_ 2 Boston (3) ___| _ 3 Orlando (4) 3 Orlando (4) _| 6 Philadelphia (2) Conference Finals Schedule (Central times) *if necessary Tuesday, May 19 Game 1: Denver at LA Lakers 8:00 pm ESPN Wednesday, May 20 Game 1: Orlando at Cleveland 7:30 pm TNT Thursday, May 21 Game 2: Denver at LA Lakers 8:00 pm ESPN Friday, May 22 Game 2: Orlando at Cleveland 7:30 pm TNT Saturday, May 23 Game 3: LA Lakers at Denver 7:30 pm ABC Sunday, May 24 Game 3: Cleveland at Orlando 7:30 pm TNT Monday, May 25 Game 4: LA Lakers at Denver 8:00 pm ESPN Tuesday, May 26 Game 4: Cleveland at Orlando 7:30 pm TNT Wednesday, May 27 *Game 5: Denver at LA Lakers 8:00 pm ESPN Thursday, May 28 *Game 5: Orlando at Cleveland 7:30 pm TNT Friday, May 29 *Game 6: LA Lakers at Denver 8:00 pm ESPN Saturday, May 30 *Game 6: Cleveland at Orlando 7:30 pm TNT Sunday, May 31 *Game 7: Denver at LA Lakers 7:30 pm ABC Monday, June 1 *Game 7: Orlando at Cleveland 7:30 pm TNT ---- Patricia Bender pbender@eskimo.com For NBA stuff: http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/index.html For Mavs stuff: http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/mavs.html