News from May 27.

The NBA fined Atlanta owner Michael Gearon $25,000 for public comments he
made regarding LeBron James (Cle) and other upcoming free agents, which
violated the league's anti-tampering rules.

Chris Andersen (Den) underwent surgery on his right knee to repair a
partially torn patella tendon.


LAL 103, Pho 101  at LAL
Ron Artest (LAL) had 4 points on 2-9 FG and the game winning putback at
the buzzer, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals.
Pau Gasol (LAL) had 21 points.
Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 30 points including 4-10 3-pointers, 11 rebounds, 9
assists, and 4 blocks.
Lamar Odom (LAL) had 17 points including 7-11 FG and 13 rebounds including
5 offensive.
Amare Stoudemire (Pho) had 19 points and 3 blocks.
Steve Nash (Pho) had 29 points including 12-20 FG and 11 assists.
Channing Frye (Pho) had 14 points and 10 rebounds.
LAL leads the series 3-2.


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 Oklahoma City (2)  |_ 1 LA Lakers (4) ___
                      _ 5 Utah (0)         |
4 Denver (2) ________|                     |_ 1 LA Lakers (3) _
5 Utah (4)                                  _ 3 Phoenix (2)    |
                                           |                   |
2 Dallas (2)      ___                      |                   |
7 San Antonio (4)    |_ 7 San Antonio (0) _|                   |
                      _ 3 Phoenix (4)                          |
3 Phoenix (4)  ______|                                         |
6 Portland (2)                                                 |_ ___________
                                                                _ ___________
                                                               |
1 Cleveland (4) _____                                          |
8 Chicago (1)        |_ 1 Cleveland (2)                        |
                      _ 4 Boston (4) ______                    |
4 Boston (4) ________|                     |                   |
5 Miami (1)                                |_ 4 Boston (3)  ___|
                                            _ 2 Orlando (2)
2 Orlando (4)   _____                      |
7 Charlotte (0)      |_ 2 Orlando (4) _____|
                      _ 3 Atlanta (0)
3 Atlanta (4)   _____|
6 Milwaukee (3)
 

Conference Finals  (all time Central)  *if necessary
Friday, May 28
  Game 6  Orlando at Boston            7:30 pm  ESPN

Saturday, May 29 
  Game 6  LA Lakers at Phoenix         7:30 pm  TNT

Sunday, May 30
 *Game 7  Boston at Orlando            7:30 pm  ESPN

Monday, May 31
 *Game 7  Phoenix at LA Lakers         8:00 pm  TNT


Finals  (all time Central)  *if necessary
Thursday, June 3
  Game 1  TBD                          8:00 pm  ABC

Sunday, June 6
  Game 2  TBD                          7:00 pm  ABC

Tuesday, June 8
  Game 3  TBD                          8:00 pm  ABC

Thursday, June 10
  Game 4  TBD                          8:00 pm  ABC

Sunday, June 13
  Game 5  TBD                          7:00 pm  ABC

Tuesday, June 15
  Game 6  TBD                          8:00 pm  ABC

Thursday, June 17
  Game 7  TBD                          8:00 pm  ABC


----
  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