News from May 19. The NBA held the draft lottery, which determines the #1, #2, and #3 picks from the 14 non-playoff teams. There was only 1 winner in the lottery as the LA Lakers got the #2 pick (with the 4th worst record) while New York was the 1 loser in getting the #4 pick despite having the 2nd worst record. All other teams received the draft pick corresponding with their record. The NBA draft is June 25. First Round Order 1. Minnesota 2. LA Lakers 3. Philadelphia 4. New York 5. Orlando 6. Sacramento 7. Denver 8. Detroit 9. Charlotte 10. Miami 11. Indiana 12. Utah 13. Phoenix 14. Oklahoma City 15. Atlanta [from Brooklyn] 16. Boston 17. Milwaukee 18. Houston [from New Orleans] 19. Washington 20. Toronto 21. Dallas 22. Chicago 23. Portland 24. Cleveland 25. Memphis 26. San Antonio 27. LA Lakers [from Houston] 28. Boston [from LA Clippers] 29. Brooklyn [from Atlanta] 30. Golden State Second Round Order 31. Minnesota 32. Houston [from New York] 33. Boston [from Philadelphia via Miami] 34. LA Lakers 35. Philadelphia [from Orlando] 36. Minnesota [from Sacramento via Houston] 37. Philadelphia [from Denver via Houston via Portland via Minnesota] 38. Detroit 39. Charlotte 40. Miami 41. Brooklyn 42. Utah 43. Indiana 44. Phoenix 45. Boston 46. Milwaukee 47. Philadelphia [from New Orleans via Washington via LA Clippers] 48. Oklahoma City 49. Washington 50. Atlanta [from Toronto] 51. Orlando [from Chicago] 52. Dallas 53. Cleveland [from Portland via Chicago via Denver] 54. Utah [from Cleveland] 55. San Antonio 56. New Orleans [from Memphis] 57. Denver [from LA Clippers] 58. Philadelphia [from Houston] 59. Atlanta 60. Philadelphia [from Golden State via Indiana] GS 110, Hou 106 at GS Stephen Curry (GS) had 34 points including 13-22 FG and 6-11 3-pointers, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. Draymond Green (GS) had 13 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists. Klay Thompson (GS) had 15 points including 6-18 FG and 1-7 3-pointers. Shaun Livingston (GS) had 18 points including 6-8 FG and 7 rebounds. Trevor Ariza (Hou) had 20 points including 7-10 FG and 4-5 3-pointers. Josh Smith (Hou) had 17 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks. James Harden (Hou) had 28 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists, 4 steals, and 5 turnovers. GS leads the series 1-0. Playoff Standings [all rounds best of 7] 1st Round 2nd Round 3rd Round Finals 1 Golden State (4) _ 8 New Orleans (0) |_ 1 Golden State (4) __ _ 5 Memphis (2) | 4 Portland (1) _____| |_ 1 Golden State (1) _ 5 Memphis (4) _ 2 Houston (0) | | | 2 Houston (4) ______ | | 7 Dallas (1) |_ 2 Houston (4) ___| | _ 3 LA Clippers (3) | 3 LA Clippers (4) __| | 6 San Antonio (3) |_ _ | 1 Atlanta (4) _____ | 8 Brooklyn (2) |_ 1 Atlanta (4) ____ | _ 5 Washington (2) | | 4 Toronto (0) ___| | | 5 Washington (4) |_ 1 Atlanta (0) ____| _ 2 Cleveland (0) 2 Cleveland (4) ____ | 7 Boston (0) |_ 2 Cleveland (4) _____| _ 3 Chicago (2) 3 Chicago (4) ____| 6 Milwaukee (2) Conference Finals (Central times) *if necessary Wednesday, May 20 Game 1 Cleveland at Atlanta 7:30 pm TNT Thursday, May 21 Game 2 Houston at Golden State 8:00 pm ESPN Friday, May 22 Game 2 Cleveland at Atlanta 7:30 pm TNT Saturday, May 23 Game 3 Golden State at Houston 8:00 pm ESPN Sunday, May 24 Game 3 Atlanta at Cleveland 7:30 pm TNT Monday, May 25 Game 4 Golden State at Houston 8:00 pm ESPN Tuesday, May 26 Game 4 Atlanta at Cleveland 7:30 pm TNT Wednesday, May 27 *Game 5 Houston at Golden State 8:00 pm ESPN Thursday, May 28 *Game 5 Cleveland at Atlanta 7:30 pm TNT Friday, May 29 *Game 6 Golden State at Houston 8:00 pm ESPN Saturday, May 30 *Game 6 Atlanta at Cleveland 7:30 pm TNT Sunday, May 31 *Game 7 Houston at Golden State 8:00 pm ESPN Monday, June 1 *Game 7 Cleveland at Atlanta 7:30 pm TNT ---- Patricia Bender pbender@eskimo.com For Trianglons puzzles: http://www.trianglons.com For NBA stuff: http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/index.html For Mavs stuff: http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/mavs.html