News from May 25.

The NBA fined Ron Artest (Ind) $10,000 for making an obscene gesture
during Monday's Det-Ind game.

The NBA draft lottery is tonight at 7 pm Central on ESPN.  The lottery is
a drawing amongst non-playoff teams to determine which teams get the #1,
#2, and #3 draft picks.  The #4 pick goes to the expansion Charlotte team
and the rest of the order is determined by record.  The NBA draft is June
24.

Charlotte named Gary Kloppenburg and John Outlaw as assistant coaches.


LAL 100, Min 89  at LAL
Karl Malone (LAL) had 11 points including 4-12 FG, 6 rebounds, and 5
assists.
Shaquille O'Neal (LAL) had 22 points on 7-10 FG and 8-22 FT, 17 rebounds,
and 4 blocks.
Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 22 points including 10-11 FT and 6 assists.
Gary Payton (LAL) had 18 points on 8-11 FG, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists.
Latrell Sprewell (Min) had 18 points and 4 steals.
Kevin Garnett (Min) had 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Sam Cassell (Min) had 18 points.
Wally Szczerbiak (Min) had 21 points and 7 rebounds.
LAL shot 25-43 FT and Min shot 12-14 FT.
LAL leads the series 2-1.


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

Conference Finals  (Central times)  *if necessary
Wednesday, May 26
  Game 3: Indiana at Detroit           7:30 pm  ESPN

Thursday, May 27
  Game 4: Minnesota at LA Lakers       8:00 pm  TNT

Friday, May 28
  Game 4: Indiana at Detroit           7:00 pm  ESPN

Saturday, May 29
  Game 5: LA Lakers at Minnesota       7:30 pm  TNT

Sunday, May 30
  Game 5: Detroit at Indiana           7:00 pm  ESPN

Monday, May 31
 *Game 6: Minnesota at LA Lakers       8:00 pm  TNT

Tuesday, June 1
 *Game 6: Indiana at Detroit           7:00 pm  ESPN

Wednesday, June 2
 *Game 7: LA Lakers at Minnesota       8:00 pm  TNT

Thursday, June 3
 *Game 7: Detroit at Indiana           7:00 pm  ESPN