News from May 31.

LAL 96, Min 90  at LAL
Karl Malone (LAL) had 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Shaquille O'Neal (LAL) had 25 points on 9-15 FG and 7-20 FT and 11
rebounds.
Kobe Bryant (LAL) had 20 points on 6-17 FG and 7-11 FT.
Kareem Rush (LAL) had 18 points on 6-8 FG and 6-7 3-pointers.
Latrell Sprewell (Min) had 27 points on 8-22 FG and 11-11 FT and 5
assists.
Kevin Garnett (Min) had 22 points, 17 rebounds, and 8 turnovers.
Wally Szczerbiak (Min) had 13 points and 5 rebounds.
Sam Cassell (Min, back spasms) did not play.
The LA Lakers take the series 4-2 and advance to the NBA Finals where
they will face the winner of the Ind-Det series.


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 (2) _
5 Dallas (1)                              _ 2 LA Lakers (4)  |
                                         |                   |
2 LA Lakers (4) ____                     |                   |
7 Houston (1)       |_ 2 LA Lakers (4)  _|                   |
                     _ 3 San Antonio (2)                     |
3 San Antonio (4) __|                                        |
6 Memphis (0)                                                |_ 2 LA Lakers (0)
                                                              _ 
                                                             |
1 Indiana (4) ______                                         |
8 Boston (0)        |_ 1 Indiana (4) ____                    |
                     _ 4 Miami (2)       |                   |
4 Miami (4) ________|                    |                   |
5 New Orleans (3)                        |_ 1 Indiana (2) ___|
                                          _ 3 Detroit (3)
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
Tuesday, June 1
  Game 6: Indiana at Detroit           7:00 pm  ESPN

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


NBA Finals  (Central times)  *if necessary
[note: Indiana will have home court advantage if they advance and
 the Lakers will have home court advantage if Detroit advances.
 The finals are a 2-3-2 format.]
Sunday, June 6
  Game 1: LA Lakers vs Ind/Det         7:30 pm  ABC

Tuesday, June 8
  Game 2: LA Lakers vs Ind/Det         7:30 pm  ABC

Thursday, June 10
  Game 3: LA Lakers vs Ind/Det         7:30 pm  ABC

Sunday, June 13
  Game 4: LA Lakers vs Ind/Det         7:30 pm  ABC

Tuesday, June 15
 *Game 5: LA Lakers vs Ind/Det         7:30 pm  ABC

Thursday, June 17
 *Game 6: LA Lakers vs Ind/Det         7:30 pm  ABC

Sunday, June 20
 *Game 7: LA Lakers vs Ind/Det         7:30 pm  ABC