News from April 27.

New Orleans activated Melvin Ely and placed Rasual Butler on IL.

Josh Shipp (junior, UCLA, guard-forward) declared himself eligible for the
NBA draft.


NO 97, Dal 84  at Dal
Peja Stojakovic (NO) had 19 points including 3-4 3-pointers and 5
rebounds.
David West (NO) had 24 points and 9 rebounds.
Chris Paul (NO) had 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists.
Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) had 22 points and 13 rebounds.
Jason Terry (Dal) had 20 points.
NO shot 50% (38-76) FG and Dal shot 36% (32-89) FG.
NO leads the series 3-1.

Cle 100, Was 97  at Was
LeBron James (Cle) had 34 points including 9-14 FT, 12 rebounds, 7 assist,
and 5 turnovers.
Delonte West (Cle) had 21 points including 5-8 3-pointers and the game
winning 3-pointer with 5.4 seconds left, 5 assists, and 3 steals.
Daniel Gibson (Cle) had 12 points on 4-7 3-pointers and 5 assists.
Caron Butler (Was) had 19 points.
Antawn Jamison (Was) had 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 steals.
Cle out-rebounded Was 51-31 including 18-6 offensive.
Cle leads the series 3-1.

Pho 105, SA 86  at Pho
Boris Diaw (Pho) had 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists.
Shaquille O'Neal (Pho) had 14 points including 6-10 FT and 12 rebounds
including 5 offensive.
Raja Bell (Pho) had 27 points including 8-11 FG and 5-7 3-pointers, 6
rebounds, and 5 assists.
Tim Duncan (SA) had 14 points including 6-18 FG and 10 rebounds including
5 offensive.
Tony Parker (SA) had 18 points and 5 turnovers.
Pho out-scored SA 34-13 in the 1st quarter.
Grant Hill (Pho, right groin injury) did not play.
SA leads the series 3-1.

Det 93, Phi 84  at Phi
Tayshaun Prince (Det) had 23 points on 11-12 FG, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals.
Rasheed Wallace (Det) had 20 points including 4-7 3-pointers, 10 rebounds,
and 6 turnovers.
Chauncey Billups (Det) had 18 points on 4-16 FG, 1-7 3-pointers, and 9-10
FT, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Richard Hamilton (Det) had 18 points including 7-22 FG, 5 rebounds, and 7
assists.
Andre Iguodala (Phi) had 12 points including 4-16 FG, 6 rebounds, and 5
turnovers.
Thaddeus Young (Phi) had 15 points and 9 rebounds.
Samuel Dalembert (Phi) had 12 points and 12 rebounds.
The series is tied 2-2.


Playoff Standings
  1st Round            2nd Round         3rd Round          Finals
  (Best of 7)          (Best of 7)       (Best of 7)        (Best of 7)
1 LA Lakers (3) _ __
8 Denver (0)        |_              __
                     _                |
4 Utah (3)    ______|                 |_              __
5 Houston (1)                          _                |
                                      |                 |
2 New Orleans (3) __                  |                 |
7 Dallas (1)        |_              __|                 |
                     _                                  |
3 San Antonio (3) __|                                   |
6 Phoenix (1)                                           |_ 
                                                         _ 
                                                        |
1 Boston (2)  ______                                    |
8 Atlanta (1)       |_              __                  |
                     _                |                 |
4 Cleveland (3)  ___|                 |                 |
5 Washington (1)                      |_              __|
                                       _ 
2 Detroit (2)      _                  |
7 Philadelphia (2)  |_              __|
                     _ 
3 Orlando (3) ______|
6 Toronto (1)