News from May 24.

Cleveland fired head coach Mike Brown.

DeShawn Stevenson (Dal) elected not to opt-out of his contract and, thus,
remains signed through 10-11.

A.J. Price (Ind) is expected to be out 4 to 6 months with a fractured left
patella.  He suffered the injury on Saturday while playing in a charity
game.


Orl 96, Bos 92 OT  at Bos
Matt Barnes (Orl) had 10 points and 7 rebounds.
Rashard Lewis (Orl) had 13 points and 5 rebounds.
Dwight Howard (Orl) had 32 points on 13-19 FG and 6-14 FT, 16 rebounds
including 5 offensive, and 4 blocks.
Jameer Nelson (Orl) had 23 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists, and 6 turnovers.
Paul Pierce (Bos) had 32 points including 10-13 FT and 11 rebounds.
Kevin Garnett (Bos) had 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Ray Allen (Bos) had 22 points including 5-7 3-pointers and 5 rebounds.
Bos leads the series 3-1.


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 (2) _
5 Utah (4)                                  _ 3 Phoenix (1)    |
                                           |                   |
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 (1)
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
Tuesday, May 25
  Game 4  LA Lakers at Phoenix         8:00 pm  TNT

Wednesday, May 26
  Game 5  Boston at Orlando            7:30 pm  ESPN

Thursday, May 27
  Game 5  Phoenix at LA Lakers         8:00 pm  TNT

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


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  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