News from May 28.

The LA Lakers fined Ron Artest for being late to practice.

Boston activated Brian Scalabrine and placed Marquis Daniels (concussion)
on IL.


Bos 96, Orl 84  at Bos
Paul Pierce (Bos) had 31 points on 9-15 FG, 4-5 3-pointers, and 9-10 FT,
13 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Ray Allen (Bos) had 20 points.
Rajon Rondo (Bos) had 14 points and 6 assists.
Nate Robinson (Bos) had 13 points.
Dwight Howard (Orl) had 28 points on 11-17 FG and 6-12 FT and 12 rebounds.
Vince Carter (Orl) had 17 points and 8 rebounds.
Jameer Nelson (Orl) had 11 points on 5-14 FG and 5 turnovers.
Boston takes the series 4-2 and advances to the NBA Finals where they will
face the winner of the LAL-Pho series.


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 (3) _
5 Utah (4)                                  _ 3 Phoenix (2)    |
                                           |                   |
2 Dallas (2)      ___                      |                   |
7 San Antonio (4)    |_ 7 San Antonio (0) _|                   |
                      _ 3 Phoenix (4)                          |
3 Phoenix (4)  ______|                                         |
6 Portland (2)                                                 |_ ___________
                                                                _ 4 Boston (0)
                                                               |
1 Cleveland (4) _____                                          |
8 Chicago (1)        |_ 1 Cleveland (2)                        |
                      _ 4 Boston (4) ______                    |
4 Boston (4) ________|                     |                   |
5 Miami (1)                                |_ 4 Boston (4)  ___|
                                            _ 2 Orlando (2)
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
Saturday, May 29 
  Game 6  LA Lakers at Phoenix         7:30 pm  TNT

Monday, May 31
 *Game 7  Phoenix at LA Lakers         8:00 pm  TNT


Finals  (all time Central)  *if necessary
Thursday, June 3
  Game 1  Boston at LAL/Pho            8:00 pm  ABC

Sunday, June 6
  Game 2  Boston at LAL/Pho            7:00 pm  ABC

Tuesday, June 8
  Game 3  LAL/Pho at Boston            8:00 pm  ABC

Thursday, June 10
  Game 4  LAL/Pho at Boston            8:00 pm  ABC

Sunday, June 13
  Game 5  LAL/Pho at Boston            7:00 pm  ABC

Tuesday, June 15
  Game 6  Boston at LAL/Pho            8:00 pm  ABC

Thursday, June 17
  Game 7  Boston at LAL/Pho            8:00 pm  ABC


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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