News from May 17. Toronto signed GM Bryan Colangelo to a multi-year contract extension. The NBA held the draft lottery, which determines the top 3 draft picks. Cleveland was the big winner as they won the lottery and will draft #1, despite the Clippers (who originally owned the pick) having the 8th worst record. Minnesota, who had the worst record, fell one spot with Cleveland's luck and will draft #2. Utah was also a big winner as they will draft #3 despite New Jersey (who originally owned the pick) having the 5th worst record (and one less lottery chance than Sacramento, who had the same record). The losers of the draft were Toronto, Washington, and Sacramento who all fell 2 spots and Detroit, who fell 1 spot. The NBA draft is June 23. First Round Order 1. Cleveland (from LA Clippers) 2. Minnesota 3. Utah (from New Jersey) 4. Cleveland 5. Toronto 6. Washington 7. Sacramento 8. Detroit 9. Charlotte 10. Milwaukee 11. Golden State 12. Utah 13. Phoenix 14. Houston 15. Indiana 16. Philadelphia 17. New York 18. Washington (from Atlanta) 19. Charlotte (from New Orleans via Portland) 20. Minnesota (from Memphis via Utah) 21. Portland 22. Denver 23. Houston (from Orlando via Phoenix) 24. Oklahoma City 25. Boston 26. Dallas 27. New Jersey (from LA Lakers) 28. Chicago (from Miami via Toronto) 29. San Antonio 30. Chicago Second Round Order 31. Miami (from Minnesota) 32. Cleveland 33. Detroit (from Toronto) 34. Washington 35. Sacramento 36. New Jersey 37. LA Clippers (from Detroit) 38. Houston (from LA Clippers) 39. Charlotte 40. Milwaukee 41. LA Lakers (from Golden State via New Jersey) 42. Indiana 43. Chicago (from Utah via Chicago) 44. Golden State (from Phoenix via Chicago) 45. New Orleans (from Philadelphia) 46. LA Lakers (from New York) 47. LA Clippers (from Houston) 48. Atlanta 49. Memphis 50. Philadelphia (from New Orleans) 51. Portland (may go to Detroit via Denver) 52. Denver (may go to Portland or to Detroit) 53. Orlando 54. Cleveland (from Oklahoma City via Miami) 55. Boston 56. LA Lakers 57. Dallas 58. LA Lakers (from Miami) 59. San Antonio 60. Sacramento (from Chicago via Milwaukee) Dal 121, OKC 112 at Dal Shawn Marion (Dal) had 11 points and 7 rebounds. Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) had 48 points on 12-15 FG and 24-24 FT, 6 rebounds and 4 blocks - 24-24 FT set the NBA playoff record for most free throws made without a miss (old: 21). Jason Terry (Dal) had 24 points including 4-8 3-pointers. J.J. Barea (Dal) had 21 points. Kevin Durant (OKC) had 40 points including 18-19 FT, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Serge Ibaka (OKC) had 17 points including 7-11 FG and 6 rebounds. Russell Westbrook (OKC) had 20 points on 3-15 FG and 14-18 FT. Dal leads the series 1-0. Playoff Standings 1st Round 2nd Round 3rd Round Finals (Best of 7) (Best of 7) (Best of 7) (Best of 7) 1 San Antonio (2) ___ 8 Memphis (4) |_ 8 Memphis (3) _ _ 4 Oklahoma City (4) | 4 Oklahoma City (4) _| |_ 4 Oklahoma City (0) _ 5 Denver (1) _ 3 Dallas (1) | | | 2 LA Lakers (4) ___ | | 7 New Orleans (2) |_ 2 LA Lakers (0) _____| | _ 3 Dallas (4) | 3 Dallas (4) ______| | 6 Portland (2) |_ _ | 1 Chicago (4) _______ | 8 Indiana (1) |_ 1 Chicago (4) _______ | _ 5 Atlanta (2) | | 4 Orlando (2) _______| | | 5 Atlanta (4) |_ 1 Chicago (1) _______| _ 2 Miami (0) 2 Miami (4) __ | 7 Philadelphia (1) |_ 2 Miami (4) ________| _ 3 Boston (1) 3 Boston (4) ______| 6 New York (0) Conference Finals (all time Central) *if necessary Wednesday, May 18 Game 2 Miami at Chicago 7:30 pm TNT Thursday, May 19 Game 2 Oklahoma City at Dallas 8:00 pm ESPN Saturday, May 21 Game 3 Dallas at Oklahoma City 8:00 pm ESPN Sunday, May 22 Game 3 Chicago at Miami 7:30 pm TNT Monday, May 23 Game 4 Dallas at Oklahoma City 8:00 pm ESPN Tuesday, May 24 Game 4 Chicago at Miami 7:30 pm TNT Wednesday, May 25 *Game 5 Oklahoma City at Dallas 8:00 pm ESPN Thursday, May 26 *Game 5 Miami at Chicago 7:30 pm TNT Friday, May 27 *Game 6 Dallas at Oklahoma City 8:00 pm ESPN Saturday, May 28 *Game 6 Chicago at Miami 7:30 pm TNT Sunday, May 29 *Game 7 Oklahoma City at Dallas 8:00 pm ESPN Monday, May 30 *Game 7 Miami at Chicago 7:30 pm TNT ---- Patricia Bender pbender@eskimo.com For Trianglons puzzles: http://www.trianglons.com For NBA stuff: http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/index.html For Mavs stuff: http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/mavs.html