News from May 20.

Darrell Armstrong (Orl) was named as the Most Improved Player.  Armstrong 
received 54 out of the possible 118 media votes.  Eric Snow (Phi) received
15 votes, Gary Trent (Dal) received 14 votes, Joe Smith (Min) received 8 
votes, Danny Fortson (Den) received 7 votes, Theo Ratliff (Phi) received 4 
votes, Maurice Taylor (LAC) received 3 votes, Brian Grant (Por) received 2
votes, Tracy McGrady (Tor) received 2 votes, Dee Brown (Tor) received 1 
vote, Randy Brown (Chi) received 1 vote, Othella Harrington (Hou) received
1 vote, Antonio McDyess (Den) received 1 vote, Greg Ostertag (Uta) 
received 1 vote, Clifford Robinson (Pho) received 1 vote, Bryon Russell 
(Uta) received 1 vote, Latrell Sprewell (NY) received 1 vote, and Haywoode
Workman (Mil) received 1 vote.


NY 77, Atl 70 - at Atl
Larry Johnson (NY) had 11 points and 8 rebounds.
Patrick Ewing (NY) had 12 points and 7 rebounds.
Latrell Sprewell (NY) had 31 points including 15-19 FT and 5 rebounds.
Marcus Camby (NY) had 11 points including 5-7 FG and 13 rebounds.
Dikembe Mutombo (Atl) had 8 points including 3-10 FG and 17 rebounds.
Mookie Blaylock (Atl) had 17 points including 7-20 FG and 8 rebounds.
Ed Gray (Atl) had 13 points in 16 minutes.
NY shot 38.8% (26-67) FG and Atl shot 29.6% (24-81) FG.
NY leads the series 2-0.

Por 84, Uta 81 - at Uta
Brian Grant (Por) had 23 points including 9-13 FT and 9 rebounds.
Rasheed Wallace (Por) had 11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks.
Arvydas Sabonis (Por) had 10 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 steals.
Isaiah Rider (Por) had 27 points including 4-6 3-pointers.
Karl Malone (Uta) had 23 points including 9-12 FT, 17 rebounds, and 6
assists.
Jeff Hornacek (Uta) had 19 points.
Shandon Anderson (Uta) had 16 points and 7 rebounds.
The series is tied 1-1.


Playoff Standings
  1st Round             2nd Round            3rd Round         Finals
  (Best of 5)           (Best of 7)          (Best of 7)     (Best of 7)
1 San Antonio (3) _
8 Minnesota (1)    |_ 1 San Antonio (2) _
                    _ 4 LA Lakers (0)    |
4 LA Lakers (3) ___|                     |_ _____________ _
5 Houston (1)     
                                         |                 |
2 Portland (3) ____                      |                 |
7 Phoenix (0)      |_ 2 Portland (1) ____|                 |
                    _ 3 Utah (1)                           |
3 Utah (3)       __|                                       |
6 Sacramento (2)                                           |_ ___________
                                                            _ ___________
                                                           |
1 Miami (2)    ____                                        |
8 New York (3)     |_ 8 New York (2) ____                  |
                    _ 4 Atlanta (0)      |                 |
4 Atlanta (3) _____|                     |                 |
5 Detroit (2)                            |_ _____________ _|
                                          _ _____________
2 Indiana (3)   ___                      |
7 Milwaukee (0)    |_ 2 Indiana (2)     _|
                    _ 6 Philadelphia (0)
3 Orlando (1)     _|
6 Philadelphia (3)