NBA Today - June 2
Sat, Jun 2, 2007
By Associated Press
SCOREBOARD Saturday, June 2
Detroit at Cleveland, (8:30 p.m. EDT). The Cavaliers can advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in team history.
MICHAEL NEVER DID THAT
LeBron James was the first player to score 25 straight points in the postseason, when he scored Cleveland's final 25 and 29 of the last 30 in the Cavaliers' 109-107 win in double overtime over Detroit in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.
DICE OK
Detroit Pistons forward Antonio McDyess will not be further penalized by the NBA for his rough foul in the first quarter on Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao in Game 5 on Thursday night. McDyess received a flagrant-2 foul after he unexpectedly clotheslined Varejao under the basket and was ejected. On Friday, league spokesman Tim Frank said McDyess will not face any more discipline.
APPEARING ACT
Billy Donovan was introduced Friday as coach of the Orlando Magic. He won back-to-back national titles at Florida before agreeing to terms with the Magic on Thursday night. Donovan accepted a five-year, $27.5 million contract, which pays more than twice the annual $1.7 million he was making at Florida, an official in the NBA told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The team did not disclose terms.
SOAK IT IN
Just how drained was LeBron James following his 48-point performance in Cleveland's 109-107 win in double overtime over Detroit in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals? James received an IV to guard against dehydration before leaving Detroit's home arena for the short flight back to Cleveland on Friday morning.
SPEAKING
''You know, I'm still in awe.'' - Cavaliers coach Mike Brown on Friday, the day after LeBron James scored 48 points to lead Cleveland over Detroit 109-107 in two overtimes.
Pistons will have McDyess in Game 6
Fri, Jun 1, 2007
By Associated Press
CLEVELAND -- Detroit Pistons forward Antonio McDyess will not be further penalized by the NBA for his rough foul in the first quarter on Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao in Game 5 on Thursday night.
McDyess received a flagrant-2 foul after he unexpectedly clotheslined Varejao under the basket and was ejected. On Friday, league spokesman Tim Frank said McDyess will not face any more discipline.
That's good news for the Pistons, who trail 3-2 in the Eastern Conference finals going into Saturday's Game 6 at Quicken Loans Arena. One of Detroit's top reserves, McDyess played just four minutes in the Pistons' 109-107 double-overtime loss.
McDyess' hard foul on Varejao drew a passionate response from Cleveland's LeBron James, who jumped over his fallen teammate and tried to confront McDyess as the referees and other players tried to keep order.
James was given a technical foul for charging after McDyess.
McDyess' ejection forced Pistons coach Flip Saunders to alter his rotations and he had to play Jason Maxiell and Dale Davis more than usual. James was able to exploit Maxiell, twice driving around the second-year forward for dunks down the stretch on his way to a career playoff-high 48 points.