NBA Today - May 11
Fri, May 11, 2007
By Associated Press
SCOREBOARD Friday, May 11
Utah at Golden State. (9 p.m. EDT). The Jazz have a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.
STAR Thursday
-Tayshaun Prince, Pistons, scored 23 points and had 11 rebounds in Detroit''s 81-74 victory against Chicago.
SWEEPS
Detroit rallied from a 19-point deficit to beat Chicago 81-74 on Thursday night in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Pistons after sweeping the Orlando Magic in the opening round are now up 3-0 in its series against the Bulls. No NBA team has ever comeback from a 3-0 deficit to win a series.
ALL-NBA TEAM
Phoenix point guard Steve Nash was an unanimous selection to the All-NBA team and was joined by teammate Amare Stoudemire on a squad made up entirely of Western Conference players. Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki, San Antonio forward Tim Duncan and Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, the league''s leading scorer, rounded out the first team.
SPEAKING
''I know it''s the playoffs. I understand a hard foul,'''' ''But that wasn''t a hard foul at all. That was just a purpose kick trying to injure someone.'''' - Amare Stoudemire claimed after being kicked by San Antonio Spurs Bruce Bowen during the Suns 101-81 victory.
Celtics extend head coach Rivers
May 10th, 2007
Boston, MA (Sports Network) - The Boston Celtics extended the contract of head coach Glenn "Doc" Rivers on Thursday. According to a report in the Boston Herald, Rivers received a one-year extension worth $5 million, which aims to keep him behind the bench through 2008-2009.
"Doc is a leader and I have all the confidence in the world in Doc as coach of the Celtics," said executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge. "With Doc as our coach we have the continuity that is crucial in the development of the franchise."
Rivers has accumulated a 102-144 record over three seasons, including an Atlantic Division title and 45-37 record in his first season at the helm. In his only playoff appearance as head coach, the Celtics bowed out to the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
This past year, the injury-riddled Celtics posted a 24-58 mark -- which was the team's first last-place finish in 10 years -- as well as the second-worst record in the league, only two games ahead of Memphis.
The former 13-year NBA veteran guard spent four-plus seasons as the head coach of the Magic before he was named to the head spot in Beantown prior to the 2004-2005 campaign.
Brown out for Game 3 with neck injury
May 11th, 2007
Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Utah rookie guard Dee Brown was expected to miss Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals against Golden State due to a neck injury sustained on Wednesday.
Brown slid into the middle of the lane just over midway through the first quarter, attempting to draw a charge against Warriors forward Matt Barnes. His teammate, 260-pound Mehmet Okur, landed on top of him, pushing Brown's chin into his chest. Brown remained on the floor for several minutes in obvious pain before being helped to the locker room on a stretcher.
Neurological tests on Brown came back normal, but he was taken to an area hospital for further evaluation on Wednesday night. He hopes to return for Game 4 Sunday night.
The Jazz hold a 2-0 lead in the series going into Friday's contest.