SCOREBOARD
Sunday, April 29
Chicago at Miami (1 p.m. EDT). The Bulls, who haven’t won a playoff series since 1998, go for the series sweep against the Heat.
STARS
Friday
– Vince Carter, Nets, scored 37 points to lead New Jersey to a 102-89 victory over Toronto.
– Jason Richardson, Warriors, scored 30 points and Golden State defeated Dallas 109-91.
TRIPLE-DOUBLE
New Jersey guard Jason Kidd turned in his 10th postseason triple-double performance and the Nets beat Toronto 102-89 to take a 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round series. Kidd had a playoff career-high 19 assists along with 16 points and 16 rebounds. Kidd snapped a tie with Wilt Chamberlain and moved into one with Larry Bird for second on the career postseason triple-doubles list. He is still 20 behind Magic Johnson, the career leader.
FALTERED
Defending NBA champion Miami led Chicago by seven points at halftime and was up 12 in the third quarter, but misfired on 19 of 35 free-throw attempts and was outscored 32-17 over the final 11 1/2 minutes of a 104-96 loss in Game 3 on Friday night. The Heat had won 26 straight playoff games when leading at halftime, the second-longest streak in NBA history. From 2000 through 2004, the Los Angeles Lakers won 40 straight in that situation.
DEFENSIVE KING
Denver center Marcus Camby was voted the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year on Friday by a panel of sports writers and broadcasters. Camby, the NBA’s leader in blocked shots with a 3.3 average, also averaged 1.24 steals, tops among centers. Camby, who led in blocks for the third time, led the voting with 70 first-place votes and 431 points while San Antonio forward Bruce Bowen was second (206) and teammate Tim Duncan finished third (158).
FINED
Golden State’s Stephen Jackson was fined $50,000 by the NBA on Friday for his conduct after being ejected late in the Warriors’ Game 2 loss to the Dallas on Wednesday night. Jackson left the court in a contentious, roundabout manner after getting his second technical foul. Golden State guard Baron Davis also was ejected from the game, apparently for sarcastically applauding the officials late in the third quarter.
SPEAKING
“Maybe this year, the test is the ultimate, ultimate, ultimate test. We have to look at it that way.” – Miami coach Pat Riley after Chicago beat the Heat 104-96 on Friday night to take a 3-0 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round series. Entering these playoffs, 78 teams had faced 0-3 deficits and none have failed to win.