DALLAS (AP) - The Dallas Mavericks roared into the NBA Western
Conference final by finishing a sweep of the L.A. Lakers with a
122-86 rout, the second-worst playoff defeat in Lakers history.
Jason Terry scored 32 and tied an NBA postseason record with nine
3-pointers as he and Peja Stojakovic (PAY'-zhah stoy-AH'-koh-vich)
combined to make 15 of the Mavs' 20 3-pointers.
DALLAS (AP) - After 11 NBA titles, 65-year-old Lakers coach Phil
Jackson says this is it. Calling it "a wonderful run," the Hall
of Fame coach is stepping aside with former assistant Brian Shaw, a
former Lakers point guard, considered the front-runner to take over
the Lakers next season.
ATLANTA (AP) - The Atlanta Hawks got 23 points and 16 rebounds
from Josh Smith and beat Chicago 100-88 to tie that Eastern
Conference semifinal at two games apiece. That ends a nine-game
home losing streak in the second round of the playoffs for the
Hawks, who face the Bulls in Chicago in Game 5 Tuesday night.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - The Detroit Red Wings scored three times
in a span of just over 10 minutes in the final period to edge San
Jose 4-3 to cut the Sharks' lead to 3-2 in that NHL Western
Conference semifinal that is heading back to Detroit for Game 6
Tuesday night. Jimmy Howard made 39 saves to improve his lifetime
record to 4-1 in elimination games.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom will
be heading back to his home turf in Maryland to await a likely run
in the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes in two
weeks. Derby runner-up Nehro is under consideration for the
Preakness, but owner Ahmed Zayat says the Belmont Stakes on June 11
is a more likely spot for the colt's next race.
