OCR Text |
Show Sunday, April 23, 2006 2006|NBAPI PLAYOFFS Cavaliers just 3-0f-22 from long range Continued from D1 Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and CaronButler. Iigauskas said. “He's just a ter- offensive trio that camein av it, but figured thatif | grabbed it, maybe he'd give me a few morecalls,” James Washington's usually rehable rific player. He’s a tremendous luxurytohave, knowing Cleveland was up by14 at eraging 67.4 points combined. — whenJames wasa seventh scored 48 as Cleveland’s defense madeit tough for any of themto get a goodlook at the basket “What hurt me most was my teamnot plaving the way we much better coachEddie Jordan said. can goout there anytime and put up numberslike that.” Cleveland's first game back in theplayoffs since 1998 grader — couldn't have gone James got plenty of help fromhis supporting cast as Donyell Marshall added 19 points, Eric Snow 14 andIlgauskas andFlip Murray 10 apiece forthe Cavs. Game2 is scheduledfor Tuesday night at Quicken Loans Arena. are supposedto play.” Wizards “They did. Wedidn't.” Arenasled Washington with Cavs were already up by double digits. Arenasfouled out with 49 secondslett when he hacked show Washington's guardthe lane, James wentinto the air, turned his head to the right and the right corner for a 3 as the Cavaliers ripped off 12 in a row delivered left-handed scoop underneath to Murray, whose layup made it 74-57 When the Wizards closed and closed the period with a within13 in the fourth, James of three new pairs of Nikes to isolated Butler on the left side, wear in his playoff debut. He selected white ones with large gold straps across the tongue. strong layup to makeit 89-74 with 4:44 remaining. “He controlled the game,” Wizards forward Jared Jeffries said. “You could live with him getting 30 points, but what you is 1] rebounds and but W wash ington needs to work ree-throw and3-point Wuards were only 25- James got his 10th rebound with22 seconds to go. prompt- ing Cavs fansinto another cho- rus of “M-V-P!M-V-P! a chant they startedearly in the game whenCleveland's superstar helpedan official corral a stray‘ ear the floor i from the15-foot line and let the ref get James drained a 3-pointer from up top and scored nine straight points. Hethen fed Marshall in way back to the bench only do they Have to rethink their detensivestrategy on James. who threw over or drove arounddouble teams. “Myfirst shot in myfirst AllStar game was an airball, too,” James said. Withthe searetied 18-all, assist to Murray. Driving the blewpast him and soared for a 26 points. but he got 17 of them in the fourth quarter when the Snow. who used his thumb to Wizards have some halftime, and James push the Cavs’ advantageto 17 after three with a memorable a 31-20 lead. Bee showed bit of nervousness early on, shooting an airball on hisfirst jumper. But oncehesettled down, it was business as usual. He scored 13 points with four assists and three rebounds in the first quarter, helping the Cavs open LeBron James Forward Cleveland Cavaliers 32 points, 11 rebounds 11 assists, 47 minutes 13-2 spurt. » Notes: James had his choice James wrote “Brenda. R.1-P” on them,a salute to a high school teammate’s mother whodied recently. . The Wizards were to return home after the game. “Being an afternoon game, we can rest at home tonight and Shaquille O'Neal Center Miami Heat 27 points, 16 rebounds 5 blocks, 2 steals Dwyane Wade Guard havea light practice Sunday,” Jordan said. “It's always better to be comfortable at home.”.. MiamiHeat Wizards C Etan Thomas, who missed the final three regu- 4 rebounds, 3 steals spasms, played 7 minutes and Elton Brand lar-season gameswith back scored 2 points. 30 points, 11 assists Forward L.A. Clippers 21 points, 8 rebounds 5 assists, 4 blocks ROUNDUP Spurs begin title defense with rout SAN ANTONIO — Wow tharswas Quick. The San Antonio Spursgot their NBA utle defenseoff to 1 bluzing start with 25 points { played the last 8.6 seconds without Wade, who hobbled to the locker room apparently Ben Gordon scored 35 points and Andres Nocioni had an the Quick” VanExel, who red 1] points in the decisive 18-point, 15-rebound effort for Chicago, which connected on 13 tries from 3-point range. Kirk Hinrich scored19 points ening 122-88 victory over the ed Sacramento Kings on Bulls, who entered the game as the NBA's hottest team, winning 10 oftheir last 11 in the ards led a 41-15 runin arter, staking the Spurs regular season. Jason Williams added 17 point halftimelead. The secondhalf was all garbage toa 34 points for the Heat, who host Game 2 on Mondaynight The win added to an emotional time for Heat coach Pat timein San Antonio's seventh victory in thelast eight playif series openers — and the Riley, whose 96-year-old moth- est postseasonloss in the history Parket s frenetic dominance his mother’s death before the game,althoughheinsistedthat, his personal turmoil will not distract him during the playoffs. Spurs’ leading scorer. But three 3-pointers from Van Exel, the seldom-used veteran guard who’s retiring after this season, were shockers from which the Kings couldn't recover. D Clippers 89, Nuggets 87: At Los Angeles,the Clippers’first playoff gamein nine years was a success,but their lack of pointers and 68 percent ofits playoff experience nearly cost San Antonio madeeight 3- Ten Spurs scoredat least six coach Gregg Popovich still got shotsin the first postseason game ofhis career. veteran ’ his stars for Game 2 on Tuesday inthe best-of-seven sevenassists, and the Clippers and lon, with Parker and Bruce Bow 1. Nazr Mohammed -d 1X points and eight rebounds, hitting thefirst 3- pointerof his NBA careerin thefinal minute. The Spurslost their first- round openerto Denver last spring onthe wayto their ERIC GAY /Associated Press San Antonio Spurs guard ManuGinobili (20) is guarded by Sacramento defenders BradMiller (52) and Kenny Thomas during thefirst quarter of their gamein NBAbasketball action in San Antonio on Saturday. Western Conjerenceplayoff. playoffs with 25 wins in its last 36 games, including nineof 11 and Manu Ginobili alsoset the to earnits eighthstraight postseasontrip. Instead, Sacramento was thoroughly outrebounded and Duncan’s crewhit the ground sprinting in this postseason. Mike Bibbyscored 17 points outworkedinits biggest defeat and RonArtest had 16 on 7- and Dallas. It also was the big- of-21 shooting for the Kings, whose newfound defensive intensityis lost again after Art- a 30-pointJoss at Utahin the “the team to beat” in thefirst round. Sacramentoentered the of the season. surpassing 26point losses to New Orleans Parker penetrated the lane at will fromthe opening minutes, There hasn't beena lot of national buzz this season about Bogut. a consensusplayer of ferenceseries. draft means winning games.” Bogut does have onestatin his favor: Only three other No. 1 picks since 1985 — Tim Duncan, Chris Weber and David Robinson — havetaken their team to the playoffs as rookies. ‘ CLIPPERS 89, NUGGETS 87 SANANTONIO (122) Sacramento 24 15 28 21 — 88 San Antonio 32 41 2) 2B — 122 PoinGoals Sacramento 518 itty 23, Artest 1. Miler 0-1), San Antonio Bowen 2-2 Finley 2-3, Bar 1 Motamimed 1-1 Gnob0:1 Parker le Ou None Rebounds-—Sacramento ‘San Anton $6 (Mohammed 8) (Artest 4), San Antonio 25 Sacramento 25, SaAntonio Anthony 2-26) 7-9 25. Elson 0-0.0-0 0, Camby 1-3 2 Boole! 270-08 Miler 1121 3.328 Mana 1-29, Patterson 2-4 0-1 4. Boykins 2-8 2-26, Evans 1:22:24 Totals 35-91 16:22 87 LA. CLIPPERS (88) ass0:2 0:0 0, Brand 8-16 5-8 21, Kaman 5-12 5-5 15, Mobley 6-10 2-2 17, Cassell 6-11 6:7 19. Ragmanovic 1-3 2-2 5, Maggette 2-8 3-4 B, Rebraca 1-20-02, Lwingston 1-4 0-22 Totals 30-68 23-30 89 Denver 26 1921 a LAClippers 31° 23 22 13 — 89 4-Point Goals—Denver 1:6 (Buckner 1-4, Anthony Chopets30 Kaman 13) Assists--Dere 8 LA Cioers 22 Case 7) Toa FoulDeve 21, LA Chippers 22 Technicals—Derver Detensive Three Second LA. CionetsDelensie Three Second A—19.162 (18.964) ‘Anydeeper meaning there? “T think I wasjust lucky to get drafted bya decent organization,” Bogut said, But Bucks coachTerry Stotts says Bogut has contrib- uteda lot to the Bucks’ improvement, from a 30-52 record last seasonto 40-42. : “Whathe’s accomplishedthis year is kind of what Andrew's about: He's about winning, and doing what he needs to do for the team to be successful,” Stotts said. “Bogut doesn’t scorea lot, but the Bucks haven't asked him to. He attempted’ 10 or more shots in only 19 gamesthis season. 4 “He could have averaged six or seven morepoints,easily,” Harrissaid,“if he was more selfish.” Theshots Bogut has taken have been smart ones;his 53.3 field goal percentage ranks fifth in the league. The Bucks haveyet to let him loose, but Cuttino Mobley added 17 points for Los Angeles and Chris Kaman,another Clipper makinghis postseason debut. had 15 points and 13 rebounds. Anthony and Andre Miller each had 25 points for the Nug- gets. Marcus Cambyhad nine points and 10 rebounds and Kenyon Martin hadninepoints and eight boards., Charles Barkley said New Orleans/Oklahoma City guard Chris Paulis the overwhelming favorite for rookie of the year, but the Bucks should be happy with Bogut. “I think Milwaukee's made a greatselection,” said Barkley, an analyst for TNT television. “The kid's going to be solid for sive skills. the next several years.” Bogut, who was raised by “Hegets out on the break,” Washington Wizards coach Ed Croatian parentsin Australia, die Jordan said. “He runs well has a quiet demeanor. But for a big guy. He’s a good pass- he does show an occasional er. . We can’tlet him catch glimmerof the freewheeling it ton deep in the post — he’s frankness you'd expect from got too manynice post moves an Aussie. downthere.” Asked last weekend how the Bucks could blow out New Hall of Fame inductee others havenoticed his offen- TODAY Indiana Pacers at New Jersey Nets Game 1 iiam. Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Game 1 1:30 p.m. Milwaukeeat Detroit Game 1 5 p.m. Memphis at Dallas Game 1 7:30 p.m. MONDAY Chicago at Miami Game 2 6p.m. Denver at Los Angeles Clippers Game 2 8:30 p.m. for the third and fourth games. Milwaukee Buckscoach points only twice, and’his biggest areas of contribution to date — defense and rebound- NBA players. missedthree shots after that ,including a shot from theleft corneras time expired Game2 will be played Monday night at Staples Center before the best-of-seven,firstroundseries shifts to Denver Terry Stotts He has scored more than 20 “It’s humannature,” Bogut said. “Someguys wantto be the. best, and that’s howthey show it. Me? I think being the best Denver's Carmelo Anthony point scorer. So | think (Andrew Bogut) has the basketball 1Q and the basketball skills that his scoring,it wouldn't surprise meif it increases for the first five, six years of his career.” ~ the year in college at Utah and the No. | pick in last year’s known as a winner than a er, something he senses n't the case with some other 11 assists to help Miami take Game of their Eastern Con- beat the Denver Nuggets. Two free throwsby Vladimir Radmanovic with 59.8 seconds left snapped an 87-all tie, and Whathe's accomplished this year is kind of what Aridrew's about: He's about winning, and doing whathe needsto dofor the team to be successful. ... You know, Gary Payton scored sevenpoints a game asa rookie andevolvedinto a 20- is But Bogut would rather be slowing downthe Spurs. ) Heat 111, Bulls 106: At Miami, Dwyane Wadescored 30 points,including six straight deficit of the night, and added 1999 postseason opener. know how mentally tough he ing ona team thatisn’t known for either — don’t get him on gotintofoul trouble, and their teammatesfarednobetter in the Heat back from their only Kings’ playoff history. besting Bogut tone with several drives past Artest. Both Bibby and Artest in the fourth quarter to lead gest marginof defeat in the Continued from D1 television highlight shows SPURS122, KINGS 88 senes 10 SACRAMENTO (88), Sam Cassell added19 points and third title in seven seasons, but. est labeledhis surging club as Total Fouls Cncags 30 rect jected —Hasiem A 20-288 (19.800) them downthestretch. Elton Brand had21 points, eight rebounds and four blocked first-half shots — both fran- chise records for a playoff half, ven reboundswhilesit- CAVALIERS 97, WIZARDS 86 Cavaliers lead series 1.0 ws ON (86) Butler 4-14 3-4 1, Jamison 4-13 2-4 1), Haywood 2-33-67, Arenas7-20 11-13 26, Jetines 5-7 4-4 15, Danes 6:6 2-3 4, Ruttin 0-0 0-0 0,8 Thomas 0-5 EThomas 1-20-22, Taylor0-1 0-00. Totals 29-71 25:36 86 CCLEVELANE VELAND(97) jaes 122771132Gooden 3-91. 7 gausias47 2210 Srow 5-745 14 Hughes190-0 2. Marea 8-18,0:0 19, Murray 4-9 1Vargao 1-1 1-2 New0:00:00. 4Jones 0:00:00 foal36-87 | Washington 20 16 21 29 — 86 Cleveland 31 19 24 2 — 97 ls—Washington 3-22 (Jettres1-3 5-14 (Marshall 3-7. Murray 1-3 ames 1-4) Fouled Out—Arenas. Rebounds — Washington 48 (Jamison 7), Cleveland 60(James 11) = Washington 15 Danes 6), Cleveland 21 (James 11) Total Fouls—Washington 21. Cleveland 25 A-20.562 (20.562) er Mary died on Friday. Riley's eyes reddened as he discussed Was no surpriseafter his excellent regular seasonas the out the fourth quarter | Chicago 28 27 Miami 2537 2k 3-PointGoals and hadeightassists for the rday San Antonio's fleet-footed Tim Duncanhad11 points mami (111) riddled by cramps. iv Tony Parker and points apiecein the game, HEAT aM BULLS 106 4 sennes 1.0 1 Alen5-80-1 10 Saetney2-9 135, nat 6-164-4 er 2.3 to 30, Pratkowski 1-1 0Totals 2 Shaquille O'Neal added a monster night, 27 points and 16 rebounds for Miami — which TUESDAY Washingtonat Cleveland” Game 2 Indiana at New Jersey Game 2 6 p.m. Sacramento at San Antonio Game 2 WEDNESDAY Milwaukee at Detroit Game 2 7:30 p.m. * Spm. 5:30 p.m. Memphis at Dallas Game 2 6 p.m. Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Game 2 8:30 p.m. York and lose to Atlanta backto-back, Bogut said the difference wasthat the Hawks were still playing hard. “New Yorkhad half their team ontheinjury list, and I think mostof those guys are already back vacationing,” he said. Bogut doesn't hack down physically, either. “He's never been afraid,” Harris said. “He's oneof those guys who's very confident about himself. Andif it means he's got to get dirty and get nasty or take a hard foul or have to stand up for himself, he'll do that.” Bogut’s toughness helps deflate the long-heldbelief that players from overseas play a finesse-oriented brandof basketball. Of his experiences in Europe — including playing for Australiain the 2004 Athens Olympics — Bogutsaid, “It’s definitely more finesse, but there's still guys over there that will beat the crap out of you. There’s guyslike Ben Wallace in Europe.” Bogut says he has adjusted to the physical style of play ih 4 the NBA, but admits the long season and travel schedule have worn on him. “I think he’s gotten a second wind,” Stotts said. “Recently, his energy’s very good.I think he’s been very effective around the basket.It’s been a long year, andit 's good to see him bounce back.” Bogut scored a season-high 24 against Atlanta April 15, and the team n running its offense through him more frequently. Still, he’s not looking to score first.” “Hopefully,I’ll develop, but obviously the first few years are going to be an adjustment forset he said. Can he becomea big-time scorer? eek know, Gary Payton | Scored seven points a game as arookie and ‘evolved into a 20point scorer,” Stottssaid. “So I think he has the basketball IQ and the basketball skills that his ers’ it wouldn't surprise i me i for the first five, six years of his career.” D AP Sports Writer White in Washington contributed to this report. |