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Show DAILY Tuesday, Apail 25, 2006 HERALD NBAPLAYOFFS 2006 Heat Haslemsits out game because ofsuspension Continued from C1 Dwayne Wade | Guard Miami Heat | | prospects wereprecarious, at they're going to make a run THE ASSOCIATED PRESS no matter whattimeof the game it is,” Williams said. “It's just part of their scheme. They 4 steals, 2 blocks Shaq 0"Neal nevergive MIAMI — Udonis HasJemspleas of innocence fell on deaf ears. The Miami forward was suspended for Monday's Game of the Heat's first-round playoff series against the Chicago Bulls, a penalty the NBA levied after Haslem threw his mouthpiece toward referee Joey Crawford in up.” Hinrich hit three straight Center jumpers — a personal 7-0 run — to get the Bulls within 102-91 He eee with 4:52 left, and he scored | four morepoints in what was 22 points, 7 rebounds 3 assists, 3 blocks a 13-2 Chicagoburst that cut Miami's lead to 104-97 with Sam Cassell mt best “Anyteam in this league, when they're down10 or 20, 21 points, 7 assists Guard Five minutes later, those aoe Wadefound Walkerfor a Wade ‘ layupat the 2:46 mark, and the series opener. 108-99. Once again, the Bulls NBAvice president Stu Jacksonafter being hit a jumper59 seconds later to push Miami's lead back to Los Angeles Clippers Haslem — who called weren't done: Hinrich scored, and after Wade missed from the samespot he'd hit from one possession earlier, Nocionihit a 13 points. 5 assists 4 rebounds, 4-4 FTs ejected Saturdayto insist that he did not attempt to hit Crawford with the mouthpiece — was not at the arena Mondaynight. His team expressed displeasureand disappointmentin the punishment. “I've got to watch out whatI say,” Heat'coach 3pointerwith 1:15 left that got Elton Brand Forward Chicago within four. But Wade scored on the next trip, Nocioni threw the ball Los Angeles Clippers away on Chicago's next pos- session, and Miami could soon exhale. 19 points, 13 rebounds 3 blocks. 2 assists “We're supposed to be a defensive team, Wejust didn’t have it on that end tonight,” Hinrichsaid.“It's not over. They took careof their home HEAT 115, BULLS 108 CcHICAGO (108) hea Sree 7 NBA Playoffs First Round Heat lead series 2-0 Saturday's results court. Now wehave to go homeand takecare of our homecourt.” No one need remind Chicago how a 2-0 series lead guar- anteeslittle; the Bulls blew a two-gameleadin the first round against Washington aug - 10 Mid | Bates 103 Morph96 Cols wotssees1-0 3-PointGoats Monday's results Mamia0s se a A.PAT CARTER/Associated Press Miami's Shaquille O'Neal (32) dunks the ball as ChicagoBulls’ Chris Duhon,lowerright, looks on during the second quarter at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami on Monday. said. After Michael Sweetneyhit twofree throws with 5.4 seconds left in the half, the Bulls thenits largest, after O'Neal and Wadehad the opening twobasketsof the secondhalf. could have gone into intermis- burst that got Chicago within sions, and wonthem all. “Wehave to go up there and tryto getthe first one,” Wade at the time, woundupbeing barely enough. “But we're ahead 2-0,” Riley said.“That's whatit’s about.” } Notes: Only 16 teams in NBA history haverallied from 0-2 deficits in a best-of-seven series. ... Nocioni hit six straight Miami's cushion back to 10 and shotsat one point, mostly ended the Bulls’ run. jumpers. The streak ended on a missed 2-footerin the third Posey and Walkerhit backto-back 3-pointerslater in the quarter.... The clocks stopped third to start what became a 12- working with 2:55 left in the first quarter, shortly after 2 Miami run,with Posey capping it with.a layup for an 89Wadehit a jumper. Skiles 69 lead, and the Heatentered argued with referee Dan Craw72-64, but Wadespunin the Instead,in flash, the mar- with twolosses. The Heat have taken 2-0 series leads onfive other occa- than enoughofa penalty.” Nocioni hadfive points in a 7-0 sion trailing by only seven. last season, dropping the next four games. But recoveringis a dauntingtask; the Bulls have prevailed only oncein 14 previous playoffseries after starting Pat Riley ‘said. “I thought the ejection was more lane andthrew lob for a one- gin was 11. Williams streaked down the right sideline and made a layup with 1.2 seconds left — leaving enoughtime for one more score. Wadeintercepted Chicago's inbound pass and dunked Just before the clock went to 0.0, giving Miami a 68-57 lead at the break Miami'slead reached 15, handed O'Neal slam that got the fourth up 95-76. The margin, huge-looking ford that the shot shouldn't count, to no avail. Kings cry foul as Artest suspended for elbow Greg Beacham Washington at Cleveland ie New di indiana at New Jersey Sacramento at San Antonio Game 2 5 p.m. Game 2 Game2 6pm. 7:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY Milwaukee atDetroit Menph Artest’s reputation might have caughtup to him at a terrible timefor the Sacramento Kings Gane? 5:30 p.m. ue Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix THURSDAY Game2 8:30 p.m. New Jersey at Indiana Game 3 5:30 p.m. Miami at Chicago Game 3 Game 3 6 p.m. 2 8:30 p.m. Los Angeles Clippers at Denver FRIDAY Cleveland at Washington Game 3 6 p.m. San Antonio at Sacramento Game 3 8p.m. Phoenix at Los Angeles Lakers Game3 8:30 p.m. Artest was punished simply for being Ron Artest, possibly the mostnotorious playerof his generation. “You knowwith Ron's questionable past, they're going est on Mondayfor Game 2 of to look for a waytoget him,” said Bonzi Wells, whowill get series against the San Antonio manyof Artest’s defensive assignments. “Whetherit's minor The ‘NBA suspended Art- Game 2 I emplis at Dales harder, the Kings suggested SAN ANTONIO— Ron theKings’first-round playoff Spurs. Stu Jackson,the league's topdisciplinarian,said Artest’s elbow to ManuGinobili’s headin the eeee was egregious enough to warrant another suspension for the man who missed 73 games and the | playoffs last season after one ofthe most infamous brawis in sports history was even worthy of postgame comment, much'lessa suspen- sion nearly 48 hoursafter the playoff task got exponentially Artest was at the AT&T Center for practice Monday, statement after his usual postpractice shooting workout. “There have beena lot of things that have happened in my career which (were)unfair. I support my teammates, and caught both Artest’s teammates and the Spurs completely by surprise, because neither club thought the personal foul ‘act. But after their difficult est said in a brief, apologetic or major, they're going to look at it in a different way.” The one-gamesuspension but the focal point of Sacramento’s midseason turnaround won't be in uniform tonight whenthe Kings play Game 2 against the defending league champions. “I talked to Stu Jackson, which was encouraging,” Art- hopefully they'll win the game, and I'll be back Friday (for Game3).” Theleaguecited Artest for his foul on Ginobili in the third quarterof the Spurs’ 122-88 vic- tory. Ginobili caught Artest's elbowin his jaw while attempting to run throughthejane, and the Argentinestar fell to the groundas Artest got a per- sonal foul. ThoughSpurs coach Gregg Popovich jumped offthe bench to arguefor a flagrantfoul, Ginobili got right back up, and the game continued. Afterward, Ginobili said he wasn't injured on the play and didn’t considerit particularly serious, while Popovich said he had no problem with Artest’s aggressivestyle of play. “I didn’t even see the play, butit couldn't have been that bad,” said Mike Bibby, who declared himself “amazed” by the league's decision. “There wasnoflagrant foul or technical foul on the play. Theylookat things differently for certain people, you could say.” for Suns in Game 1 win Texasjunior Bob Baum THE ASSOCIA cameupalittle bit short.” ee did a lot of Bryant’s jump- PHOENIX — Tim Thomas admits he got away with whacking Kobe Bryantin the headata critical point in Game 1 ofthe first-roundplayoff series between the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers. Tt was that kind of day for Thomas,whose season has gone from banishment from Chicago toa starting spot with the Pa- cific Division champion Suns. Thomas madehis first eight shots — andfinished 8-of-10 — for 22 points and grabbed a career playoff best 15 rebounds in the Suns’ 107-102 victory over the Lakers on Sunday. He also acknowledged responsibility for the knot on Bryant’s head. “I definitely fouled him,” Thomas said Monday. “I got away withone,but I didn’t do it intentionally. It wasn't like I threw jab at him.” Withless than a minute to play, and the Lakers down101- 97, Bryant was sent tumbling to the floor as he lost the ball on a driveto the basket, incredulous that no whistle blew. “Yeah, that was crazy,” Bryant said after the Lakers practiced on Monday.“That PAUL CONNORS/Associated Press Phoenix's Tim Thomas had a breakout game with 22 points and 15 rebounds in the Suns’ 107-102 Game 1 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. 4. f could have made it a two-point game, whichis right where we wanted to be.” Instead, Steve Nash sank a 3pointer with 1:07 to go and the Suns handed coachPhil Jackson his first loss in 15 playoff openers. “I think all our players were encouraged by the effort, and seats re bed ee ett ee jackson said. “Our execution ( "The NBAscoring champshot 7-for-21 and scored 22 points. The Lakers went back to Los Angeles after Sunday’s game and worked out on their pracfice court Monday in prepara- tion for Game 2 on Wednesday nightin Phoenix. After averaging 42.5 points against the Suns in the regular season, Bryant never got his jumper going in a game plan that had the Lakerslooking to take advantageinside against the extremely small Suns’ lineup. Phoenix would have been even smallerif not for the addition of Thomas, who was sent homeafter playing only three gamesfor Chicago,jettisoned for what coach Scott Skiles perceived as a badattitude. “You've got to get lucky some time,” Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni said, “and we got lucky with him.” For 3 2 months, Thomas sat at home and worked out with local college and high school players. “I've heard 20 different foe sand stories,” Thomas said accountsof his issues with be Bulls. “'I didn't work hard, I had a problem with the coaches’ — all kinds ofstuff. But you know that's not really my concern. I know and the bee on the inside know what happened in that situation. I just wasn't wanted.” The Suns wanted him dearly. On March3,after Thomas cleared waivers, Phoenix land. ed a 6-foot-10, 235-pound player who could shoot from outside and averaged double-figure points in his eight previous NBAseasons. The acquisition was even morecrucial with Kurt Thomas out with a broken right foot. “Lookingatall the injuries, it’s beencritical,” Nashsaid. “When Kurt Thomas went down,wereally needed someone, not only just another big body, but somedepth, and we wereable to pick up a very capable player.” D'Antoni knowsthe Suns can’t count on another nearperfect game for Tim Thomas. “Weneed to get going on all cylinders,” D'Antoni said of the high-scoring squadthat sputtered offensively after a 39point first quarter on Sunday. D'Antoni gave the Lakers someofthe credit, but added, “We can pushthe ball a little bit more. Wecan get Steve in moreof an open-court kind of situation, quick pick-and-rolls wherethey have a hardtime. You can talk about it, but when it happens so fast it’s hard to adjust to. We didn’t do that. Welet them play the way they talked about, and we've got to get them out of that.” They can expect a more aggressive performance by Bryant, too, but not the kind of one-man show he put on against Phoenix in the regular oT fs Hsten tothe big guy,” Bryant said, gesturing toward Jackson. “That’s who I play for. If he says go out there and shoot the ball 50 times,that’s what I’m going to do. I just follow his orders,follow his lead,and try to play the way he wants me toplay,to the best of my ability.” Tucker enters NBAdraft THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Texas forward P.J. Tucker and Michigan State guard Shannon Brownsaid Mondaythey will submit their names for the NBAdraft but won't hire agents in order to keep their college a eligibility if they decide to return * for their senior seasons. “I believe the best thing for meatthis timeis to test the waters andsee whereI stand,” said Tucker, the Big 12 player year. George Washington junior guards Danilo Pinnock and Carl °. Elliott and Bradley center Patrick O’Bryantalso entered the draft Monday. They also left open returns to college by not hiring agents, and have until June 18 to pull their names out of the June 28 draft. The 6-foot-5 Tucker averaged 16.1 and9.5 rebounds last season for Texas. “This is a good rule put in ploce for payers toexplore draft position,” Longhorns coach Rick Barnes said. * Brownaveraged 17.2 points last season foree State. “Mylifelong dream has been to be an NBA player,” Brown said. “By testing the draft waters, lam allowing myself to make a more informed decision while keeping all my options open.” _crorceorge For Washington last Pinnock averaged 14.5 poeta53 rebounds,3.1 assists and 2.5 steals, and Elliott averaged 11.5 points and 3.9assists. |