San Antonio Spurs vs Memphis Grizzlies live streaming basketball 4/23

San Antonio Spurs vs Memphis Grizzlies live streaming basketball 4/23. Game Review: Grizzlies guard Tony Allen  says the sellout crowd Saturday night can expect Memphis' FedExForum to be turned into the Grindhouse.

The series is tied with top-seeded San Antonio, and Allen says the plan is to make the Spurs work for everything they get in Game 3.
7:30 PM ET, April 23, 2011
FedExForum, Memphis, TN

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"I like how the referees have been calling the games the last two games," Allen said after practice Friday. "They've been letting us actually go out and you know play backyard basketball. Surprised me, but I love it, so it could be a physical game again. I'm looking forward to joining in."

Allen defines backyard basketball as pulling, grabbing and scratching. He can point to his left forearm where someone's nail dug into his flesh.

Fans are hoping to see the Grizzlies add to their first postseason win with their first playoff victory at home. Allen said the Grizzlies must focus on correcting their mistakes and getting the loose balls they missed in Wednesday night's loss 93-87 in San Antonio. That includes doing a better job keeping Spurs guard Manu Ginobili off the free throw line.

Ginobili scored 17 points Wednesday night in his first game back with a sprained right elbow, and he was 7 of 13 at the line.

"We've just got to be more disciplined down the stretch and take care of the ball," Allen said.

If this already physical series ramps up even more, guard Tony Parker insists the Spurs are ready for what should be a lot of fun.

"It's going to be a great game with a lot of intensity," Parker said. "It's going to be very physical, and they play very well at home. It's going to be a great challenge for us."

Parker said the Spurs are feeling confident. Ginobili's return, plus how San Antonio smothered Memphis center Marc Gasol and power forward Zach Randolph in the paint with double-teams certainly helped. The Spurs practiced Friday in San Antonio before flying to Memphis.

The Grizzlies are very comfortable at home, having won 30 games here this season. Shane Battier, who sealed Game 1 with his timely 3-pointer, knows from personal experience with Memphis' first playoff team how amped up the fans will be this time around. He expects fans to unleash years of frustration Saturday night.

"It's a whole different story. Last time Game 3 was make or break. We all know how that ended," Battier said of a Spurs' win on their way to a sweep. "We're in a five-game series now. For all intents and purposes, it's 0-0, and the first team to win three games wins the series."

Ginobili said the Spurs know what it takes to get a win on the road in the postseason -- they've done it before.

"And this is no different. We got to go there and try to get one. It's going to be tough because they play hard on the road, and not even at home, where their fans aren't backing them up," Ginobili said. "So we're going to have to play better and harder and make a few shots."

The foul calls could be the determining factor.

San Antonio has gone to the free throw line more than Memphis in each of the first two games with 79 fouls called on the Grizzlies compared to 53 for the Spurs.

Grizzlies guard Mike Conley said he plans to work harder to keep Parker or Ginobili from drawing fouls against him while driving to the basket. Battier had another idea against a couple of gritty guards who don't shy away from contact.

"We didn't get our money's worth on our fouls against those guys," Battier said. "If they're going to draw fouls, we've got to make them feel a little more. We can't give them touch fouls, get three-point plays and allow them to escape through the lane. Not saying we're going to do anything more dirty."

Parker is hoping to shoot a little better in Memphis, and he said the Spurs are counting on continuing to keep shooting so many free throws.

"We have to," Parker said. "They play very physical. So we have to penetrate and be aggressive and make sure we don't settle for jump shots and keep penetrating. Because they're going to foul. That's their philosophy. So we're going to get to the free throw line."

Memphis coach Lionel Hollins isn't about to bite on the idea that officials might be calling the playoffs differently than the regular season. He said it's the same officials who may be emphasizing different things that might have been let go earlier.

"I don't even want to talk about the officials. I like my money," Hollins said.

---

Associated Press writer Paul J. Weber in San Antonio contributed to this report.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Denver Nuggets nba live streaming online broadcast espn gamecast lineups, playoffs, roaster 23 april, 2011

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Denver Nuggets nba live streaming online broadcast espn gamecast lineups, playoffs, roaster 23 april, 2011. Game Review: The Nuggets are fastening their hopes to a fickle hamstring.

Arron Afflalo to the rescue.

Pronouncing his left hamstring fit after practice Friday, the Denver guard will take the court for the first time in two weeks when Denver hosts the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series.

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He's been in this position three times since mid-March, only to test out the injury in a game and aggravate it.

Afflalo, the Nuggets' top defender and go-to scorer in crunch time, has no idea how many minutes he can handle or if the hamstring will even hold up.
10:00 PM ET, April 23, 2011
Pepsi Center, Denver, CO

--------Points      Rebounds      Assists
OKC    Durant 32.0    Ibaka 8.5    Westbrook 7.0
DEN    Nene 19.0    Nene 8.5    Felton 5.0
Still, Afflalo's presence might just provide the boost the team's looking for with Denver down 2-0 in the best-of-7 series.

"We're healthy now," Afflalo said. "No more excuses."

The bickering has subsided, too.

Coach George Karl smoothed some ruffled feathers after upsetting Chris "Birdman" Andersen and J.R. Smith by keeping them on the bench for most of Game 2. Smith was especially frustrated after playing just six minutes in the Nuggets' 106-89 loss Wednesday night.

Smith was on the court when, as Karl described, the "flood gates opened" in the first half, the game quickly turning from out of hand to out of control.

The next day, Smith intimated there was a "strong possibility" he'd sign elsewhere next summer as a free agent. No longer simmering over the slight, Smith backed off that talk Friday.

"We're all the same page and we're ready to go," Smith said. "A lot of guys understood exactly where I was coming from. A few guys didn't say anything. I think it's great that we have that attitude toward one another that nobody takes anything personal and everybody just wants to win."

Karl brushed off Smith's comments, appreciating Smith's passion more than anything.

"I don't want J.R. to be happy about not playing. I want J.R. to be angry," Karl said. "I want Bird to be angry. I want them all to be angry. I would be angry. I also want them to be teammates. I think J.R., more than ever, is showing that he wants to be that guy.

"I don't think he deserves this criticism at this moment. Maybe in the past he deserved it more, not yesterday."

Reduced to a spectator the first two games, Afflalo has had to sit back and watch Oklahoma City's All-Star duo of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant go off against the Nuggets defense.

Now, it's his turn to try to slow down Westbrook, maybe even switch over for a crack at covering Durant as well.

"I'm not going to stop either one by myself," Afflalo said. "It's going to be a team effort. But I'll use my ability to try to take advantage of them in the ways that I can."

Afflalo had the Nuggets playing at a high level after the blockbuster deal that sent Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks in February. He won't dazzle on offense like Anthony or steal Billups' title of Mr. Big Shot, but he is the glue that binds this team together.

His bothersome hamstring cost him 13 games over the final month of the regular season, interrupting the team's chemistry.

In fact, four of the Nuggets' five losses in April have been to the Thunder -- all with Afflalo sidelined.

That's why his return was viewed as vital, just to try to get the team back on track against the high-flying Thunder.

"He's one of our most tough-minded, fundamentally sound, hard-nosed, winning guys on our team," Karl said. "I mean, before he got hurt, he was playing the most minutes on the team. He played more minutes than Melo, he played more minutes than Chauncey. He's a competitive, winning kid. Skill-wise, he doesn't have greatness but he's damn good in a lot of areas."

Afflalo brings quiet confidence to the court, a demeanor that rubs off on his teammates.

Westbrook knows all about that. The two were teammates at UCLA, even rooming together.

"He's going to bring more toughness," Westbrook said. "He's going to come out and be ready to compete and will play hard."

Thunder coach Scott Brooks couldn't agree more.

"I don't know the dynamics of all the inner workings on what he does on their team. I just know from the outside looking in he's very solid," Brooks said. "He's a great position defender, he's a good playmaker, he passes. He's a team guy."

Hamstring willing, Afflalo will spend plenty of time getting reacquainted with Westbrook.

As for stopping Durant, well, there just may not be a blueprint that exists for limiting the explosiveness of one of the league's most talented -- and unassuming -- players. He's averaging 32 points in this series.

"It's just all about playing together as a group, no matter who scores or who rebounds as long as you do it together." Durant said.

Precisely the message that Brooks has been preaching.

"It's a businesslike approach," Brooks said. "We know we're up 2-0, but we can't be happy about that. We have to focus all our attention, effort, energy and teamwork toward Game 3.

"We understand that we did our job. Now they have to do their job."

Dallas Mavericks vs Portland Trail Blazers nba live streaming online basketball feed commentary espn 360 webcast lineups, playoffs, roaster 23 april, 2011

Dallas Mavericks vs Portland Trail Blazers nba live streaming online basketball feed commentary espn 360 webcast lineups, playoffs, roaster 23 april, 2011. Game Review: While the energy in the first-round playoff series against Dallas looks to have tilted Portland's way, the Trail Blazers still need to address some issues if they hope to even the series.

Mavericks
(57-25, 28-13 away)
Trail Blazers
(48-34, 30-11 home)

The Blazers need to improve aspects of their defense, despite the 97-92 victory in Game 3. And they're still lacking production from the bench, even though Brandon Roy's 16 points were somewhat a breakthrough.
5:00 PM ET, April 23, 2011
Rose Garden, Portland, OR

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"We can be better," coach Nate McMillan said Friday. "And we're going to need to be better."

Wesley Matthews led the Blazers with 25 points in Portland's victory Thursday night, which drew the Blazers within 2-1 into best-of-7 series.

The result was true to the regular-season series, when each team won twice on their home court. The Blazers will host the Mavericks in Game 4 on Saturday afternoon.
---------Points      Rebounds      Assists
DAL    Nowitzki 28.7    Nowitzki 8.7    Kidd 5.0
POR    Aldridge 23.7    Camby 12.0    Miller 7.0

Besides Matthews, LaMarcus Aldridge had 20 points in the victory. Dependable veteran guard Andre Miller had 16 -- as did Roy, who had scored just one field goal in the previous two playoff games.

Roy had groused in frustration after going scoreless in Game 2. His comments touched off controversy in Portland, where fans seemed divided in their support.

The three-time All-Star had arthroscopic surgery on both his knees in January and has struggled with his role off the bench.

But spurred by the presence of his family, and supportive text messages -- even one from Charles Barkley -- Roy played with abandon in Game 3.

Now the trick for him is to do it again.

"Last night I went out there and just played and had fun," Roy said. "And that's what I'm going to have to do on Saturday."

Overall, the Mavericks' bench outscored the Blazer's bench by 109-56 through the first three games.

The Blazers had trouble stopping Jason Terry, who came off the bench and had 29 points and seven assists. The game before that it was Peja Stojakovic who gave the Blazers fits, and the game before that, there was Jason Kidd. Those three have had the bulk of scoring to complement Dirk Nowitzki.

"We'd like to get a few more guys involved and able to score a few more points. But if you're not going to have a balanced game, you need to have a couple of guys who go for big numbers," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "There's no set formula for us. We don't say Dirk's gotta be the first guy and Jet (Terry) is going to be the second and (Shawn) Marion's the third work that way for us."

The Mavericks opened this year's playoffs with an 89-81 victory. Kidd had 24 points, including a playoff career-best six 3-pointers. Nowitzki had 28 points -- 18 in the fourth quarter alone -- and 10 rebounds.

In a 101-89 Game 2 victory, Stojakovic tied his career playoff best with five 3-pointers and finished with 21 points, while Kidd pitched in 18. Nowitzki, showing more resolve than in the opener, finished with 33.

"It usually comes down to X-factors and who makes shots," said Nowitzki, who had 25 points and nine rebounds in Game 3. "In the playoffs you have to attack from everywhere, and you have to make shots and make enough plays from all over the place. Whoever is in has to be in that attack mode to really help the team win."

Nowtizki said the Mavericks also need to correct minor things that stood out in Game 3 -- Dallas had 13 turnovers and made just 13 of 23 free-throw attempts. But he liked how his team was able to hang with the Blazers in front of the their hometown crowd.

"We feel like we took their best blow and we're still right there," he said. "We have another opportunity on Saturday, and obviously we don't want to go home with a tied series."

Portland has won 11 of its last 10 at the Rose Garden. Overall against Dallas, the Blazers have a 47-18 advantage at home in the regular season, and they're 7-1 in playoff games.

Dallas is 2-1 when it opened 2-0 in 15 previous best-of-7 series. The exception was the 2006 NBA Finals when the Miami Heat defeated the Mavericks in six games. The Heat were just the third team to claim a championship after trailing 0-2.

The last time Dallas and Portland met in the playoffs was 2003. The Mavs claimed the first three games before the Blazers won the next three. The Mavericks took the deciding game in Dallas.

Chicago Bulls vs Indiana Pacers nba live streaming online basketball feed espn gamecast 23 april, 2011

Chicago Bulls vs Indiana Pacers nba live streaming online basketball feed espn gamecast 23 april, 2011. Game Review: The Chicago Bulls are on the verge of sweeping the Indiana Pacers, even though they haven't looked all that dominant.

Bulls
(62-20, 26-15 away)
Pacers
(37-45, 24-17 home)

The Bulls have won the first three hard-fought games by a combined 15 points, wrapping things up in the final moments each time. The Bulls could end the series Saturday at Conseco Fieldhouse and rest up for the second round.
2:30 PM ET, April 23, 2011
Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN

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It's been a frustrating run for the scrappy Pacers. Indiana lost double-digit leads in the first two games, then squandered a five-point advantage in the fourth quarter Thursday before losing 88-84 after a late layup by Derrick Rose.

"I felt like it was right there, but it just didn't happen," Pacers guard Darren Collison said. "It's kind of tough, this happening three games in a row."

Indiana now wants to salvage its pride.

Points      Rebounds      Assists
Rose 32.7    Boozer 11.0    Rose 5.0       CHI
Granger 21.3    Hibbert 6.3    Collison 4.3   IND

"We need at least one win in this to be respectable and build on it," Pacers forward Danny Granger said.

Rose said it's good that the Bulls have had to fight through challenges in each game.

"We're pretty good," he said. "We've been winning games and we didn't even play our best basketball yet. We've been finding ways to win. I think these games are going to help us in the long run."

Rose averaged 37.5 points in the first two games of the series, but he was held to 23 points on 4-for-18 shooting in Game 3 as Paul George and Dahntay Jones brought a physical edge to the Pacers' trapping defense.

Rose said Jones made his job much more difficult.

"It changed the game," he said. "That's what we don't want to happen -- guys coming off the bench to change the whole game, and that's what he did."

In the third quarter of Game 3, Rose drove to the hoop, and Indiana center Jeff Foster caught him with an elbow to the head that knocked him off balance. He took exception, and the two had to be separated.

Pacers interim coach Frank Vogel said it was just a hard foul.

"I think he just plays hard," he said. "I don't think it was just one play. He hits people on every play."

Rose expects more of the same treatment on Saturday.

"It's basketball," he said. "You're going to get hit. You've just got to be prepared for it. They're trying to play a rough game. If anything, I'm used to it. My teammates have got my back."

Rose said Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau has kept the team focused on basketball and not the hits.

"He's been doing a good job making sure we don't do anything foolish out there, saying we're going to pay them back by making the free throws," Rose said. "We're trying to do something special, and that something special is bigger than any technical foul."

Bulls center Joakim Noah, who had 11 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks in Game 3, said the Pacers are running out of answers.

"There's a reason they're playing like that," he said. "They've got to do something."

Noah said he hopes the Pacers don't change their physical approach.

"It's good," he said. "It gets us going. They should keep doing that."

The Pacers have had no answer for Kyle Korver. The veteran shooter has drained 7 of 8 3-pointers in the series and made critical long-range shots in all three games. He scored 10 points in the final quarter of Game 3, and played a role in Rose's crucial late layup.

"Korver killed us in the fourth," Vogel said. "He even killed us on that last play when we couldn't leave him to help."

Rose said he trusts Korver, who was signed from Utah before the season along with Carlos Boozer.

"He's knocking down shots," Rose said. "If he's open, we don't care how far away he is from the basket, we tell him to shoot. His chances are better than ours."

While Chicago has been strong in the fourth quarter throughout the series, the Pacers have fallen apart at winning time. Granger, who leads the Pacers with 21.3 points per game in the series, said the team's failure to execute late in Game 3 is another example of youth becoming an issue at the worst possible time.

"This is part of lack of ball movement and inexperience," he said. "We didn't have that many good looks and we didn't hit very many."

Chicago's defense also hounded the Pacers, holding them to 38 percent shooting in Game 3. The Pacers made just 8 of 23 shots in the fourth quarter.

"I would put it on defense," Vogel said. "Our guys are a good offensive team. They (the Bulls) just step up and make big plays."

Vogel was pleased with the way his team played in Game 3, but disappointed that there was no tangible reward.

"We competed at a high level and deserved to win," he said. "I know close doesn't count, but our guys fought."

Thibodeau said he expects the Bulls to be prepared on Saturday.

"I think we have a tough, hard-nosed team," he said. "We know that we still have a long way to go."

Los Angeles Lakers vs New Orleans Hornets nba live streaming basketball feed video scores game 11, april 22

Los Angeles Lakers vs New Orleans Hornets nba live streaming basketball feed video scores game 11, april 22. Game Review: If Pau Gasol can't get comfortable in a city once ruled by his native Spain, the Los Angeles Lakers could be in for a long series.
9:30 PM ET, April 22, 2011
New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, LAThe Hornets already are showing signs of making the first round of the playoffs more than a mere formality for the two-time defending champs, having seized home advantage with a 1-1 split of the series' first two games in Los Angeles.

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Four-time All-Star Chris Paul and his upstart squad will be back home for Friday night's Game 3, which perhaps not-so-coincidentally sold out soon after Paul led the Hornets to an upset victory in the opening game of the best-of-seven series.

Even in losing on Wednesday night, the Hornets showed they were not about to let the Lakers wipe the floor with them. New Orleans remained competitive until the final minutes of Game 2 and lost by nine despite missing 12 free throws, turning the ball over 16 times and having starting center Emeka Okafor in early foul trouble.

If anything, that result left the Hornets' surprising nine-point triumph in Game 1 look like less of a fluke and made it clear that the Lakers had lost any intimidation factor they may have earned with their four-game sweep of the teams' regular season meetings.

"We feel as though we kind of beat ourselves," Hornets guard Jarrett Jack said of Game 2. "Take no credit away from them, but we definitely had some mistakes."

Then again, things might have been different if Gasol hadn't struggled in both games. He scored eight points in each -- about 11 below his regular season average -- on a combined 4 of 19 shooting.

For now, Gasol at least sounds as if his confidence is unshaken and he knows the formula for snapping out of his postseason shooting slump.

"You've got to stay aggressive out there, no matter what's going on, no matter whether things are going your way or not," Gasol said. "You've got to continue to play and continue to make plays whichever way you can."

Even Kobe Bryant, who hasn't been shy about urging Gasol to overcome his nice-guy nature on the court, was more complimentary of the struggling forward's Game 2 performance.

"He didn't have a good shooting night, but he was aggressive and he attacked," Bryant said. "That's what we need from him. He sets the tone for everybody else in terms of him being aggressive. It's a certain energy that he carries with him."

The Lakers survived Gasol's 2 of 10 shooting on Wednesday in part because they simply have the depth one expects from a title contender. Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom and Ron Artest picked up the slack on offense. Meanwhile, the whole team played better defense after Phil Jackson decided to have Bryant replace Derek Fisher as Paul's primary defender.

Rather than filling his normal role of piling up points, Bryant focused on defense and it seemed to catch on among his teammates. Jackson was clearly pleased and could very well employ the same strategy again on Friday night.

"That was the defense that we played late in the season when we had our little run," Jackson said, referring to an 18-game stretch in which the Lakers won 17 times.

Paul went from being dominant (33 points, 14 assists in Game 1) to exceptional (20 points, nine assists in Game 2) and the Hornets offensive flow as a whole seemed more disrupted as their shooting percentage plummeted from 52 percent to 39 percent.

"I wish we could have gotten 2-0, but I feel good because we competed," Paul said. "But in order to win this series, it's going to take more. It's going to take more from me, it's going to take more from everybody."

Hornets rookie coach Monty Williams wasn't ready to congratulate his team on leaving Los Angeles with one win. Rather, he wondered whether he should be concerned that his team let an opportunity to take a 2-0 lead slip away.

"It's different because we're playing against a team that has so much experience in these situations, and we don't and I don't," Williams said. "So, we have to play a certain way. We can't say 'Oh, we split in LA, now let's go home.' We have to have the mentality that we have to win every game that we can."

In other words, Williams remembers how the Lakers ripped the 2009-10 NBA title from Boston's grasp after falling behind 3-2 in the finals -- and overcame a double-digit deficit in the second half of Game 7 to do it.

Compared to the task they faced against the Celtics last June, the Lakers challenge in the Big Easy doesn't look all that hard. At least, not yet.

Orlando Magic vs Atlanta Hawks nba live streaming online basketball feed video scores game 11, april 22

Orlando Magic vs Atlanta Hawks nba live streaming online basketball feed video scores game 11, april 22. Game Review: Al Horford still remembers the thrilling atmosphere when the Hawks were at home during the 2008 playoffs.
8:00 PM ET, April 22, 2011
Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
The team was a huge underdog against the top-seeded Boston Celtics but took the series to the max by winning all three games in Atlanta -- spurred on by raucous sellout crowds that caught everyone off guard with their intensity.

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"Electric," said Horford, the Hawks' All-Star forward. "I've played in big college games. They were like a college crowd. It was such a rush being here. That year, I think the Celtics were a little taken aback and surprised by that."

This season, the home court has seemed more like a disadvantage to the Hawks. They had just 24 wins at Philips Arena, playing before thousands of empty seats most nights. More troubling, there were plenty of blowouts among the 17 losses -- more, in fact, than any team with a winning record in NBA history.

"That's crazy, ain't it?" forward Marvin Williams said. "In the past, we've played really well at home and struggled at times at home. Well, we've become a better road team, a much better road team, but at home it's just been up and down this year."

New York (23-18) was the only playoff team to win fewer home games.

The Hawks know they've got to reverse that trend to take advantage of splitting the first two games in Orlando. Game 3 is Friday night.

"I wish I could put my finger on it," Atlanta coach Larry Drew said after practice Thursday. "I just think our guys have played with a little bit more sense of urgency on the road. I think they play on the road like their backs are against the wall. It's us against the world on the road."

Indeed, the Hawks have improved dramatically away from home, just missing out on a winning record (20-21) with a mark that was their best in a full season since 1997-98.

But, ohhhh, how they struggled at home, winning 10 fewer games at Philips Arena than a year ago. And some of those performances were downright ugly. A 41-point loss to New Orleans. A 34-point blowout by Philadelphia. A 33-point rout against Chicago. Two other defeats by at least 20 points.

Now, we get to the chicken-or-the-egg question.

The Hawks have never been one of the league's better-drawing teams, and attendance dipped this year to an average of less than 16,000 per game. Even those numbers -- which ranked 22nd in the NBA -- were clearly padded. Many nights, it appeared that less than 10,000 were actually in the seats. Things have gotten so bad the team actually put up a black curtain in the upper deck, cordoning off several sections of nosebleed seats that probably weren't going to be sold anyway.

So, did the drop-off in attendance lead an emotionally fragile team to tank some games? Or did the poor showings at Philips cause more fans to stay home?

"On the road, we're much more focused," Horford said. "At home, there were times we didn't necessarily feel like that we had that confidence from the crowd. But I think our crowd feeds off what we do. So, if we have some highlight plays and we get it going, I think the crowd really buys into that."

But, he had to concede, it's discouraging to play before so many empty seats, or to have your own crowd cheering for the opponent.

"I think some of the guys feel like we've reached the point where we're a good team, but we're not getting that support we need," Horford said. "I can understand that's a little frustrating. But I know there's some loyal Hawk fans out there."

That wasn't the case in last year's second-round playoff series against the Magic. Already staggering from two double-digit losses in Orlando, things turned downright nasty for the Hawks once they got back home.

On the way to taking the most lopsided four-game sweep in NBA history, the team was booed by its own crowd in Game 3 -- prompting star guard Joe Johnson to say he "couldn't care less" if anyone showed up for the next contest. They did, and bombarded Johnson with more heckling every time he touched the ball.

Even though the team has already sold out Game 3 -- only a few hundred standing-room tickets remain -- Johnson wasn't ready to proclaim that everyone will be cheering for the Hawks. He remembers a 24-point loss to the Lakers back in February, which seemed more like a Los Angeles home game with so many fans rooting for Kobe Bryant and the defending NBA champions.

"I don't know what to expect," Johnson said. "We'll see."

The Hawks are promoting a "Dwight-Out" for next two games -- encouraging all fans to wear white in hopes of rattling Magic star Dwight Howard.

Bring it on, said Howard.

The Atlanta native expects to feel the brunt of the crowd's wrath, even in his hometown, after averaging 39.5 points and 19 rebounds during the first two games of the series.

"I guess they make it a point, since I'm the hometown guy, to try to bug me the whole game," Howard said. "So I'm just going to not think about it and just focus on us."

Orlando's Ryan Anderson said it's important to silence the Atlanta fans -- or even turn them against the Hawks, the way the Magic did a year ago.

"Obviously it's fun to shut a crowd up and that's something we can do," Anderson said. "I know last year in Atlanta, that's something that we did. And that can be an advantage, too, when you have the crowd going against a (home) team."

Horford wants a repeat of three years ago.

"We need our fans to pick it up to a new level," he said. "We need a Boston-Hawks atmosphere in here."

Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks nba live streaming online basketball scores 11, april 22

Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks nba live streaming online basketball scores 11, april 22. Game Review: Spike Lee and the celebrities will pack the place. ESPN will be there to televise it.

After seven long years, Madison Square Garden is finally open again for postseason basketball business.
7:00 PM ET, April 22, 2011
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
And what a perfect time and place it would be for Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire to deliver in tandem after both have been dominant individually so far in the playoffs.

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Or maybe it's the ideal setting for the Boston Celtics to torment the Knicks again.

The Celtics bring a 2-0 lead into Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first-round series on Friday, with the Knicks knowing they were close to winning both games but also getting close to going home for the summer.

"We're definitely not thinking about that," Anthony said Thursday after practice. "Game 3 tomorrow here on our home court, it's a must-win for us. ... This is the hardest game by far that we've played this season."

The Knicks aren't sure who will be there to help Anthony. Stoudemire missed practice Thursday but is expected to play after he was sidelined the second half of the Celtics' 96-93 victory in Game 2 on Tuesday with back spasms.

Chauncey Billups hopes to join him, but he is questionable after straining his left knee on a drive to the basket late in the opener and sitting out Game 2.

The Knicks sent much of their core to Denver in the February deal that brought Anthony and Billups from the Nuggets, believing together with Stoudemire that duo would make the Knicks a solid first-round threat.

Instead, injuries forced them to play much of Game 2 with backups surrounding Anthony, who nearly carried them with 42 points and 17 rebounds.

"It's disappointing that it's not there, but at the same time, the way we played the second half in the second game without the two, we're confident we can still get the job done," Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said.

They key for the Knicks is what Anthony and Stoudemire can do together.

Stoudemire was a force in Game 1, finishing with 28 points and 11 rebounds. But Anthony picked up two fouls in the opening two minutes, sat the rest of the first quarter and never got on track, limited to 15 points and finishing a 1-for-11 second half by missing a long 3-pointer that ended an 87-85 loss.

Anthony followed with his spectacular Game 2, but Stoudemire watched most of it after hurting his back during warmups. Anthony is unlikely to match his numbers if Stoudemire plays, but the Knicks realize their best chance to beat a deeper Boston team is by having their two superstars play well at the same time.

"Obviously some of his production will go down only because some of it's going to Amare. But they should be able to coexist and be good," D'Antoni said.

The game Friday is the first at Madison Square Garden in the postseason since April 25, 2004, and comes 10 years to the day since the Knicks' last playoff victory there, a 92-85 win over Toronto in the opener of a first-round loss. The reputation of the "world's most famous arena" has survived even while the Knicks' has been badly weakened in the last decade.

"In a day and age where so many different cities have remodeled, renovated or built new structures, Madison Square Garden is probably one of the most unique because it still stands and it's still relevant," said Celtics guard Ray Allen, who hit a famed jumper there for Connecticut to win the 1996 Big East tournament.

More recently, it's been a good place for his Boston teammates to show off.

Paul Pierce knocked down the tiebreaking shot with 0.4 seconds left in the Celtics' 118-116 victory back in December, two months after hitting a tiebreaking shot here in a preseason game with 8 seconds to go. Kevin Garnett beat the overtime buzzer with a jumper to give Boston a 107-105 victory on Nov. 22, 2009.

The stakes are much higher now, and the Celtics' execution has been equally as sharp, with decisive baskets by Allen and Garnett in the closing seconds of the first two games after the Knicks had outplayed the defending East champs for large parts of both.

So the Knicks are getting tired of watching the Celtics torture them with their late-game execution.

"I think it was more like a mental exhaustion, just knowing how hard we played, how close we were in both of those games for us to not win any of those games," Anthony said.

New York hosts Game 4 on Sunday, when it will either try to tie the series or save its season. The Knicks believe they will get at least one of them, sounding far more satisfied than Celtics coach Doc Rivers, who said his team needs to play better.

"Our confidence is they didn't play well because we didn't let them play well," D'Antoni said.

Portland Trail Blazers vs Dallas Mavericks live streaming baseketball feed online broadcast nba coverage nat tv audio video feed april 16, 2011

Portland Trail Blazers vs Dallas Mavericks live streaming baseketball feed online broadcast nba coverage nat tv audio video feed april 16, 2011. Game Review: There was a time when Dirk Nowitzki was a young, rising star, a guy whose expanding skills were making his team more of a championship contender every spring.

Trail Blazers
(48-34, 18-23 away)
Mavericks
(57-25, 29-12 home)

Now Nowitzki is at the point in his career where teammates talk about wanting to help him finally win a ring. Having been to the NBA finals and won an MVP award, it's the only thing that still drives him.

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His Dallas Mavericks will give it another try starting Saturday night with the opener of a first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers and LaMarcus Aldridge -- a young, rising star whose expanding skills are making his team more of a championship contender.

While skeptics say the Mavs are too old and too flawed to win it all, Nowitzki's rebuttal is simply, "I don't talk to skeptics."

9:30 PM ET, April 16, 2011
American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX

Depth Chart
Portland (PPG) vs Dallas (PPG)
PG            A. Miller     J. Kidd
SG            W. Matthews     R. Beaubois
SF            G. Wallace     S. Marion
PF            L. Aldridge     D. Nowitzki
C            M. Camby     T. Chandler 

"We're playing for a championship," Nowitzki said Friday. "That's really the only goal. I don't know if we have something to prove. If we don't win a championship, it's another disappointing season."

Nowitzki knows all about those. Since blowing a 2-0 lead in the 2006 NBA finals, Dallas has won only a single playoff series. The Mavs have been dumped in the first round three of the last four postseasons, fueling much of that skepticism. Portland is the chic pick as the bottom seed most likely to pull off an upset this round.

"We know that a lot of people doubt us, but we also know we can't just talk come out and talk about how good we are or how well we're going to play," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "We're going to have to do it on the floor. That's the way it should be. I don't think I've ever been with a team that didn't feel like we have something to prove every time we step on the floor. Our situation now is no different."

Although the Trail Blazers are a sixth seed, they've been on the rise the last few seasons. The addition of Gerald Wallace at the trade deadline has really sped things up.

Portland is 11-5 since mid-March, with a pair of wins over both San Antonio and Dallas, plus single wins over the Lakers and Oklahoma City.

The Blazers have a nice mix of young and old. They balance 30-somethings starters Andre Miller and Marcus Camby with the 28-year-old Wallace and Aldridge leading a parade of guys in their fifth season or less. That group includes Brandon Roy and Wesley Matthews, who in his second season is the team's second-leading scorer.

They also have lots of size, from big guards who can muscle up on Dallas' backcourt to plenty of long arms to make things tough closer to the rim.

"I think we do a great job with the guys we have in versatility, you know, guys being able to guard different positions," Wallace said. "So instead of up trying to match up with other teams, we put pressure on them to try to match up with us."

Aldridge is the toughest matchup.

The 6-foot-11 power forward averaged 21.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game this season, both career bests. But his improvement went beyond the numbers. He took on the challenge of fighting for more points in the paint, a great way to earn respect in the NBA. He also thrived in the role as the team's focal point, accepting and embracing that challenge.

"When he gets to the middle and he gets to his sweet spot, he's almost unstoppable," said Mavs center Tyson Chandler, who will have to cover Aldridge. "We've got to make it tough for him, keep him away from easy baskets, force him to roll out, get him to some uncomfortable spots and get him missing some baskets so we can fast break."

Aldridge has been especially tough on Dallas, averaging 27.8 points and 9 rebounds over four meetings. He scored 35 points in a December game he proudly calls his breakthrough performance of the season. A native of the Dallas area, he'll be playing in front of friends and family, including his mother, who is battling cancer and has rarely been able to visit Portland to watch him play in person.

"I think it's going to be a hard fought-out series," Aldridge said. "We've got to bring our best and go play."

This is the third straight trip to the playoffs for the Trail Blazers, but they're seeking their first series win since 2000.

Watch Atlanta Hawks vs Orlando Magic live streaming basketball online coverage nat tv audio video feed internet sopcast april 16, 2011

Watch Atlanta Hawks vs Orlando Magic live streaming basketball online coverage nat tv audio video feed internet sopcast april 16, 2011. If the Orlando Magic's 2010-11 season were likened to a fairy tale, it would probably be a mix of "The Wizard of Oz" and "Alice in Wonderland."

Hawks
(44-38, 20-21 away)
Magic
(52-30, 29-12 home)

Back in December, the Magic's championship journey was detoured by a massive trade that altered their roster. Then, in the second half of the schedule, injuries, inconsistency and other growing pains left a team that made the NBA Finals two years ago feeling like it was trudging through some strange world.

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Saturday night, familiarity returns as Orlando opens the playoffs against an Atlanta team it swept out of the Eastern Conference semifinals a year ago. But this time the Magic face a Hawks squad that has had their number this season.
7:00 PM ET, April 16, 2011
Amway Center, Orlando, FL

"They got a lot of the same guys, but as far as the way they play against us, it's a lot different," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said of Atlanta, which has beaten Orlando in three out of four meetings in 2010-11.

The Hawks jettisoned point guard Mike Bibby in favor of Kirk Hinrich in a February trade with Washington. They also moved Jason Collins to center and Al Horford to power forward, allowing Horford a lot more flexibility on the offensive end.

Horford is averaging a career-best 15.3 points overall and 16.3 in the four games against Orlando. Hinrich, an off and on starter with the Wizards, has clearly found a groove in the Hawks' lineup. And though Collins' numbers haven't been great (4.5 points and 3.2 rebounds) against Orlando, by guarding Dwight Howard he has allowed Horford to avoid foul trouble.

Whether it was that adjustment or not, Howard and the Magic have suffered offensively against Atlanta.

As a team Orlando is averaging only 82.5 points per game, while shooting just 38 percent overall and 22 percent from the 3-point line. Those are all below its season averages of 99.2 points, 46 percent from the field and 36 percent from 3.

"That's not us. We want to be high 90s, low 100s," point guard Jameer Nelson said. "If we could score 200, that would be great."

Howard's individual output has also waned. After going 10 for 20 and scoring 27 points in the Nov. 8 win over Atlanta, he was held below 50 percent shooting in the final three games and shot just 43 percent overall.

Howard said turning that around isn't a complex proposition.

"The three games that they beat us in, the pace was slow and we played to their liking," Howard said. "In order to beat these guys we have to run and we have to move."

Hawks coach Larry Drew said their ball movement will be pivotal in replicating the regular- season success.

"You can't just set up. You have to attack them," Drew said. "Even though they have the most potent defensive player in the league down there in the middle, you have to attack them in the paint. You can't have a fear about him and we've done that so far."

For the first time in two months the Magic had 12 players available for their final two practices this week, and are hoping to have back reserve guard J.J. Redick. He missed the final 17 games with a lower abdominal strain and will get a final evaluation at the team's Saturday morning shootaround.

"If he can go, I'm going to go back to playing him," Van Gundy said. "It's a fairly easy decision based on what I saw today and the struggles we've had on the bench."

Nelson said that though this playoff run begins with only four players (Nelson, Howard, Redick and Hedo Turkoglu) that were on the roster for the NBA Finals run two years ago, he has plenty of confidence in this new group.

Forwards Brandon Bass and Ryan Anderson were both with the team last season and new addition Jason Richardson started 16 games for Phoenix in its surge to the Western Conference Finals last year.

"It's fun. I've done it numerous times now, and on different teams in terms of personnel," Nelson said. "One thing I know is we have winners on this team . . . We're hard to beat when we play the right way."

And his response to Hawks players who reportedly took offense to his recent postgame comments to Chicago's Derrick Rose that Nelson would see him in Round 2?

"I didn't mean anything by it, but they can take it the way they want to take it," Nelson said. "... Am I supposed to tell Rose 'I'll see you next year?' I want to win the series (against Atlanta). What am I supposed to say to the guy? But they can take it how they want to take it and may the best team win."

Watch Philadelphia 76ers vs Miami Heat live streaming basketball audio video feed online coverage Nat tv april 16, 2011

Watch Philadelphia 76ers vs Miami Heat live streaming basketball audio video feed online coverage Nat tv april 16, 2011. Dwyane Wade started this Miami Heat postseason push a year ago.

Not with The Decision.

He made The Promise.

1    2    3    4     T
31    18            49 PHI   
19    35            54 MIA   

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When the Heat were bounced in the first round of the 2010 playoffs, Wade raised an eyebrow for emphasis and said, "This will be my last first-round exit for a while."

You know the rest. The roster was revamped. LeBron James and Chris Bosh arrived. The Heat won 58 games, all seeming meaningless since this season will be solely judged by playoff results, the first of those coming Saturday when the Philadelphia 76ers visit for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
3:30 PM ET, April 16, 2011
AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami, FL

"I'm always thinking about that," Wade said Friday when asked to recall his mindset when delivering those words. "I meant it."

Motivation is not scarce around the Heat, with James still looking for his first championship, a slew of veterans with 10-plus seasons of experience seeking their first rings, and six months of jabs from doubters serving as fuel. Topping it off, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra dusted off the 2006 NBA championship trophy at a team meeting Thursday night.

"Inspiration and motivation," James said. "Two words that describe it for me."

Philadelphia coach Doug Collins understands. His team -- 150-1 underdogs at some sports books in this series -- is acutely aware that Miami has spent the last 82 games thinking about this moment, the start of a run that the Heat hope ends with them hoisting a trophy of their own.

"When those three guys got together last summer, Saturday is what they were shooting for," Collins said. "They did get through the regular season, but they're pinning their hopes on starting Saturday, that they can make a championship run."

Miami swept the season series 3-0, with the winning margins between 9-12 points.

The teams last played on March 25, a game in Miami where the 76ers led by as many as 16 in the first half and took a 82-77 lead into the fourth. Wade took over from there, outscoring Philadelphia 18-17 over the final 12 minutes and leading the Heat to a 111-99 victory.

Wade averaged 30.7 points on 52 percent shooting against the 76ers this season, with James averaging 22.7 points and Bosh 17.7 points.

"The whole team is good. They don't have that record because of just three guys," Philadelphia forward Thaddeus Young said. "This is really what they're playing for is the playoffs. But we expect to be ready to try and stop them."

Miami got another boost at practice Friday, when power forward Udonis Haslem went through the workout. Haslem hasn't played since November because of a ruptured foot ligament, and the team is still being cautious about his potential postseason availability.

"I think the first day was a success," Haslem said.

Philadelphia had five players average double-digits against the Heat, led by Jodie Meeks (17.5) and Louis Williams (14.3).

This Heat team was assembled for "multiple championships," James insisted when Miami welcomed him, Wade and Bosh last July 9, one day after the two-time MVP went on television to announce he was leaving Cleveland in what's known as The Decision.

The start was rocky. Miami was 9-8. That's been long forgotten: The Heat went 49-16 from there, the first sparks of promise seeming to come when the Heat returned to James' old Cleveland home on Dec. 2 and won 118-90 in perhaps the most raucous regular-season atmosphere in league history.

"Going back to Cleveland was the thing that got him jump-started," Collins said. "When they played in Cleveland, it seemed like he and the team took off at that moment."

The 76ers had a jump-start, too.

They played Miami twice in the season's first month. Philadelphia lost its season-opener at home 97-87, then fell again Nov. 26 in Miami, 99-90. That one sent the 76ers to 3-13, which was then the NBA's second-worst record.

Much like Miami's sputter from the gate, that seems long ago. Over the next four months, the 76ers won 37 of 60 games before losing five of six to end the season.

So here they are, playing with absolutely no burden of expectation.

"They're dangerous, no question about it," Wade said. "First two games are in Miami, we've got to come out and take care of business."

That's been James' mantra all season.

He said sleep likely will be tough Friday night, with his emotions already soaring in playoff anticipation. James said he didn't minimize the importance of the regular season, but it's not exactly a state secret to know that everything means much more starting Saturday afternoon.

"I'm ready," James said.

Indiana Pacers vs Chicago Bulls live streaming online broadcast of NBA live stream basketball audio video feed internet coverage justin tv comcast NATtv april 16, 2011

Indiana Pacers vs Chicago Bulls live streaming online broadcast of NBA live stream basketball audio video feed internet coverage justin tv comcast Nat tv 4/16. Watch all your favourite basketball matches at home on your desktop. No tension hasslefree broadcast of High Quality live streaming.

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Chicago Bulls Depth Chart
POS    STARTER    2ND    3RD    4TH    5TH
Point Guard    Derrick Rose    C.J. Watson    John Lucas       
Shooting Guard    Keith Bogans    Ronnie Brewer    Kyle Korver    Jannero Pargo   
Small Forward    Luol Deng    Rasual Butler           
Power Forward    Carlos Boozer    Taj Gibson    Brian Scalabrine       
Center    Joakim Noah    Omer Asik    Kurt Thomas

Indiana Pacers Depth Chart
POS    STARTER    2ND    3RD    4TH    5TH
Point Guard    Darren Collison    A.J. Price    T.J. Ford       
Shooting Guard    Paul George    Brandon Rush    Dahntay Jones    Lance Stephenson   
Small Forward    Danny Granger    Mike Dunleavy           
Power Forward    Tyler Hansbrough    Josh McRoberts    James Posey       
Center    Roy Hibbert    Jeff Foster    Solomon Jones

Chicago Bulls News Reviews:
Countdown to the 2011 NBA Playoffs
A Opinion Business A A A Energy Sports Entertainment A A A A Life A A A A Health A A A A Technology A A A A Travel A A A A Jobs A A A A Cars A A A A Homes A A A A Classifieds A A A A A A More Images A A Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls is greeted by teammates during player introductions before a game against the New Jersey Nets at United Center ...
Miami Heat among favourites for NBA title
After a sluggish start to the season, the Miami Heat's All-Star trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have silenced their critics and head into the playoffs among the favourites to win an NBA title.
NBA playoff matchups
8. INDIANA Season series: Chicago, 3-1 Key stat: The Pacers would have been No. 12 in the West, two games ahead of No.
Bulls don't plan to change a thing against the Pacers
One-on-one work with coach Tom Thibodeau has been invaluable to Joakim Noah . Joel Lerner~Sun-Times Media Off the court, they admire a leader who campaigned on ''change you can believe in.'' Having paid their respects to President Obama, though, Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah are eager to begin their playoff campaign today following a leader who ...
Noah on United Center: 'It's gonna be poppin'!'
Noah on United Center: 'It's gonna be poppin'!' By Fred Mitchell Tribune reporter , With the best regular-season record in the entire NBA, the Bulls earned home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
Rose ready for whatever is thrown his way in playoffs
Fouls aren't called on the asphalt courts at Englewood's Murray Park. Oops! Las Vegas replica appears on Statue of Liberty postage stamp Lady Luck or Lady Liberty? Las Vegas edged out the Big Apple on a postage stamp that bears the likeness of Sin City's diminutive replica of the New York City landmark instead of the original.
'All 15 guys can play,' Thibodeau says
Fouls aren't called on the asphalt courts at Englewood's Murray Park. Oops! Las Vegas replica appears on Statue of Liberty postage stamp Lady Luck or Lady Liberty? Las Vegas edged out the Big Apple on a postage stamp that bears the likeness of Sin City's diminutive replica of the New York City landmark instead of the original.
Deng stifles Pacers' Granger
Fouls aren't called on the asphalt courts at Englewood's Murray Park. Oops! Las Vegas replica appears on Statue of Liberty postage stamp Lady Luck or Lady Liberty? Las Vegas edged out the Big Apple on a postage stamp that bears the likeness of Sin City's diminutive replica of the New York City landmark instead of the original.
Monte Poole: Youth will be served in this year's NBA playoffs
Kobe Bryant's driving ambition, his personal campaign, is to enter the VIP level of the NBA's penthouse suite, joining Bill Russell and Michael Jordan standing above everyone else.
Richard Walker and Gabe Whisnant break down the NBA playoffs
RW: Boston Celtics. Can they have make another playoff run to the finals after a subpar finish? They can if Shaquille O'Neal is healthy.
Countdown to the 2011 NBA Playoffs
Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls is greeted by teammates during player introductions before a game against the New Jersey Nets at United Center on April 13, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois.
Chalk will be the story in NBA's first round
The long, winding road to the NBA postseason always ends around tax time and that always gets me reminiscing about Otis Birdsong, the former All-Star sharp-shooter for the Kansas City Kings and New Jersey Nets.
Best Bars To Watch the Bulls In the NBA Playoffs
Apr 15th 2011 12:00PM / by Erin Chan Ding You can hear it in the United Center stands every time Derrick Rose goes to the free throw line.
Bulls coach OK with lack of experience
Tom Thibodeau is a creature of habit, and his habit earned the Chicago Bulls the best record in the NBA this season.
Rose: Obama would attend Bulls' Finals game
Derrick Rose speaks during a fundraiser Thursday for President Barack Obama at Navy Pier.

Indiana Pacers News Reviews:

Kravitz: Why will Bulls win? Let me count the ways
If I were more creative, or possibly several cold beers into this column, I might be able to summon up some good reasons why the Indiana Pacers have a chance to give the Chicago Bulls a series.
Pacers-Bulls Matchups
Point guard Chicago's Derrick Rose, a league MVP candidate, had 2,026 points, 623 assists and 330 rebounds this season.
Tougher task for Pacers: Beating No. 1 seed, or getting acclimated to playoffs?
Pacers president Larry Bird said of his team: "They have no idea what they're getting into because the intensity level goes up." Bird knows all about the playoffs, winning NBA titles with Boston in 1981, '84 and '86. / Associated Press file photo It's an image that has routinely been shown during the playoffs the past 17 years.
Pacers must stop Bulls' Rose, but he's not job No. 1
Taj Gibson , C.J. Watson and the Bulls play an aggressive defense that is tough to crack.
Pacers must stop Bulls' Rose, but he's not job No. 1
Game 1: At Chicago, 1 p.m. Sat., ESPN Game 2: At Chicago, 9:30 p.m. Mon., TNT Game 3: At Indy, 7 p.m. Thurs., Fox Sports Indiana/NBA TV Game 4: At Indy, 2:30 p.m. April 23, TNT Game 5: At Chicago, April 26, TBD * Game 6: At Indy, April 28, TBD * Game 7: At Chicago, April 30, TNT * -- If necessary Fast.
Knicks, Pacers back in playoffs
The Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks, once rivals and fixtures in the playoffs in the 1990s, have rebuilt and returned to postseason play after long droughts.
Frank Vogel's coach start, a true Cinderella story
Frank Vogel's coaching career began as a video coordinator under Rick Pitino at Kentucky.
Frank Vogel's coach start, a true Cinderella story
C2 Staff picks. C2 Commissioner says NBA will make another collective bargaining proposal to players.
NBA playoff preview: Team by team
Chicago: G Derrick Rose is a latter-day Isiah Thomas and possible MVP. Indiana: C Roy Hibbert can defend the paint.
All about the numbers
Sometimes, the numbers confirm what you see. Sometimes they don't. But when taken in context, they always give you more information.
Deng stifles Pacers' Granger
Fouls aren't called on the asphalt courts at Englewood's Murray Park. Oops! Las Vegas replica appears on Statue of Liberty postage stamp Lady Luck or Lady Liberty? Las Vegas edged out the Big Apple on a postage stamp that bears the likeness of Sin City's diminutive replica of the New York City landmark instead of the original.
Deng stifles Pacers' Grander
Danny Granger averaged 20.5 points on 42.5 percent shooting this season, but those numbers dropped slightly to 20 points and drastically to 36.7 percent in his three games against the Bulls.
Deng stifles Pacers' Grander
Fouls aren't called on the asphalt courts at Englewood's Murray Park. Oops! Las Vegas replica appears on Statue of Liberty postage stamp Lady Luck or Lady Liberty? Las Vegas edged out the Big Apple on a postage stamp that bears the likeness of Sin City's diminutive replica of the New York City landmark instead of the original.
Bulls face Pacers, hope for deep playoff run
Indiana Pacers' Tyler Hansbrough, left, and Mike Dunleavy sit on the bench during the fourth quarter during an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic in Orlando, Fla., Wednesday, April 13, 2011.
NBA playoff capsules
The Associated Press' Brian Mahoney looks at first-round series that start Saturday.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Sacramento Kings nba live streaming online broadcast foxtv espn radio commentary april 11, 2011

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Sacramento Kings nba live streaming online broadcast foxtv espn radio commentary april 11, 2011. You can watch all the nba matches of 2011 right through the internet from your home. Game Review: It won't be easy for the Oklahoma City Thunder to move up in the standings, but they are trying their best. The Sacramento Kings, meanwhile, soon will likely be moving south.

The Thunder have slim hopes of moving up from the fourth seed entering Monday night's game in Sacramento, where the Kings are beginning their final two-game homestand before an anticipated move to Anaheim.

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Kevin Durant scored 31 points in the Thunder's 120-106 road win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. Oklahoma City (54-26) had lost all nine previous games on the road to the Lakers, including three in the postseason, since Durant joined the team.

"This was a step in the right direction, but we want to get to something bigger, but it was kind of a statement win for us," Durant said.

10:00 PM ET, April 11, 2011
Power Balance Pavilion, Sacramento, CA

     Points      Rebounds      Assists
Durant 27.8    Perkins 8.3    Westbrook 8.2 OKC   
Thornton 20.8    Cousins 8.7    Evans 5.6    SAC   

Russell Westbrook added 26 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Thunder, who outscored the Lakers 32-16 in the fourth quarter. Los Angeles has lost five straight.

"The fourth quarter defense was the best as we could possibly play against one of the best teams in basketball," Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said. "Anytime you can beat the Lakers it's a good win. They're one of the best teams and they haven't won a lot of games lately, but they're going to be right there."

Los Angeles and Dallas are tied for the No. 2 seed, one game ahead of Oklahoma City. The Thunder can finish second in the West if they win out, the Lakers lose twice and the Mavs lose once.

The postseason is a distant memory for Sacramento (24-56), and it appears that NBA basketball will be soon as well. The Kings have spent 26 seasons in California's capital, and will likely move south.

Anaheim's City Council issued the bonds needed to entice the franchise, new federal trademark rights have been requested, and just about everything else needed to put a simple majority vote before NBA owners is in motion.

This game and Wednesday's against the Lakers will likely be the final NBA games at Power Balance Pavilion.

Sacramento was considered one of the toughest arenas for visiting teams from 1998-2006, when the Kings made the playoffs eight straight seasons. The franchise has endured five straight losing seasons since.

The Kings return home after salvaging a split of a four-game trip Sunday night with a 104-103 victory at Golden State. Marcus Thornton scored 21 points, including a 22-foot jumper with 12.6 seconds left to secure the win.

"We've got two more tough games and those games are building blocks for us to see where we are," Thornton said. "I credit the guys for still playing hard."

Rookie DeMarcus Cousins had three double-doubles on the road trip, including 15 points and 13 boards Sunday.

Cousins has also been productive in three losses to Oklahoma City this season, averaging 18.0 points and 13.7 rebounds. Tyreke Evans is averaging 26.0 points in two games against the Thunder this season.

The Thunder have defeated the Kings five straight times overall, with Durant averaging 28.4 points. Westbrook has averaged 20.8 points and 8.2 assists in those games.

Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns live streaming nba video feed online broadcast gamecast espn hq april 11, 2011

Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns live streaming nba video feed online broadcast gamecast espn hq april 11, 2011. The Phoenix Suns are assured of finishing with a record below .500 for the first time in nine seasons. There wasn't much doubt in the Minnesota Timberwolves' continuing their run of misery.

The Suns look to capitalize on another meeting with the Timberwolves and extend their winning streak in the series to eight games Monday night.

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Phoenix (38-42) was a Western Conference finalist last season. This time, the Suns are missing the playoffs and guaranteed to finish with a losing record for the first time since 2003-04.

10:00 PM ET, April 11, 2011
US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
Points      Rebounds      Assists
Love 20.2    Love 15.2    Ridnour 5.3 MIN
Nash 14.9    Gortat 9.3    Nash 11.4 PHX

Dropping eight of their last 10, concluding a 1-4 road trip with Sunday's 115-90 loss at Dallas, has assured them of a sub-.500 record -- something the Timberwolves (17-63) have achieved six straight years.

With two games left in the regular season, Minnesota has dropped 13 in a row, will finish last in the West for a second consecutive time, and is tied with Cleveland for the worst record in the NBA.

The Suns may bring the Timberwolves closer to sole possession of that dubious honor. They've won 18 of their last 23 meetings with the Timberwolves, including nine of 11 at home.

Phoenix ran their winning streak in the series to seven with a 108-98 victory at Minnesota on Wednesday behind 58 points from the bench.

Marcin Gortat had 20 points and 16 rebounds in that meeting and may play a prominent role again. The center, averaging career highs of 10.0 points and 7.8 rebounds, scored 15 points and pulled down nine boards Sunday.

He's averaging 14.2 points and 11.1 rebounds over his last nine games.

Steve Nash's status is unclear after he was limited to 25 minutes against the Mavericks, getting six points and nine assists to match his production in a reduced role at Minnesota. The All-Star point guard has missed three of the last six games while battling a hamstring injury.

"(Coach Alvin Gentry) didn't want to push it, especially because we weren't in the game," Nash said of his playing time Sunday. "It's tight, it's sore. But I still want to play these last two games. If I'm able, I'll be out there."

Nash is averaging 18.1 points and 11.6 assists over his last 11 home meetings with the Timberwolves.

Minnesota, which hasn't beaten the Suns since Jan. 16, 2009, has been outscored by an average of 14.3 points during its 13-game skid -- its longest since dropping 16 in a row Feb. 24-March 28, 2010.

The Timberwolves' woes showed few signs of letting up Saturday. They lost 130-106 at Denver while giving up a franchise-record 19 3-pointers.

Minnesota forward Michael Beasley was held to 14 points Saturday after topping 20 in each of his previous three contests, including 24 against the Suns last week. Beasley is averaging 20.4 points in his last five meetings with Phoenix.

Golden State Warriors vs Denver Nuggets live streaming nba video feed online broadcast foxtv fsn-wi april 11, 2011

Golden State Warriors vs Denver Nuggets live streaming nba video feed online broadcast foxtv fsn-wi april 11, 2011. Game Review:The Denver Nuggets need just one win from their final two regular-season games to clinch the fifth seed in the Western Conference.

Ty Lawson could provide the difference again.

Lawson looks to build on a record-breaking shooting performance as the Nuggets attempt to continue their home dominance of the Golden State Warriors on Monday night.

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Denver (49-31) appears to be in ideal position to secure fifth place in the conference, leading sixth-place Portland by two games with contests remaining against two teams out of contention, including a season-ending visit to Utah on Wednesday.

A win Monday would send Denver into an opening-round series against either Oklahoma City, Dallas or the Los Angeles Lakers.

Another victory would also extend the Nuggets' franchise record of consecutive 50-win seasons to four.

Game Time: 9:00 PM ET, April 11, 2011
Pepsi Center, Denver, CO

Gameday Matchup
Golden State v Denver
W-L    35-45    49-31
Avg Points    103.2    107.2
Avg Points Allowed    105.6    102.5
Home Record    25-15    32-8
Road Record    10-30    17-23
Current Streak    L1    W1
Last 10    5-5    8-2
Team Stats: Golden State | Denver
Injury Report
Golden State

    * Monta Ellis SG - Apr 11: Day-to-Day
    * Andris Biedrins C - Apr 11: OUT
    * Acie Law PG - Apr 7: OUT

Denver

    * Al Harrington PF - Apr 11: Day-to-Day
    * Chris Andersen C - Apr 11: Day-to-Day
    * Wilson Chandler SF - Apr 11: Day-to-Day
    * Arron Afflalo SG - Apr 10: Day-to-Day

Lawson, averaging 11.7 points, could play a part in reaching both goals Monday.

The point guard set a league record Saturday, connecting on his first 10 3-pointers en route to a career-high 37 points in a 130-106 rout of Minnesota. Lawson finished 10 of 11 from beyond the arc.

"Ty works on his shot a lot," said swingman J.R. Smith, who holds the franchise record with 11 3-pointers (in 18 attempts) in a game against Sacramento in 2009. "After practice, he's always out there shooting 3-point shots because a lot of people go under him on the pick-and-rolls, and I tell him all the time, that's disrespectful, if somebody goes under you on a pick-and-roll, you're supposed to make them pay.

"He's been working on it and it really showed."

Lawson could be in for another big effort against the Warriors (35-45), who are among the worst defensive teams in the NBA allowing 105.6 points per game. However, he had just eight points as the Nuggets came up short in the most recent meeting, falling 116-114 in Oakland as Nene missed a jumper at the buzzer. The defeat ended their seven-game winning streak in the series.

The Nuggets have won 12 of the last 13 home meetings, averaging 116.3 points.

Denver's path to the fifth seed may have been made smoother with Monta Ellis expected to be out for the Warriors.

Golden State's leader with 24.3 points per game, Ellis was fouled hard by DeMarcus Cousins on a driving layup and fell head-first on the court during Sunday's 104-103 loss to Sacramento.

"You could just see in the look in his eyes that he no idea where he was," forward-center David Lee said. "It's a scary moment, I've been there before, where guys assume you're fine because you're getting up but you have no idea where you're at. He kinda was going to the line because he had to shoot free throws, but he was going toward the fans.

"I was like, 'No, come on trainer, get out here. Get him.'"

Lee may need to pick up the scoring slack with Ellis out. He had 24 points and 14 rebounds Sunday, and is averaging 25.0 and 17.0 over the last three games. However, Lee was held to 16 points with 12 rebounds in the last meeting with Denver.

Dallas Mavericks vs Houston Rockets live streaming nba vide feed fsn-wi foxtv april 11, 2011

Dallas Mavericks vs Houston Rockets live streaming nba vide feed fsn-wi foxtv april 11, 2011: The race in the Western Conference is getting very interesting, and the Dallas Mavericks are looking to take advantage.

The Mavericks will try to end a three-game road skid and continue their push for home-court advantage through the first two rounds Monday night when they meet the Houston Rockets, who could be without two starters.

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Dallas (55-25) is tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for the No. 2 seed, and those teams are one game ahead of Oklahoma City with two games left. The Thunder handed the defending NBA champions their fifth straight loss Sunday, 120-106.

Dallas was also struggling down the stretch by losing four straight before winning 107-96 over the Clippers on Friday and 115-90 over Phoenix on Sunday. The victories have helped Dallas regain its confidence.

Match Time: 8:30 PM ET, April 11, 2011
Toyota Center, Houston, TX 

"We're building up steam, building up momentum," guard Jason Terry said. "That's what you want to do. ... For us, it's about rhythm, it's about flow -- how we move the ball offensively, how we fly down defensively."

Terry and J.J. Barea seemed to have resolved their differences from a run-in during a timeout Friday night. The guards were on the court together late in the first quarter Sunday, and combined for 32 points off the bench against the Suns.

"Things happen in the heat of the battle," Terry said. "Things that happen off the court, you have to live with and deal with. I've been the emotional leader of this team since I became a Maverick. That's not going to change. We've just got to channel it in the right direction."

The Mavs have won 55 games for the seventh time in 10 seasons.

"I don't know that our team is the kind to lose confidence, but winning is always going to put a more positive vibe in your locker room," coach Rick Carlisle said. "We're still plugging away."

Dallas is seeking to sweep four games from Houston (42-38) for the first time since 2002-03. It will be easier to accomplish if Luis Scola and Kyle Lowry do not play for the Rockets after they sat out Saturday's 99-78 victory over the Clippers.

Scola, second on the team with 18.3 points per game, has a sore left knee while Lowry has a sore left foot. Both are day to day.

Being short-handed Saturday didn't hurt Houston. Six players reached double figures in points, with double-doubles by Chuck Hayes and Goran Dragic.

"Since the break, we've been playing great basketball, great team energy basketball," Hayes said. "You can see it in our play. You can see it in our chemistry and you can see it in just how much fun we are having.

Coach Rick Adelman earned his 944th career victory, tying former Houston coach Bill Fitch for eighth all-time.

If Scola and Lowry are unavailable, more of the scoring burden will fall on Kevin Martin. He's averaging a team-high 23.4 points -- and 27.0 in his last 10 games.

The Mavs, though, have done a good job of limiting Martin to 20.3 points on 37.8 percent shooting in three games this season.

Utah Jazz vs New Orleans Hornets live streaming nba video feed online broadcast radio commentary hq foxtv april 11, 2011

Utah Jazz vs New Orleans Hornets live streaming nba video feed online broadcast radio commentary hq foxtv april 11, 2011. Game Review: Chris Paul has accomplished plenty during his six NBA seasons, but never had he gone scoreless until his last game.

He'll get a chance to bounce back quickly and help the New Orleans Hornets try to boost their playoff seeding when they play their regular-season home finale Monday night against the Utah Jazz.

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The four-time All-Star missed all six shots from the field and both attempts from the line in Sunday's 111-89 loss at Memphis. He scored one point in a 102-86 victory over Portland on Feb. 15, 2006, for his previous low.

"I just couldn't make nothing," Paul said. "There's a first time for everything. I had some good looks, they just didn't go in."

Match Time: 8:00 PM ET, April 11, 2011
New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, LA

Paul also turned in poor scoring efforts in two of his previous four games, being held to five points April 1 in a loss to Memphis and seven in Friday's victory over Phoenix.

New Orleans (46-34) dropped into a tie with the Grizzlies for seventh place in the Western Conference. Those teams trail sixth-place Portland by one game, and the Hornets have the tiebreaker advantage over both those teams.

"The only thing we can control is our wins and losses," Paul said. "We're one of those teams, we haven't been together long enough to say this is who we want to play, or who we don't want to play. We've just got to continue to play, deal with it as a team, and deal with who we have to play when we get to it."

The rivalry between New Orleans and Utah (37-43) used to feature point guard duels between Paul and Deron Williams -- players drafted one selection apart by these teams in 2005. They met 16 times, with Williams' Jazz winning 12.

Williams, though, was traded to New Jersey on Feb. 23, and New Orleans won 121-117 in overtime on March 24 in the first meeting since that deal. Paul had 24 points and 12 assists to help the Hornets take a 2-1 lead in the season series.

Utah is 6-17 since that trade and will miss the playoffs for the first time in five seasons in a tumultuous campaign that saw Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan resign Feb. 10. The Jazz are playing their final road contest after falling for the 10th time in 11 games, 111-102 at San Antonio on Saturday.

"We gotta finish this season with our head up high and have some pride for ourselves. We just ain't going out here and lay down," center Al Jefferson said. "We're going to play hard."

Jefferson led the way against the Spurs with 23 points. Rookie Derrick Favors, acquired in the Williams' deal, had a season-high 17.

The Jazz believe their future will be bright as their frontcourt of Jefferson, Favors and fifth-year power forward and Louisiana native Paul Millsap continue to blossom. Millsap is averaging 21.3 points on 64.9 percent shooting against New Orleans this season.

"Once Paul and Derrick get more comfortable playing with each other, we can be tough," coach Tyrone Corbin said.

Toronto Raptors vs Milwaukee Bucks live streaming nba game series fsn-wi online broadcast hq april 11, 2011

Toronto Raptors vs Milwaukee Bucks live streaming nba game series fsn-wi online broadcast hq april 11, 2011: Match Preview: Though the Milwaukee Bucks won't make consecutive trips to the playoffs, they have a chance to sweep the season series from the Toronto Raptors  for the first time in nine years.

The Bucks will need a fifth consecutive home victory over the Raptors to accomplish that Monday night.

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After going 46-36 to make the playoffs for the first time in four seasons in 2009-10, Milwaukee (33-47) could not overcome various injuries to key players and a season's worth of poor shooting in 2010-11.

"It's been frustrating all year," said swingman John Salmons, who has averaged 13.9 points this season after scoring 19.9 per contest in 30 games with the Bucks in 2009-10.

Salmons, joined second-year guard Brandon Jennings, center Andrew Bogut, swingman Carlos Delfino and forward Drew Gooden as some of the Bucks' top players who missed at least nine games due to injury this season. That collective absence likely contributed to the club ranking last in the league in scoring (91.6 points per game) and field-goal percentage (43.0 percent).

Match Time 8:00 PM ET, April 11, 2011
Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI

Bogut will wind up missing the final four games with a sore right elbow.

Gooden, however, is healthy and averaging 13.7 points with 7.9 rebounds the last seven games. He recorded his first career triple-double with 15 points, 13 boards and 13 assists in a 108-101 win over Cleveland on Saturday.

"I think this gives (me) something to see what I can bring to the game, to this team, to help them win," Gooden said.

Despite their overall offensive struggles, the Bucks have averaged 99.3 points and shot 47.2 percent while winning two of three.

"We definitely want to continue to play hard," Salmons told the Bucks' official website after he scored 32 points Saturday. "These games don't mean anything as far as making it to the playoffs but we still have to have some pride and play hard."

Milwaukee has not lacked intensity averaging 104.0 points and shooting 50.2 percent in three wins over the Raptors (22-58) this season. Jennings scored 25 points and Gooden added 22 with 11 rebounds in a 104-98 win at Toronto on March 30.

The Bucks, who have not swept a season series from the Raptors since 2001-02, have won seven of nine overall versus Toronto. Milwaukee has averaged 107.3 points during a four-game home streak against the Raptors.

Toronto won for the second time in 11 games, 99-92 against New Jersey on Sunday. Jerryd Bayless scored 19 points as the Raptors shot 51.3 percent.

With the Raptors set to miss the playoffs for a third straight season, Bayless has seen more time in the final stretch. The second-year guard has averaged 23.2 points on 51.7 percent shooting the last six games.

Swingman DeMar DeRozan has averaged 24.3 points the last seven games. That included 20 against the Bucks last month.

After dressing just nine players Sunday, Toronto could again be without leading scorer Andrea Bargnani (right ankle), guards Jose Calderon (left hamstring) and Leandro Barbosa (left pinky), and forward Amir Johnson (left ankle).