2008 NBA Playoffs

(Newser) - While questioning former NBA referees about Tim Donaghy, federal investigators also asked lots of questions about another ref named Dick Bavetta, ESPN reports. Commissioner David Stern, however, insisted the league has no concerns about the veteran official, who worked Game 1 of this year's finals. Stern again suggested that Donaghy's allegations stemmed from a desire to reduce his sentence. "Guilt by association is not something that we engage in." More »

(Newser) - When Paul Pierce crumpled to the parquet in the third quarter of last night's NBA Finals game, everyone watching likely echoed the fears of Boston coach Doc Rivers, who "thought the worst." But after writhing in pain and leaving the court in a wheelchair, the Celtics captain returned, and in the biggest way possible, writes the Boston Herald . More »

(Newser) - The Wire's pitiable junkie Bubbles and Kobe Bryant wouldn't seem to have much, if anything, in common. But not so, Scoop Jackson writes on ESPN.com, arguing that the Los Angeles Lakers star has an addiction of his own—a fiendish thirst to win a championship "no athlete in any other sport possesses," and to do so without playing second fiddle to Shaquille O'Neal. The finals start tonight. More »

(Newser) - Paul Pierce knows everything about the storied Lakers-Celtics rivalry of the 1980s: growing up in Inglewood near the Forum, his dreams were gold and purple. "As a kid, I hated the Celtics," says the Boston forward. But childhood memories won't cause him to hold back as his team heads to the NBA Finals, the New York Times reports. More »

(Newser) - No comeback required for the Lakers on Friday, as they scored the final nine points of the first half and never looked back in a 101-71 thrashing of defending champion San Antonio, reports AP. Kobe Bryant scored 22 points and Lamar Odom added 20 points and 12 rebounds as LA held serve at home, taking a 2-0 Western Conference finals series lead. More »

(Newser) - The Detroit Pistons proved that a visiting team can win in Boston. Now they can reach the NBA finals without having to do it again. Richard Hamilton nailed 25 points, and the Pistons beat the Celtics 103-97 last night, tying the Eastern Conference finals at one game apiece and seizing the home-court advantage that has meant everything to the Celtics. More »

(Newser) - It was one for the ages, writes Dan Shaughnessy in the Boston Globe about yesterday's Celtics vs. Cavaliers Game 7 in the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals, thanks to a duel between Paul Pierce and LeBron James. Shaughnessy (and many other media observers) compares the duel to the storied 1988 matchup between Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins. Pierce scored 41 for the Celtics, while James put up 46 for the Cavs. More »

(Newser) - The Los Angeles Lakers reached the NBA's Western Conference finals for the first time in four years by beating the Utah Jazz 108-105 on Friday. Kobe Bryant scored 34 points for LA, which held off a furious rally by the Jazz to clinch the series 4-2. Los Angeles plays the winner of the San Antonio-New Orleans series to be decided Monday. More »

(Newser) - LeBron James scored 32 points - 19 in the second half - and the Cavaliers forced a decisive and fitting finale to this home-sweet-home playoff series with a 74-69 victory Friday night over Boston, which has gone from regular-season road kings to postseason road kill. The Cavs are attempting to become the 14th team to overcome an 0-2 deficit and win a series. More »

(Newser) - David West and the New Orleans Hornets sure looked happy to be at home. West had career playoff highs of 38 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots, lifting New Orleans to a 101-79 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night and a 3-2 series lead. New Orleans looked impressive in winning the first two games at home but stumbled in San Antonio. More »

(Newser) - The Detroit Pistons made just enough shots and stops to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for a sixth straight year. Richard Hamilton scored 19 of his 31 points in the first half, made victory-sealing free throws late in the game and Tayshaun Prince had a key block, helping Detroit hold off the Orlando Magic for a 91-86 win Tuesday night in Game 5 of the second-round series. More »

(Newser) - Back to even, and back to Boston—with authority. LeBron James scored 21 points, jamming in a powerhouse dunk over a defenseless Kevin Garnett in the final two minutes, as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the homesick Celtics 88-77 in Game 4 on Monday night to tie the best-of-seven series at 2-2. More »

(Newser) - Paul Pierce and Ray Allen found their shooting touch. LeBron James can only hope he left his in Cleveland. Pierce scored 19 points, Kevin Garnett added 13 with 12 rebounds, and Allen broke out of a seven-quarter scoring drought with 16 points to help the Boston Celtics beat the Cavaliers 89-73. More »

(Newser) - Chris Paul had 30 points and 12 assists, leading the New Orleans Hornets to a 102-84 victory over the San Antonio Spurs last night and a 2-0 lead in their second-round series. Peja Stojakovic hit five 3-pointers and scored 25 points for the Hornets, who've won both games by wide margins in becoming the first team to put San Antonio in an 0-2 playoff hole since 2001. More »

(Newser) - Byron Scott accepted his NBA coach of the year award, then guided his team to the second round of the playoffs. Chris Paul had 24 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds, and the New Orleans Hornets held on for a 99-94 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night to win their first-round series in five games. More »

(Newser) - No surrender on this night. No matter, the Los Angeles Lakers dispatched the tempestuous Denver Nuggets anyway. Kobe Bryant scored 14 of his 31 points over the final 5 1/2 minutes Monday night, leading the Lakers to a 107-101 victory over the Nuggets and a sweep of their first-round series.