FIBA Basketball
USA - Clippers are now a winning Brand
LOS ANGELES (NBA) - Elton Brand is in Team USA's preliminary squad for the FIBA World Championship and he is showing he deserves that honour with game-winning performances for the Los Angeles Clippers.The former Duke University and Chicago Bulls star had 30 points and Quinton Ross added a career-high 18 as LA forced Game Seven in the Western Conference semi-finals with a 118-106 victory over
Playoffs results
LOS ANGELES (NBA) - Elton Brand is in Team USA's preliminary squad for the FIBA World Championship and he is showing he deserves that honour with game-winning performances for the Los Angeles Clippers.
The former Duke University and Chicago Bulls star had 30 points and Quinton Ross added a career-high 18 as LA forced Game Seven in the Western Conference semi-finals with a 118-106 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Corey Maggette missed one shot and added 25 points for the sixth-seeded Clippers, who are one win away from the franchise's first appearance in the conference finals.
That win will have to come on the home floor of the second-seeded Suns, who face their second Game Seven in as many series.
"We feel we have enough talent to compete with, of course, the Suns," Brand said. "But if we can close this out, we feel we can compete with anyone in the West."
Facing elimination, the Clippers were counting on a big game from Brand, who came in averaging better than 30 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three blocks in the series, overwhelming Phoenix's front line with his size and strength.
It was no different on Friday as Brand made 14 of 21 shots, adding 12 rebounds, three assists and five blocks.
However, the offensive explosion from Ross was totally unexpected. A second-year swingman known for his defence, Ross had scored just 23 points in the series and had been replaced in the starting lineup by Maggette, who provides more offense.
Back in the starting lineup, Ross responded with his customary credible defensive job on NBA MVP Steve Nash, who had a quiet 17 points and 11 assists. He also made nine of 14 shots, making the Suns pay for doubling off him by repeatedly knocking down mid-range jumpers.
The lineup change also seemed to help Maggette, who came off the bench to make seven of eight shots - including LA's only two three-pointers - and nine of nine free throws.
Chris Kaman scored 15 points on seven of eight shooting and Sam Cassell also scored 15 points for the Clippers, who were 61.5% (48 of 78) overall and again pounded the Suns on the boards, 48-28.
Team USA's Shawn Marion scored 34 points and Brazilian international Leandro Barbosa added 25 for the defenceless Suns, who shot 44% (38 of 87) and never were within two possessions in the second half. They fired 31 three-pointers, making 13.
The first half belonged to Ross, who scored 16 points. He had a pair of buckets in a 16-3 surge that gave the Clippers a 29-21 lead late in the first quarter and scored eight points in the final five-plus minutes of the second period, helping LA push the margin to 62-50 at half-time.
The Suns trailed by 16 points late in the third quarter before Barbosa triggered a closing 11-2 run with a pair of three-pointers, cutting the deficit to 88-81 entering the final period.
But the fourth quarter belonged to Brand and Maggette, who combined for 22 points, including the Clippers' first 17. A turnaround jumper by Brand gave Los Angeles their largest lead at 105-88 with 6:31 to go.
Terry rapped with Game Six Suspension
In a ruling that could have a dramatic effect on the outcome of the Western Conference semi-finals, Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Terry was suspended by the NBA on Thursday.
Terry was banned one game without pay for punching San Antonio Spurs swingman Michael Finley, NBA senior vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson announced.
The fourth-seeded Mavericks hold a somewhat surprising 3-2 lead over the top-seeded Spurs, who are one loss away from relinquishing their reign as champions. Terry will sit out Game Six in Dallas on Friday night.
One of the reasons the Mavericks lead the series is Terry, whose quickness and outside shooting have given the slower Spurs fits throughout the series. He is averaging 17.5 points and sealed a Game Four win with a rainbow jumper over seven-footer Tim Duncan in the final minute.
The punching incident occurred late in Game Five, when there were two jump balls in the final 6.3 seconds of San Antonio's 98-97 home win.
A jump ball between forwards Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas and Bruce Bowen of San Antonio resulted in a scramble and another jump ball between Terry and Spurs guard Manu Ginobili with 3.4 seconds to go.
There was a scrum leading up to the second tie-up and plenty of jockeying and shoving prior to the next jump. That is when the league said the incident occurred.
In Terry's absence, the Mavericks may start guards Jerry Stackhouse or Marquis Daniels or swingman Adrian Griffin, who began the series in the starting lineup but was replaced by the speedy Devin Harris.
Terry would be eligible to return for Game Seven on Monday or the opener of the Western Conference finals.
By PA Sport
LOS ANGELES (NBA) - Elton Brand is in Team USA's preliminary squad for the FIBA World Championship and he is showing he deserves that honour with game-winning performances for the Los Angeles Clippers.
The former Duke University and Chicago Bulls star had 30 points and Quinton Ross added a career-high 18 as LA forced Game Seven in the Western Conference semi-finals with a 118-106 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Corey Maggette missed one shot and added 25 points for the sixth-seeded Clippers, who are one win away from the franchise's first appearance in the conference finals.
That win will have to come on the home floor of the second-seeded Suns, who face their second Game Seven in as many series.
"We feel we have enough talent to compete with, of course, the Suns," Brand said. "But if we can close this out, we feel we can compete with anyone in the West."
Facing elimination, the Clippers were counting on a big game from Brand, who came in averaging better than 30 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three blocks in the series, overwhelming Phoenix's front line with his size and strength.
It was no different on Friday as Brand made 14 of 21 shots, adding 12 rebounds, three assists and five blocks.
However, the offensive explosion from Ross was totally unexpected. A second-year swingman known for his defence, Ross had scored just 23 points in the series and had been replaced in the starting lineup by Maggette, who provides more offense.
Back in the starting lineup, Ross responded with his customary credible defensive job on NBA MVP Steve Nash, who had a quiet 17 points and 11 assists. He also made nine of 14 shots, making the Suns pay for doubling off him by repeatedly knocking down mid-range jumpers.
The lineup change also seemed to help Maggette, who came off the bench to make seven of eight shots - including LA's only two three-pointers - and nine of nine free throws.
Chris Kaman scored 15 points on seven of eight shooting and Sam Cassell also scored 15 points for the Clippers, who were 61.5% (48 of 78) overall and again pounded the Suns on the boards, 48-28.
Team USA's Shawn Marion scored 34 points and Brazilian international Leandro Barbosa added 25 for the defenceless Suns, who shot 44% (38 of 87) and never were within two possessions in the second half. They fired 31 three-pointers, making 13.
The first half belonged to Ross, who scored 16 points. He had a pair of buckets in a 16-3 surge that gave the Clippers a 29-21 lead late in the first quarter and scored eight points in the final five-plus minutes of the second period, helping LA push the margin to 62-50 at half-time.
The Suns trailed by 16 points late in the third quarter before Barbosa triggered a closing 11-2 run with a pair of three-pointers, cutting the deficit to 88-81 entering the final period.
But the fourth quarter belonged to Brand and Maggette, who combined for 22 points, including the Clippers' first 17. A turnaround jumper by Brand gave Los Angeles their largest lead at 105-88 with 6:31 to go.
Terry rapped with Game Six Suspension
In a ruling that could have a dramatic effect on the outcome of the Western Conference semi-finals, Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Terry was suspended by the NBA on Thursday.
Terry was banned one game without pay for punching San Antonio Spurs swingman Michael Finley, NBA senior vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson announced.
The fourth-seeded Mavericks hold a somewhat surprising 3-2 lead over the top-seeded Spurs, who are one loss away from relinquishing their reign as champions. Terry will sit out Game Six in Dallas on Friday night.
One of the reasons the Mavericks lead the series is Terry, whose quickness and outside shooting have given the slower Spurs fits throughout the series. He is averaging 17.5 points and sealed a Game Four win with a rainbow jumper over seven-footer Tim Duncan in the final minute.
The punching incident occurred late in Game Five, when there were two jump balls in the final 6.3 seconds of San Antonio's 98-97 home win.
A jump ball between forwards Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas and Bruce Bowen of San Antonio resulted in a scramble and another jump ball between Terry and Spurs guard Manu Ginobili with 3.4 seconds to go.
There was a scrum leading up to the second tie-up and plenty of jockeying and shoving prior to the next jump. That is when the league said the incident occurred.
In Terry's absence, the Mavericks may start guards Jerry Stackhouse or Marquis Daniels or swingman Adrian Griffin, who began the series in the starting lineup but was replaced by the speedy Devin Harris.
Terry would be eligible to return for Game Seven on Monday or the opener of the Western Conference finals.
By PA Sport