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YMY ends on high note

Luo Hsin-liang, left, of YMY, scores on a layup in Friday night's 91-72 blowout win over the ETTV Antelopes in Taipei. PHOTO COURTESY OF SBL

As if a curse had been lifted, the victory that has eluded YMY for nearly four months finally came on Friday night when they defeated the ETTV Antelopes 91-72 at the Taipei Physical Education College Gymnasium, snapping a record-setting 25-game losing skid.

Veteran guard Luo "The Natural" Hsin-liang and rookie forward Chang Yu-lin each scored 21 points for YMY squad. This was just their third win of the season.

After winning two of their first three contests back in December in a quick 2-1 start, YMY looked ready to improve upon a 3-27 mark that put them dead last in the final standings of last season.

But a lack of experience (four of their starting five being rookies), along with the loss of power forward Liu Yi-shiang to a season-ending injury, left UMY seriously short-handed.

"We've been waiting for this one for a long time," Luo said.

The game began with an evenly played first quarter that had YMY leading 22-19, before an eight-point second quarter by Luo helped YMY close out the first half with a 41-34 advantage.

YMY then broke out to a double-digit lead with Chang spurring a 12-point third quarter that ended with the perennial underdogs up 65-55.

An anxious Antelopes' effort that missed numerous three-point attempts ruined their comeback effort in the fourth quarter.

The Antelopes shot a season-low of 1-for-19 from behind the three-point arc.

Hunters 88, Tigers 77

Lee Chi-yi and Yang Tseh-yi combined for 52 of the 88 Videoland Hunters points in an 88-77 win over a flat Dacin Tigers squad in the second game of the evening.

Having already been eliminated from the playoffs, the Hunters battled the second-place Tigers by generating a 22-13 lead after the first quarter.

But an 11-0 run by the Tiger early in the second quarter gave the cats a first-half lead of 44-36.

Eight fast-break points by Yang helped the Hunters regain the lead (60-59) in a hard-fought third quarter.

The fourth quarter was all Hunters as they scored 14 straight to open a 15-point lead.

"They ran us off the floor," Tigers coach Liu Jia-fa said.

The loss put the Tigers just a half-game ahead of the third-place Taiwan Beer.

NBA

Dwyane Wade had 25 points and eight assists to lead Miami over the Philadelphia 76ers 104-85 and secure the Eastern Conference's No. 2 playoff seed and home-court advantage for the first two postseason rounds.

"It's good to get this, but it doesn't mean much unless you use it," Miami coach Pat Riley said.

Udonis Haslem scored a career-high 24 points and tied his season high with 14 rebounds for the Heat, who got contributions from all over the lineup; Antoine Walker scored 16 points, Shaquille O'Neal had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Gary Payton scored 10 points.

Allen Iverson scored 30 points and Chris Webber added 17 and nine rebounds for the Philadelphia, which lost for the first time in four games and dropped one game behind Chicago for the East's final playoff spot.

"I don't think the loss will make us play any harder," Iverson said. "If you aren't playing hard at this point, then you aren't going to be playing hard anyway."

Bucks 97, Knicks 80

At New York, Michael Redd scored 18 of his 23 points in the first half, then Milwaukee blew open the game in the third quarter and beat New York.

Knicks coach Larry Brown missed his first game of the season after he was hospitalized in Cleveland on Thursday with a stomach ailment. He returned to New York on Friday, but assistant coach Herb Williams led the team.

T.J. Ford had 14 points and 10 assists for the Bucks, who entered play tied with Indiana for sixth place in the Eastern Conference and can still finish fifth. Bobby Simmons had 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Maurice Taylor scored 22 points for New York.

Raptors 108, Pistons 103

At Toronto, Mike James scored 20 of his career-high 39 points in the fourth quarter to help Toronto end a 10-game losing streak.

James, who scored Toronto's last 13 points, surpassed his previous career high of 38, set in November against Philadelphia.

Morris Peterson added 20 points for the Raptors, who won their first game since All-Star forward Chris Bosh suffered a season-ending thumb injury on March 26.

Chauncey Billups had 15 points -- on 6-for-6 shooting from the field -- and added 10 assists for the Pistons, who already clinched home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Detroit rested its starters in the fourth quarter.

Nets 79, Celtics 74

At Boston, Richard Jefferson made five clutch free throws down the stretch and New Jersey played stellar defense to beat Boston.

Jefferson scored 12 points and the Nets held the Celtics to 38 percent shooting (26-for-68).

Vince Carter led the Nets with 15 points, but was only 4-for-16 from the field.

Paul Pierce scored 22 points and Ryan Gomes added 17 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Celtics. Gomes had only four points and two rebounds in the second half.

Bobcats 116, Hawks 110

At Atlanta, Raymond Felton scored 27 points and Melvin Ely had 21 as Charlotte beat Atlanta to win the season series, three games to one.

The win left last-place Charlotte only one game behind Atlanta in the Southeast Division. The victory boosted the Bobcats' hopes of finishing ahead of the Hawks in the division for the second straight season.

Joe Johnson led Atlanta with 35 points.

Pacers 89, Timberwolves 77

At Indianapolis, Jermaine O'Neal had 29 points and 12 rebounds to help Indiana draw closer to clinching a playoff berth.

It was O'Neal's highest point total since his return from a torn left groin a month ago.

Indiana (39-40) is tied for fifth place in the Eastern Conference with Milwaukee and Washington. The Pacers need to win two of their last three to avoid their first losing season since 1996-1997.

Eddie Griffin had 18 points and 12 rebounds and Marcus Banks added 15 points for Minnesota.

Bulls 103, Wizards 101

At Chicago, Ben Gordon made nine 3-pointers without a miss to tie the NBA record and scored 32 points to help Chicago take sole possession of eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

Gordon matched the record set by Latrell Sprewell for New York against the Clippers in February 2003.

Washington lost its fifth straight and fell into a three-way tie with Milwaukee and Indiana for fifth place, with the Bulls a game back and ninth-place Philadelphia two behind.

Gordon scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, and his 3-pointer with 53.1 seconds left put the Bulls ahead 103-101.

Jazz 105, Hornets 104

At Oklahoma City, Andrei Kirilenko had 25 points and nine rebounds and Deron Williams hit two free throws with 18 seconds left as Utah pulled closer in the race for the final playoff spot in the West.

Chris Paul had two chances to win the game for the Hornets but was unable to convert.

Kirilenko blocked a driving layup by Paul in the final seconds, but Paul was able to get the rebound on the floor and call timeout with 1.8 seconds to set up his final shot.

Utah moved within one game of eighth-place Sacramento for the Western Conference's final playoff spot with three games left. New Orleans is two games back of Utah and three behind Sacramento.

David West had 31 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead New Orleans.

Lakers 110, Trail Blazers 99

At Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant broke the Lakers' single-season scoring record with a flourish, getting 50 points to eclipse Elgin Baylor's long-standing total.

Bryant, closing in on his first NBA scoring title, reached the 50-point mark for the sixth time this season and 11th time in his career. The Lakers are 8-3 in those games.

Lamar Odom recorded his second straight triple-double finishing with 16 points and 12 rebounds and tied a career high with 12 assists.

Martell Webster scored 18 points for Portland.

Clippers 101, SuperSonics 97

At Seattle, Elton Brand scored 30 points and the Clippers rallied from an 18-point first-half deficit.

Brand shot 10-for-20, and his short jumper in the paint with 2:06 left gave the Clippers a 97-93 lead. He added 15 rebounds and made all 10 of his free throws.

Ray Allen continued his climb toward the NBA's 3-point record with 33 points, including five 3s.

Warriors 110, Suns 102

At Oakland, California, Jason Richardson scored 27 points, Derek Fisher added 19 and Golden State knocked off another playoff team late in its 12th straight losing season.

Steve Nash and Raja Bell dressed but didn't play for Phoenix, which already had won the Pacific Division and clinched the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.

Shawn Marion scored 12 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter, and Boris Diaw had his third triple-double of the season.

New York Knicks coach Larry Brown did not coach on Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks because of a stomach ailment, and it wasn't known if he would be back on the bench at all this season.

Brown was hospitalized in Cleveland on Thursday after becoming ill during a 91-87 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Knicks released a statement on Friday saying the 65-year-old coach was on his way back to New York but assistant Herb Williams would run the team against Milwaukee.

"However, he is fully cleared to return to the bench when he feels ready," the statement said.

The Knicks provided no other details before the game, including whether Brown would coach for the rest of the season.

"More importantly than that, his health is the No. 1 issue," guard Jamal Crawford said. "If he can, if there's any way he can be back, I'm sure he will. But we need him to get healthy."

It was the first game Brown has missed this season. He was also hospitalized in Memphis in February with chest pains, but was back on the bench in time for the next game.

While coaching the Detroit Pistons last season, Brown missed 17 games after having a hip replaced. That operation led to a bladder problem that required surgery in November. Brown needs more surgery for the bladder problem, but he's putting that off until after the season.

Brown led Detroit to the NBA title in 2004, the same year he coached the US at the Athens Olympics.

Darius Miles DISCIPLINED

Portland Trail Blazers forward Darius Miles was sent home early after changing into his street clothes at halftime of Wednesday's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

The team did not characterize the move as a suspension, but said on Thursday that unspecified disciplinary action was taken. The Blazers played the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday before returning to Portland.

"The decision we made was basically a message to our entire team -- that even though we're at the end of the season, those rules will be in place. We've got to work in the best interests of the team,'' coach Nate McMillan said.

Miles did not play in the first half of the Blazers' 97-93 loss to the Clippers, which dropped the Trail Blazers to a league-worst 21-57 record. The six-year veteran, whom the Clippers drafted out of high school in June 2000, was seen on the bench in a suit for the second half of the game against his former team. Miles did not have McMillan's permission to change.

"That's not what basketball players do. We just won't allow that," McMillan said. "The decision to send him home has been made, and that's behind us now."

Miles is averaging 14.1 points this season in 39 games. He sat out 34 games because of cartilage damage in his right knee.

"He's not [going to be] traded," McMillan said. "My thing is to continue to work with him so that he can help this team win. So, yes, I expect him to be back next year."

Yao Ming has surgery

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming had surgery on Friday to repair a broken bone in his left foot.

Yao broke the fifth metatarsal in his foot in a loss to Utah on Monday.

Team physician Dr. Tom Clanton performed the surgery at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center in Houston.

General manager Carroll Dawson said on Tuesday that Yao could be sidelined for four to six months, but expects him to be ready by next season. The injury could keep Yao from playing for China in the world championship, which begins on Aug. 19 in Japan.

Earlier this season, Yao missed 21 games following surgery to remove an infection from his left big toe. Since the All-Star break, Yao was one of the NBA's top performers, averaging 26.6 points and 12 rebounds.

Eliminated from playoff contention, the Rockets have three games left, starting with Saturday's game against Memphis.

Josh Childress suspended

Josh Childress of the Atlanta Hawks was suspended for two games without pay on Friday for throwing a forearm to the head of Andres Nocioni of the Chicago Bulls.

Nocioni, of Argentina, was fined US$5,000 and given a flagrant foul penalty for making excessive contact with Childress, said Stu Jackson, NBA senior vice president of basketball operations.

The altercation happened during the Hawks' 96-90 loss on Wednesday. Replays showed Childress was hit in the throat by Nocioni's elbow, and Childress responded by hitting Nocioni in the back of the head. Childress was ejected.

He will sat out Friday's game against Charlotte and yesterday's game at Milwaukee.

JACKSON AND BRYANT

One of Phil Jackson's goals upon returning to the Los Angeles Lakers was finding ways for Kobe Bryant to have a better NBA season than he did in 2004-2005.

Chalk up another success for Jackson.

Bryant is a leading MVP candidate, about to win his first scoring title, and enjoying the game much more than he did last season, when he was on the injured list with a sprained ankle and missed 16 games.

"He's reclaimed his position as the best guard in the NBA," Jackson said. "He hasn't been injured, last year he had injuries. This year has been more about scoring."

Scoring is obviously Bryant's biggest strength. Highlighted by his 81-point game in January, he went into the last weekend of the season averaging a career-high 35.1 points, which would be the NBA's best mark since Michael Jordan scored 37.1 per game in 1986-1987.

But more importantly, he's winning again. And he's enjoyed becoming the leader on a team that is close to locking up a playoff spot after missing the postseason last year.

"I've had fun seeing a lot of players grow. It's the best season I've had," Bryant said. "Obviously when you're winning, it's a lot more fun.

"I'm the big brother. I look out for these guys. If they need to get into a restaurant, they call me up and I make it happen," he said with a smile. "It's fun, man. It's really enjoyable."

Bryant's outstanding play figures to make the Lakers a dangerous low seed when the playoffs open next weekend. And some of his teammates think Bryant should be rewarded for it.

Asked who should win the MVP award, Lamar Odom said, "Kobe Bryant, no question. He leads the league in scoring, his team makes the playoffs this year, he scored 81 in a game. He's my MVP."

ROSTER FALLOUT

Miami is among the teams that has kept the full complement of 15 players around this season, investing money into another year of development for the likes of little-used but talented youngsters Dorell Wright and Earl Barron.

Now, with the NBA limiting rosters to 13 players for the postseason, the Heat will be without two of the guys that they've kept around as options all year.

And coach Pat Riley is wondering why the rules should be any different now.

"All year long we do 15 players, and they should do 15 in the playoffs," Riley said. "I don't understand the thinking at all behind it. We're the ones that have sort of dedicated ourselves in investing the money in three extra players and having them there, and we should be rewarded for that."

Riley said Heat owner Micky Arison tried to convince NBA officials to allow 15-man playoff rosters, and added that the notion was well-supported by other owners around the league. Yet when facing the prospects of having a 12-man, no-flexibility roster, the owners ultimately decided one extra body was better than none.

"A lot of them wanted 15," Riley said. "But they said, versus 15 or 12, they'll take 13. We finally voted to take 13 because we felt we might get 12."

Teams will deactivate one player before each playoff game. In past years, teams had to stick with the same 12-man roster throughout the postseason.

Elton Brand

Elton Brand has been the best player on the best Los Angeles Clippers team in years, but knows that might not be good enough to impress MVP voters.

Brand is certainly qualified, ranking among the league leaders in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage and blocked shots. And he's done it all for a winning team: The Clippers are headed to the playoffs for the first time since 1997 with one of their best records ever.

But they will only finish with a No. 5 or 6 seed, which might be a little too low for an MVP candidate in such a crowded field.

"There's some players out there who are very deserving, with more wins," Brand said. "And that plays into it. If we had some more wins, then I think my chances would be really high."

There's little more Brand could have done could have done to improve them. Asked how much credit he should get for the Clippers' success, he smiled and said: "I'd say 33 and one-fourth percent -- a little more than a third. I give Coach [Mike Dunleavy] a lot of credit, Sam Cassell a lot of credit, the organization a lot of credit, and of course, my teammates."

The home fans think he would be a worthy choice, and have been chanting "MVP! MVP!" at the Staples Center for months. But even the Clippers realize the fans shouldn't get their hopes up too high.

"I don't think they're great," Dunleavy said of Brand's chances. "I think he's deserving of being in the top five, no question. Had we been able to win the Pacific Division, then he'd have a really legit shot. But I think the MVP's going to come from a division winner, a team that has had great success."
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