[truebluefan]

Ray Allen’s 3-pointer with 1:20 left gave Boston its first lead since midway through the first quarter, and the Celtics took a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals with a chance to close it out in Game 6 in Orlando on Thursday night.

[Brian34Cook]

Bryant, LeBron trade clutch for clutch
By Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports
5 hours, 22 minutes ago

DENVER – Hours earlier in his hotel room, Kobe Bryant had watched LeBron James creep closer to clutching every element of standing as the globe’s greatest player. Beyond championships, James still trailed Bryant’s carefully constructed reputation as a pressure shooter. No one has a deeper understanding of NBA history, of his own legacy within the context of the best ever.

“A hell of a shot,” Bryant punched into a text message to James on the eve of Game 3 of the Western Conference finals.

What wouldn’t go typed into his phone probably didn’t go unspoken within Bryant’s mind: My turn now. This is a sport of superstars and the NBA has been waiting a long, long time for two such transcendent stars to fortify its Final Four. They’re fighting for an NBA championship, yes, but Bryant’s ferocity won’t allow him to let go of the title as the game’s best closer. Bryant still makes the biggest plays, the biggest shots, when it matters most.

So, Bryant made a trip to Denver for Game 3 of the West finals and buried the Nuggets with 41 points, with a rebel’s resolve. With Denver’s J.R. Smith(notes) draping him, Bryant swished a 3-pointer with 69 seconds left. With his legs wobbly, with nearly 20,000 people in the Pepsi Center cursing his name, Bryant delivered four free throws in the final 22 seconds of the 103-97 victory.

“I rank this right up there with some of the biggest road wins we’ve had since I’ve been a Laker,” Bryant said.

[Link]

I cant wait for the Finals if this matchup happens.. its what everyone wants.. its what the NBA needs.. a good 4 year stretch of Lakers/Cavs would be fabulous.. 2 best players in the planet..

[Pujolsfan91]

I'm actually hoping for a Nuggets/Magic finals, but right now it looks like Lakers and Magic which isn't bad either. Wonder if the Cavs can get it together today.

[la_faker_81]

Im guessing the cavaliers win tonight, but orlando finishes the series on their home floor in Game 6.

As for my lakers, hopefully black mamba closes the series tomorrow.

[la_faker_81]

And The Lakers Are World Champs Wooooo!!!!!!!!!

[[DRAGON]]

Congrats to the Lakers.

[Pujolsfan91]

Source: Bucks deal Jefferson to Spurs
By Chad Ford
ESPN.com
Archive

The Milwaukee Bucks agreed to trade Richard Jefferson to the San Antonio Spurs for Bruce Bowen, Kurt Thomas and Fabricio Oberto, a Bucks source told ESPN.com.
The two teams have agreed to the deal in principle. A trade call to make the deal official will happen later Tuesday.

The move gives the Spurs a dynamic wing scorer to play alongside Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. The Spurs had promised to make their team better this summer and adding Jefferson for role players should give them a huge shot in the arm.

The Bucks' incentive to make the trade is largely financial. Bowen, Oberto and Thomas are all in the last year of their contracts. The deal will clear $15 million off the books for the Bucks next season and give Milwaukee more flexibility for next year. The Bucks expect to save $6.35 million next season after releasing Bowen (only $2 million guaranteed) and Oberto (only $1.9 million guaranteed), a source told ESPN.com.

That may give the Bucks the wiggle room to sign one or both of their restricted free agents -- Charlie Villanueva or Ramon Sessions -- next year.

The move also opens up some playing time for the Bucks' lottery pick last year, Joe Alexander.

Source: Spurs acquire Jefferson for 3 players - ESPN

Ehh, even for financial reasons, I don't like this trade for the bucks.

[Pujolsfan91]

The Washington Wizards are close to a deal that would send the No. 5 pick in Thursday's draft, Oleksiy Pecherov, Etan Thomas and Darius Songaila to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Randy Foye and Mike Miller, a league source told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher on Tuesday.

The Wolves would then keep the draft pick and their own selection at No. 6 and not try to package those to move up, a source told ESPN.com's Andy Katz.

The deal would be finalized on Wednesday, in advance of the draft, another source told Katz.

Source: Deal sends Minnesota Timberwolves' Randy Foye, Mike Miller to Washington Wizards - ESPN