Washington Wizards

Washington Wizards

Indiana Pacers Take 2-1 Series Lead Against Miami Heat: Fan Reaction (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

The Indiana Pacers put on one of their most impressive performances of the year against the Miami Heat on May 17, taking a 2-1 lead in Eastern Conference semifinals with their 94-75 victory.

NBA players set to lead Brazil’s Olympic team (The Associated Press)

SAO PAULO (AP) Brazil’s men’s basketball team will be led by NBA players Nene, Leandro Barbosa, Tiago Splitter and Anderson Varejao when it returns to the Olympics for the first time in 16 years.

Lakers-Nuggets Preview (The Associated Press)

DENVER (AP) The Denver Nuggets have crept back into their series with the Los Angeles Lakers by outrunning and outgunning their older opponents.

Nuggets counting on altitude, fatigue factor vs LA (The Associated Press)

DENVER (AP) The Denver Nuggets have crept back into their series with the Los Angeles Lakers by outrunning and outgunning their older opponents.

JaVale McGee threw away his game ball (VIDEO) (Ball Don’t Lie)

Once a laughingstock, Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee is turning into a capable NBA player right before our eyes. On Tuesday night, he was one of the best players on the floor for the second time in the series in Denver’s 102-99 win over the Lakers in Los Angeles . McGee, for his part, had 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting, 14 rebounds and two blocked shots. The Nuggets, who once seemed at danger of getting swept, now have the chance to even up the series at home in Thursday’s Game 6.
[ Marc J. Spears: Andrew Bynum's 'arrogant statement' costs Lakers against Nuggets ]
While teammate Andre Miller arguably had a bigger effect on the outcome, McGee was awarded the game ball and earned a postgame interview with TNT’s Craig Sager. At the end, as a means of congratulating JaVale, Sager told him to “hold on to that game ball” for a long time. So, naturally, McGee launched it into the crowd right before walking through the tunnel and to the locker room. It’s unclear if anyone caught the ball, or if McGee just threw it into an open space. Whatever the case, it was weird.
Somehow, though, I think the reaction might have been very different if McGee had done this after a random game during his time with the Washington Wizards. When a player helps win a really important road playoff game, actions like this one showcase his confidence. When that same player does it in a meaningless January contest, it’s a sign that he’ll never grow up. It’s amazing what a little success can do for a guy’s reputation.
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Andrew Bynum’s comments heat up Nuggets (Yahoo! Sports)

Andrew Bynum said closing out an opponent in the playoffs is “kind of easy.” The Nuggets chose not to play along.

Bruising OT win gives Clippers a 3-1 series lead over Grizzlies (The SportsXchange)

LOS ANGELES — The story throughout the first-round Western Conference playoff matchup between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Clippers has been the Clippers trying to match the Grizzlies’ physicality.