SAN ANTONIO, May 12 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Lakers Coach Phil Jackson on Monday was cleared to travel to San Antonio, where his team continues its Western Conference semifinal series Tuesday.
He is expected to be on the bench Tuesday night, when the Lakers, trying to win their fourth NBA championship, play the Spurs at the SBC Center in Game Five. The series is tied at two games each.
Jackson, 58, who underwent an angioplasty on Saturday, was released from Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood on Sunday morning, but was advised by doctors to rest, and missed Game Four.
With his longtime assistant, Jim Cleamons, serving as coach, the Lakers evened the series with a 99-95 victory.
Jackson had a successful procedure on his heart to clear an artery that was 90 percent blocked. He had an angioplasty balloon inserted to open his left anterior descending artery, and a stent placed in the artery.
Jackson underwent follow-up tests Sunday morning before being released, and will be on medication for several months.
Jackson, who had kidney stones earlier this season, was experiencing tightness and pain in his chest for several days, and underwent tests Friday before the Lakers beat San Antonio, 110-95, in Game Three.
Team spokesman John Black said Jackson risked "a major heart attack" if the angioplasty was not done. An angioplasty balloon was inserted in the artery to clear the blockage, and a stent was implanted to prevent the artery from collapsing.
Los Angeles is trying to become just the second team in NBA history to win four titles in a row. To do that, they will have to become the eighth team in playoff history to win a series after losing the first two games.
No coach is better in the postseason than Jackson, who has won 25 straight playoff series -- 12 with the Chicago Bulls and 13 with the Lakers. He has won nine championships, tying the legendary Red Auerbach atop the all-time list. His playoff record of 159-58 is the best in NBA history.
