, May 16 (UPI) -- NBA playoffs get two-day break
SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 16 (UPI) -- The NBA playoffs get the next two nights off before the Western Conference finals get underway on Saturday. That's when the highly- anticipated matchup between the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers and the top-seeded Kings begins in Sacramento.
The No. 1 seed also advanced to the Eastern Conference finals, although the New Jersey Nets will be in uncharted territory when they meet the Boston Celtics.
All four teams advanced in five games in their respective conference semifinal series. No matter which teams meet in the NBA Finals, the representative from the powerhouse Western Conference is sure to be a heavy favorite.
Sacramento center and former Laker Vlade Divac believes the home-court advantage will make the difference for the Kings, who were swept by Los Angeles in the semifinals last season.
After the Lakers' 93-87 closeout victory over San Antonio in Game Five on Tuesday night, a newspaper clipping was taped to Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal's locker with a picture of Divac and a quote: "If the Lakers don't have home-court advantage this year, they're not going to win it."
The Lakers have set a playoff record with 11 consecutive road victories, and are talking their own smack as well.
"We're going to win the next round," Lakers forward Rick Fox said. "I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it."
The Kings wrapped up their semifinal series against Dallas on Monday night.
The Nets are in the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in their 26-year NBA history after closing out the Charlotte Hornets, 103-95, on Wednesday night. The Nets will host the Celtics on Sunday in Game One of the conference finals.
Boston has not reached the NBA Finals since 1987, and won the last of its 16 championships in 1986.
More ankle surgery for Marbury
PHOENIX, May 16 (UPI) -- Phoenix Suns point guard Stephon Marbury underwent his second ankle surgery in three weeks on Thursday.
The arthroscopic surgery, to remove general inflammation from Marbury's right ankle, was performed by Dr. Gus Armendariz at Good Samaritan Hospital. He also had surgery to remove a bone spur, loose bodies and general inflammation from the front and back of his left ankle on April 24.
Despite the injuries, Marbury was the only Sun to play all 82 games, averaged 20.4 points, 8.1 assists and 38.9 minutes per game. He also shot a career-best .442 from the field.
The 6-2 Marbury was acquired from the New Jersey Nets last July in the blockbuster deal involving point guard Jason Kidd.
Phoenix (36-46) finished 10th in the Western Conference, eight games from the eighth and final playoff spot, while New Jersey (52-30) set a franchise record for wins and advanced to the conference finals for the first time.
Marbury spent parts of three seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves before being sent to New Jersey in a three-team deal. He has averaged 20.1 points and 8.2 assists in 421 career games. He has appeared in eight playoff games, averaging 16.6 points and 7.6 assists.
Carolina-Toronto series begin
RALEIGH, N.C., May 16 (UPI) -- The Carolina Hurricanes look to take advantage of the injury-riddled Toronto Maple Leafs Thursday night when the two teams open their NHL Eastern Conference Finals series in Raleigh, N.C.
Toronto, which concluded its second straight seven-game series with a 3-0 triumph over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, will be without superstar Mats Sundin.
Although Sundin suggested he wasn't sure about his status, Maple Leafs Coach Pat Quinn answered for his best all-around player when he said, "He won't play (Thursday)."
Toronto lost its captain and leading scorer of the regular season to a broken wrist during conference quarterfinals against the New York Islanders.
Most recently, the Leafs lost the services of winger Darcy Tucker (shoulder), Mikael Renberg (lower body), and rookie defenseman Karel Pilar (hand) in the Ottawa series.
Garry Valk (groin), who has been out the entire playoffs, has yet to be cleared by team doctors, while defenseman Jyrki Lumme (shoulder) will likely be a game-time decision.
Toronto, which saw its roster often hampered by injuries during the regular season, isn't necessarily discouraged about having a few of its stars out to start the series.
"You look at the way the team has been playing these two series, it's been amazing to watch the effort and the type of hockey we have been playing and the adversity we have gone through,"
Sundin said. "It's been a great job by all of the players that have been playing so far, and the injured guys obviously want to be a part of what's going on and you want to be out there playing."
The Hurricanes will be appearing in the conference finals for the first time following an 8-2 rout of the Montreal Canadiens in Game Six of their semifinal series.
Carolina, which also defeated New Jersey in six games, has been sparked by the so-called "BBC" line of Bates Battaglia, Rod Brind'Amour and Erik Cole. The trio scored 10 goals and combined for 24 points in the semifinals.
The teams tied their season series, 2-2, and also matched each other in goals scored with 12 apiece.
Stars name Kings assistant as coach
DALLAS, May 16 (UPI) -- The Dallas Stars, who missed the playoffs this year for the first time in six years, have installed former Los Angeles Kings assistant Dave Tippett as their new coach.
Tippett replaces Rick Wilson, who was promoted when the team fired Ken Hitchcock on Jan. 25. Wilson is still under contract with the Stars, although his role with the team is uncertain.
The 40-year-old Tippett played 11 seasons in the NHL and spent the last three as an assistant under Andy Murray in Los Angeles, where he was responsible for coaching special teams. This past season, they led the league on the power play at 20.7 percent, and ranked third in penalty-killing at 86.6 percent.
Tippett also was in the running for the New York Rangers' vacancy. As a left wing with Hartford, Washington, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh from 1983-94, he was a defensive and penalty-killing specialist who collected 93 goals and 169 assists in 721 games.
Prior to going to Los Angeles, Tippett served as coach and general manager for the Houston Aeros of the now defunct International Hockey League. He guided the Aeros to consecutive 50-win seasons and was named IHL Coach of the Year in 1999, when his team won the Turner Cup.
Dallas was 23-17-6-4 when it fired Hitchcock. The Stars finished 36-28-13-5 and missed the playoffs for the first time since the 1995-96 season. They had won five straight division titles and the franchise's only Stanley Cup in 1999.
Ironically, Hitchcock reportedly was one of the candidates under consideration by Dallas before he was hired Tuesday by the Philadelphia Flyers.
Bell named as Indians consultant
CLEVELAND, May 16 (UPI) -- Buddy Bell, fired as manager of the Colorado Rockies on April 26, has returned to the franchise where he served as both a player and
coach for nine years in the role of Consultant to Baseball Operations.
The 50-year-old Bell will assist Indians minor league field and defensive coordinator Johnny Goryl in the development of the club's minor league players, coaches and managers. He will also evaluate the club's minor league talent as well as players in the National League.
"Buddy Bell is a quality human being with unquestionable character and integrity," said Indians Executive Vice President and General Manager Mark Shapiro. "His presence, knowledge and experience cultivated over 34 years in professional baseball will be an invaluable resource for our minor league players and staff."
The Rockies fired Bell on April 26 after getting off to the worst start in franchise history at 6-16. He compiled an overall record of 161-185 record with Colorado.
Bell played in 987 games with the Indians from 1972-78 and served as infield coach for them in 1994 and '95.
Astros get Borbon from Toronto
HOUSTON, May 16 (UPI) -- The Houston Astros, who have been looking to bolster their bullpen from the left side, have acquired Pedro Borbon from the Toronto Blue Jays for a player to be named.
The 34-year-old Borbon was 1-2 with a 4.97 ERA in 16 games for Toronto this season and joins closer Billy Wagner as the only lefthanders in the Houston bullpen.
Borbon is the ultimate lefthanded specialist, logging just 12 2/3 innings in his 16 appearances this season. Over the last six years, lefthanded hitters have batted just .184 against him.
War Emblem gets Post 8 at Preakness
BALTIMORE, May 16 (UPI) -- War Emblem, the Kentucky Derby winner, has drawn a favorable eighth post, and Medaglia d'Oro was named the morning-line favorite Wednesday in the draw for Saturday's 127th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
War Emblem won the Kentucky Derby as a 20-1 long shot but now is drawing far more attention and has been installed as the 3-1 second choice for the race, which covers 1 3/16 miles.
Medaglia d'Oro, who finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby after getting off to a terrible start, drew the fifth post and was installed as the 5-2 favorite.
The field was one short of the 14-horse limit, and just four of the 18 horses that competed in the Kentucky Derby also will race in the second leg of the Triple Crown.
War Emblem led from gate to wire at the Derby to give trainer Bob Baffert his third victory in the last six Kentucky Derbys.
Baffert will seek his fourth Preakness victory in six years Saturday. He won from the outside 11th post last year with Point Given. He also won with Silver Charm in 1997 and Real Quiet in 1998.
