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Baketball Roundup
Hornets Sting Bucks: 94-86
The Milwaukee Bucks lost their third straight game on Tuesday, going down 94-86 to the Charlotte Hornets in Game Five of their Eastern Conference semifinals series. It didn't help that they shot just 37 percent.
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Hornets' forward Jamal Mashburn (24) doesn't seem to be bothered much by the presence of Bucks' forward Tim Thomas. REUTERS |
One of four teams to average more than 100 points during the season, the Bucks have averaged just 85.3 during their skid.
The Hornet, on the other hand, are on a roll, making shots when they need to. Jamal Mashburn continued his playoff madness with 24 points, while Baron Davis scorched the Bucks with five 3-pointers. They now head back to Charlotte where the Hornets are undefeated during the playoffs.
The Bucks received a lackluster effort from their "Big Three" of Glenn Robinson, Ray Allen, and Sam Cassell. Robinson scored 22 points but missed a pair of shots in the last 90 seconds. Allen had five baskets in the first quarter but just one thereafter, finishing with 18 points. Cassell played despite bruised ribs and scored 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting.
"I don't think anyone in here had their vacations planned yet," Allen said, referring to his teammates. "But I can tell you our vacation will come quickly if we don't figure something out."
NEXT GAME: Thursday, at 8:00, in Charlotte
Hockey Roundup
Devils Bedeviled 4-2; Series Tied
The defending Stanley Cup champs were sporting a Devilish grin going into the second period. After all, they were up 2-0. But Mario Lemieux quickly wiped that grin off their face as he led the Penguins to a four to nothing run to tie the series at one game apiece.
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Penguins' goalie Johan Hedberg (right) makes a point blank save with his right pad on New Jersey Devils' center Jason Arnott (25) during Game 2 of the NHL Eastern Conference Finals. The series is now tied 1-1. REUTERS |
Super Mario took advantage of defensive lapses by New Jersey to set up goals by Alexei Morozov and Alexei Kovalev in a span of less than three minutes in the second period.
"They made the mistakes and we took advantage of them," said Lemieux.
His teammates saw it a little differently.
"Great players make great plays," said Kovalev. "Mario made two great plays. He doesn't need the puck all the time, he just needs to get it with the right opportunity."
Rene Corbet scored the eventual game winner and Robert Lang added an insurance goal for the Penguins off a perfect feed from Kovalev from behind the net in the third.
Meanwhile, after spotting the Devils to two early goals, Penguins rookie goaltender Johan Hedberg shut the door on the goal. He stopped all 16 shots he faced over the final two periods.
The bright spot for the Devils was the return of Scott Niedermayer. The defenseman had missed the last four playoff games while recovering from a concussion, thanks to an elbow to the face by Toronto's Tie Domi.
NEXT GAME: Thursday, 7:00; in Pittsburgh
Playoff Results from May 15, 2001
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