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Baketball Roundup
Bucks 104, Hornets 97
Milwaukee's "Big Three" combined for 85 points to make sure the Bucks would play at least one more game.
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Milwaukee Bucks' guard Sam Cassell drives around Otis Thorpe on his way to 33 points. REUTERS |
Sam Cassell scored 33 points, Glenn Robinson had 29, and Ray Allen added 23 to lead the Bucks over Charlotte on Thursday night to send the Eastern Conference semifinal series back to Milwaukee tied 3-3.
After struggling with their shooting through three straight losses in the series, the Bucks finally broke out when it mattered most by lifting Milwaukee back from a 15-point deficit.
Frustration almost got the better of the bucks in those early minutes. Lindsey Hunter was slapping his hands and angrily screaming at teammates "Let's Go!" after a turnover. Cassell came close to getting ejected for arguing a call, then had to be pulled away from the ref before being kicked out.
Milwaukee coach George Karl implored his team to settle down. They did, cutting the deficit to 10 points by halftime, then opening the second half with renewed focus.
Cassell and Allen hit their first shots of the second half and Robinson scored seven straight points to help the Bucks pull back into the game at 61-60 with five minutes left in the third.
David Wesley led the Hornets with 27 points. Jamal Mashburn scored 24, but had only six points in the second half, all on free throws.
Hockey Roundup
Devils 3, Penguins 0
The New Jersey Devils lead the Eastern Conference finals again after doing something no team had done in 26 years - shut out the offensive powerhouse Pittsburgh Penguins at home in the playoffs.
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Pittsburgh Penguins' owner/player Mario Lemieux (left), coach Ivan Hlinka (center), and Jan Hrdina (right) have the best seats in the house in order to watch their team lose to the Devils. REUTERS |
"I don't think there is any doubt this was our best game of the playoffs," defenseman Scott Stevens said.
The Penguins' Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr probably agree. They were frustrated by the Devils' trapping defense and constant control of the puck and were held to five shots, and even fewer good chances.
"We've got to find a way to play against that trap, come up with something different," said Lemieux.
The Devils learned from their 4-2 loss Tuesday in Game 2, when the Penguins created scoring chances off defensive breakdowns and turnovers to quickly score four goals.
The defending Stanley Cup champions dropped four men back to take away the Penguins' rushes, and created breakaways by exploiting the Pittsburgh defensemen's tendency to double-team the puck. Led by their top line of Patrik Elias, Jason Arnott, and Petr Sykora, they had 12 odd-man rushes to Pittsburgh's 1.
All of this helped goalie Martin Brodeur gain his 11th career play-off shutout - and possibly his easiest. He only had to defend against 20 shots.
Playoff Results from May 17, 2001
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