THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2009
SPORTS
9B
NBA
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Miami Heat's Jermaine O'Neal takes a hand to the face from Atlanta Hawks' Zaza Pachulia, of Georgia, as they play for a rebound in the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference NBA playoff series in Atlanta on Wednesday. Atlanta won 106-91.
Hard hits, fouls rule the night
Atlanta walks away with victory in Game 5
BY PAUL NEWBERRY
Associated Press
ATLANTA — Dwyane Wade banged his head on the court. Al Horford hobbled to the locker room. Jamaal Magloire doled out a shove and Josh Smith pushed back.
On a night of hard fouls, plenty of banging and staredown galore, the Atlanta Hawks moved closer to reaching the second round of the NBA playoffs for the first time in a decade, beating Miami 106-91 Wednesday to take a 3-2 lead in the series.
They can only hope they've got enough players left to finish off Wade and the Heat.
Joe Johnson had his best game of the postseason with 25 points, and the Hawks took control during a couldn't-miss second quarter that pushed them to a 63-40 halftime lead. Flip Murray added 23 points off the bench.
While the outcome was never really in question, there was plenty of extracurricular activity to spice up the fifth straight game decided by a double-figure margin.
Horford managed to shoot two free throws, but it quickly became apparent he couldn't go on. The Hawks' second-year center was helped to the locker room, his arms draped around two trainers, and didn't return. Instead, he began treatment for what was described as a moderate ankle sprain.
Early on, Wade collided with Smith and banged the back of his head on the floor, leaving him sprawled out for several minutes. He finally staggered to the locker room for treatment, holding a towel to his head. Not long after the NBA's leading scorer returned, Horford was fouled hard by James Jones and fell into Wade on the way down, landing awkwardly on his right foot.
The Hawks already were missing starting forward Marvin Williams, who sat out his third straight game with a sprained right wrist. When Mike Bibby picked up his fourth foul, Atlanta played much of the third quarter with only two regular starters on the court. Solomon
Jones and Mario West got extensive minutes after playing sparingly during the regular season.
Wade was already bothered by back spasms that contributed to a dismal 9-of-26 shooting performance in Game 4, which the Hawks won 81-71 to reclaim home-court advantage. Still groggy from his blow to the head, Wade made only 1-of-6 shots in the first half as Atlanta pulled away.
The Hawks made 13-of-16 from the field in the second quarter, including their last 12 attempts, to push a 24-10 lead to a commanding 23-point margin by halftime.
When Jones doloed out a hard foul on a driving Wade, the two players tumbled into the basket support and stared each other down. Magloire jumped in and shoved Jones. Smith took offense and shoved Magloire. The referees stepped in before any blows were thrown, though all four players were given technicals.
Then, with Maurice Evans going in for a layup, Wade slammed into the Atlanta player from behind and sent him tumbling to the court. Again, the teams bowed up, but Evans merely flashed a disgusted stare at Wade — who was called for a flagrant foul — before getting up to shoot his free throws.
Zaza Pachulia, coming off a 12-point, 18-rebound effort in Atlanta's Game 4 win in Miami, caught Jermaine O'Neal in the face with an elbow while driving to the hoop.
O'Neal crumbled to the court, then got up to deliver a shot across Pachulia's head the next time he ventured into the lane.
Pachulia, already sporting a black eye from a shot he took in an earlier game, certainly looked the part for this game.
Josh Smith dunked his way to 20 points for the Hawks and even hit a rare 3-pointer. The Hawks also pounded the boards, outrebounding the Heat 37-29.
"We're not going to let anybody beat up on us anymore," Bibby said at halftime.
Wade didn't get much help from his teammates. Michael Beasley had 18 points and O'Neal 14.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NBA
Magic center suspended for Game 6
Commissioner announces suspension after Dwight Howard elbows Sixers center in the face
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (left) comes over to speak with official Joe Crawford after he was called with a technical foul for hitting Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert (center), of Haiti, with an elbow during the first quarter of a first-round NBA playoff basketball game on Tuesday in Orlando, Fla. The NBA announced on Wednesday Howard would be suspended for Game 6 against the 76ers.
Howard has been suspended for Game 6 of the Magic's playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers for his elbow on Sixers center Samuel Dalembert, the NBA announced Wednesday.
ORLANDO, Fla. — Dwight Howard's elbow has given the Orlando Magic's playoff hopes a major hit.
The two got tangled up going for a rebound in the first quarter in Game 5 on Tuesday night. Replays showed Howard threw an elbow that hit Dalembert above the shoulders. Howard drew a technical foul for the hit.
"We're there to protect the players. If you throw a punch, you're gone."
"The whole idea is to make sure that these very large athletes playing in a relatively small place at high speeds with great power don't do harm to each other."
NBA commissioner David Stern, who was in Orlando on Tuesday, said Wednesday in Atlanta prior to the Hawks-Miami Heat game that Howard's suspension was not only for a rule violation, but for safety precautions.
"The Dwight Howard suspension tells you the players are capable of hurting each other," Stern said. "We're there to protect the players. If you throw a punch, you're gone. If you throw an elbow above the shoulder, you're gone.
DAVID STERN
NBA Commissioner
Howard said that was not his intention.
sion," Howard said in a statement. "I didn't intend to hurt anyone. I have complete faith in my teammates that they will come out and get the job done tomorrow night."
"I'm very disappointed but I have to respect the NBA's deci-
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"They saw the
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president Ed Stefanski.
They saw the elbow thrown but they couldn't determine whether or not the elbow actually made contact with Dalembert, Jackson said. "This was an elbow that was thrown that made contact above the shoulders and by rule there's an automatic suspension."
Orlando will also be without starting guard Courtney Lee, who suffered a fractured sinus after taking an inadvertent elbow to the head from Howard later in the quarter. Lee's status for the
Philadelphia coach Tony Dileo said
"Am I supposed to come up here and talk about the game? Or am I supposed to come up here and lobby for the calls I want the next game?" Van Gundy said. "Is that what it's about now? We're supposed to lobby for the calls we want the next
"Dwight Howard had a great game, and he's a great player, but he just lives in the 3-second lane on offense and defense." DiLeo said. "I'm just saying he's standing in the 3-second lane on offense and defense. He's a great player, and he doesn't need any advantages."
Magic coach Stan Van Gundy heard DiLeo's remarks, took the podium and defended his star center by mocking DiLeo.
Howard's elbow on Dalembert in Game 5 set off a wild coaching exchange afterward.
Stu Jackson, the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations, said Howard would have been ejected from the game if any of the referees saw him make contact with his target. Jackson said the contact was clear cut on replay.
DWIGHT HOWARD Orlando Magic center
Howard was having the best playoff series of his career and has been the only consistent Magic player in the postseason. He had 24 points and a career playoff-high 24 rebounds in Tuesday's win, and he's averaged 24 points and 15.8
remainder of the playoffs is uncertain.
games, just play the games.
"I guess that's the only reason Dwight's having success in this series. It has nothing to do with the fact that he's good."
The Magic lead the Sixers 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. Game 6 is Thursday. Orlando will likely start Marcin Gortat in place of Howard, and J.J. Redck for Lee.
game? Let's just play the games.
Howard should have been called for 3 seconds in the lane several times and asked the league to look into the elbow. Jackson said he got a text message about the play almost immediately from Sixers
"I didn't intend to hurt anyone. I have complete faith in my teammates..."
rebounds in the series.
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