76ers, Mavericks, Lakers set out for Eastern Conference

By Ryan Anderegg
Staff Writer

The New Jersey Nets and Boston Celtics are set to square off in a rematch of last year's Eastern Conference Semifinals, which had the nets winning in six games.

The Nets star is Jason Kidd, but few players in the league are playing better than forward Kenyon Martin.

Martin averaged 22.3 points per game and 10 rebounds per game in the Nets first-round victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Meanwhile, the underdog Celtics knocked out the Indiana Pacers in six games in their first-round match up.

(4) Philadelphia 76ers @ (1) Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons squeezed by the Orlando Magic and will face Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Pistons rallied from 3-1 down in their series with the Magic to advance. Chauncey Billups scored 77 points in the final two games for the Pistons.

The Pistons had to deal with superstar Tracy McGrady, and now will have to stop Iverson, who is arguably playing the best ball of his career.

Iverson averaged nearly 35 ppg in the 76ers first-round victory over the New Orleans Hornets. Iverson's efforts included a 55-point performance in Game 1.

Western Conference
(3) Dallas Mavericks @ (2) Sacramento Kings

The Dallas Mavericks avoided embarrassment and now play the Sacramento Kings. The teams' met in last year's Western Conference Semifinal, with the Kings winning in five games.

The Mavericks can breathe a little easier after its Game 7, 107-95 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. The Mavericks were in danger of becoming the first team to lose a best-of-seven series, after taking a 3-0 lead. The Trail Blazers won three games in a row to knot the series at 3-3, but the Mavericks protected their home court in Game 7, thanks to Dirk Nowitzki's 31 points and 11 rebounds.

The Kings, who ousted the Utah Jazz in five games in their first-round match up, hold the home-court advantage and won the regular season series with the Mavericks 3-1.

(5) Los Angeles Lakers @ (1) San Antonio Spurs

The three-time defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers will battle the San Antonio Spurs in the marquee second-round match up.

The Spurs, owners of the league's best record, fended off the Phoenix Suns in six games. As expected MVP Tim Duncan led the way for the Spurs averaging 18.7 ppg and 16 rpg.

Stephon Marbury and the Suns went down fighting though. The Suns won Game 1, and held a seven point lead in the fourth quarter of Game 2, before Duncan took over the game and series.

Marbury led the Suns in scoring and hit a game-winning three-pointer as time expired to win Game 1 for the up and coming Suns.

The Lakers trailed 2-1 in their series with the Minnesota Timberwolves, before winning the final three games in convincing fashion.

The Timberwolves had no answers for Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. The duo combined to average over 60 points in the series, in which only two of the six games were decided by less than 15 points.

Kevin Garnett averaged 27.0 ppg and 15.7 rpg for the Timberwolves, who have yet to win a playoff series.

It's now on to San Antonio for the Lakers, who dropped all four regular season games with the Spurs.

May 8 , 2003 Issue