They needed overtime, but the Utah Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Lakers , 123-115, on Sunday afternoon to even their best-of-seven series at two games apiece.

Deron Williams had 29 points and 14 assists and Mehmet Okur tallied 18 points, 11 rebounds and 5 dimes for the Jazz, who shot 52% from the field and attempted twenty more free throws than Los Angeles.

Okur was charged with a technical foul late in the third after arguing a foul, and Derek Fisher sank the free throw.

Utah led by as many as twelve in the fourth quarter, but the Lakers charged back. Lamar Odom tied the game with six seconds left in regulation on a tip-in. Fisher then blocked Williams on a potential game-winner, ensuring overtime.

The Jazz came out of the gates quickly in the extra period, never looking back on their way to a Game Four victory.

Kobe Bryant, who was bothered by a bad back, posted 33 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds and Lamar Odom contributed 26 points and 13 boards for the Lakers, who made 47% of their shots but struggled (9-for-26) from behind the arc.

Pau Gasol added 23 points and 10 rebounds, but the L.A. got little else other than 15 points from Fisher in the loss.

Forward Ronny Turiaf was ejected early in the second quarter after a flagrant foul on Jazz guard Ronnie Price.

Kyle Korver and Matt Harpring where tremendous off the bench, combining for 26 points and 6 boards, including solid play in the second half.

Bryant struggled in the second half after getting shaken up on a foul in the third quarter. After the play, in which he appeared to injure his knee slightly, he seemed to move a little slower than usual.

He finished the night with the aforementioned 33 points, but shot just 13-for-33 on the afternoon, with a majority of those misses coming in the second half.

The MVP missed seven shots in overtime alone, with his only points coming from the foul line in the final five minutes.

He left the game with a few minutes left in OT.

Game Five will be Wednesday night in Los Angeles as the Lakers look to rebound at home. [READ]

The San Antonio Spurs cruised past the New Orleans Hornets , 100-80, on Sunday night to even their best-of-seven series at two games apiece.

Tim Duncan had 22 points and 15 rebounds and Tony Parker tallied 21 points, 8 assists and 6 boards for the Spurs, who shot 51% and outrebounded New Orleans by nine.

The Spurs used huge runs in the second and third quarters to put the game away well before the fourth period began.

San Antonio outscored the Hornets by eleven points in both periods, allowing them to tie the series up heading into Game Five in New Orleans.

The Spurs attempted eight more foul shots then the Hornets.

Manu Ginobili posted 15 points and 8 rebounds in the victory, while Robert Horry t Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's NBA record for most playoff games ever played.

They have both played in 237 postseason games.

Chris Paul had 23 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for New Orleans, who shot just 40% from the field and couldn't withstand San Antonio's substantial runs.

Paul did turn the ball over four times in the loss, the same number of miscues he notched in the first three games combined.

Aside from Paul, the rest of the Hornets struggled in Game Four.

David West tallied 10 points and 5 rebounds on 4-for-15 shooting, while Peja Stojakovic and Morris Peterson combined for just 13 points on 5-for-17 shooting.

Foul trouble kept Tyson Chandler from being aggressive, as he finished the game with 2 points, 4 rebounds and 5 fouls.

Both teams received great play from their benches, San Antonio edged out New Orleans 33-32 in that category, with significant garage time in the final twelve minutes.

The Hornets led 4-2 just a few moments into the game, but Tim Duncan tied the game with a jumper at the 9:46 mark in the first quarter and the Spurs neither traveled again.

Game Five will be Tuesday in New Orleans, with the momentum on the line. [READ]

The Phoenix Suns are beginning to assess their situation and prepare for life without head Coach Mike D'Antoni, according to The Arizona Republic.

D'Antoni officially left the team for the New York Knicks this weekend while General Manager Steve Kerr seemed to still be deciding whether or not to keep him on board.

"We appreciate all of Mike's efforts and contributions these past five years and wish him well in his next challenge," Kerr said in a statement. "We will now be methodical in the process of finding our next head coach."

Kerr hasn't formulated a list of candidates yet but has already taken himself and former TNT counterpart Doug Collins off any potential list.

Suns' broadcast analyst Eddie Johnson has admitted to reporters that he plans to ask for an interview, though, making him the only real candidate early in the team's search. [READ]

Bob Huggins underwent precautionary tests and was released from a Charlotte, N.C. hospital on Thursday after tripping on an airport tarmac and hitting his head on the pavement, according to ESPN.com.

Athletic director Ed Pastilong said that Huggins had a bump on his head, but he never lost consciousness.

Apparently Huggins was checking his phone messages when he tripped over a cone on the tarmac, causing him to fall. [READ]

Shawn James will pass up his senior season at Duquesne to enter the NBA Draft, according to The Associated Press.

James was one of five basketball players shot on campus in September of 2006.

The 6-foot-10 center entered his name on the early entry list for the Draft, but he finally hired agent Steve Cronin, eliminating his chance to return to school this fall.

"Shawn's a great kid, and I wish him great success as a pro," Duquesne Coach Ron Everhart said Thursday night. "Nobody deserves more success than Shawn James."

James turns 25 in September. [READ]

Lakers' forward Ronny Turiaf was ejected early in the second quarter against the Jazz on Sunday afternoon after committing a flagrant foul on Utah's Ronnie Price, according to The Associated Press.

Turiaf knocked Price to the floor as the guard drove to the hoop, leaving him with a gash over his right eye.

Price banged his head on the court but leaped straight up.

The officials huddled and elected to eject Turiaf, who received a stern lecture from Coach Phil Jackson on his way back to the locker room. [READ]

Coming off a heartbreaking 90-89 loss at home against the Pistons, Magic guard Jameer Nelson has guaranteed a victory in Game Five on Tuesday, according to The Detroit Free Press.

"You know what, we’re going to make some adjustments, and we’re going to go there and win this game," Nelson said to Florida Today on Saturday. "I’m not being arrogant or cocky or anything like that, but tonight, we let it slip out of our hands, let Game 2 slip out of our hands, and we’re going to win this game in Detroit."

"For some reason, I feel we’re still the better team," Rashard Lewis told the Orlando Sentinel. "It was our mistakes, nothing they did. They’ve still got to beat us one more time." [READ]

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan cried foul on Friday after he felt Kobe Bryant received special treatment from officials during Games One and Two, and now Phil Jackson is doing the same following his team's Game Three loss in Utah, according to The Los Angeles Daily News.

"He's had pretty much a free reign because it's a non-contact sport when you guard him," Sloan said before Utah's win in Game 3 on Friday night. "You see Ronnie (Brewer) get a couple of fouls, (and) he becomes so conservative and so concerned that he's going to come out of the ballgame, and that's a hard thing to overcome."

Jackson fired back soon after.

"He can't even open his mouth to speak about that the way (Carlos) Boozer pushes and shoves out there," Jackson said of the Utah power forward. "He got away with all his pushes (Friday) night, which he was getting called on in L.A."

"So, I mean, you know, in that regard, you just let it go and say, 'The stars get to play their game and the other guys have to keep their hands to themselves.'" [READ]

Chauncey Billups is hopeful that he can return to the lineup for the Pistons in Game Five against the Magic on Tuesday, according to The Detroit Free Press.

"With the progress I've made up to this point, it at least makes me feel good that I have another three days," Billups said. "Hopefully. But we'll see. That's what I'm shooting for though."

"It's the worst," Billups added. "I've been in a bad mood for three days. ... But it's part of the game. I just hate that it's right now. Hopefully, I'll just keep getting better."

However, his strained right hamstring was so bad on Saturday that he couldn't have played no matter how important the game had been.

"It wouldn't matter [Saturday] if it was Game 7 of the NBA Finals or Game 4 against Orlando," Coach Flip Saunders said. "His leg is just not ready. He can't do anything to really be effective." [READ]

Some don't believe Rick Carlisle is the right fit for the Mavericks, but Jerry Stackhouse tends to disagree, according to The Dallas Morning News.

"He's the best guy available and the best coach for our team with our personalities," said Stackhouse, who played for Carlisle in Detroit. "He's the best fit without question. There are not enough positive things I can say about him."

Stackhouse isn't guaranteed to be in camp with Dallas this fall, so you can wipe out the notion that he's trying to get in good with the new coach.

"Rick is smart enough to get it done," Stackhouse assured. "If you judge him from what he has done in the past, there is reason to ask can this guy adjust to what the Mavericks want to do as they go forward. But knowing him, he's a coach who adjusts and operates with the personnel he has." [READ]

According to a report on ESPN.com, potential lottery pick O.J. Mayo received thousands of dollars in cash, clothes, and other benefits in apparent violation of NCAA rules while he was still in high school and during his one year at USC, a former Mayo associate told ESPN's "Outside the Lines."

Louis Johnson, who was a part of Mayo's inner circle until recently, said Mayo accepted around $30,000 in cash and gifts during the past four years from Rodney Guillory, a 43-year-old Los Angeles event promoter.

In exchange for the payments and gifts, Mayo entered into a verbal agreement to allow BDA represent him when he turned pro. [READ]

Robert Horry can tie Kareem Abdul-Jabaar with 237 postseason games under his belt as the Spurs take on the Hornets in Game 4 on Sunday, Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News is reporting.

“I don't want him to put me in just to get (the record),” Horry said. “That would be disrespectful to Kareem.”

Horry logged only 54 seconds in Game 3. [READ]

According to a source close to the negotiations, the Chicago Bulls received word that Mike D'Antoni had accepted the head coaching position with New York as John Paxson and Jerry Reinsdorf were preparing to make an official offer.

According to K.C. Johnson, the Bulls were also willing to offer a four year contract, but didn't get the opportunity to get their counter offer to the Knicks' contract into D'Antoni's representatives.

"Chicago made a terrific, last-second pitch, but at that point, Mike was emotionally committed to New York," LeGarie said in a phone interview. "John Paxson did a magnificent job to bring Mike on board, and Mike was quite taken with John.

"This has nothing to do with money. Mike sees a great challenge in New York."

"I flew out to see Mike last Sunday within hours when I was given permission to do so from [Suns general manager] Steve Kerr," Paxson said in a statement.

"The meeting went very well and I felt we connected on many things philosophically.

"On Tuesday Jerry and I met and, because of our strong interest, Jerry was eager to meet with Mike personally. This morning Jerry and I spoke and agreed that Mike was a good fit and I placed a call to his agent. Jerry wanted to meet with Mike again [Saturday] and talk about a deal.

"Unfortunately, we were never given an opportunity to make an offer of any kind, which is the most disappointing thing in all of this. I thought it would have been fair to listen to what we had to say. But at the end of the day we simply weren't given the opportunity to do so. I now will continue to search for the proper fit for our current roster." [READ]

Having lost out on gaining the services of Mike D'Antoni, K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune is reporting that the Bulls are turning their efforts towards former Mavs' Coach Avery Johnson and Boston assistant Tom Thibodeau.

While no formal interview has been scheduled as of Friday night, Bulls' GM John Paxson has reached out to Johnson's representatives. Some believe that Johnson, who is still owed $12 million from Dallas, may take a year off before taking another position.

While D'Antoni was an attractive proposition for Chicago, the Bulls have been looking for a coach who focuses on defense, which fits both Johnson and Thibodeau. [READ]

The Cleveland Cavaliers jumped out to an early lead against the Boston Celtics on Saturday night and never looked back en route to an important Game Three victory at home.

LeBron James had 21 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds on 5-for-16 shooting, but it was the play of several other Cavaliers that spurred the win.

Delonte West added 21 points, 7 dimes and 5 boards of his own, while Wally Szczerbiak added 16 points for Cleveland.

The Cavaliers outscored the Celtics 32-13 in the first quarter, and kept Boston from making any significant runs en route to a 108-84 victory.

Ben Wallace, who was considered doubtful for Game Three after leaving Thursday night's loss because of dizziness, played twenty-nine minutes and tallied 9 points and 9 rebounds.

Playing a largely individual offensive game, the Celtics struggled, shooting just 41% on the night. They recorded just seventeen assists in the loss.

Kevin Garnett led with 17 points and 9 rebounds and Paul Pierce (14) and Ray Allen (10) both reached double-figures, but little else went right for Boston.

Cleveland attempted nine more free throws and went 10-for-19 from behind the three-point line, while Boston made just 5 of their 16 three-pointers.

Rajon Rondo had a tough game, scoring 7 points on 3-for-10 shooting while failing to record an assist.

Game Four will be Monday night in Cleveland as the Cavaliers aim to tie up their semifinal series with the top-seeded Celtics. [READ]

The Detroit Pistons used a huge third quarter run to come-from-behind and knock off the Orlando Magic , 90-89, in Game Four of their semifinal series on Saturday afternoon.

Richard Hamilton scored 32 points and grabbed 8 rebounds for the Pistons, who made 44% of their field goal attempts and outrebounded Orlando by four.

With Chauncey Billups out, point guards Rodney Stuckey and Lindsay Hunter combined for 14 points and 5 assists.

Detroit outscored Orlando 26-15 in the third quarter, using a 15-0 run to seize hold of the lead.

Hedo Turkoglu lead the Magic with tremendous play in the fourth quarter, tallying 13 of his 20 points in the final twelve minutes.

However, Turkoglu missed a running layup with just a few seconds left on the clock that would have given the Magic a win. Dwight Howard missed a put back as well, as the Pistons took a 3-1 series lead with the win.

Howard posted 8 points and 12 rebounds in the loss, struggling offensively after the first quarter.

Orlando shot poorly from the foul line, going 11-for-17, and turned the ball over three more times than Detroit.

Rashard Lewis, Maurice Evans and Jameer Nelson all added 15 points for the Magic, but they couldn't overcome Howard's struggles.

Tayshaun Prince won the game for the Pistons with a runner in the lane on the team's final possession, notching 17 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists on the night.

Rasheed Wallace had 16 points and 8 rebounds and Antonio McDyess added 8 points and 14 boards for Detroit in the win.

Things started to get intense in the third quarter, after Howard and McDyess were assessed technicals following a scuffle after a missed basket.

Game Five will be Tuesday night in Detroit as the Pistons look to close out the series and advance to their sixth-straight Eastern Conference Finals. [READ]

Daniel Gibson understands that LeBron James hasn't been shooting very well in the semifinals against the Celtics, but he still believes that he's the team's best option, according to The Plain Dealer.

"Even though he's not making shots, he's still LeBron, he's still making the game easier for other guys," Gibson said. "We just have to make plays for him, make the game easier for him since their defense is so locked in on what he wants to do. If we make shots, it'll make the game a lot easier for him."

"With LeBron, I don't need to be hopeful," Coach Mike Brown said. "I believe in him. He's going to get it done." [READ]

The Knicks have officially made Mike D'Antoni their newest head coach, but not everyone agrees with the Donnie Walsh's decision, according to The New York Daily News.

"I think it is a terrible match," said one rival head coach. "I don't get it."

The Knicks don't have the most mobile big men, such as Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph, which many believe won't mesh with D'Antoni's high-powered offensive style. [READ]

The Cavaliers will likely be without forward Ben Wallace against the Celtics in Game Three on Saturday night because of allergy-related issues, according to The Plain Dealer.

He left the team's Game Two loss in Boston on Thursday night because of dizziness. A test at the Cleveland Clinic on Friday revealed that he has an inner-ear infection, in addition to his allergy woes.

"This is just like all year; if he can go, he's going to go," Coach Mike Brown said of Wallace's status. "If he can't go, somebody else is going to have to step into his spot and play good minutes for us." [READ]

Lakers' guard Trevor Ariza will seek a third opinion on his broken right foot, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.

Coach Phil Jackson admitted the decision before the team's Game Three loss to the Jazz on Friday night.

"I still have optimism," Jackson said. "The second round is a long way from being over. We can only hope we had the same kind of success in the last round, but we certainly can't count on that."

Ariza has been sidelined since January, and recent CT scans of his foot have revealed that it's not fully healed. However, it seems possible that he could play again this postseason if Ariza gets the right third opinion.

"He got a second opinion [Friday], and we're going to sit down and discuss it a little bit," Jackson said. "It's optimistic. . . . There's been some suggestion that perhaps this is as good as it's going to heal, and perhaps he doesn't have to be as cautious as it was suggested before," [READ]

Houston guard Rafer Alston and forward Shane Battier have had minor surgical procedures to repair injuries that occurred late in the season, according to The Associated Press.

Battier had a procedure to remove bone spurs from his left ankle while Alston had ligament and tendon damage repaired in his right ankle.

Both players will be ready when the team opens camp in the fall. [READ]

Mike D'Antoni accepted the New York Knicks ' rich offer to become their new head coach. The agreement ends a competition with the Chicago Bulls , who also wanted D'Antoni to fill their coaching vacancy.

The deal is worth approximately $24 million over four years.

Dissatisfied with his situation in Phoenix, D'Antoni was still under contract with the Suns but had been given permission by the team to seek other employment.

It was believed by some that D'Antoni preferred the Bulls' talent but Sports Illustrated reports that he had quietly let it be known that New York was just as attractive an option.

In response to widespread news reports, the Knicks confirmed Saturday evening that D’Antoni had "agreed in principle" to take the Knicks' head coach position.

He is expected in New York on Sunday to sign the deal. A news conference introducing D'Antoni as the new Knicks coach could happen as early as Tuesday. [READ]