Suns Take 2-1 Lead in Second-Round Series
May 14, 2005
Steve Nash returned to Dallas for the first time since winning the MVP award to a smattering of boos amid plenty of cheers. Then he opened the game with an airball on a 3-pointer and everyone was hooting. What followed was the kind of playoff performance that has Mavericks fans wringing their hands.

Shaq Sits Against Wizards With Sore Thigh
May 12, 2005
Shaquille O'Neal's bruised thigh kept him out of a playoff game for the first time in his career. O'Neal was scratched about 20 minutes before the tip-off of Thursday night's Game 3 between the Miami Heat and Washington Wizards. The Heat led the series 2-0.

MVP Nash to Lead Suns Against Former Team
May 09, 2005
Steve Nash won the NBA's most valuable player award as pilot of the rocket offense of the Phoenix Suns. His journey enters an intriguing new phase Monday night when he goes against his former team, the Dallas Mavericks, in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.

Miami Pastes Washington 105-86 in Game 1
May 08, 2005
Dwyane Wade overcame a tough start to score 20 points and Shaquille O'Neal added 19 to lead five Miami players in double figures, and the Heat defeated Washington 105-86 Sunday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinal.

Pacers Hope Season-Long Lessons Pay Off
May 07, 2005
The Indiana Pacers could have let this season slip away long ago. With injuries and suspensions decimating the team for prolonged periods, the Pacers never paid attention to the doomsayers predicting they couldn't make the playoffs. Instead, they rallied.

Celtics Nudge Pacers 92-89 in Overtime
May 05, 2005
In the wildest game yet of a series headed to a Game 7, the Celtics overcame the late ejection of Paul Pierce and sent their first-round matchup with the Indiana Pacers back to Boston. Antoine Walker scored 24 points Thursday night, including a go-ahead 3-pointer early in overtime and the clinching basket with a minute to go, in Boston's 92-89 victory.

Pacers Aiming to Close Out Boston Series
May 04, 2005
The Indiana Pacers looked like they had grabbed control of their first-round playoff series with Boston when they went up 2-1 with Game 4 at home.

Source: Okafor Wins Rookie of the Year
May 03, 2005
Charlotte forward Emeka Okafor has won the NBA's Rookie of the Year award, narrowly beating best friend Ben Gordon of Chicago Bulls, a Bobcats source told The Associated Press.

Ben Wallace Named Defensive Player of Year
May 02, 2005
Pistons center Ben Wallace won the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award for the third time in four years Monday.

Pistons Stop 76ers 97-92 in Overtime
May 01, 2005
The Pistons survived another scare from Philadelphia, and headed home with a chance to wrap up their playoff series. Chauncey Billups carried the Pistons in the final minutes of regulation, Rasheed Wallace hit a couple of clutch 3-pointers in overtime and Detroit overcame an inspired effort by Allen Iverson to go up 3-1 in its first-round series with a 97-92 win over the Sixers on Sunday.