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Kobe Bryant scored 30 points, Pau Gasol snapped out of his playoff funk with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers took control of their first-round playoff series with a 100-86 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Friday night.

Paul Pierce scored 38 points, Ray Allen added 32, and Rajon Rondo had a Celtics’ playoff-record 20 assists as Boston beat the New York Knicks 113-96 on Friday night to take a 3-0 in their first-round playoff series.

Texas players Tristan Thompson, Jordan Hamilton and Cory Joseph are all declaring for the NBA draft.

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh all united this season to win a championship.

League officials say the team, which was preparing to apply for permission to relocate to Anaheim, will play in the state capital next season.NBA officials now expect the Kings to play next season in Sacramento, league executives told The Times on Friday.

Andrew Bynum had 17 points and 11 rebounds, Lamar Odom scored 16 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers survived poor games from their two biggest stars to even their first-round playoff series with an 87-78 victory over the New Orleans Hornets in Game 2 on Wednesday night.

Kevin Durant scored 23 points, Russell Westbrook added 21 and the Oklahoma City Thunder built a huge first-half lead on their way to a 106-89 victory over the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 on Wednesday night.The first-round playoff series shifts to Denver on Saturday night with Oklahoma City leading 2-0.

Amare Stoudemire didn't play in the second half and Chauncey Billups didn't play at all, and still the Boston Celtics needed more late heroics from one of their Big 3 to beat the New York Knicks in Game 2 of their first-round series....

LeBron James outscored Philadelphia's entire starting five in the first half by himself.

Derrick Rose scored 36 points as the Chicago Bulls held off the Indiana Pacers 96-90 on Monday night.