David West (Basketball)

LeBron James, who earned his third league MVP award Saturday, finished with a game-high 32 points as star-studded Miami defeated Indiana 95-86 to take the opening game of their second round playoff series.

Danny Granger scored 25 points as the Indiana Pacers punched their ticket to the second round of the NBA playoffs by beating Orlando 105-87 in game five of their Eastern Conference series.

Danny Granger scored 25 points as the Indiana Pacers punched their ticket to the second round of the NBA playoffs by beating Orlando 105-87 in game five of their Eastern Conference series.

Dwyane Wade scored 28 points including the game-winning basket with .01 of a second remaining in over-time to lift the Miami Heat over Indiana 93-91.

Roy Hibbert battled through the discomfort of a possible broken nose to finish with a team-high 18 points and eight rebounds as the Indiana Pacers edged the Los Angeles Lakers 98-96.

(Reuters) - The National Basketball Association (NBA) began stirring back to life Wednesday with player agents and team officials formally allowed to begin discussions about free agents in anticipation of next month's start of the delayed season.

(Reuters) - A federal judge has issued a stay of all court proceedings in a legal fight between National Basketball Association (NBA) owners and players on Tuesday so the two sides can wrap up details on their new labor agreement.

(Reuters) - A federal judge has issued a stay of all court proceedings in a legal fight between National Basketball Association (NBA) owners and players on Tuesday so the two sides can wrap up details on their new labor agreement.

Kobe Bryant scored 30 points and Pau Gasol added 23 points with 16 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers beat New Orleans 102-84 in a possible NBA playoff preview.

New Orleans Hornets starting forward and leading scorer David West will miss the rest of the NBA season after tearing a left knee ligament, the team said Friday.

Emeka Okafor drained a shot at the buzzer to force overtime and reserve Aaron Gray scored six points in the extra period to lead New Orleans to a 121-117 NBA victory over Utah.

Ray Allen and Glen Davis each scored 20 points to lead Boston past the New Orleans Hornets 89-85 and put the Celtics level with Chicago for the Eastern Conference lead.

All-Star guard Chris Paul returned from concussion and scored a season-high 33 points with 15 assists in New Orleans' 115-103 NBA victory over Sacramento.

Jarrett Jack scored 21 points including three late free throws to seal the New Orleans Hornets' 93-92 come-from-behind victory over Dallas in the NBA.

Derrick Rose scored a game-high 24 points and Carlos Boozer added 19 to power the Chicago Bulls past New Orleans 85-77 on Monday, the Hornets losing while without concussion-sidelined star Chris Paul.

New Orleans star Chris Paul suffered a concussion and was stretchered off the court Sunday in the Hornets' 96-81 NBA victory over Cleveland.

New Orleans star Chris Paul was stretchered off the court with an apparent head injury in the Hornets' 96-81 NBA victory over Cleveland.

OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) - Kevin Durant continued his prolific scoring streak with 43 points on Wednesday to lift the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 104-93 victory over the New Orleans Hornets.

NBA scoring leader Kevin Durant sank 43 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to power the Oklahoma City Thunder past New Orleans 104-93.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The Sacramento Kings held off a late-charging New Orleans Hornets to halt the visitors' 10-game winning streak with a 102-96 triumph on Saturday.