NBA PLAYOFFS: Memphis point guard takes out frustrations on NBA reporter's pen

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Memphis guard Jason Williams took out his angerover how he was quoted in a newspaper column by grabbing a pen out ofthe writer's hand Sunday night after the Grizzlies' playoff loss tothe Phoenix Suns.

The Suns had just swept the Grizzlies out of the opening round bywinning 123-115 in Game 4.

Reporters were in the Memphis locker room when Williams twice tookthe pen out of the hand of Geoff Calkins, a columnist for TheCommercial Appeal.

Williams screamed in his ear as the reporter tried talking toother Grizzlies.

"You can talk to TNT, but don't answer this (reporter's)questions," Williams said. "I'm not letting him write anything. Ididn't do anything. I just took his pen."

Eventually, Williams had to be pulled away by Grizzlies guard MikeMiller.

But after getting in Calkins' face again, another Memphis officialtook Williams out of the locker room.

The column that appeared in Sunday's newspaper was critical of theGrizzlies' lackadaisical play and included a quote from Williams,"I'm happy. I go home and see my kids and my wife and I'm OK.

"All of this (stuff) is secondary to me."

Williams set a playoff-high with 21 points in Game 2 and had 20points and eight assists in Game 4.

In other NBA news:

Dallas 103, Houston 100-Now that Dallas has won three straightgames to go ahead in its playoff series, Michael Finley hopes theMavericks remember the feeling they had a week ago - after losing thefirst two at home.

"It was a solemn attitude," Finley said.

"It brought out some of our best ball. Hopefully, we can have thatsame mind set we had last time leaving here to go to Houston."

Game 6 is Thursday night in Houston.

Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy, who earlier Monday was fined$100,000 for accusing officials of targeting Yao Ming and refusing totell the league which official was his source.

Commissioner David Stern, who attended the game, called thelargest fine ever levied against an NBA coach only "an intermediarystep" and said an investigation will continue when the Rockets finishtheir playoff run. Stern even implied that Van Gundy could face alifetime ban.

Spurs 126, Nuggets 115, OT - Tim Duncan had his best game of theseries, Manu Ginobili provided another spark off the bench, and TonyParker scored 11 of his 29 points in overtime to help San Antoniotake a 3-1 lead.

Wizards 106, Bulls 99 - Juan Dixon recovered from a horribleperformance to score a career-high 35 points and lead the WashingtonWizards to a victory that evened their playoff series with theChicago Bulls at two games apiece.

Dixon made just one of 10 shots in Game 3, but was 11-for-15 -including 3-for-4 on 3-pointers - and made all 10 of his free throwsfor the Wizards in Game 4 of the opening-round Eastern Conferenceseries.

Game 5 in the best-of-seven matchup is Wednesday night in Chicago.That would seem to favor the Bulls with the home team 4-0 in theseries.

Jannero Pargo scored 16 of his 18 points in the final quarter,when the Bulls cut an early deficit of 28 points to six with 24seconds remaining. Kirk Hinrich also had 18 points for Chicago.

Gilbert Arenas added 23 points and Antawn Jamison 18 forWashington.

^Mavericks 103, Rockets 100=

DALLAS (AP) - Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points, and Dallas withstooda late charge by Houston to take a 3-2 lead in a series the Mavericksbegan with two losses.

Dallas has two chances to join the 1969 Lakers and 1994 Rockets asthe only teams to win a seven-game series after dropping the firsttwo at home. Game 6 in their Western Conference matchup is Thursdaynight in Houston.

After overcoming fourth-quarter deficits of eight and six pointsto win the last two games, the Mavs led by 11 just seconds into thefinal period this time. But Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming rallied theRockets - combining for Houston's last 13 points - within two with7.4 seconds left.

Jason Terry made one of two foul shots to restore the three-pointcushion, and Dallas immediately fouled McGrady on the ensuinginbounds pass. He missed both free throws, got his own rebound butmissed a 3-pointer from the left corner.

Yao finished with 30 points and McGrady 25.

Josh Howard and Jerry Stackhouse added 17 points apiece for theMavericks.

^Spurs 126, Nuggets 115, OT=

DENVER (AP) - Tim Duncan had his best game of the series, ManuGinobili provided another spark off the bench, and Tony Parker scored11 of his 29 points in overtime to help San Antonio take a 3-1 lead.

Duncan had 39 points and 14 rebounds, and Ginobili finished with24 points and six assists for the Spurs, who can close out the seriesWednesday night in San Antonio.

Earl Boykins scored 32 points for Denver, and Carmelo Anthony had28.

AP-ES-05-03-05 0222EDT

"I didn't see anything wrong with what I said," Van Gundy saidafter the game. "But certainly, obviously, for a statement like thatto come out, he obviously differs. ... That's all right."

Yao offered to pay half the fine.

Yao scored 15 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, making 6 of7 shots and just 3 of 8 free throws. McGrady struggled shooting,going 7-of-22 for 25 points, 6.5 below his series average.

The Rockets never led after halftime, and their biggest lead inthe game was just one point.

Dirk Nowitzki, stuck in a series-long shooting funk, was 9-of-22but led Dallas with 23 points, including a dunk off a miss by Terrywith 20 seconds left that provided the decisive points. He also had13 rebounds and four steals.

Wizards 106, Bulls 99-In Washington, Juan Dixon recovered from ahorrible performance to score a career-high 35 points to lead theWizards.

Dixon made just 1 of 10 shots in Game 3, but was 11-for-15 -including 3-for-4 on 3-pointers - and made all 10 of his free throwsfor the Wizards in Game 4 of the opening-round Eastern Conferenceseries.

Game 5 in the best-of-seven matchup is Wednesday night in Chicago.That would seem to favor the Bulls, with the home team 4-0 in theseries.

Jannero Pargo scored 16 of his 18 points in the final quarter,when the Bulls cut an early deficit of 28 points to six with 24seconds remaining. Kirk Hinrich also had 18 points for Chicago.

Gilbert Arenas added 23 points and Antawn Jamison 18 forWashington.

Spurs 126, Nuggets 115, OT-At Denver, Tim Duncan had his best gameof the series, Manu Ginobili provided another spark off the bench andTony Parker scored 11 of his 29 points in overtime to help SanAntonio take a 3-1 lead.

Duncan had 39 points and 14 rebounds, and Ginobili finished with24 points and six assists for the Spurs, who can close out the seriesWednesday night in San Antonio.

Earl Boykins scored 32 points for Denver, and Carmelo Anthony had28.