LOS ANGELES - After spending most of the past three days in a Colorado courtroom, Kobe Bryant had 31 points, six rebounds and 10 assists Wednesday night and the Lakers beat the Rockets 97-78 to win their first-round series 4-1.
The Lakers put the Rockets away with a 33-7 run to finish the third quarter and start the fourth for an 82-59 lead. Bryant had 11 points and four assists during the spurt.
The Lakers and Spurs, winners of the past five NBA championships, meet Sunday in San Antonio.
The Spurs, who swept Memphis in the first round, bring a 15-game win streak into the best-of-seven series including a 95-89 victory over the Lakers on April 4.
Jim Jackson scored 17 to lead Houston, which led 48-47 at halftime.
RIVERS TO CELTICS?: The Celtics are negotiating with former Magic coach Doc Rivers to become the team's next coach, according to media reports. The Celtics and Rivers were working on final details of a contract, the Boston Herald and the Boston Globe reported on their Web sites. "(Rivers) is a candidate," Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss told the Associated Press. "Nothing has been signed. Nothing's been confirmed."
Rivers went 171-168 in four-plus seasons with Orlando before being fired Nov.18 after the Magic started a league-worst 1-10. The Celtics dismissed interim coach John Carroll on Monday.
WILLIAMS TRIAL: The jury in the Jayson Williams manslaughter trial in Somerville, N.J., asked the judge to clarify one of the weapons charges against him - another sign that in their second day of deliberations, the jurors were working their way up from the least serious charge toward the top count of aggravated manslaughter.
Superior Court Judge Edward M. Coleman granted a request for a readback of portions of last month's testimony by Harlem Globetrotters Chris Morris and Paul Gaffney. Both witnessed the shooting of limousine driver Costas "Gus" Christofi in Williams' master bedroom on Feb.14, 2002. The jury was interested in what, if any, instructions the witnesses said Williams gave to them in the moments after the shooting.
NUGGETS: Rookie Carmelo Anthony is questionable for Game 5 of the first-round playoff series against Minnesota on Friday because of sprained left knee. Anthony was injured in the third quarter of Minnesota's 84-82 win Tuesday when he came down on teammate Marcus Camby's foot.
