AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - The highest scoring playoff game of Tayshaun Prince's career moved the Pistons into a rematch with the team that swept them out of the playoffs last year.
Prince scored 24 and Detroit used a strong third quarter to take control in a 91-77 win over the Bucks on Thursday night to win their first-round series 4-1.
The Pistons now face the Nets on Monday in Game 1 of a conference semifinal. The Nets swept Detroit in the conference final last season.
KINGS 119, MAVS 118: Host Sacramento trailed by 13 after one quarter but rallied to oust Dallas 4-1. Dirk Nowitzki, who scored 31, missed a contested jumper at the buzzer. Mike Bibby scored a game-high 34 for the Kings.
RIVERS IS CELTICS COACH: Doc Rivers is leaving TV to coach Boston. The former NBA player and coach was introduced by head of basketball operations Danny Ainge at a news conference. "Danny Ainge called me and asked me to coach the Boston Celtics," said Rivers, the 16th head coach in the history of the franchise. "If you like basketball I don't know how you could say no to that." Rivers was fired by the Magic after a 1-10 start, and joined ABC Sports.
WILLIAMS TRIAL: The jury in the Jayson Williams manslaughter trial in Somerville, N.J., said it reached a decision on six of the charges against the retired NBA star but is split on the other two. State Superior Court Judge Edward M. Coleman and the lawyers for both sides agreed to instruct the jury to continue considering the charges, which stem from the fatal shooting of a hired driver.
NUGGETS: Carmelo Anthony tested his sprained left knee with a light workout Thursday and is a game-time decision against the Timberwolves tonight. In other news, rookie center Francisco Elson apologized for calling Kevin Garnett "gay" after Garnett hit him in the groin Tuesday. Elson was chastised by gay and lesbian groups.
LATE WEDNESDAY: After playing significantly below his usual standards in the first four games of the playoffs, Kobe Bryant came up with a memorable performance to lead the Lakers into a Western semifinal matchup with the Spurs.
"I'm really looking forward to this series, I'm sure you guys are, too," Bryant told reporters with a tired smile after a near-flawless effort in the Lakers' 97-78 victory over the Rockets.
After three round-trip flights to Colorado in three days for pretrial hearings in his sexual assault case, Bryant had 31 points, 10 assists, six rebounds and one turnover in 41 minutes.
