Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
By DARRELL FRY
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 2, 2001
ORLANDO -- Milwaukee forward Tim Thomas was fined by the NBA on Tuesday for making an obscene gesture toward Orlando fans during the Magic's Game 3 overtime win on Saturday.
The league fined Thomas, the Bucks' top reserve, $5,000 for the inappropriate gesture at 3:50 of the third quarter.
THE IN CROWD: Boxing champion Roy Jones Jr. was seen in the crowd Tuesday night. Former NBA great Artis Gilmore also attended.
Said Jones: "Basketball is my first love."
THE COLD SHOULDER: Magic fans have no love for Bucks coach George Karl. They booed Karl as he entered the arena and many fans held up disparaging signs directed at Karl.
Magic fans dislike Karl because of past comments made about Magic coach Doc Rivers.
HOME COOKING: Magic center and Clearwater product Andrew DeClercq had his best outing of the series. Entering the game with a series-high six points, DeClercq totaled six points in the first quarter alone Tuesday night.
He might have gotten more, but he picked up his second foul with 2:03 left in the quarter and went to the bench.
OUCH: Magic backup point guard Troy Hudson sprained his left ankle and was taken to the locker room with 9:12 to go in the first half. He didn't return.
Hudson was averaging 3.7 points in the post-season, but he gave the team quality minutes off the bench as an excellent ball-handler and playmaker.
WELCOME BACK: Magic rookie Mike Miller finally broke out of his post-season slump. The former Florida Gator had a rookie-of-the-year type of regular season, but scored in double figures once in the three previous series games.
On Tuesday he had 22 points, easily surpassing his series high of 11 points in Game 2.
PLAY OF THE GAME: Late in the third, Milwaukee's Ray Allen drove the lane determined to throw down a thunderous dunk, but Orlando center Don Reid blocked the shot, drawing a huge cheer from the crowd.