May 19 2009
Clippers Win Draft Lottery
Perhaps the perennial rebuilding of Los Angeles’ other NBA can start anew after the Clippers won tonight’s draft lottery. The Clippers finished with the league’s third-worst record but managed to get one of their ping pong balls selected. Los Angeles is expected to take Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin, the 2009 Wooden Award winner.
Sacramento and Washington, the two worst teams this year, lost again Tuesday. Each fell the maximum allowed three places and will select fourth and fifth, respectively, in next month’s draft.
Meanwhile, the L.A. Lakers won the opening game of the Western Conference final tonight over Denver, 105-103. Game 2 will be Thursday in Los Angeles. Denver is slated to host Games 3 and 4 Saturday and Monday. However, WWE has booked Denver’s home arena for a Monday Night Raw telecast on Memorial Day as well. How the scheduling conflict will be resolved remains to be seen.
Detroit squeaked past Chicago, 3-2, in overtime to take a 2-0 series advantage tonight in the NHL’s Western Conference final. Game 3 is set for Friday in Chicago. Pittsburgh hosts Carolina in the second game of the Eastern final Thursday.
