NBA lowers boom on Greek Freak
The NBA has suspended Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks for headbutting Moritz Wagner of the Washington Wizards in their game Tuesday in Orlando.
Giannis was suspended for their final regular season game Thursday against the Memphis Grizzlies who are barely clinging to the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.
Wagner drew an offensive foul from Giannis in the second quarter. This irked the Greek superstar who followed Wagner and headbutted him.
Giannis expressed remorse for his action and said that "if he could go back, turn back time, and go back to that play, I would not do it."
He will be eligible to play in Game 1 of their first round series against the Orlando Magic next week. The Bucks are the No. 1 seed while the Magic are the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.
No more sleepless nights for Celtics, Pacers coaches
Two coaches have signed contract extensions -- Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics and Nate McMillan of the Indiana Pacers.
Terms of the deal with Stevens were not disclosed by the Celtics due to team policy.
Stevens is the Celtics' 17th head coach and has a 318-245 record in more than six seasons with the team.
His win total is fourth most by any Celtics coach in franchise history, trailing only Red Auerbach with 795; Tom Heinsohn, 427 and Doc Rivers, 416.
McMillan inked a one-year extension which means he will coach the Pacers for two more years. His current deal expires after next season.
He has a 181-136 record in four seasons with the Pacers and has made the playoffs each year. Overall, he has a 659-588 record in 16 seasons as a head coach.
Thunder rumble back from 22-pt deficit
The Oklahoma City Thunder rallied from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter to stun the Miami Heat 116-115 Wednesday in Orlando.
Mike Muscala nailed a three-pointer with 5.2 seconds left to lift the Thunder past the Heat.
Muscala made a three with 34.8 seconds left to tie the game 113-113. The Heat answered with a layup for a two-point lead 115-113.
He hit another triple to put the Thunder ahead 116-115. The Heat then missed a deep three as time expired
Darius Bazley scored 21 points while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 18 for Oklahoma.
Rookie Tyler Herro had 30 for the Heat and Duncan Robinson chipped in 19.
NBA playoff cast now complete
The NBA playoff bracket has been set with the results of games Wednesday in Orlando.
In the Western Conference first round, the Houston Rockets clash with the Oklahoma City Thunder; the No. 2 seed LA Clippers meet the No. 7 Dallas Mavericks; and third seed Denver Nuggets battle the No. 6 seed Utah Jazz.
The No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers have no opponent yet as it awaits the winner of the play-in series for the eighth seed.
In the Eastern Conference first round, Boston (No. 3) meet the No. 6 Philadephia 76ers; No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks tackle the No. 8 Orlando Magic, and the defending champions Toronto Raptors (No. 2) go against the seventh seed Brooklyn Nets.
The Indiana Pacers will go against the Miami Heat in the first round but have to play one another at the close of the regular season Friday to determine who is the fourth and fifth seed.
READ: Pacers hold off Rockets despite Harden's 45 points
Kobe Bryant Day every August 24 in Orange County
Orange County in California has declared Aug. 24 as Kobe Bryant Day in honor of the Los Angeles Lakers great who was killed in a helicopter crash last January along with his daughter Gianna and seven others.
Aug. 24 (8/24) was chosen as Kobe Bryant Day as Kobe wore the numbers 8 and 24 when he played the entirety of his career for the Lakers. (Compiled by Tristan Lozano)