OKC police arrest teen in Bricktown shootings

    Thursday, May 24, 2012, 2:18 AM [General]

    An Oklahoma judge has ordered the release of a 19-year-old man arrested in connection with a shooting that left at least eight people wounded following an NBA playoff game. According to online court records, an order was signed Wednesday to release Rodney Hill from custody, pending additional investigation into the shootings Monday night in the Bricktown entertainment district. Officers arrested a 17-year-old male late Tuesday in connection with the crime. Eight people suffered gunshot wounds and a pregnant woman was hurt but not shot when gunfire erupted about 11:35 p.m. following the Thunder-Lakers playoff game. Authorities say one person remains in critical condition, and the others are in good condition. Thunder officials announced the organization will no longer show the game broadcast on the video board outside Chesapeake Energy Arena. Wade sounded somewhat amused that Granger - who's been whistled for three technicals in the series - was one of the Pacers suggesting Haslem and Pittman should be suspended. Wade and Granger have had words during the series. "We're not in here crying about the fouls,'' Wade said. "They fouled us. ... We're moving on to Game 6. We're not going to worry about what happened in Game 5. For us, it's about moving forward.'' There were a number of other hard fouls in Game 5 that were not considered flagrant but continued the trend of what's become a physical series. Indiana forward David West - who left Tuesday's game with what the team called a sprained knee, though he insisted Wednesday he was not hurt - took exception to a play where he was knocked backward, saying a Heat player fell into his knee. Not long afterward, he fouled James, who said he saw it coming. "He was the one on the floor and I was the one still standing,'' James said. "So I started laughing at that. But he tried to get me.'' Indiana coach Frank Vogel called Miami floppers before the series started, and it's been gritty throughout. The teams combined to shoot 66 free throws in Game 1, and there have been a combined nine technicals and flagrants called in the four games since. Other dustups included Stephenson making a choke sign that television cameras caught during Game 3, and Juwan Howard confronting him about his antics before Game 4.
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    Pittman, Haslem Suspended for Flagrant Fouls

    Thursday, May 24, 2012, 1:53 AM [General]

    Miami Heat center Dexter Pittman has been suspended three games without pay for striking the neck and shoulders of Indiana guard Lance Stephenson, and Miami forward Udonis Haslem has been suspended one game without pay for striking the head and shoulders of Indiana’s Tyler Hansbrough, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations. Both Pittman and Haslem had their Flagrant Foul Ones upgraded to Flagrant Foul Twos, as did Indiana’s Hansbrough, who struck the head of Miami’s Dwyane Wade on a foul that occurred shortly before Haslem’s foul. The incidents occurred during the Heat’s 115-83 victory over the Pacers on May 22 at AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami. Haslem will serve his suspension on Thursday when the Pacers host the Heat in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal series. Pittman will begin serving his suspension in Game 6. But going from one All-Star to another is about the only similarity Parker is expecting. "Chris is more looking to get his teammates involves,'' Parker said. "Westbrook is going to be taking a lot of shots and be super aggressive.'' Westbrook is 23, an age when Parker had already won two NBA titles. They arrived in the NBA under vastly different circumstances, with the Spurs taking a chance on a then-19-year-old Frenchmen at the bottom of the first round in 2001, and Westbrook getting drafted fourth overall in 2008, three spots behind former MVP Derrick Rose. Parker walked onto a team already with one championship, and the Spurs mostly needed him to simply be a sidekick during Tim Duncan's prime. Westbrook, on the other hand, needed to team with Kevin Durant and rebuild a franchise that just uprooted from Seattle and was 20-62 the year before. Now 30 and a one-time NBA Finals MVP, Parker is in position to make Westbrook go through him if the Thunder are going to make the most remarkable franchise turnaround that's possible in a span of just four seasons. All three of the flagrant fouls called Tuesday were category-1, meaning no players were automatically ejected. The league has a wide range of options available for its review process, including upgrading those fouls to category-2. The NBA could also issue fines and suspensions. "I expect they will. That game was nationally televised,'' Granger said. "A lot of people saw the plays. I think they have to.'' The NBA had made no public comment before either team finished practices Wednesday.
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