Nelson Downplaying Mavericks' Chances

San Antonio's Tim Duncan says Nelson is just talking.

"They're not here to get experience," Duncan said Friday as the Spurs prepared for an all-Texas showdown in the Western Conference semifinals.

"They're here," the all-star forward said, "to win the series, just like we are."

The Mavericks, fresh off their stunning, come-from-behind victory over Utah to win their first-round series, 3-2, face the Spurs in a best-of-seven series beginning today at San Antonio.

"We always play better when our backs are against the wall," Nash said.

Nevertheless, Nelson said he doesn't see the young team going all the way.

"I'm not trying to fool anybody," he said. "I don't think we're capable of winning the world championship. . . . We want to go as far as we can go and just play as hard as we can play."

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Scott Burrell, a key reserve for the Charlotte Hornets, sprained his left ankle and is questionable for Game 1 on Sunday against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Burrell was injured near the end of Charlotte's practice, rolling his ankle during a scrimmage. He fell to the floor under the basket and had to be helped off the court, unable to put any weight on the ankle.

"I guess it's bad," Charlotte Coach Paul Silas said. "He turned it good."

Burrell, who didn't play this season until the Hornets signed him with four games left in the regular season, has given the Hornets depth, as well as options with their reserves.

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The Portland Trail Blazers made amends with two fans who were ejected from a first-round playoff game. The fans had to pay $5.38 in overdue postage for the apology.

The team sent a box of souvenirs and a letter of apology to the post office box of Katherine Topaz, who along with her boyfriend's 8-year-old son was kicked out of Sunday's game against the Lakers after refusing to discard her "Trade Whitsitt" sign, a protest of team General Manager Bob Whitsitt's questionable roster moves this past season.

Everything was perfect except for one thing. The box arrived with postage due: $5.38.

"The irony is that we live a mile from the Rose Garden," said Jim Abeles, owner of the season tickets. "It's just one more in a long series of crazy and unbelievable events."