Rashard Lewis

Orlando Magic forward Rashard Lewis tested positive for an elevated testosterone level and was suspended Thursday for 10 games. Lewis said in a statement that he took an over-the-counter supplement late last season that included a substance he did not realize was banned by the NBA. "First and foremost I take full responsibility for the situation and accept the corresponding penalty," Lewis said.

NEW ORLEANS - Dwight Howard's big return to Orlando isn't until next Tuesday, but, sure, let's start the fighting now. Orlando Magic guard Jameer Nelson took offense to Howard's interview with CBS2/KCAL9 in which he said, "My team in Orlando was a team full of people who nobody wanted, and I was the leader and I led that team with a smile on my face. " No, Howard's teammate in Orlando for eight seasons did not like that one bit. "At some point, when are you gonna, as a man, when are you going to take ownership and stay out of the media in a professional manner?"

NEW ORLEANS - Dwight Howard's big return to Orlando isn't until next Tuesday, but, sure, let's start the fighting now. Orlando Magic guard Jameer Nelson took offense to Howard's interview with CBS2/KCAL9 in which he said, "My team in Orlando was a team full of people who nobody wanted, and I was the leader and I led that team with a smile on my face. " No, Howard's teammate in Orlando for eight seasons did not like that one bit. "At some point, when are you gonna, as a man, when are you going to take ownership and stay out of the media in a professional manner?"

So the Lakers want to sign a veteran player who is waived by another team? Baron Davis, Brandon Roy, Rashard Lewis? Not so fast. Details are still emerging from the NBA's yet-to-be-ratified collective bargaining agreement, but the Lakers will have to get in line and bid for players who are cut via the one-time "amnesty" clause. The process is not designed to favor the wealthy, successful teams. It's designed to help teams well below the salary cap. While the Lakers already have a payroll of $91 million for only 11 players, almost half of the NBA's 30 teams will be below the salary cap of $58 million after signing their draft picks and can potentially offer millions more than the Lakers for waived players.

Orlando 106, at Minnesota 94: Rashard Lewis scored 21 points, and Matt Barnes added 17 to help the Magic snap a three-game road losing streak with a victory over the Timberwolves. Jonny Flynn led Minnesota with 23 points, Kevin Love added 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Al Jefferson had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Vince Carter was held to 12 points, and Dwight Howard had nine for the Magic. Lakers 109, Sacramento 108: Kobe Bryant made a three-point basket at the buzzer. -- associated press

BOSTON -- If he so chooses, Paul Pierce could Tweet some taunts about a sweep and not blame hackers for it this time. The Celtics moved one victory away from fulfilling Pierce's tainted Tweet -- "Anybody got a BROOM?" -- with a dominating 94-71 victory over the Magic on Saturday night at raucous TD BankNorth Garden. It was their sixth consecutive triumph in the NBA playoffs. Game 4 is scheduled for Monday night, which gives the Magic two days to orchestrate a search party and find the missing offense of Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis.

Vince Carter scored 26 points, Rashard Lewis had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and the Orlando Magic beat the Boston Celtics, 83-78, on Friday night. Dwight Howard grabbed 15 boards and Mickael Pietrus scored 14 points for Orlando, which won the rematch of last season's Eastern Conference semifinal for its fourth consecutive victory. Paul Pierce scored 21 for Boston, which has lost three of its last four and three of five at home. -- associated press

Times staff writer Barry Stavro breaks down the keys for Orlando to bounce back from Game 1 of the NBA Finals: Orlando needs to get Dwight Howard the ball more quickly in the paint before the Lakers can send their double-teams. L.A. outscored Orlando by 34 points in the paint in the opener. The Magic's guards also need to keep driving to the hoop to set up open shots for Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis. Look for the Magic to send more double-teams at Kobe Bryant to make him give up the ball.

Tim Duncan had 23 points and 14 rebounds, and Tony Parker had 18 points to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 96-90 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics on Thursday night. The Spurs beat the SuperSonics for the fifth consecutive time, sending Seattle to its fifth loss in six games. San Antonio, making the second stop on a seven-game trip, has also won four in a row in Seattle. The SuperSonics three times cut a 15-point deficit to four in the final period but could get no closer, their last chance coming when Rashard Lewis failed to convert a three-point play after pulling Seattle within 94-90 with 49 seconds left.

Rashard Lewis had career highs of 36 points and 19 rebounds Monday night to lead the Seattle SuperSonics past the Orlando Magic, 123-119, in double overtime. It was a clear indication that Lewis--only three years out of high school--is prepared to take his game to another level. "He is a remarkable young player," Seattle's Vin Baker said.

In a major roster shakeup, the Orlando Magic acquired guard Gilbert Arenas from the Washington Wizards and Hedo Turkoglu and Jason Richardson from the Phoenix Suns on Saturday. The Magic traded forward Rashard Lewis for Arenas, and sent Phoenix guards Vince Carter and Mickael Pietrus and backup center Marcin Gortat . Orlando also received Earl Clark from the Suns. A preseason favorite in the Eastern Conference, Orlando had lost five of its last six games entering Saturday.

BOSTON -- If he so chooses, Paul Pierce could Tweet some taunts about a sweep and not blame hackers for it this time. The Celtics moved one victory away from fulfilling Pierce's tainted Tweet -- "Anybody got a BROOM?" -- with a dominating 94-71 victory over the Magic on Saturday night at raucous TD BankNorth Garden. It was their sixth consecutive triumph in the NBA playoffs. Game 4 is scheduled for Monday night, which gives the Magic two days to orchestrate a search party and find the missing offense of Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis.

at Orlando 96, Boston 94: Rashard Lewis made the go-ahead layup with 1.3 seconds remaining and the Magic overcame a 16-point deficit to beat the Celtics. Lewis took the ball after a broken play and sprinted down the baseline past Kevin Garnett for an uncontested layup. Rasheed Wallace missed a three-point shot at the buzzer, giving the Magic its second victory in three games against the Celtics this season. Lewis led the Magic with 23 points, and Dwight Howard overcame early foul trouble to finish with 19 points and 10 rebounds, including 11 points in the fourth quarter.

Orlando 106, at Minnesota 94: Rashard Lewis scored 21 points, and Matt Barnes added 17 to help the Magic snap a three-game road losing streak with a victory over the Timberwolves. Jonny Flynn led Minnesota with 23 points, Kevin Love added 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Al Jefferson had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Vince Carter was held to 12 points, and Dwight Howard had nine for the Magic. Lakers 109, Sacramento 108: Kobe Bryant made a three-point basket at the buzzer. -- associated press

Vince Carter scored 26 points, Rashard Lewis had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and the Orlando Magic beat the Boston Celtics, 83-78, on Friday night. Dwight Howard grabbed 15 boards and Mickael Pietrus scored 14 points for Orlando, which won the rematch of last season's Eastern Conference semifinal for its fourth consecutive victory. Paul Pierce scored 21 for Boston, which has lost three of its last four and three of five at home. -- associated press

Orlando Magic forward Rashard Lewis tested positive for an elevated testosterone level and was suspended Thursday for 10 games. Lewis said in a statement that he took an over-the-counter supplement late last season that included a substance he did not realize was banned by the NBA. "First and foremost I take full responsibility for the situation and accept the corresponding penalty," Lewis said.

Well, the Clippers won't mind not seeing Rashard Lewis for a while. Lewis scored a career-high 50 points on Saturday to lead the Seattle SuperSonics to a 124-105 victory over the Clippers in the final of two games in Japan. "Obviously, it was not a good game for us," Clipper Coach Mike Dunleavy said. "Rashard Lewis had an incredible game. We tried to double-team him late but he got hot and stayed hot all game."

Seattle SuperSonic forward Rashard Lewis, who missed Game 4 because of a sprained big toe on his left foot, received treatment Monday and will be a game-time decision for tonight's Game 5 of the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal against the San Antonio Spurs, Coach Nate McMillan said. The series is tied at 2-2.

During the Eastern Conference finals it all worked for the Orlando Magic. Good half-court defense produced transition offense that, combined with crisp ball movement, equaled open shots and points. And more times than not in that series, it was forwards Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu who were picking apart Cleveland with their barrage of three-pointers. But in Orlando's Game 1 loss in the NBA Finals, that stream of points was reduced to barely a trickle. Lewis and Turkoglu combined to shoot just five for 21, while as a team the Magic's 29% was the second-lowest field-goal percentage in a Finals game since 1967.