The AP reports:

Dwight Howard came back from a bloody nose to finish with 29 points and 17 rebounds, and the Magic beat the Atlanta Hawks 112-98 on Thursday night to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Vince Carter had 24 points with some big shots late and Rashard Lewis finished with 20 points, leading Orlando’s 19-2 run in the fourth quarter. The perennially poor free-throw shooting Howard also was 13 for 18 from the line…

Howard made a layup as he was slapped in the face inadvertently by Horford to start the third quarter, the blood pouring from the Magic center’s nose. Howard shot the free throw—and missed—with plugs in his nostrils, holding back laughter, and then left for about 2 minutes so trainers could stop the bleeding.

InsideHoops.com notes:

The Magic scored just 17 points in the second quarter. The Hawks only scored 15 in the fourth.

Orlando shot 55.9 percent, Atlanta 41.3 percent.

Orlando hit 9-of-23 three-pointers, Atlanta 6-of-11.

Orlando only hit 69.2 percent of their 39 free throws. Atlanta hit an amazing 30-for-31.

The Magic has four players score 20 or more points: Dwight Howard had 29 and 17 rebounds (no assists). Vince Carter had 24 and seven rebounds. Rashard Lewis had 20 with six assists. Jameer Nelon scored 20 with six assists. Mickael Pietrus scored 13 off the bench.

For the Hawks, Al Horford (9-of-13) had 24 points and 10 rebounds. Jamal Crawford had 23 (on 18 shots) off the bench. Joe Johnson shot just 5-of-16 for 19 points and five assists. Josh Smith (6-of-15) had 18 points and nine rebounds, but five turnovers.

Fan discussion of the game as it happened was here.

Paul Flannery of WEEI reports:

Kendrick Perkins was left off the NBA’s All-Defensive Team for the second straight season and Doc Rivers joked that maybe that look turned some voters off.

“Well, I guess it’s going to continue to happen,” Perkins said. “Because I ain’t changing the way I look.”

That was a joke in case you needed context and Perkins had a few ready Thursday after he returned to practice with a hyperextended right knee.

His reaction to getting six stitches in his lip courtesy of Shaquille O’Neal?

“Man, I look at it like I’m already ugly,” he said. “I can’t add nothing else to that, man.”

Perkins defense on Shaq has been no laughing matter. After holding Jermaine O’Neal to 9-for-44 shooting in the first round against Miami, Perkins has kept Shaq in check (8-for-22, 20 points in two games).

LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 2009-10 Most Valuable Player, and Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, the 2009-10 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, were unanimous selections to the 2009-10 All-NBA First Team, the NBA announced today. Joining James and Howard on the First Team are Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat.

The All-NBA Second Team consists of Phoenix’s Steve Nash and Utah’s Deron Williams at guard, Denver’s Carmelo Anthony and Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki at forward, and Phoenix’s Amar’e Stoudemire at center.

The All-NBA Third Team includes Atlanta’s Joe Johnson and Portland’s Brandon Roy at guard, San Antonio’s Tim Duncan and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Paul Gasol at forward, and Milwaukee’s Andrew Bogut at center.

The All-NBA Teams were chosen by a panel of 122 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. The media voted for All-NBA First, Second and Third Teams by position with points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis.

2009-10 ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM

Position        Player, Team (1st Team Votes)        Points
Forward        LeBron James, Cleveland (122)        610
Forward        Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City (107)        579
Center        Dwight Howard, Orlando (122)        610
Guard        Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers (119)        604
Guard        Dwyane Wade, Miami (81)        520

2009-10 ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM

Position        Player, Team (1st Team Votes)        Points
Forward        Carmelo Anthony, Denver (9)        321
Forward        Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas (10)        356
Center        Amar’e Stoudemire, Phoenix (2)        239
Guard        Steve Nash, Phoenix (24)        366
Guard        Deron Williams, Utah (14)        343

2009-10 ALL-NBA THIRD TEAM

Position        Player, Team (1st Team Votes)        Points
Forward        Tim Duncan, San Antonio        125
Forward        Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers        94
Center        Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee         149
Guard        Joe Johnson, Atlanta        118
Guard        Brandon Roy, Portland        87

Other players receiving votes, with point totals (first team votes in parentheses): Chris Bosh, Toronto, 80; Rajon Rondo, Boston, 47; David Lee, New York, 43; Carlos Boozer, Utah, 33; Chauncey Billups, Denver, 24; Zach Randolph, Memphis, 20; Al Horford, Atlanta, 19; Jason Kidd, Dallas, 18; Derrick Rose, Chicago, 15; Chris Paul, New Orleans, 14; Manu Ginobili, San Antonio, 13; Chris Kaman, LA Clippers, 9; Brook Lopez, New Jersey, 6; Josh Smith, Atlanta, 6; Paul Pierce, Boston, 6; Gerald Wallace, Charlotte, 5; Marcus Camby, Portland, 3; Andrew Bynum, LA Lakers, 2; Danny Granger, Indiana, 2; David West, New Orleans, 1; Kevin Garnett, Boston, 1; Mo Williams; Cleveland, 1; Tony Parker San Antonio, 1.

Boston Celtics Executive Director of Basketball Operations and General Manager Danny Ainge has been fined $25,000 for creating an unauthorized distraction and for conduct detrimental to the game, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 1:53 remaining in the third quarter of the Celtics’ 104-86 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinal on Monday, May 3, at Quicken Loans Arena.

The fine is due to Ainge throwing a towel around to distract J.J. Hickson of the Cleveland Cavaliers during free throw attempts.

Paul Flannery of WEEI reports:

The NBA fined Danny Ainge $25,000 for “creating an unauthorized distraction” during Game 2 on the Celtics-Cavs series. In other words, he threw a towel up in the air while J.J. Hickson was shooting free throws.

The Celtics have been amused by this episode and Doc Rivers got in a few more one-liners at his boss’ expense Thursday.

“I was surprised, actually, at the fine,” Rivers said. “I know a lot of people were not. I was because he’s just an employee. What’s the difference between that and the mascots do it all the time. I was just wondering if Danny had worn Lucky’s outfit he would have gotten away with it.”

The AP reports:

Former NBA All-Star Antoine Walker is eyeing an NBA comeback.

Louisville Coach Rick Pitino says Walker will work out with several Cardinals over the next few weeks. Walker hasn’t played in the NBA since 2008 and has suffered legal and financial woes since stepping away from the game.

Walker agreed to pay three Las Vegas casinos over $900,000 to settle three bad check charges last fall.

InsideHoops.com says:

It’s highly unlikely any team gives Walker a shot. At best, if over time he proves to be in shape and serious about helping a team, some squad might offer him a non-guaranteed contract so he can prove himself. Still others may offer him a job as an arena hot dog vender. Because, when the game ends, there’s free hot dogs to eat.

KCRG.com reports:

University of Iowa Head Basketball Coach Fran McCaffery announced Wednesday that he has added former Hawkeye and NBA player Ryan Bowen to his basketball staff. Bowen will serve as the team’s video coordinator and administrative assistant.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be joining the Iowa basketball staff,” said Bowen. “I’m extremely thankful to Coach McCaffery for giving me this opportunity and I’m eager to get started. I had a great time as a student-athlete at Iowa, and look forward to once again being a part of the Hawkeye family.”

“I’m very excited to have Ryan Bowen be part of our staff,” McCaffery said. “I remember watching Ryan play in high school, and followed his career at Iowa and the NBA. There isn’t a harder working basketball player that understands the game than Ryan Bowen. I talked to Jeff Van Gundy, Jeff Bower and John MacLeod and each one raved about his character, work ethic and knowledge of the game. He’s going to make a great impact here at Iowa, just like he did when he was a player.”

Kate Fagan of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports:

Mark Jackson, who seemed to be in the final stages of scheduling an interview with the 76ers for their coaching vacancy, has removed his name from consideration, according to his agent, Steve Kauffman.

Kauffman said Jackson “doesn’t feel it’s the right opportunity for him at this time.”

In the last week, Sixers president and general manager Ed Stefanski met with two candidates, Doug Collins and Avery Johnson, but has yet to formally meet with a third.

Before stepping out of the race, Jackson seemed poised to become Stefanski’s next official interview. According to an NBA source, Stefanski will formally meet with Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach Monty Williams on Monday.

The AP reports:

Amare Stoudemire had 23 points and 11 rebounds, Channing Frye made 5 of 6 3-pointers, and Phoenix, wearing its orange “Los Suns” jerseys in part to protest Arizona’s new anti-immigration law, pulled away for a 110-102 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night.

Steve Nash and Jason Richardson scored 19 points apiece and Grant Hill added 18 in a grind-it-out game played at the Spurs’ pace until the Suns started hitting 3-pointers. After starting 1 of 7 from long range, Phoenix made eight of its next 12.

Tim Duncan had 29 points and 10 rebounds and Richard Jefferson rebounded from a poor Game 1 with 18 points and 10 boards for San Antonio. Tony Parker added 20 points for the Spurs…

Manu Ginobili, guarded mainly by Hill, was 2 of 8 from the field, including just 1 of 2 in the second half, but had 11 assists for San Antonio. Hill also made two big shots down the stretch…

The Spurs outshot Phoenix 51 percent to 42 percent but the Suns outrebounded taller San Antonio 49-37, 18-7 on the offensive boards. Stoudemire made just 5 of 16 shots but was 11 of 13 at the free throw line. The Suns outscored the Spurs by 14 at the line, going 29 of 37 to San Antonio’s 15 of 22.