SI.com - Fast Breaks - Sunday May 16, 2004 2:12AM

SI.com's Marty Burns looks at the best and worst of the NBA Playoffs each night.

Jeff Foster, Indiana Pacers
Like Brian Scalabrine the night before, he came up with a career game for his team in a pivotal Game 5. The 6'11" forward had career highs of 20 points and 16 rebounds to lead the host Pacers to a 94-83 win over the Heat and a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series. Taking advantage of double teams to Jermaine O'Neal and Ron Artest, he hit nine of 10 shots to give Indiana a needed offensive spark. He also came up with seven offensive rebounds, helping the Pacers to a 20-4 edge in second chance points.

Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
After playing brilliantly in the first two games, he got shut down once again in Game 6. The 22-year-old point guard had just nine points and three assists as the Spurs fell in L.A. 88-76 to lose their Western Conference semifinal series 4-2. Blanketed by the Lakers defense, Parker just could not find the openings he did early in the series. Pressed to take stand-still jumpers, he repeatedly bricked. For the night he missed 14 of his 18 shots, including all five from 3-point range. With Bruce Bowen and Hedo Turkoglu choking as well, Parker's struggles were a killer.

Closing time
Late in the game, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant took an inbounds pass, dribbled down court and past three San Antonio defenders, and hammered home a one-handed jam over Tim Duncan. The monster dunk gave the Lakers an 81-71 lead and served as a fitting punctuation mark for L.A.'s dominance in Game 6 -- and over the final four games of the series. For the night, Bryant had 26 points (16 in the fourth quarter). He also joined with Shaquille O'Neal (17 points, 19 rebounds, five blocks) to key a team defense that limited San Antonio to 26-of-86 shooting (30.2 percent).

Do-or-die doubleheader
They've been one of the NBA's best -- and most entertaining -- teams over the past three seasons. But the ultimate prize has eluded the Sacramento Kings. Now Chris Webber & Co., down 3-2 to the T'wolves, must win Sunday's Game 6 (3:30 p.m. EST/ABC) at Arco Arena or their title hopes will be crushed yet again. Like the Kings, the Pistons also face early elimination after a season filled with high hopes. Unlike Sacramento, however, Detroit won't be able to rely on the home court advantage when it invades New Jersey for its own do-or-die Game 6 (8 p.m./TNT).

Photo Credits: AP


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