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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sprewell, Wolves grab lead


Darrick Martin is fouled by Vlade Divac.Darrick Martin is fouled by Vlade Divac.
 (Associated PressAssociated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press

With Latrell Sprewell slashing and scoring, the Minnesota Timberwolves moved within one win of the Western Conference finals.

Sprewell had 34 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Timberwolves, who beat the Sacramento Kings 86-74 Friday night to take a 3-2 lead in their conference semifinal series.

Game 6 is Sunday in Sacramento. Game 7, if necessary, would be Wednesday in Minneapolis. But the Kings will have to shoot and play a lot better if they want to force a Game 7.

Brad Miller was ejected late in the third quarter without scoring, and Chris Webber labored for 13 points on 5-for-16 shooting.

Leading scorer Peja Stojakovic disappeared once again, going 0 for 4 in the second half and finishing with 12 points.

Sacramento’s much-celebrated offense missed two-thirds of its shots — going 27 for 81.

Much of the credit goes to Minnesota’s defense. After a woeful performance in Game 4, the Wolves were aggressive and tenacious at both ends of the court.

Kevin Garnett, who had seven points, three rebounds and seven turnovers in the first half, wound up with 23 points and 12 rebounds. He helped hound Webber and Miller on defense, too. The pair had combined for 48 points in Game 4.

The series has become increasingly testy in the last two games, and Miller, one of Sacramento’s most emotional players, lost his temper late in the third quarter.

Minnesota’s Darrick Martin collided with Miller while fighting through a screen and hit him in the midsection. Martin fell face-first on the floor, and an enraged Miller went over and shoved him hard in the back. Referee Steve Javie immediately gave both players a technical foul and ejected both.

LeBron, Amare on Olympic team

A dozen years after shunning college players, the U.S. Olympic basketball team turned Friday to a pair of players who jumped to the NBA right out of high school: LeBron James and Amare Stoudemire.

The NBA’s last two rookies of the year were among five players added to this year’s Olympic Dream Team, along with New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury, New Jersey Nets forward Richard Jefferson, and Phoenix Suns forward Shawn Marion.

“It’s a dream come true for me to represent my country,” said the 19-year-old James, who will become the youngest U.S. Olympic men’s basketball player since Spencer Haywood in 1968.

Withdrawing from the team were guards Ray Allen of the Seattle Supersonics and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. Allen cited a personal family matter; Bryant still faces trial on a sexual assault charge in Colorado.

James won the rookie of the year award after joining the Cleveland Cavaliers straight from high school — a feat accomplished for the first time just a season earlier by Phoenix’s Stoudemire.

“The way I look at it, this is an opportunity for Stephon, LeBron and Richard,” Olympic coach Larry Brown said in a teleconference. “I’m going to coach the guys who come.”

Already on the Olympic rosters were two-time gold medalist Karl Malone, 2000 gold medalist Jason Kidd, two-time NBA MVP Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, Jermaine O’Neal, Tracy McGrady and Mike Bibby.

Heat, Pacers nursing injuries

Several members of the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers will be playing with pain in Game 5 on today, and some of the Heat have their coach to thank for it.

Dwyane Wade and Caron Butler were both banged up after a particularly physical practice on Friday in Miami.

Wade was elbowed in the face by Wang Zhi-Zhi and Butler left with a sore hip after colliding with Brian Grant, who is nursing a dislocated finger on his right hand and a sore back.

Heat officials said both players will be ready for today’s game in Indianapolis, but at least one Miami player was left wondering why coach Stan Van Gundy would hold such a rough practice on the eve of their biggest game of the year.

“I’m not a big fan of coming in here and banging around the day before a big playoff game,” point guard Rafer Alston said. “I don’t understand it. … We took a chance today at losing two to three guys. We’ve really got to watch it, man. They can call me soft or whatever. But the object is to make it to the next game.”

Van Gundy said injuries would not be an excuse and offered no explanation for the demanding practice.

For the Pacers, Fred Jones has a strained left shoulder, Jamaal Tinsley has a sprained left ankle and Al Harrington played Game 4 with a glove on his shooting hand to protect jammed fingers.

All three said they will play today, with Jones appearing to be in the worst shape.

“It’s definitely not 100 percent right now,” Jones said. “Just walking, I feel it.”

Preps among 94 early draftees

Thirteen high school players were among the 94 who filed as early entry candidates for the NBA draft.

Forty-three college underclassmen, including all four eligible members of the Associated Press’ All-America team, also submitted their letters by May 10, the NBA announced Friday.

The players have the right to withdraw their names from the list by notifying the NBA by June 17, one week before the draft is held in Madison Square Garden.