Lakers eliminate Thunder on Gasol tip-in

Pau Gasol tipped in a missed jumper by Kobe Bryant with a half-second left and the Los Angeles Lakers survived a late comeback effort by host Oklahoma City and eliminated the Thunder, 95-94, in Game 6 of the first-round playoff series Friday night.

Russell Westbrook (21 points, nine assists) missed a desperation three-pointer at the buzzer for the Thunder. Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 26 points but shot a dreadful 5-for-23.

Bryant scored 32 points and Gasol had nine points and 18 rebounds.

Hawks 83, Bucks 69

Jamal Crawford, the former Knick and the league's Sixth Man Award winner, broke out of a slump with 24 points, and Joe Johnson added 22 points as the Atlanta Hawks beat the host Milwaukee Bucks, 83-69, on Friday night to force a seventh game in the first-round series. Game 7 is Sunday in Atlanta.

MVP to LeBron

Cleveland superstar LeBron James was voted the league's MVP for the second straight year, according to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity because the league has not announced the results. James averaged 29.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.6 assists.

- AP