Texas sophomore All-America point guard T.J. Ford plans to make himself available for the NBA draft, it was reported Tuesday night.
Houston television station KRIV said sources close to the Longhorns’ program told it Ford would hold a news conference Thursday in Austin to make the plans official.
“I cannot confirm that for you,” Texas basketball spokesman Scott McConnell told the Associated Press on Tuesday night.
He said no news conference has been scheduled “as of yet.”He said nothing would be announced Tuesday night.
During the season Ford said he was “110 percent sure” he would return for his junior season but began hinting that he might leave for the NBA when the season ended.
Kings’ Jackson honored
Sacramento point guard Bobby Jackson won the NBA’s Sixth Man Award. He was runner-up to Toronto’s Corliss Williamson last year. Jackson is the second point guard to win the award (Orlando’s Darrell Armstrong, 1999).
Jackson was the Kings’ fourth-leading scorer this season, averaging a career-best 15.2 points. He also recorded career bests in shooting percentage (46.4), free throw percentage (84.6) and three-point percentage (37.9).
SIXTH-MAN VOTING
PLAYER, TEAM 1ST (5) 2ND (3) 3RD (1) PTS
Bobby Jackson, Sac 52 29 15 362
Michael Redd, Mil 33 25 17 257
Andrei Kirilenko, Utah 10 18 23 127
Nick Van Exel, Dal 8 20 15 115
Corliss Williamson, Det 5 14 20 87
Malik Rose, SA 6 5 12 57
Earl Boykins, GS 4 4 10 42
Al Harrington, Ind 0 2 1 7
Jon Barry, Det 0 1 1 4
Toni Kukoc, Mil 0 1 0 3
Lucious Harris, NJ 0 0 1 1
Keon Clark, Sac 0 0 1 1
Joe Johnson, Pho 0 0 1 1
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RESULTS, TUESDAY’S SYNOPSIS
Milwaukee 82 at New Jersey 89
Richard Jefferson had 17 points and a career-best 16 rebounds for the Nets, who made 11-of-12 free throws in the final 2:35 to beat the Bucks for a 3-2 lead in their first-round series. Jason Kidd added 19 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Nets, who can win the series Thursday in Milwaukee.
Phoenix 82 at San Antonio 94
The Spurs, up by 24 at the half, held off a Suns rally to take a 3-2 series lead. Phoenix charged in the fourth period, pulling within 85-79 before the Spurs hit their foul shots down the stretch. Malik Rose led the Spurs with 27 points and 13 rebounds, and Tim Duncan added 23 points and 17 rebounds.
Boston 88 at Indiana 93
Ron Artest scored 10 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter as the Pacers shot 73 percent (11-for-15) to force OT, during which they shut out the Celtics. The Pacers, down 3-2 in the series, face a difficult task. Only six teams have come back from 3-1 deficits, two since 1981. Indiana is 0-4 this season in Boston.
L.A. Lakers 120 at Minnesota 90
Kobe Bryant scored 16 of his 32 points in the third quarter, Shaquille O’Neal added 27 points and Derek Fisher scored 24 with five three-pointers as the Lakers took a 3-2 series lead. They stretched a 10-point halftime advantage to 21 by the end of the third quarter and to 30 late in the fourth.
