UK in the NBA Playoffs: Tayshaun Prince, Memphis through to conference finals
The Los Angeles Clippers’ Caron Butler collides with the Memphis Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol (33) on a pick set for Memphis’ Tayshaun Prince (21) in Game 1 of the first round NBA Playoffs matchup at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on Saturday, April 20, 2013. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/MCT)
May 19, 2013
By Brett Bibbins | @BBibbins_Kernel
The second round of the 2013 NBA playoffs have come to a close and the remaining four NBA teams are poised to start the conference finals.
A total of four former UK players retained hopes of winning a ring as round two began, but now, only one former Cat remains.
Tayshaun Prince and the Memphis Grizzlies knocked off DeAndre Liggins and the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games, winning the series, 4-1.
Memphis moves on to take on the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals.
Prince has started all 11 games for the Grizzlies this postseason and has averaged 7.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists through the first two rounds.
Liggins played in eight of the 11 games in the playoffs for the Thunder, playing just 8.5 minutes per game.
In his time, Liggins averaged one point, 1.8 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game this postseason.
In the Eastern Conference, Nazr Mohammed and Marquis Teague of the Chicago Bulls took on the Miami Heat.
The Heat beat the Bulls in five games, winning the series 4-1, bumping two more former Cats out of the playoffs in the process.
Mohammed played 9.5 minutes per game, which would be higher if he had not been ejected in the first quarter of Game 3 after playing less than three minutes.
He was ejected after shoving LeBron James of the Miami Heat to the floor after a foul call.
Mohammed averaged 3.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.6 blocks this postseason.
Teague played in eight of the Bulls’ 12 playoffs games, averaging nine minutes, 1.3 points, 1.5 assists and 0.4 rebounds per game in his first professional postseason.
Miami moves on to play the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Conference Finals begin on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. when Prince and the Grizzlies takes on San Antonio.
Western Conference Finals
No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 5 Memphis Grizzlies (Tayshaun Prince)
Eastern Conference Finals
No. 1 Miami Heat vs. No. 3 Indiana Pacers
