Lakers' Jackson undergoes heart procedure

Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson underwent an angioplasty Saturday after experiencing tightness and pain in his chest for about a week.

The procedure to open Jackson's left anterior descending artery lasted a little over two hours, team spokesman John Black said.

"There was over 90 percent blockage," Black said. "The main threat would have been a massive heart attack."

Black said a bypass operation wasn't necessary.

It's possible the 57-year-old Jackson will be able to coach Sunday's fourth game of the Western Conference semifinal playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs.

He was to remain at Centinela Hospital Medical Center in nearby Inglewood on Saturday night for observation and will undergo further tests Sunday morning.

The procedure was performed at Centinela by Dr. Phillip Frankel and Dr. Vern Hattori of the Apex Cardiology Group.

"If all goes well, he'll be able to coach the game," Black said.

Black said it's also possible Jackson will be able to travel to San Antonio on Monday for Game 5 on Tuesday night.

"If all these tests go fine, he'll be cleared to do everything," Black said. "The procedure went very well. He's resting comfortably. He'll be on medication for several months."

Black said Jackson was awake during the procedure.

During an angioplasty, cardiologists thread a balloon into the clogged coronary artery and inflate it to push the blockage aside. A stent, or wire-mesh scaffolding, often is inserted to help keep the artery from further blockages. That was the case for Jackson.

Between 15 percent and 30 percent of patients suffer another blockage within a year, as scar tissue grows around and into the stent.

Jackson has coached nine championship teams to tie former Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach for the most in NBA history. Jackson's teams are 161-58 in the postseason for a record .735 winning percentage, and his 161 playoff wins are the most ever.

76ers trimPistons' lead

PHILADELPHIA --Dominating the rebounding matchup and scoring almost half of their points from inside, the 76ers got back into their second-round series by defeating Detroit 93-83 night to cut the Pistons' lead in the series to 2-1.

Led by big men Kenny Thomas and Tyrone Hill, the 76ers outrebounded the Pistons 48-30 and scored 27 second-chance points in a one-sided game.

Thomas had a double-double before halftime and finished with 10 points and 14 rebounds before pulling a leg muscle late in the third quarter.

Hill had nine points and six rebounds in just 18 minutes, but that was still more than Detroit's Ben Wallace managed to contribute in 36 minutes.

Allen Iverson had 25 points and 11 assists, Keith Van Horn had his best game of the series with 17 points, and Derrick Coleman added 15. All five Philadelphia starters reached double figures.

-- From wire reports