Pacers' Artest challenges Spurs' Bowen

Daily News Wire Services
Posted: April 28, 2004

Indiana forward Ron Artest challenged San Antonio guard Bruce Bowen to a game of one-on-one for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award yesterday, a day after Spurs coach Gregg Popovich criticized Artest and Pacers coach Rick Carlisle.

"Tell his coach, 'Let's play one-on-one for the award,' " Artest said after practice. "I'll give it to him if he can beat me."

Popovich appeared Monday on a San Antonio radio station and said Bowen was more deserving of the award, which Artest won by a wide margin. Bowen finished fourth in the voting.

Popovich also criticized Carlisle for openly campaigning for his player.

Noteworthy

* Cleveland's LeBron James, Denver's Carmelo Anthony and Miami's Dwyane Wade were unanimous members of the NBA All-Rookie Team. Toronto's Chris Bosh and Chicago's Kirk Hinrich also made the first team in voting by the league's coaches. * Duke freshman Luol Deng has made himself available for the NBA draft but is not ruling out a return to school. The 6-8 forward will not hire an agent for now, keeping open the option of returning for his sophomore season. He has until June 17 to decide.

In games last night:

* At New Orleans, Baron Davis had 23 points and 10 assists for the Hornets, who evened their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series with a 96-85 victory over the Miami Heat in Game 4.

Lamar Odom scored 25 points for Miami.

* At Denver, Kevin Garnett had 27 points, 14 rebounds and five assists to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to an 84-82 win over the Nuggets. Minnesota leads the Western Conference first-round series, 3-1.

Voshon Lenard scored 28 to lead the Nuggets. *

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