THE DEFENDING CHAMPION LAKERS FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL ON FRIDAY IN NBA PLAYOFF ACTION ON SPORTSNET

Weekend schedule will also include two playoff games featuring the Chicago Bulls

TORONTO (May 5, 2011) – The reigning NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers fight for their playoff lives when they take on the Dallas Mavericks in Game 3 of their Western Conference semi-final on Friday, May 6 at 9:30 p.m. (ET)/4:00 p.m. (PT) on Sportsnet ONE.

The Lakers are already down in the series after losing the first two games at home by the scores of 96-94 and 93-81. Only three teams in the history of the NBA have come back to win a best-of-7 series after losing the first two games at home.

Sportsnet ONE’s schedule will also include Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semi-final between the Chicago Bulls and the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, May 6 at 7:00 p.m. (ET)/4:00 p.m. (PT). The series is currently tied at one game a piece.

Sportsnet ONE will have even more NBA playoff action on Saturday, May 7 with Game 3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies series at 5 p.m. (ET)/2 p.m. (PT). The weekend playoff coverage ends with Game 4 of the Bulls and Hawks series on Sunday, May 8 at 8:00 p.m. (ET)/5:00 p.m. (PT).

For all the scores, highlights, breaking news and inside stories on the NBA Playoffs, tune in to Sportsnet Connected and visit www.sportsnet.ca.

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