Australia and China will face off in a three-match basketball series as they gear up for the London Olympics.

Towering centre Luke Schenscher is returning to Adelaide to play for the NBL's 36ers.

Gold Coast captain James Harvey is among four new NBL signings for the Sydney Kings.

Philadelphia have held on to beat Boston 82-81 to even their NBA Eastern Conference playoffs at 1-1 while Oklahoma City have thrashed the LA Lakers 119-90.

Chris Paul led the way as the LA Clippers ousted the Memphis Grizzlies to set up an NBA western conference semi-finals series against San Antonio.

Miami Heat star LeBron James was named the NBA's 2011-2012 season Most Valuable Player on Saturday, capturing the award for the third time in four years but the first time since joining the Heat in 2010.

Spanish center Marc Gasol scored 23 points to lead Memphis to a 90-88 win over the Clippers and force a game seven decider in their playoffs.

The Denver Nuggets have beaten the Lakers 113-96 to force a seventh game in the NBA Western Conference first round playoffs.

The NBL is in grave danger of dropping to an eight-team competition in 2012-13 after the Gold Coast Blaze was placed in voluntary administration.

LeBron James scored 29 points and Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh had 19 each as the Miami Heat eliminated the under-manned New York Knicks with a 106-94 win in game five of their Eastern Conference series.

Australian basketball fans will once again see the best of the best with confirmation that the popular NBL All-Stars game will be reintroduced next season.

Philadelphia rallied to beat Chicago, while the Boston Celtics pipped Atlanta in overtime as the NBA playoffs heat up.

NBA champions Dallas have edged closer to a playoff exit, as the New York Knicks suffered a record 13th straight playoff defeat.

San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich has been named the NBA's coach of the year for the lockout-shortened season.