Mark Jackson accused the Denver Nuggets of taking cheap shots at Stephen Curry during the Golden State Warriors' loss in Game 5.

Jackson said that Denver people warned him of what would take place with "inside info".

"They tried to send hit men on Steph," said Jackson. "It wasn't magic, they outplayed us."

Curry agreed that he seemed targeted by the Nuggets.

Kenneth Faried responded to accusations from Jackson with a similar sentiment.

"They play dirty every night. They have targeted me," said Faried.

Curry, visibly frustrated following the game, also engaged in a verbal altercation with a fan while exiting through the tunnel.

Mike Dunleavy signed a two-year contract with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2011 and will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Heading into free agency, Dunleavy believes he will definitely consider returning to the Bucks and liked his situation over the past two seasons.

"I like being here; I grew up here," Dunleavy said. "I signed as a free agent here. I'm willing to come back. I've got to talk to the team and see what they want to do and go from there."

Still, Dunleavy -- like many of the Bucks' role players -- was not pleased with the way the season unfolded.

"I have no issue about getting swept by the Heat," Dunleavy said. "They're a great team. The issue is having to face the Heat. We basically dog-trotted down the stretch for March and April.

"We should have never been in the position of having to play the 1 seed. Kind of shame on us. That's the disappointing part of the whole season."

Dunleavy averaged 12.3 points and provided a spark off the bench in 55 games during the lockout-shortened season, then averaged 10.5 points and 3.9 rebounds in 75 games during the past season.

The Los Angeles Lakers enter an uncertain offseason that will be dictated by their ability to re-sign Dwight Howard.

"We're very confident that we can build around Dwight Howard," said Mitch Kupchak.

Kupchak had a long conversation with Howard on Tuesday that he felt went well. Kupchak did confess that it is difficult for him to be fully confident of Howard returning to the Lakers.

"I think he understands: the sooner, the better for everybody," said Kupchak about when Howard may make a decision.

Howard also addressed the media on Tuesday.

"I just want an opportunity to make a decision for myself to make myself happy," Howard said. "I just don't want any pressure from anybody."

Howard also wants to avoid his free agency becoming an event unto itself the way his departure from the Orlando Magic materialized. 

"I'm not gonna allow any of the fake rumors from last year to happen this year. If something comes out, you're going to hear from me."

Howard wrapped his interview session by indicating that the most memorable moment from the 12-13 season with the Lakers was when he was pranked by his teammates in the preseason to run out of the tunnel by himself.

Pau Gasol addressed the media at the end of a difficult season for the Los Angeles Lakers and ahead of an offseason where his future is in doubt. 

"I prefer to stay, but I'm prepared if I'm not," said Gasol.

Gasol also said that Mitch Kupchak indicated that his future with the Lakers is not directly tied to the decision Dwight Howard ultimately makes in free agency.

If Gasol returns, he hopes that there is better understanding of how he can be utilized by Mike D'Antoni.

"I think we have to understand each other a lot better.”

Jason Kidd has won the 2012-13 NBA Sportsmanship award.

Kidd won the award, which is given to a player who demonstrates ethical behavior, fair play and integrity, last season as well.

Luol Deng, Stephen Curry, Mike Conley, Nick Collison and Jameer Nelson were also nominated for the award.

Joe Johnson does not expect to need surgery on his persistent plantar fasciitis in his left foot.

Johnson had a cortisone shot before Saturday's game.

"Nah, no surgery," said Johnson. "I've talked to the doc. The damage is done. I can't do much more than I've already done. It's just going to take time to kind of let it rest and heal. I probably won't be able to work out for a little while. I'll just have to rest up."

Jason Collins received largely positive support in the aftermath of his announcement that he is gay.

Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Tony Parker, Kenneth Faried and Rudy Gay were amongst the dozens of players to publicly offer their support to Collins.

Collins also received encouragement on Twitter from Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Michelle Obama, Martina Navratilova and Spike Lee.

ESPN reporter Chris Broussard drew criticism for comments he made calling homosexuality “a sin” on the network’s “Outside the Lines” program.

Broussard took issue with Collins’s description of himself as a Christian because he was “openly living in unrepentant sin.”

He added: “I believe that’s walking in open rebellion to God and to Jesus Christ. So I would not characterize that person as a Christian because I don’t think the Bible would characterize him as a Christian.”

Broussard's comments became a large topic of conversation on social media.

“We regret that a respectful discussion of personal viewpoints became a distraction from today’s news,” said ESPN. “ESPN is fully committed to diversity and welcomes Jason Collins’s announcement.”

An NBA star that spoke with Yahoo's Marc J. Spears also echoed religious-based reservations about Collins, who himself is a professed Christian.

"I'm staying quiet on this one," said the player. "Commend his courage to step out, but my faith teaches otherwise."

Antawn Jamison is not expected to re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason.

Jamision will undergo wrist surgery on Tuesday for an injury sustained on March 22. Jamison played through the injury to help the already injury-depleted Lakers.

Jamison skipped his exit interview with the Lakers on Monday.

The Brooklyn Nets signed Billy King to a contract extension last week to remain general manager, but sources expect Mikhail Prokhorov to again pursue Phil Jackson.

Prokhorov reached out to Jackson following the dismissal of Avery Johnson.

Jackson is interested in an advisory front office position and not in returning to coaching.

Tim Leiweke doesn't officially begin his tenure as president of the Toronto Raptors until June 30, but he will have influence over the MLSE board's decision on whether to pick up Bryan Colangelo's contract option for the 13-14 NBA season at a mid-May meeting.

It had been assumed that the Raptors would give Colangelo and Dwane Casey one more season to produce better results, but the situation has presumably changed due to the presence of Leiweke.

Phil Jackson is one candidate to take over the Raptors' front office.