Doug Collins refuted an Associated Press report that he had spoken with the Sixers "like two or three times."

Collins contacted the Philadelphia Daily News at halftime of Tuesday night's playoff game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets to say he had not spoken with the Sixers, then repeated that message during the second half of the telecast.

Collins also said, "I apologize to Eddie Stefanski if they felt like I was putting something out there that was not true."

The AP reporter who asked Collins one question at halftime said Collins' words are on tape and that she stands by what was reported.