EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) -- Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson underwent an angioplasty Saturday after experiencing tightness and pain in his chest for about a week.
The procedure to open Jackson's left anterior descending artery lasted a little over two hours, team spokesman John Black said.
"There was over 90 percent blockage," Black said. "The main threat would have been a massive heart attack."
Black said a bypass operation wasn't necessary. Doctors have scheduled a news conference Sunday to discuss the procedure.
It's possible the 57-year-old Jackson will be able to coach Sunday's fourth game of the Western Conference semifinal playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs.
He was to remain at Centinela Hospital Medical Center in nearby Inglewood on Saturday night for observation and will undergo further tests Sunday morning.
The procedure was performed at Centinela by Dr. Phillip Frankel and Dr. Vern Hattori of the Apex Cardiology Group.
"If all goes well, he'll be able to coach the game," Black said.
Black said it's also possible Jackson will be able to travel to San Antonio on Monday for Game 5 on Tuesday night.
"If all these tests go fine, he'll be cleared to do everything," Black said. "The procedure went very well. He's resting comfortably. He'll be on medication for several months."
Black said Jackson was awake during the procedure.
During an angioplasty, cardiologists thread a balloon into the clogged coronary artery and inflate it to push the blockage aside. A stent, or wire-mesh scaffolding, often is inserted to help keep the artery from further blockages. That was the case for Jackson.
Between 15 percent and 30 percent of patients suffer another blockage within a year, as scar tissue grows around and into the stent.
Jackson has coached nine championship teams to tie former Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach for the most in NBA history. Jackson's teams are 161-58 in the postseason for a record .735 winning percentage, and his 161 playoff wins are the most ever.
He coached the Chicago Bulls to six championships in nine years and is going for his fourth title in as many years with the Lakers.
Jackson underwent tests Friday before the Lakers beat San Antonio 110-95, cutting the Spurs' lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.
Doctors wanted to complete all tests Friday, but Jackson decided to wait until after the game. Assistant coach Jim Cleamons ran Saturday's practice and will lead the team Sunday if Jackson can't.
"We all know that he had some concerns," Cleamons said. "We realized he wasn't feeling 100 percent. We're happy and relieved the procedure was successful and hopefully we'll see him tomorrow."
Cleamons said Jackson approached him during practice recently and said he felt tightness in his chest.
"We were holding our fingers crossed that he would be able to make it through the game," Cleamons said, referring to Friday night's contest at Staples Center.
"He wasn't his usual self -- his color, his demeanor," Cleamons said. "There were a couple times during the game when we asked him how he was feeling."
Cleamons said he was notified after Saturday's practice that the operation was complete.
Black said he wasn't aware if Jackson had a history of heart problems.
"I think there's some concern," Black said when asked how the players reacted to the news. "Everyone's pretty optimistic. Phil told them something yesterday, they didn't know the specifics. Phil told them last night he wasn't going to be here today."
Reporters weren't informed of the procedure until after player interviews were finished.
Black said 81-year-old Lakers assistant Tex Winter was yelling at one point during Friday night's game, prompting Jackson to say: "Tex, calm down. You're going to give me a heart attack."
Jackson missed three games because of a kidney stone that was removed on Feb. 24. Before that, he had coached 1,249 regular-season and playoff games without missing any in nearly 13 seasons.
His teams have won 25 straight playoff series -- 12 with the Bulls and 13 with the Lakers.
Meanwhile, Dallas coach Don Nelson showed up in Sacramento for the Mavericks-Kings playoff game Saturday night wearing a light purple button-up shirt and dark purple tie.
When asked why he was wearing Kings colors in Arco Arena, Nelson replied: "These are Lakers colors in reverence for Phil. You never know. It's a 10 (the stress). It's not just the pressure you put on yourself but that's most of it. The environment, the press, the radio talk shows. Nine months a year it's killing you. I take two months off each summer that's for sure
The procedure to open Jackson's left anterior descending artery lasted a little over two hours, team spokesman John Black said.
"There was over 90 percent blockage," Black said. "The main threat would have been a massive heart attack."
Black said a bypass operation wasn't necessary. Doctors have scheduled a news conference Sunday to discuss the procedure.
It's possible the 57-year-old Jackson will be able to coach Sunday's fourth game of the Western Conference semifinal playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs.
He was to remain at Centinela Hospital Medical Center in nearby Inglewood on Saturday night for observation and will undergo further tests Sunday morning.
The procedure was performed at Centinela by Dr. Phillip Frankel and Dr. Vern Hattori of the Apex Cardiology Group.
"If all goes well, he'll be able to coach the game," Black said.
Black said it's also possible Jackson will be able to travel to San Antonio on Monday for Game 5 on Tuesday night.
"If all these tests go fine, he'll be cleared to do everything," Black said. "The procedure went very well. He's resting comfortably. He'll be on medication for several months."
Black said Jackson was awake during the procedure.
During an angioplasty, cardiologists thread a balloon into the clogged coronary artery and inflate it to push the blockage aside. A stent, or wire-mesh scaffolding, often is inserted to help keep the artery from further blockages. That was the case for Jackson.
Between 15 percent and 30 percent of patients suffer another blockage within a year, as scar tissue grows around and into the stent.
Jackson has coached nine championship teams to tie former Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach for the most in NBA history. Jackson's teams are 161-58 in the postseason for a record .735 winning percentage, and his 161 playoff wins are the most ever.
He coached the Chicago Bulls to six championships in nine years and is going for his fourth title in as many years with the Lakers.
Jackson underwent tests Friday before the Lakers beat San Antonio 110-95, cutting the Spurs' lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.
Doctors wanted to complete all tests Friday, but Jackson decided to wait until after the game. Assistant coach Jim Cleamons ran Saturday's practice and will lead the team Sunday if Jackson can't.
"We all know that he had some concerns," Cleamons said. "We realized he wasn't feeling 100 percent. We're happy and relieved the procedure was successful and hopefully we'll see him tomorrow."
Cleamons said Jackson approached him during practice recently and said he felt tightness in his chest.
"We were holding our fingers crossed that he would be able to make it through the game," Cleamons said, referring to Friday night's contest at Staples Center.
"He wasn't his usual self -- his color, his demeanor," Cleamons said. "There were a couple times during the game when we asked him how he was feeling."
Cleamons said he was notified after Saturday's practice that the operation was complete.
Black said he wasn't aware if Jackson had a history of heart problems.
"I think there's some concern," Black said when asked how the players reacted to the news. "Everyone's pretty optimistic. Phil told them something yesterday, they didn't know the specifics. Phil told them last night he wasn't going to be here today."
Reporters weren't informed of the procedure until after player interviews were finished.
Black said 81-year-old Lakers assistant Tex Winter was yelling at one point during Friday night's game, prompting Jackson to say: "Tex, calm down. You're going to give me a heart attack."
Jackson missed three games because of a kidney stone that was removed on Feb. 24. Before that, he had coached 1,249 regular-season and playoff games without missing any in nearly 13 seasons.
His teams have won 25 straight playoff series -- 12 with the Bulls and 13 with the Lakers.
Meanwhile, Dallas coach Don Nelson showed up in Sacramento for the Mavericks-Kings playoff game Saturday night wearing a light purple button-up shirt and dark purple tie.
When asked why he was wearing Kings colors in Arco Arena, Nelson replied: "These are Lakers colors in reverence for Phil. You never know. It's a 10 (the stress). It's not just the pressure you put on yourself but that's most of it. The environment, the press, the radio talk shows. Nine months a year it's killing you. I take two months off each summer that's for sure
