Los Angeles - A show puppy owned by celebrity style guru Martha Stewart was one of 17 dogs killed in a huge explosion at a boarding kennel in Pennsylvania, according to a posting Monday on Stewart's blog.

The blast occurred shortly after a tanker made a delivery of propane gas to the Pazzazz Pet Boarding Kennels in Pennsylvania. The puppy, named Genghis Khan was adopted by Stewart in December when he was seven weeks old.

Los Angeles  - R&B singer Chris Brown is seeking a plea deal on charges related to his alleged beating of superstar girlfriend Rihanna, it was reported Monday.

Brown, 19, was charged with assault and making criminal threats, following the highly publicized fight with his popstar Rihanna, 21, last month.

Los Angeles - Sharpshooting Ray Allen tried to carry the Boston Celtics over the finish line, but the load proved to be too heavy.

Dwight Howard scored 18 points with 15 rebounds, and a pair of game-sealing free throws with 13.9 seconds left, as the Orlando Magic held off a late charge to beat the injury-depleted Boston Celtics 86-79 on Sunday.

"Our guys were fighting very hard," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "I thought for a while we lost our fight, but we did a good job of finishing out the game."

Los Angeles - NBA Hall of Fame coach Chuck Daly, who guided the Detroit Pistons to back-to-back Championships, has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

"Chuck is being treated for the cancer, and the family is requesting privacy," said Pistons vice-president of media relations Matt Dobek, who on Friday made the announcement on behalf of the family.

Dobek didn't comment on details regarding the diagnosis of Daly, who coached the 1992 gold medal "Dream Team" at the Barcelona Olympics," only to say the 78-year old is in good spirits.

Los Angeles  - Paul Pierce stepped up, and the Boston Celtics tightened up the Eastern Conference race.

Pierce scored 21 of his 29 points in the second half, and the Celtics bounced the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers 105-94 on Friday night in a battle of the East's elite.

"For us to get this win is huge," Pierce said, "because we're both playing for first-place in the Eastern Conference and for home-court advantage."

Los Angeles  - Sydney Earl Chaplin, the son of screen legend Charlie Chaplin, has died at the age of 82 at his home in California, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

A Tony Award-winning actor, Sydney was Chaplin's oldest surviving child. He died of complications following a stroke, the report quoted his longtime friend Jerry Bodie as saying.

Sydney was born on March 30, 1926, in a Beverly Hills mansion and named after his father's older half-brother.