Lillard scores 40, Blazers charge past Dubs in game 3.
After Portland let the previous game slip away, Damian Lillard had a playoff-best 40 points as the Trail Blazers beat Golden State 120-108 on Saturday night to cut the Warriors’ advantage in the Western Conference semifinal to 2-1. The defending NBA champions were still without Steph Curry, the reigning MVP who sprained his right knee in Game 4 of the first-round series against Houston. Al-Farouq Aminu had 23 points and 10 rebounds, and CJ McCollum added 22 points for Portland. The Trail Blazers led 58-46 at the half and stretched the lead to as many as 20 points in the fourth quarter. Draymond Green had 37 points and Klay Thompson added 35 for the Warriors. Game 4 is on Monday night in Portland. Thompson, who averaged 32 points in the first two games, had three 3-pointers as Golden State built an early 16-9 lead despite four turnovers. Another 3 pushed the lead to 22-16 and Thompson led all scorers after the first quarter with 18 points. He also had 18 points in the first quarter of Game 1 against the Blazers. Lillard finished with eight 3-pointers, also a playoff high for him.
Kevin Durant Puts On Mother’s Day Show.
KD got his mom 41 points and a win on Mother’s day. He left the court Sunday night exchanging smiles and nods with his mom across the floor, as his unstoppable nights and OKC’s balance sends the series back to San Antonio at 2-2.
Cavs beat Hawks to advance, 100-99 in game 4.
The Cavaliers finished off the second-round series with four straight wins, just as they did in the opening round against Detroit. Kevin Love scored 27 points, LeBron James hit a huge shot with 39.2 seconds to go and visiting Cleveland finished off its second straight playoff sweep, beating Atlanta 100-99 to advance to the Eastern Conference finals. James and Irving finished with 21 points apiece. James also doled out nine assists, while Irving had eight. The Hawks had one last chance to extend the series and put the ball in the hands of Dennis Schroder, who led the team with 21 points. The speedy point guard drove into the lane but was surrounded by James and Tristan Thompson. Schroder slipped and James tied up the ball, forcing a huge mismatch of a jump ball with 2.8 seconds left. The Cavaliers will face the winner of the Miami-Toronto series in the conference finals. Toronto leads the series 2-1.
Lowry’s half court Buzzer Beater brought fans to their feet.
Lowry’s improbable 3-pointer from his own side of the half court line capped Toronto’s six-point comeback in the final 20 seconds of regulation, but the Raptors couldn’t deliver in the extra session against Miami in game 01.
Western Conference – Thunder beat Spurs to tie series.
Kevin Durant matched his career playoff high with 41 points and Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 111-97 on Sunday night to tie the Western Conference semifinal series 2-2. Durant had 29 points on 10-for-13 shooting in the second half. He scored 17 points in the fourth quarter, one more than the Spurs, and did it on 6-for-6 shooting. Russell Westbrook finished with 14 points and 15 assists, Dion Waiters added 17 points, and Steven Adams had 16 points and 11 rebounds for Oklahoma City. Tony Parker led San Antonio with 22 points; Leonard had 21, and LaMarcus Aldridge 20. San Antonio led by 11 early in the second quarter, but the Thunder rallied and took a 45-44 lead on a 3-pointer by Durant with 1:47 left in the first half. The Spurs closed the quarter on a 9-0 run, with all the points coming from Leonard and Aldridge, to take a 53-45 lead at the break. Durant and Westbrook were a combined 6 for 21 from the field in the first half.
The Memphis Grizzlies fire head coach!
The Grizzlies fired Dave Joerger on Saturday after three seasons and three straight playoff appearances. A team battered by injuries finished the regular season at 42-40 before being swept in the first round by San Antonio. Memphis becomes the fourth NBA team currently without a coach, joining the New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers, who fired coach Frank Vogel on Thursday. Memphis is starting its search immediately.
