National Basketball Association Playoff Game Capsules
Atlanta, GA (SportsNetwork.com) – Paul George and David West knocked down consecutive 3-pointers to cap a big run in the final minutes, and the Indiana Pacers escaped with a 91-88 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday to even their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series at two games apiece. George’s shot with 2:11 remaining gave the Pacers the lead for good and West’s — from the same spot on the high left side moments later — ended an 11-2 run that gave Indiana a four-point lead with 1 1/2 minutes left. George later clanked two free throws off the rim with 7.5 seconds left and a chance to make it a two-possession game. But Atlanta’s Pero Antic missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer and the Pacers held on to pull even in the best-of-seven series heading into Monday’s Game 5 in Indianapolis. George had 24 points and 10 rebounds, West scored 18 points and George Hill added 15 for the Pacers, who sat struggling 7-foot-2 center Roy Hibbert in the fourth quarter for the third straight game. Hibbert, who started despite speculation he would come off the bench, was 3-for-5 for six points and picked up his first two blocks of the series. He has 24 points and 17 rebounds in the four games. Paul Millsap scored 29 points for the Hawks, but just 11 came after halftime as the forward battled foul trouble. Kyle Korver added 15 points, including three free throws after he was fouled late on a 3-point try from the right corner.
Final Score: Dallas 109, San Antonio 108
Dallas, TX (SportsNetwork.com) – Vince Carter’s 3-pointer at the buzzer Saturday gave the Mavericks a 109-108 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series. Catching an inbound pass from Jose Calderon on the left sideline, Carter pump- faked Manu Ginobili in the corner and let the shot fly as he fell out of bounds. The Mavericks, who have won two in a row to lead the best-of-seven set 2-1, will also host Game 4 on Monday. Carter’s game-winner came after Ginobili’s running bank shot gave the Spurs a two-point lead with 1.7 seconds remaining. Monta Ellis led Dallas with 29 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter. Ginobili drove around Shawn Marion and made his go-ahead bank shot over Samuel Dalembert. He had 12 points off the bench for the Spurs, who were led by Tim Duncan’s 22 points. Tony Parker added 19 points in the loss.
Final Score: Miami 98, Charlotte 85
Charlotte, NC (SportsNetwork.com) – LeBron James had 30 points, 10 rebounds and six assists and the Miami Heat rolled to a 98-85 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday night in Game 3 of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series. The Heat grabbed a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven set heading into Monday’s Game 4 in Charlotte. They took the lead for good with a 23-7 run late in the second quarter and led by double digits throughout the second half — a much different story from the two games in Miami, when the Bobcats pushed back against the two-time reigning NBA champs. The Bobcats remained the only current NBA franchise without a playoff victory, falling to 0-7. Saturday marked four years to the day since their last playoff game at home, a loss to Orlando that swept them out of the 2010 playoffs. James was 10-for-18 from the floor, 9-for-10 on free throws and scored 28 of his 30 points in the first three quarters, including 12 in the third when the Heat stretched their lead to 26. Al Jefferson played again despite suffering a plantar fascia strain in his left foot in Game 1 and led the Bobcats with 20 points — but scored just five after the first quarter.
Final Score: Oklahoma City 92, Memphis 89 (OT)
Memphis, TN (SportsNetwork.com) – Reggie Jackson bailed out the Thunder. On a night Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook struggled shooting the ball, Jackson supplied a playoff career-best 32 points, including eight in overtime, to boost Oklahoma City to a 92-89 win over Memphis to even their Western Conference quarterfinal series after four games. Jackson was averaging five points over the first three contests of the series, but stepped up big in the third straight OT contest in this set. He went 11- of-16 from the floor and pulled down nine rebounds. Durant had 15 points and 13 boards and Westbrook totaled 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, but the duo combined to shoot 11-of-45. Serge Ibaka provided 12 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks for the second-seeded Thunder, who shot 36.7 percent. Marc Gasol had 23 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Grizzlies, who had a chance to tie the game at the end but Mike Conley missed a 3-point shot. The seventh-seeded Grizzlies had a 15-game home winning streak broken. Conley had 14 points and 10 assists, and Tony Allen ended with 14 points and 13 rebounds in defeat. Game 5 of the best- of-seven set is Tuesday at Oklahoma City.
Categorized in: NBA