Hawks tie series with Wizards; Warriors coast to next round
LOS ANGELES — Dennis Schroder shook off a slow start to score 18 points in the Atlanta Hawks’ 111-101 win over the Washington Wizards on Monday that knotted their NBA playoff series at two games apiece.
Germany’s Schroder drained two three-pointers, made a jump shot and a driving layup in the final four minutes as the Hawks thwarted a Wizards comeback bid in Atlanta.
In Portland, the Golden State Warriors punched their ticket to the second round of the National Basketball Association playoffs in emphatic style on Monday, with a 128-103 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Hawks and Wizards are now assured of going at least six games, with Game Five on Wednesday ( Thursday, Manila time) in Washington.
Schroder was key for the Hawks. Despite falling into early foul trouble and going scoreless in the first half he finished by making six of 15 shots from the field and all four of his free- throw attempts, along with grabbing three rebounds.
Paul Millsap led the Hawks with 19 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, winning the showdown with the Wizards’ Markieff Morris, who called the Atlanta forward a “crybaby” after Game Three.
Morris had nine points for the Wizards, who were led by Bradley Beal’s 32.
Washington star John Wall scored a series- low 22 points and added 10 assists and five rebounds.
FOUR-GAME SWEEP
Meanwhile, Stephen Curry scored 37 points with eight assists and seven rebounds before sitting out the fourth quarter as the Warriors wrapped up a four- game sweep of the bestof-seven Western Conference first- round series.
The Warriors’ 45 first-quarter points tied the NBA record for the most points scored in the opening period of a playoff game.
Kevin Durant, sidelined the past two games with a left calf injury, scored 10 points in 20 minutes on the floor.
In the next round the Warriors will face either the Los Angeles Clippers or Utah Jazz, whose series was knotted at two games apiece. — AFP