Thunder topple Mavs for 3-1 lead in series of ill will
DALLAS — Russell Westbrook had 25 points and 15 assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Dallas Mavericks 119-108 on Saturday night, taking a commanding 3-1 lead in a testy first-round series that got quite a bit testier.
Enes Kanter had his second straight playoff career high with 28 points on 12-of-13 shooting for the Thunder, who never trailed in two games in Dallas after the Mavericks evened the series with a one-point win in Oklahoma City following a 38-point loss in the opener.
Kevin Durant scored 19 points before he was ejected in the final minute for a flagrant foul on Dallas’ Justin Anderson. It was the last of several tense moments, and Dallas team security had to make sure Durant didn’t leave the court in front of the Mavericks’ bench.
Dirk Nowitzki had 27 points and eight rebounds for the Mavericks, who haven’t won a playoff series since winning the 2011 NBA title.
After Dallas coach Rick Carlisle called out Durant while complaining during the day off over what he essentially said were dirty plays by the Thunder in Game 3, the teams had a confrontation in front of the Oklahoma City bench early in the second quarter.
That flare-up started when Anthony Morrow, who was sitting on the bench, refused to give the ball to Salah Mejri after the Thunder threw it out of bounds.
Dallas guard J.J. Barea confronted Morrow, a former Maverick who then shoved Barea. Westbrook and Mejri ended up nose-to-nose in a shouting match before all the players were separated by coaches and officials. PACERS 100, RAPTORS 83
George Hill and Ian Mahinmi each scored 22 points, Paul George added 19 and host Indiana beat Toronto to tie the firstround series at 2-2.
Game 5 in the best-ofseven series is Tuesday night in Toronto.
Jonas Valanciunas led Toronto with 16 points, and Kyle Lowry and DeMarre Carroll each had 12.
Indiana scored the first seven points, took control with a 3-point spree late in the first quarter and led by as much as 25 points in the first half. Toronto, which never led or tied the score, cut it to 57-42 at halftime, but couldn’t got closer than 11 in the second half.
Two days after one of their most embarrassing home games of the season, the Pacers turned things around in a big way. They played with passion and energy, shared the ball and defended. And they were more aggressive on the glass, too. Everything coach Frank Vogel tried worked. HORNETS 96, HEAT 80
Jeremy Lin scored 18 points, Kemba Walker had 17 and host Charlotte beat Miami to snap a 12-game playoff losing streak and earn its first postseason victory in 14 years.
Rookie Frank Kaminsky, who got the starting nod, scored eight of his 15 points during an 18-0 run in the third quarter that broke open a 53-all game.
Miami leads the series 2-1, with Game 4 set for Monday night.
Marvin Williams, a non-factor in the first two games, had 12 points and 14 rebounds for Charlotte.
Luol Deng scored 19 points, and Dwyane Wade added 17 for Miami. Hassan Whiteside had 13 points and 18 rebounds but battled foul trouble.