76ers open up 3-1 lead over Heat
Ben Simmons had the first playoff triple-double by a rookie in nearly 40 years, JJ Redick scored 24 points and the Philadelphia 76ers outlasted the host Miami Heat, 106-102, on Saturday to move within a victory of the second round.
The 76ers lead the Eastern Conference series, 3-1, and can close out the Heat when play resumes in Philadelphia on Tuesday night.
Simmons became the first rookie since Magic Johnson in 1980 to post a playoff triple-double – 17 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. Joel Embiid finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds for Philadelphia.
“I’m shocked that we won this game,” 76ers coach Brett Brown said. “We really didn’t have a right to win the game.”
Here’s why he said that: His team turned the ball over 27 times, shot 7 for 31 from three-point range and trailed by 12 late in the third quarter in an extremely hostile environment against a desperate opponent.
Dwyane Wade led all scorers with 25 points off the bench for the Heat, who led by 12 points in the second half before letting a game they almost certainly had to have slip away.
“They don’t let you off the hook,” Wade said, tipping his cap to the 76ers. “You make one mistake, or you take your foot off the gas for one second, they make you pay.”
Pelicans 131, Trail Blazers 123: Anthony Davis scored 33 of his franchise playoff-record 47 points in the second half, and host New Orleans completed a first-round playoff sweep of the Portland.
Jrue Holiday capped his 41point performance with an 18-foot pull-up jumper that gave the Pelicans a six-point lead with 40 seconds left.
Rajon Rondo added 16 assists, and Davis also had 11 rebounds and three blocks for New Orleans, which is moving on to the second round of the playoffs for only the second time since the NBA returned to the city 16 seasons ago.
C.J. McCollum scored 38 for the Trail Blazers, who responded to a blowout loss in Game 3 by keeping Game 4 close until the final minute. Al-Farouq Aminu scored 27, Damian Lillard added 19 points and Jusuf Nurkic had 18 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out.
Timberwolves 121, Rockets 105: Jimmy Butler hit 4 three-pointers among his 28 points and Karl-Anthony Towns snapped back from a bad start to the series with 18 points and 16 rebounds, leading Minnesota past Houston in Minneapolis in Game 3 for its first postseason victory in 14 years.
Jeff Teague scored 23 points and Andrew Wiggins pitched in 20 points, helping the Timberwolves match the fire-away Rockets from behind the arc and cruise down the stretch behind 50% shooting.
James Harden led the Rockets with 29 points.
Morris brothers fined: The National Basketball Association fined Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris and twin brother Marcus Morris of the Boston Celtics for their roles in separate incidents during playoff games.
Markieff Morris was fined $25,000 by the NBA for attempting to escalate an altercation and pushing an official during a game against Toronto on Friday night. Morris shoved official Ken Mauer aside when Morris and Toronto’s OG Anunoby had to be separated after a near-fight that drew other players less than three minutes into the Wizards’ 122-103 victory.
Meanwhile, Marcus Morris was also docked $15,000 for criticizing officials after the Celtics’ 116-92 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. He was called for a technical foul in the third and was critical of the officiating after the game.