Raptors move on to semis NBA PLAYOFFS
WASHINGTON» The Toronto Raptors overcame a halftime deficit in a road playoff game for the first time in 24 tries, using 24 points from Kyle Lowry and a tremendous effort from their finally whole second unit to beat the Washington Wizards 10292 in Game 6 on Friday night and end their Eastern Conference firstround series.
Toronto trailed by as many as 12 points in the first quarter and was down 5350 at the end of the second. The Raptors’ first lead did not come until the third quarter, and they were back down by five points entering the final period.
But with star guards Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, who had a personal serieslow 16 points, resting to begin the fourth, reserves led by point guard Fred VanVleet turned around the game. Bothered by a bad right shoulder, VanVleet had played a total of three minutes in the series until Friday, but he was just what Toronto needed in this game, with five points, four assists and four rebounds.
The home team had won each of the first five games, but the Raptors were finally able to break that road hex and close things out.
This marks the Raptors’ third consecutive trip to the second round of the playoffs; they last failed to get that far in 2015, when they were swept by the Wizards.
Wall had 23 points and eight assists in Game 6. Bradley Beal led Washington with 32 points. But the Wizards’ run of eight home playoff wins in a row came to a close.
Pacers 121, Cavaliers 87.
INDIANAPOLIS» Victor Oladipo scored 28 points and posted the first postseason tripledouble of his career, leading Indiana to a blowout over Cleveland to even the series at three.
The threetime defending Eastern Conference champs again were led by LeBron James with 22 points, seven assists and five rebounds despite sitting out the entire fourth quarter. The Cavaliers lost their first closeout game in 14 tries dating to 2009.
Oladipo finished with 13 rebounds, 10 assists and was 11of19 from the field, including 6of8 on 3s to keep the Pacers in charge most of the game.