Mills helps Spurs get even
Grizzlies, Hawks take command with 2- 0 leads
Tim Duncan scored 28 points, and Patty Mills made two free throws to send the game into overtime as the defending champion San Antonio Spurs beat the Los Angeles Clippers 111- 107 on Wednesday night, tying their Western Conference playoff series at 1- 1.
The Spurs blew 10- point leads in the third and fourth quarters, but Mills, the former Saint Mary’s star, made his free throws with 8 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. Duncan scored four straight points in the extra session while playing with five fouls. Kawhi Leonard added 23 points for San Antonio.
Duncan’s jumper snapped a 101- all tie, Mills followed with a fast- break layup off Leonard’s long pass, and Leonard scored on a layup for a 107- 101 lead with 56 seconds left.
Mills finished with 18 points — all in the second half — after starting point guard Tony Parker left with an injury. The series, the only one of the eight in the first round that is tied after two games, moves to San Antonio for Game 3 on Friday night.
Blake Griffin had his first career playoff tripledouble of 29 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, but also committed a costly turnover late in regulation. DeAndre Jordan had 20 points and 15 rebounds for the Clippers.
Chris Paul’s two free throws gave the Clippers a 94- 92 lead with 50 seconds left in regulation, but Griffin lost the ball while dribbling with a chance to put it away and Mills tied it with two free throws.
Paul missed the potential winning shot with a 19- Clippers forward Matt Barnes tries to prevent a basket but fouls the Spurs’ Manu Ginobili. footer from the right side as regulation expired. The Clippers were 9 of 21 from the line in the fourth, but they hung in while Spurs were held to two field goals over the final 6: 41.
Duncan had his 159th career playoff double- double, tops in the league, and becomes fifth player in NBA to score 5,000 career points in postseason.
Elgin Baylor, Hall of n Fame player and Clippers G. M. from 1986- 2008, sat next to new owner Steve Ballmer.
Grizzlies 97, Blazers 82: Mike Conley and Courtney Lee each scored 18 points, and Memphis won both playoff games at home to grab the franchise’s first 2- 0 lead in a playoff series. Marc Gasol had 15 points, and Zach Randolph and Beno Udrih added 10 apiece for the Grizzlies. LaMarcus Aldridge led Portland with 24 points and 14 rebounds. Damian Lillard added 18 points, and former Cal guard Allen Crabbe ( 3 points) earned his first postseason start. Games 3 is Saturday in Portland. Portland’s Arron Afflalo missed his fifth straight game with his a strained right shoulder, and reserve Dorell Wright remains out with a broken left hand. .
Hawks 96, Nets 91: Paul Millsap scored 19 points, andtop- seededAtlantaheld on at home for a 2- 0 lead in the Eastern Conference playoff series. Atlanta fell behind before halftime and spent the rest of the game struggling to put away the No. 8 seed. Deron Williams missed an open 15- foot jumper that would’ve tied it with about 10 seconds to go. Kyle Korver rebounded, was fouled and made two free throws to clinch Atlanta’s win. The best- of- 7 series shifts to Brooklyn on Saturday. Jarrett Jack led the Nets with 23 points off the bench, and Brook Lopez had 20. Nets forward Mirza Teletovic played his first game in three months after being treated for multiple blood clots in his lungs.