Hawks defeatWizards to even series at 2-all
Howard finally comes to life; Raptors take 3-2 lead on Bucks
Paul Millsap bounced back from a sluggish start to score 19 points, Dwight Howard had his best game of the postseason and the Atlanta Hawks pulled away from the Washington Wizards 111-101 on Monday night to even the opening-round playoff series at 2-all.
Howard, who was a nonfactor through the first three games, had a double-double by halftime and finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds.
The Hawks got double-figure scoring from seven players, including huge contributions off the bench from Kent Bazemore and Jose Calderon.
Bradley Beal scored 32 points, bouncing back from a dismal performance in Game 3, and John Wall had another stellar performance with 22 points and 10 assists for Washington.
Raptors 118, Bucks 93: Norm Powell scored a career playoff-high 25 points, Kyle Lowry had 16 points and 10 assists and Toronto beat Milwaukee to take a 3-2 lead in their firstround series.
Serge Ibaka scored 19 points, and DeMar DeRozan had 18 for the Raptors, who can advance to face defending champion Cleveland in the second round with a victory in Game 6 at Milwaukee on Thursday night.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 30 points and nine rebounds, and Malcolm Brogdon scored 19 points.
Clippers: Los Angeles will be getting reserve guard Austin Rivers back for Game 5 against the U tah Jazz.
Coach Doc Rivers said his son’s minutes would be restricted when the first-round series resumes on Tuesday night at Staples Center.
The younger Rivers has been sidelined since March 30 with a strained left hamstring.
Pacers: Indiana wants the NBA All-Star Game and sent Larry Bird to get it — in an Indy car.
Bird drove four blocks down New York’s Fifth Avenue in his specially themed car on Monday to deliver the Pacers’ bid to host the 2021 game to commissioner Adam Silver, fitting his 6-foot-9 frame into a car usually driven by much-shorter people.