High-riding Boston
Celtics sweep aside Pacers to reach semi-finals
LOS ANGELES: The Boston Celtics completed a four-game sweep of the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, using key baskets from Marcus Morris and Gordon Hayward to hold on for a 110-106 victory in Indianapolis.
The fourth-seeded Celtics advance to the Eastern Conference semi-finals, where they will face the winners of the Milwaukee-Detroit series.
Meanwhile, Sunday’s loss ended Indiana’s season in the first round of the playoffs for the third consecutive year. The Pacers, who also were swept by Cleveland in 2017, took the Cavaliers to a Game 7 in the opening round last year.
The fourth quarter featured four ties, the last of which occurred at 82-all when Jayson Tatum made the first of two free throws with 6:45 remaining after a flagrant foul on Cory Joseph.
Warriors 113 Clippers 105: Kevin Durant scored 33 points and visiting Golden State held on to beat Los Angeles in Game 4 of a Western Conference first-round series. After winning both games in Los Angeles, the Warriors own a 3-1 series lead heading to Game 5 tomorrow night in Oakland, California.
Klay Thompson (pic) scored 27 of his 32 points in the first half for the Warriors.
Stephen Curry went 3-for-14, including 1-for9 from three-point range, finishing with 12 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a season-high 25 points for the Clippers.
Raptors 107 Magic 85: Kawhi Leonard scored 34 points – 12 in the third quarter – as visiting Toronto defeated Orlando to take a 3-1 lead in the first-round playoff series.
The Raptors can clinch the best-of-seven series today by winning Game 5 in Toronto.
Pascal Siakam added 16 points for Toronto, while Norman Powell had 16 points and Serge Ibaka had 13 points and gathered eight rebounds. Kyle Lowry contributed nine points and nine assists.
Aaron Gordon scored 25 points and had seven rebounds for the Magic. Evan Fournier added 19 points, while Nikola Vucevic scored 11 points.
Trail Blazers 111 Thunder 98: C.J. McCollum scored 27 points and Damian Lillard added 24 as visiting Portland beat Oklahoma City.
The win gave the Blazers a 3-1 lead in their Western Conference playoff series. Portland have a chance to finish off the series at home tonight.
The win snapped an eight-game road playoff losing streak for the Blazers and gave the road teams an 8-0 record over the weekend in the NBA playoffs. from three-point range, finishing with 12 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a season-high 25 points for the Clippers.
Raptors 107 Magic 85: Kawhi Leonard scored 34 points – 12 in the third quarter – as visiting Toronto defeated Orlando to take a 3-1 lead in the first-round playoff series.
The Raptors can clinch the best-of-seven series today by winning Game 5 in Toronto.
Pascal Siakam added 16 points for Toronto, while Norman Powell had 16 points and Serge Ibaka had 13 points and gathered eight rebounds. Kyle Lowry contributed nine points and nine assists.
Aaron Gordon scored 25 points and had seven rebounds for the Magic. Evan Fournier added 19 points, while Nikola Vucevic scored 11 points.
Trail Blazers 111 Thunder 98: C.J. McCollum scored 27 points and Damian Lillard added 24 as visiting Portland beat Oklahoma City.
The win gave the Blazers a 3-1 lead in their Western Conference playoff series. Portland have a chance to finish off the series at home tonight.
The win snapped an eight-game road playoff losing streak for the Blazers and gave the road teams an 8-0 record over the weekend in the NBA playoffs.