A commanding display
LeBron dominates to steer Lakers to a 2-1 lead over Trail Blazers
ORLANDO: LeBron James recorded 38 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 116-108 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 3 of their Western Conference first-round series.
Anthony Davis scored 23 of his 29 points in the second half on Saturday and finished with 11 rebounds, eight assists and three blocked shots as Los Angeles took a 2-1 lead in the best-ofseven series ahead of Monday’s Game 4. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 13 points, and Alex Caruso added 10 points and seven assists.
Portland star Damian Lillard contributed 34 points and seven assists while playing with a dislocated left index finger. CJ McCollum registered 28 points and eight rebounds, Carmelo Anthony had 20 points and four steals and Jusuf Nurkic added 10 points.
Lillard made 5 of 11 shots from three-point range and was 8 of 20 overall but made just 2 of 9 field-goal attempts in the second half. The Trail Blazers connected on 41.1% of their shots and were 12 of 35 from threepoint range.
Oklahoma City Thunder 119 Houston Rockets 107 (OT): Chris Paul drilled a three-point heave as part of a 12-0 run to open overtime, and Oklahoma City beat Houston in Game 3 of a Western Conference first-round series.
Paul finished with 26 points, six rebounds and five assists, as a threeguard lineup worked wonders for Oklahoma City, who now trail the series 2-1 with Game 4 set for Monday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists, while Dennis Schroder scored a teamhigh 29 points off the bench along with five rebounds and five assists.
James Harden posted a game-high 38 points, seven rebounds and eight assists with just one turnover but fouled out for the first time this season when he picked up his sixth foul with 4:07 left in overtime.
Miami Heat 124 Indiana Pacers 115: Bam Adebayo had a hoop, two offensive rebounds and three free throws down the stretch as Miami staved off an Indiana rally to take a commanding 3-0 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.
Jimmy Butler finished with a teamhigh 27 points, including 17-for-20 from the free-throw line, for the Heat, who outscored the Pacers 43-21 from the stripe, getting 24 more opportunities. Goran Dragic chipped in with 24 points and a team-high six assists, and Adebayo compiled a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds for Miami.
Milwaukee Bucks 121 Orlando Magic 107: Giannis Antetokounmpo notched 35 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists to lead Milwaukee to a dominant victory over Orlando to take a 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series. Game 4 is Monday.
Antetokounmpo, the favourite to repeat as the league’s MVP, made his first eight shots and finished 12 of 14 from the floor. He finally received help from fellow All-Star Khris Middleton, who finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists after struggling from the field in the series’ first two games. — Reuters