The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
NBA PLAYOFFS DEROZAN HELPS RAPTORS EVEN SERIES 2-2
Clippers’ Griffin lost for postseason with injured toe.
DeMar DeRozan scored 33 points, and the Toronto Raptors beat the Milwaukee Bucks 87-76 in a defensive slugfest on Saturday to tie their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series at two games apiece.
Kyle Lowry had 14 of his 18 points in the second half for the Raptors, who turned up their intensity after getting embarrassed in a 27-point loss to Milwaukee in Game 3.
Toronto’s backcourt reverted to its playmaking form, especially the resurgent DeRozan. He was 12 of 22 from the field after missing all eight of his attempts in Game 3.
The Raptors seized homecourt advantage back in the best-of-seven series. Game 5 is Monday at the Air Canada Centre.
Grizzlies 110, Spurs 108 (OT): Marc Gasol hit a 12-foot floater with 0.7 seconds left in overtime as host Memphis evened its first-round series against San Antonio at 2-2.
The Grizzlies won despite blowing a 10-point lead with 7:38 left in regulation and 23 turnovers that San Antonio turned into 31 points.
Mike Conley set a franchise postseason record with 35 points, and Gasol finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
The Grizzlies overcame another postseason personal best from Kawhi Leonard, who had 43 points. He rallied the Spurs by scoring the last 16 points of regulation.
Game 5 is Tuesday night in San Antonio.
Hawks 116, Wizards 98: Paul Millsap scored 29 points and Dennis Schroder had 27 as Atlanta rolled past Washington and cut its deficit to 2-1 in the opening-round series.
After two tight losses in Washington, Atlanta returned home and built a 25-point lead late in the first quarter.
The Wizards were essentially a one-man team. John Wall kept up his dazzling play in the series, scoring 29 points.
Millsap also had 14 rebounds.
Game 4 is Monday night in Atlanta.
Clippers: Forward Blake Griffin is out for the remainder of the playoffs with a toe injury sustained in Friday night’s 111-106 win against the Utah Jazz.
The five-time All-Star was diagnosed with an injury to the plantar plate of his right big toe. Griffin left Game 3 in the second quarter with what the team said at the time was a bruised toe.
Griffin’s injury marks another bad playoff break for the franchise.
Griffin and point guard Chris Paul were lost to injuries last year, and the Clippers blew a 3-1 series lead against Houston in 2015.
Rockets: The NBA reportedly is investigating an incident between guard Patrick Beverley and an Oklahoma City fan. The incident occurred Friday night during the Thunder’s 115-113 victory. Video shows Beverley falling in front of the fan in the first half, then getting up and pointing at him before teammate Nene redirects him. Beverley exchanged words with the fan after the game.