THUNDER REACHES WEST SEMIFINALS
oklahoma city» Russell Westbrook had 36 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists, and the Thunder beat the Mavericks 118-104 on Monday night to win the first-round playoff series 4-1 and advance to the Western Conference semifinals.
Westbrook was 13-of-23 from the field and 7-of-8 on free throws. Kevin Durant scored 33 points and Steven Adams added 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder, which will play the Spurs in a series that begins Saturday.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 24 points, Justin Anderson had 14 and Zaza Pachulia added 12 points, nine assists and seven rebounds for the Mavericks, who were hampered by injuries throughout the series.
Oklahoma City lost Game 2 85-84 at home, then won three straight, including two on the road.
Westbrook scored 13 points in the first quarter to help the Thunder take a 35-24 lead. The Mavericks closed to 57-55 in the second quarter, but Oklahoma City finished the half strong to lead 68-61 at the break.
Durant scored 20 points in the first half. Nowitzki scored 17 and Pachulia added 12 points, seven assists and five rebounds in the first half.
A 3-pointer by Westbrook late in the third quarter put the Thunder ahead 93-79, and Oklahoma City took a 93-83 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Mavericks trimmed it to 107-103 with 4:08 left before the Thunder pulled away. Durant hit a fadeaway and was fouled by Nowitzki, who was then called for a technical. Durant made both free throws to put Oklahoma City up 113-103 with 2:49 to play.
Hornets 89, Heat 85 B charlotte, n.c.» Kemba Walker scored a playoff careerhigh 34 points, Jeremy Lin added 21 and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Miami Heat 89-85 on Monday night to even their first-round series at 2-2.
Walker scored 11 straight Charlotte points in the fourth quarter after Miami had cut the lead to two with 6:07 left. Courtney Lee sank two free throws with 4.6 seconds left after being fouled on an offensive rebound to seal the win.
Lee finished with 11 points and helped hold Dwyane Wade to 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting.
“We fought so hard tonight,” Lin said. “Up 18 and then all of a sudden up one. We put everything out there, and I’m glad we got the win.”
Game 5 is Wednesday night in Miami.