Durant beats buzzer, Mavericks
OKLAHOMA CITY — Kevin Durant scored 25 points and hit the game- winning jumper from the foul line with 1.5 seconds left to lift the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 99- 98 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night in Game 1 of their first- round playoff series.
Durant maneuvered to the free throw line and got off a high- arcing shot that hit off the front of the rim and then off the backboard before falling through.
The defending NBA champion Mavericks, who were out of timeouts, could not get a shot off before the buzzer.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 11 of his 25 points in the final 5 minutes and hit two free throws with 9 seconds left to put Dallas ahead.
Russell Westbrook led the Thunder with 28 points.
Magic 81, Pacers 77
INDIANAPOLIS — Don’t count the Orlando Magic out just yet.
Jason Richardson and Jameer Nelson scored 17 points apiece to help sixth- seeded Orlando, playing without Dwight Howard, surprise the third- seeded Indiana Pacers 81- 77 in Game 1 of the first- round Eastern Conference playoff series on Saturday night.
Howard, the Magic’s leading scorer and the league’s top rebounder, will miss the rest of the season after having back surgery. The Magic played defense Howard would have been proud of down the stretch, overcoming a seven- point deficit by holding the Pacers scoreless for the final 4: 05.
David West scored 19 points, Danny Granger added 17 and Roy Hibbert had eight points, 13 rebounds and nine blocks for the Pacers. Granger traveled with 7.5 seconds left and the Pacers trailing by three.