Friday, April 29, 2016

NBA Playoffs: Blazers Finish Off Clippers, Get Warriors Next; Pacers, Heat Force Game Sevens

Three games were contested on Friday as the NBA Playoffs' opening round continued.

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

At Indianapolis:

Paul George scored 21 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and dished out six assists as the Indiana Pacers leveled their conference quarterfinal series with the Toronto Raptors at three games apiece after their 101-83 game-six home domination.

The series will conclude in Toronto on Sunday.  The Raptors are trying to win a playoff series for the first time since 2001.

At Charlotte, North Carolina:

Dwyane Wade scored 23 points (10 in the fourth quarter) while Luol Deng added 21 as the Miami Heat overcame a 37-point performance from Charlotte's Kemba Walker and knocked off the Hornets 97-90 on the road in game six of their conference quarterfinal series, which is now squared at three games apiece as the Hornets blew a chance to win a playoff series for the first time in the current organization's history (and a first for a Charlotte NBA franchise since the original Hornets did it in 2002).

The series finale is set for Sunday in Miami.



WESTERN CONFERENCE:

Damian Lillard scored 28 points while C.J. McCollum added 20 as the Portland Trail Blazers held off the visiting Los Angeles Clippers 106-103 in game six and won their conference quarterfinal series four games to two.

Jamal Crawford led the gritty injury-savaged Clippers with 32 points.

The Blazers will open their conference semifinal series with the defending champs Golden State Warriors in Oakland on Sunday.

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