NBA Playoffs: Pacers Square Series With Raptors At 2-2; Hornets Cut Into Heat Series Lead After Home Win; Blazers Do Same To Clippers

The opening round of the NBA Playoffs continued with four games on Saturday.

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

At Indianapolis:

George Hill and Ian Mahinmi e(who grabbed ten rebounds) each scored 22 points as the Indiana Pacers leveled their conference quarterfinal series with the Toronto Raptors at two games apiece following their 100-83 game-four home victory.

Paul George added to the Pacers' coffers with 19 points.

At Charlotte, North Carolina:

Jeremy Lin scored 18 points as the Charlotte Hornets downed the visiting Miami Heat 96-80 to cut the guests' conference quarterfinal series lead to two games to one.  This marked the first playoff game victory for a Charlotte NBA club since 2002, just prior to the original Hornets' move to New Orleans.  The current Charlotte organization began play as the Bobcats in 2004 and were renamed the Hornets in 2014 (one year after the New Orleans franchise had been renamed the Pelicans), and had gone 0-10 in playoff games (0-12 counting the final two games of the original Hornets' final playoff series) prior to Saturday.

When the Bobcats were renamed two years ago, they inherited the original club's records from 1988-2002.


WESTERN CONFERENCE:

At Dallas:

Russell Westbrook scored 25 points and dished out 15 assists as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Dallas Mavericks 119-108 in game four of their conference quarterfinal series.  Enes Kanter added 28 points on 12-of-13 shooting from the field to the Thunder's coffers while Kevin Durant added 19 points before he was ejected.

Dirk Nowitski scored 27 points to pace the Mavericks while grabbing eigth rebounds.

The Thunder can close out the series, which they lead three games to one, on Monday night back home in game five in Oklahoma City.

At Portland, Oregon:

Damian Lillard scored 32 points as the Portland Trail Blazers cut into the Los Angeles Clippers' conference-quarterfinal series lead to two games to one following their 96-88 game-three home win.  C.J. McCallum added 27 points to the Blazers' coffers.

Chris Paul topped the Clippers with 26 points.