NBA Playoffs: Rockets Close Out Wolves; Cavs, Raptors Take 3-2 Series Leads; OKC Forces Game Six In SLC

The NBA Playoffs continued on Wednesday with four games.

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

At Toronto:

DeMar DeRozan scored 32 points as the Toronto Raptors defeated the visiting Washington Wizards 108-98 in the fifth game of their conference quarterfinal series.

John Wall, who grabbed nine rebounds, led the Wizards with 26 points while Bradley Beal added 20..

The Raptors, who lead the series three games to two, can close out the Wizards with a game-six win in Washington on Friday (4:00 PM Pacific Time, NBA TV).

At Cleveland:

LeBron James, who scored 44 points and grabbed ten rebounds, delivered the game-winning three-point basket as time expired, enabling the Cleveland Cavaliers to defeat the visiting Indiana Pacers 98-95 in game five of their first-round series.

Domantas Sabonis scored 22 to pace the Pacers.

The Cavaliers, who have a three-games-to-two series lead, can advance with a game-six win in Indianapolis on Friday (5:00 PM Pacific Time, ESPN).


WESTERN CONFERENCE:

At Houston:

Chris Capela scored 26 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as the Houston Rockets finished off the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 122-104 game-five home victory, winning their conference quarterfinal series four games to one.

James Harden added 24 points to the Rockets' coffers while dishing out 12 assists.

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 23 points to top the Wolves while grabbing 14 rebounds.  Jamal Crawford added 20 points to the Minnesota cause.

The Rockets will have home-court advantage in their conference semifinal series against the Utah-Oklahoma City winner.

At Oklahoma City:

Russell Westbrook scored 45 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and dished out eight assists as the Oklahoma City Thunder, who trailed by as many as 25 points, avoided elimination by defeating the visiting Utah Jazz 107-99 in game five of their opening-round series.

Paul George added 34 points and eight rebounds to the Thunder's coffers.

Jae Crowder scored 27 points while Donovan Mitchell added 23 to top the Jazz, who still lead the series three games to two and who can advance with a game-six win on Friday in Salt Lake City (7:30 PM Pacific Time, ESPN).