Spurs Sweep, NBA Roundup

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Published on April 25 2016 6:48 am
Last Updated on April 25 2016 6:48 am

The San Antonio Spurs have swept their way into the Western Conference semifinals after an almost perfunctory, yet very physical test from the most injury-depleted team ever in the NBA playoffs.

Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points as the Spurs routed the Memphis Grizzlies 116-95 on Sunday, sweeping the best-of-seven first-round series.

"It wasn't a fair fight," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of playing a team that set an NBA record with 28 Grizzlies playing this season. "Whoever was available came out and played, and they executed to the best of their ability. They played with a lot of heart and a lot of fortitude."

The Spurs finished off their ninth sweep of a postseason series in franchise history, their third against the Grizzlies. San Antonio also swept Memphis in the 2004 first round and the 2013 Western Conference finals.

"They play very physical, so it's a good test for the next round," Spurs guard Tony Parker said.

The only thing that delayed the Spurs advancing was a power surge that knocked out the lights, stopping the game for about 20 minutes in the second quarter.

San Antonio now awaits the winner of Oklahoma City-Dallas, a best-of-seven series that the Thunder lead 3-1.


Warriors 121, Rockets 94

Stephen Curry sat on the bench with his head in his hands, facing another injury that could derail Golden State's playoff run.

The Warriors felt bad for the reigning MVP, but instead of sulking about their misfortune, they responded with a huge third quarter to pull away from the Houston Rockets and cruise to a 121-94 victory Sunday that gave them a 3-1 lead in the first-round playoff series.

"When you have a team that is as together as ours is and cares about each other like ours does, you tend to pick up the fight a little bit," coach Steve Kerr said. "Our guys sensed that we needed to come together."

Soon after half of the vaunted Splash Brothers dejectedly limped to the locker room, the other one kept the 3-pointers raining down. Klay Thompson made four of his seven 3s in the third as the Warriors made a franchise playoff-record eight in that quarter en route to an NBA playoff-record 21.

"Let's not fool ourselves: When you hit the shots we're hitting, things are going to go your way," Draymond Green said.

James Harden was disgusted with Houston's play in the third quarter.

"Terrible way, terrible way, terrible way to lose ... just a terrible quarter, and that's what gave the game away," Harden said.


Celtics 104, Hawks 95

Isaiah Thomas' preschool sons, James and Jaiden, did their best to sit quietly during his postgame news conference on Sunday, before the elder tyke leaned over the microphone and said, "My daddy ... is the best basketball player."

Well, he is the biggest reason the Boston Celtics have tied their playoff series with the Atlanta Hawks at two games apiece, at least.

One game after scoring a career-high 42 points -- and one day after escaping suspension for taking a swipe at Atlanta's Dennis Schroder -- Thomas scored 28, including the last five of overtime to lead Boston to a 104-95 victory in Game 4 of the best-of-seven series.

Game 5 is Tuesday in Atlanta.

Paul Millsap scored 45 for the Hawks -- a career playoff high and one off his all-time best -- and added 13 rebounds. The Hawks were 0-5 in overtime in the regular season and have not won an overtime game in more than two years.

Marcus Smart scored 20, including 11 straight points for Boston in the fourth quarter. He held Millsap to just two baskets in the final nine minutes of regulation and none in overtime.


Cavaliers 100, Pistons 98

Kyrie Irving made big shots, defended tenaciously and then waved goodbye to the Detroit fans.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are moving on to the second round -- and they're looking like a pretty complete team.

Irving scored 20 of his 31 points in the second half, and the Cavs finished a four-game sweep of the Pistons by holding on for a 100-98 victory on Sunday. Irving scored 110 points in the series, easily the most on the team.

"For our team, it doesn't matter who is the leading scorer or anything. We just want to get wins," LeBron James said. "But the fact that he was in such a great groove, just throughout this whole series, we rode his coattails, we rode [Kevin Love], and I was able to focus on some other things, especially my rebounding, get guys involved -- defensively, just try to lock in on my individual matchup."

James had 22 points, but it was Irving who made the biggest shots. His midcourt buzzer-beater put the Cavs up 81-78 after the third quarter, and with Cleveland clinging to a one-point lead in the final minute, he sank a 3-pointer from the right wing with 42 seconds remaining and then walked over to the bench, calm as could be.


Sunday, April 24 Scoreboard

San Antonio 116, Memphis 95

WESTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 4

Golden State 121, Houston 94

WESTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 4
    
Boston 104, Atlanta 95 (OT)

EASTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 4

Cleveland 100, Detroit 98

EASTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 4


Monday, April 25 Schedule (All Times Central)

Miami at Charlotte, 6 p.m.

EASTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 4

Dallas at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.

WESTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 5

Los Angeles at Portland, 9:30 p.m.

WESTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 4


Tuesday, April 26 Schedule (All Times Central)

Indiana at Toronto, 5 p.m.

EASTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 5

Boston at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.

EASTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 5


Wednesday, April 27 Schedule (All Times Central)

Charlotte at Miami, 7 p.m.

EASTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 5

Portland at Los Angeles, 9 p.m.

WESTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 5

Houston at Golden State, 9:30 p.m.

WESTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 5