Hornets, Thunder, Blazers Win in NBA Playoffs

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Published on April 26 2016 6:29 am
Last Updated on April 26 2016 6:30 am

Steve Clifford has seen that look in Kemba Walker's eye. It tells the Charlotte coach to just give the point guard the ball and let him go. Walker responded, like he's done so many times before.

Walker had 11 straight Charlotte points during a crucial stretch midway through the fourth quarter and finished with a playoff career-high 34 points to lead the Hornets to an 89-85 victory over the Miami Heat on Monday night, evening the first-round series at 2-2.

"He's so confident late in games that he will make the play," Clifford said.

The smallest player on the floor at 6-foot-1, Walker finished 13 of 28 from the field.

"Throughout my career I have made big plays -- that is what I'm known for," Walker said. "Tonight was a good example of it."

Jeremy Lin finished with 21 points and Courtney Lee sank two free throws with 4.6 seconds left to seal the win after being fouled on an offensive rebound.


Thunder 118, Mavericks 104

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said the Thunder's Russell Westbrook is an All-Star but not a superstar. Westbrook gave him plenty of reasons to reconsider.

He had 36 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists, and the Thunder beat the Mavericks 118-104 on Monday night to win the first-round playoff series 4-1 and advance to the Western Conference semifinals.

Cuban also said during the pregame interview that Kevin Durant was the only superstar on the team. Westbrook was asked after the game about Cuban's comments, and Durant answered for him.

"He's an idiot," Durant said of Cuban. "He's an idiot. Don't listen to -- he's an idiot. That's what we've got to say about that. He's an idiot. Next question."

Westbrook was 13-of-23 from the field and 7-of-8 on free throws. Durant scored 33 points, and Steven Adams added 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder, who will play the San Antonio Spurs in a series that begins Saturday.

Oklahoma City shot 50.6 percent from the field and outrebounded the Mavericks 42-35.

The Thunder lost Game 2 85-84 at home, then won three straight, including two on the road.


Blazers 98, Clippers 84

As the Blazers celebrated, the Los Angeles Clippers' locker room was somber.

Chris Paul has a broken hand, Blake Griffin is battling more trouble with his quad, and a series that was going Los Angeles' way is now all even.

Al-Farouq Aminu scored a career-high 30 points and Portland pulled away after Paul left with a broken bone in his right hand, beating the Clippers 98-84 on Monday night to tie their series at two games apiece.

"It changes a lot," Blazers guard Damian Lillard said. "Their best player goes down. The guy who makes their offense go. It's unfortunate. You don't wish that on anybody, but they still have a really good team."

Paul left in the third quarter. Then Griffin aggravated the left quad injury that had plagued him during the regular season. Both players will be re-evaluated on Tuesday in Los Angeles. Game 5 is set for Wednesday.

C.J. McCollum added 19 points for the Blazers, while Mason Plumlee had 14 rebounds and 10 assists.

It was not clear how Paul was hurt, although his wrist appeared to bend back when he guarded Portland's Gerald Henderson on a layup. Paul had 16 points when he went to the bench clutching his hand. He kicked a seat cushion on the floor as he left for the locker room.

 

Monday, April 25 Scoreboard

Charlotte 89, Miami 85

EASTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 4
    
Oklahoma City 118, Dallas 104

WESTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 5
    
Portland 98, Los Angeles Clippers 84

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