Raptors, Hawks Advance in NBA Playoffs

Print

Published on April 27 2016 6:24 am
Last Updated on April 27 2016 6:24 am

DeMar DeRozan finally turned in the All-Star effort Toronto has been waiting for in the playoffs.

DeRozan's big game, and an even bigger Raptors comeback, put Toronto on the brink of a second-round berth.

DeRozan scored 34 points and the Raptors held on for a 102-99 victory over the Indiana Pacers and a 3-2 lead in their first-round series Tuesday night when Solomon Hill's 3-pointer was ruled after the buzzer.

"I just felt like my normal self," said DeRozan, who came in shooting 29.6 percent (21 for 71) over the first four games of the series but connected on 10 of 22 shots in this one.

"It's all about patience," DeRozan added. "You can't get flustered, you can't get frustrated. You've got to stay the course. That's what we're going to continue to do."

The Raptors overcame 39 points from Paul George and a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter, getting 14 points from Kyle Lowry.

Bismack Biyombo had 10 points and 16 rebounds for the second-seeded Raptors, who can clinch the first seven-game playoff series victory in franchise history by beating the Pacers in Indiana on Friday night.

"If we don't come in (Friday) with the mentality like we had in the fourth quarter, it's going to be a long game," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said.

George Hill had 15 points and Myles Turner 14 for the Pacers, who led by as many as 17 and never trailed through the first three quarters before coming unglued in the fourth.

"It's awful to have had a chance to win on the road, go up 3-2, and come back home," George said. "Once again, we failed to live up to that moment."

Jonas Valanciunas scored 11 and rookie Norman Powell had 10 for Toronto.


Hawks 110, Celtics 83

Talk about a stunning turnaround. The Atlanta Hawks couldn't make anything. Then, suddenly, they couldn't miss.

Kent Bazemore got the Hawks rolling with three straight 3-pointers in the second quarter, letting out a scream after the last one dropped through, and Atlanta reclaimed the upper hand in its playoff series against the Boston Celtics with a 110-83 rout Tuesday night.

The Hawks had 19 points midway through the second quarter. Over the next 1 1/2 quarters, they poured in 70 on the stunned Celtics, the scoreboard looking more like a slot machine.

Asked whether he had ever seen such a tale of two games, Kyle Korver shook his head and said, "Not in the playoffs, for sure. That's quite the turnaround."

After losing two straight on the road, the Hawks moved ahead 3-2 in the series and could close it out Thursday night in Boston.

If Game 7 is needed, it would be Saturday in Atlanta.


Tuesday, April 26 Scoreboard
    
Toronto 102, Indiana 99

EASTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 5
    
Atlanta 110, Boston 83

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


Thursday, April 28 Schedule (All Times Central)

Atlanta at Boston, 7 p.m.

EASTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 6