Heat draw even with Pacers
INDIANAPOLIS — LeBron James scored 40 points, superstar sidekick Dwyane Wade added 30 — 22 in the second half — and Miami’s dynamic duo took over after halftime to bring the Heat even in the series with a 101-93 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinal Sunday.
With Chris Bosh injured, James and Wade saved the Heat. James was at his MVP best, adding 18 rebounds and nine assists and refusing to let Miami’s season slip away. Wade rebounded from the worst playoff game of his career, shaking off a 1-of-8 shooting start and adding nine rebounds and six assists.
Udonis Haslem, playing with a large bandage covering a nasty cut over his right eye that required nine stitches, added 14 points for Miami. Danny Granger led the Pacers with 20 points.
Game 5 is Tuesday night in Miami.
Spurs 102, Clippers 99
LOS ANGELES — Tim Duncan scored 21 points, Tony Parker added 17 and San Antonio rallied to beat Los Angeles, closing out the series 4-0 and advancing to the Western Conference finals.
The Spurs extended their winning streak to 18 games and their playoff record to 8-0, tying the third-best postseason streak in franchise history.
Danny Green and Gary Neal added 14 points each, and Manu Ginobili and Thiago Splitter had 11 each for the Spurs. San Antonio could find out as soon as Monday night who it will play next. Oklahoma City leads the Lakers 3-1 in their series, with Game 5 on Monday.
Chris Paul had 23 points and 11 assists, Blake Griffin added 21 points, and Eric Bledsoe had 17 for Los Angeles. The Clippers blew a six-point lead in the fourth quarter.
Thunder 103, Lakers 100
LOS ANGELES — Russell Westbrook scored 10 of his 37 points during a stirring fourth-quarter comeback, Kevin Durant added 31 points and hit the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 13.7 seconds left, and the Oklahoma City Thunder seized control of the second-round series with a 103-100 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 on Saturday night.
Serge Ibaka scored 14 points for the second-seeded Thunder, who took a 3-1 series lead and moved to the brink of their second straight trip to the Western Conference finals.
Oklahoma City improved to 7-1 in the postseason with a tenacious rally on the second night of back-to-back games against the Lakers and Kobe Bryant, who scored 38 points in Los Angeles’ fifth loss in seven games overall.
The Thunder finished Game 4 on a 22-8 run, punctuated by Durant’s 3-pointer and two late free throws from James Harden, who had 12 points.
Game 5 is Monday night in Oklahoma City.
