Mavs stayin' alive
TweetTHE Mavericks dug deep today to give their home crowd something to cheer about as they beat Houston 121-109 in their NBA Western Conference first round series.
Already leading 3-0 - a deficit from which no team has recovered - the Rockets opened strongly in Dallas with a 34-point first quarter.
Dallas hit back with a 36-point second period to erase a 12-point deficit, Monta Ellis with 31 points and J.J. Barea with 17 and 13 assists.
James Harden led Houston with 24 points, the Rockets capable of closing out the series at home on Wednesday. But they will have to shoot better than from late in the second period and into the third when they missed 17 consecutive shot attempts.
The Clippers stole back home-court advantage by levelling their series with San Antonio at 2-2 with a 114-105 road win.
Los Angeles playmaker Chris Paul was sensational with 34 points and seven assists in the best playoff performance of his career.
Blake Griffin paired 20 points with 19 rebounds, Austin Rivers providing an unexpected boost off the bench with a postseason career-high 16 points.
JOE INGLES, IN HIS OWN WORDS - http://bit.ly/1J2xYZA
Game 5 of the only level series is on Wednesday in LA.
Kawhi Leonard scored 26 points, Tim Duncan had 22 points and 10 rebounds and Tony Parker added 18 points, but Paul proved too much.
In the Eastern Conference, Cleveland completed a 4-0 sweep of the Celtics in Boston where the temperature rose appreciably after Kevin Love left the game with a shoulder injury.
LeBron James scored 27 points, Love leaving the court in the first quarter with a dislocated left shoulder.
J.R. Smith was ejected for swinging his arm at Jae Crowder, the Cavs with some time for Love to recover while they await the winner of the Chicago-Milwaukee series, the Bulls ahead 3-1.
Washington comprehensively swept the Raptors 125-94, Bradley Beal with 23 points and a 21-point, 11-rebound double from Marcin Gortat.
The Wizards face No. 1 seed Atlanta or No. 8 Brooklyn in the next round.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Washington 93, Toronto 86, OT
Washington 117, Toronto 106
Washington 106, Toronto 99
Washington 125, Toronto 94
Washington wins series 4-0
Chicago 103, Milwaukee 91
Chicago 91, Milwaukee 82
Chicago 113, Milwaukee 106, 2OT
Milwaukee 92, Chicago 90
Chicago leads series 3-1
Cleveland 113, Boston 100
Cleveland 99, Boston 91
Cleveland 103, Boston 95
Cleveland 101, Boston 93
Cleveland wins series 4-0
Atlanta 99, Brooklyn 92
Atlanta 96, Brooklyn 91
Brooklyn 91, Atlanta 83
Atlanta leads series 2-1
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Golden State 106, New Orleans 99
Golden State 97, New Orleans 87
Golden State 123, New Orleans 119, OT
Golden State 109, New Orleans 98
Golden State wins series 4-0
Houston 118, Dallas 108
Houston 111, Dallas 99
Houston 130, Dallas 128
Dallas 121, Houston 109
Houston leads series 3-1
Memphis 100, Portland 86
Memphis 97, Portland 82
Memphis 115, Portland 109
Memphis leads series 3-0
L.A. Clippers 107, San Antonio 92
San Antonio 111, L.A. Clippers 107, OT
San Antonio 100, L.A. Clippers 73
L.A. Clippers 114, San Antonio 105
Series tied 2-2
Tomorrow (Aus time)
Atlanta at Brooklyn
Milwaukee at Chicago
Memphis at Portland
Wednesday
Dallas at Houston
San Antonio at L.A. Clippers
Thursday
Brooklyn at Atlanta
Portland at Memphis
Friday
x-Chicago at Milwaukee
x-Houston at Dallas
L.A. Clippers at San Antonio
Saturday
x-Atlanta at Brooklyn
x-Memphis at Portland
Sunday
x-Milwaukee at Chicago
x-Dallas at Houston
x-San Antonio at L.A. Clippers
Monday
x-Brooklyn at Atlanta
x-Portland at Memphis
(x-if required)