Nuggets even series vs Clippers

Raptors tie Celtics at 2-2 in series

JAMAL MURRAY scored 27 points and Nikola Jokic had 26 points and 18 rebounds, leading the Denver Nuggets to a 110-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal on Saturday at the nearby bubble. from Orlando.

Paul Millsap and Gary Harris added 13 points each for the Nuggets, who tied the series by one game each. Michael Porter Jr. had 11 points and seven rebounds.

Paul George had 22 points and eight rebounds and Ivica Zubac had 15 points and nine rebounds for Los Angeles. Kawhi Leonard had a below-average performance with 13 points on 4-of-17 shooting, his lowest outing of the playoffs. Lou Williams also scored 13, while JaMychal Green contributed 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers.

After trailing by double digits for much of the game, Los Angeles moved closer to 91-86 after George’s 3-pointer with 8:36 left. However, a Jokic basket, consecutive 3-pointers by Harris and two free kicks by Jerami Grant increased the lead to 101-86 more than three minutes later.

A Williams layup cut the margin to 104-96, but Harris nailed a 3-pointer with 1:37 remaining to increase the lead to 11. The Clippers got within eight again, but two techniques on Patrick Beverley, who was sent off, allowed the Nuggets to clinch the victory with free throws.

The Nuggets reached a 44-25 lead after a quarter behind Jokic’s 15 points. They shot 70.8% from the ground and made seven of 11 triples. Jokic made all three of his 3-point attempts.

Although Denver, which held a 23-point lead in the first half, cooled down in the second quarter, it managed to take a 72-56 lead at halftime. Jokic had 24 points in the first half as the Nuggets out-shooting the Clippers 56% to 47.7%.

For the game, the Nuggets made 45.1% of their shots against 40.9% of the Clippers.

RAPTORS KNOT UP SERIES
Pascal Siakam scored 23 points, series-best, Kyle Lowry added 22, and the Toronto Raptors tied their Eastern Conference semifinal series at best-of-seven with a 100-93 win over the Boston Celtics on Saturday night close. from Orlando.

Serge Ibaka scored 18 points and Fred VanVleet scored 17 as the Raptors tied the series after falling behind 2-0. Siakam and Lowry each had double-doubles with 11 rebounds each.

Jayson Tatum had 24 points and Kemba Walker 15 for the Celtics, who lost their second straight game after six straight wins to start the playoffs.

Siakam, Lowry and VanVleet each played north of 40 minutes for Toronto, while Tatum, Walker and Marcus Smart did the same for Boston.

Shooting 28.3% from 3-point range during the first three games, the Raptors were 17 of 44 (38.6%) from deep within the win. By contrast, the Celtics had only seven of their 35 such opportunities (20.0%).

A Lowry 3-pointer gave Toronto an 85-75 lead with 10:53 remaining in the fourth quarter. Boston came within five, 91-86, on a 3-pointer by Jaylen Brown, his first hit from deep in 10 chances.

Lowry responded with a three and the Raptors led 94-86 with 4:44 to play. Toronto was 98-87 on two free throws by Lowry with 2:20 left and held on.

Tied at halftime, the Raptors started third with a 14-7 run for a 63-56 lead. The Celtics were within four, 70-66, with 2:40 left before VanVleet hit a pair of three around an Ibaka 3-pointer during a 9-2 streak for the game’s first double-digit lead, 79 -68.

The Raptors led from 6:48 in the first quarter until the Celtics tied at 40 on a three-point smart play with 4:13 left at the half. Boston took its first lead of the game, 46-44, on a pair of free throws by Semi Ojeleye with 2:11 left. – Reuters