By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Dirk Nowitzki was great but not enough for the Mavericks, the Hornets bounced back despite a big game by Luol Deng and the Blazers responded against the Clippers.
In Dallas, Russell Westbrook had 25 points and 15 assists, Kevin Durant added 19 points in a quiet game before he was thrown out following a flagrant foul in the final minute and the Thunder beat the Dallas Mavericks 119-108 on Saturday for a 3-1 series lead. Turkish center Enes Kanter had his second straight playoff career high with 28 points on 12-of-13 shooting for the Thunder, who never trailed in two games in Dallas and Spaniard Serge Ibaka added 16 points and 5 rebounds. Dirk Nowitzki had 27 points and eight rebounds for the Mavericks, while Georgian Zaza Pachulia added 9 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists. Dallas hasn’t won a playoff series since winning the 2011 NBA title.
Jeremy Lin had 18 points, Frank Kaminsky scored nine of his 15 points during an 18-0 run in the third quarter that broke open a tie game as the Hornets beat the Heat 96-80 on Saturday night to snap a 12-game playoff losing streak and earn their first postseason victory in 14 years. British star Luol Deng scored 19 points on five 3-pointers for the Heat and Slovenian Goran Dragic added 11 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Hornets’ Frenchman Nicolas Batum missed the game due to his ankle injury.
In Portlant Damian Lillard finished with 32 points and Portland rediscovered its offense at home, beating the Los Angeles Clippers 96-88 on Saturday night to pull within 2-1 in the Western Conference first-round series.