Jeremy Lin scored 18 points to lead a balanced Charlotte attack on Saturday as the Hornets beat the Miami Heat 96-80 for their first NBA playoff victory in 14 years.
After two deflating defeats in Miami, the Hornets fed off their home crowd to trim the deficit in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series to 2-1.
In the late game on Saturday, Damian Lillard scored a game-high 32 points as the Portland Trail Blazers beat Los Angeles 96-88 to cut the Clippers lead in the series to 2-1.
Photo: AP
The Hornets led by five points at halftime and held the Heat scoreless for almost seven minutes in an 18-0 scoring run in the third quarter that built their lead to 71-53.
The cushion grew to as many as 24 points in the fourth quarter as six Charlotte players finished in double figures.
It was a complete reversal from the Heat’s 106-80 home win in Game 1 and a 115-103 win in Game 2.
“Our intensity, our defense, our communication was so much better,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. “So it’s a good win, and if we can come back and play better in some areas Monday night, it’ll give us a chance to tie the series.”
Kemba Walker contributed 17 points and rookie Frank Kaminsky, part of yet another new starting lineup from coach Steve Clifford, added 15.
Marvin Williams notched a double-double of 12 points and 14 rebounds as the Hornets set a club post-season record for the fewest turnovers with four.
The Heat, who combined to shoot 57.8 percent in winning two games in Miami, hit 10 of their first 15 shots, but then struggled to find the basket.
They missed nine straight attempts during Charlotte’s 18-0 run, connecting on 34.2 percent from the field for the game.
Luo Deng led the Heat with 19 points. Dwayne Wade scored 17, while Hassan Whiteside added 13 points and 18 rebounds for the Heat, who will try to rebound on the road in Game 4 today.
Meanwhile, the Michael Jordan-owned Hornets will be trying to build on the momentum of their first post-season win since they reached the Eastern Conference semi-finals in the 2001-2002 season.
They had been swept in two playoff series since.
“This is best of seven,” Deng said. “We knew at some point they’d have a good game. It wasn’t going to be one of those where you keep them quiet the whole series. They’re good players and they responded.”
In Dallas, the Oklahoma City Thunder moved another step closer to reaching the second round of the playoffs with a wire-to-wire 119-108 win over the Mavericks.
Oklahoma City have not trailed since their Game 2 loss and they now have a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series with Game 5 set for today.
History is against a Dallas comeback in the series as only nine teams in the NBA have rallied to win a best-of-seven playoff series after trailing 3-1.
Russell Westbrook had 25 points and 15 assists, while Kevin Durant finished with 19 points.
The game got physical when Durant was ejected with less than a minute left after the officials called him for a “flagrant” foul.
Durant had been trying to block a shot by Mavs guard Justin Anderson, but hit the top of the rookie’s head instead of the ball.
“I texted him and told him I wasn’t trying to hurt him,” Durant said.
In Indianapolis, Indiana, French center Ian Mahinmi scored 22 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and handed out five assists to help the Indiana Pacers to a 100-83 series-tying win over the Toronto Raptors.
George Hill added 22 points for the Pacers, who knotted the Eastern Conference set at 2-2.
“Everybody has to be a scoring option for us and today they were,” said Paul George, who scored 19 points for the Pacers. “Ian played amazing. You don’t expect 22, 10 and five from him.”
“Guys responded to our loss in Game 3, the ball moved and we made shots,” George said.
US President Donald Trump’s granddaughter, Kai Trump, is poised to make her LPGA Tour debut after receiving a sponsor invitation on Tuesday to the Nov. 13 to 16 tournament at Pelican Golf Club in Florida. “My dream has been to compete with the best in the world on the LPGA Tour,” Kai Trump said in a statement posted on the LPGA’s Web site. “This event will be an incredible experience,” she said. “I look forward [to] meeting and competing against so many of my heroes and mentors in golf as I make my LPGA Tour debut.” The 18-year-old high-school senior,
REACTION: Less than 24 hours after a 18-inning Game 3 loss, the Blue Jays’ win ensured that the best-of-seven series is to head back to Toronto for Game 6 tomorrow Vladimir Guerrero Jr on Tuesday blasted a two-run home run as the Toronto Blue Jays bounced back to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 and tie the MLB World Series at two games apiece. Less than 24 hours after a shattering 18-inning Game 3 loss, the Blue Jays climbed off the canvas to breathe new life into their hopes of a first MLB title in 32 years. Guerrero’s two-run blast off Dodgers starter Shohei Ohtani and a superb pitching performance from ace Shane Bieber laid the foundations for a gutsy victory that silenced Dodger Stadium. “I’m always trying to compete
Jemimah Rodrigues on Thursday hit an unbeaten 127 as India pulled off a record chase of 339 against Australia to set up a Women’s World Cup final against South Africa. Rodrigues and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who hit 89, put on 167 runs for the third wicket as India won with nine balls and five wickets to spare at DY Patil Stadium, on the outskirts of Mumbai. The hosts finished on a total of 341-5 in reply to Australia’s impressive 338 and ensured there would be a new name on the 50-over trophy tomorrow. Amanjot Kaur hit the winning boundary to trigger wild celebrations
Jannik Sinner on Thursday eased past Francisco Cerundolo 7-5, 6-1 at the Paris Masters to set up a quarter-final clash with Ben Shelton, while reigning champion Alexander Zverev earned a straight-sets win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third round. A maiden crown in the French capital would return Sinner to No. 1 in the world rankings after current incumbent Carlos Alcaraz suffered a shock early exit at the hands of Britain’s Cameron Norrie. The Italian four-time Grand Slam champion is yet to drop a set in the tournament as he hones in on what would be a fifth title of the
RSS