Clippers advance to conference semifinals
Published 3:09 am Monday, May 14, 2012
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Kenyon Martin scored seven of his 11 points in the fourth quarter, and the Los Angeles Clippers advanced to the Western Conference semifinals with an 82-72 win Sunday over the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 7.
The Clippers won only their third postseason series in 41 years and just their second since relocating to Los Angeles. They also avoided becoming the ninth NBA team to blow a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven series. They move on to play the top-seeded Spurs starting Tuesday night in San Antonio.
Chris Paul scored 19 points with a strained right hip flexor. Nick Young added 13 off the bench.
Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol each had 19 for Memphis. Zach Randolph had a game-high 12 rebounds.
A year ago, the Grizzlies lost a Game 7 at home in the second round of the playoffs.
Heat 95, Pacers 86
MIAMI (AP) — LeBron James scored 32 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in his first game as a three-time MVP, Dwyane Wade finished with 29 despite struggling from the floor, and the Miami Heat beat the Indiana Pacers 95-86 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series on Sunday.
Chris Bosh scored 13 points for Miami, but left late in the first half with a lower abdominal injury and did not return. The Heat outscored Indiana 25-16 in the fourth, with Wade and James combining for 22 of those points.
David West and Roy Hibbert each scored 17 points and combined for 23 rebounds for the Pacers, who got 10 points each from Darren Collison and George Hill.
Game 2 is Tuesday in Miami.