TEXAS-- Russell Westbrook scored 35 points, including a crucial three-point play in the final seconds, as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 95-91 on Tuesday to take a 3-2 lead in their Western Conference semi-final series.
FLORIDA-- Dwyane Wade scored 30 points as the Miami Heat defeated the Toronto Raptors 94-87 in overtime on Monday at AmericanAirlines Arena to tie their Eastern Conference semi-final series.
Game 5 in the best-of-seven series is on Wednesday at Toronto.
Miami's overtime effort was led by Justise Winslow's tip-in basket, Joe Johnson's two blocked shots, a layup by Goran Dragic and a steal and dunk by Wade.
In a low-scoring game, the offensive futility was symbolized by a Wade shot in overtime than got stuck on the rim, resulting in a jump ball.
The Raptors had a chance to win the game in regulation but Cory Joseph missed a 15-foot jumper at the buzzer. In the previous possession, Wade drove to the basket and tied the score with 12.6 seconds left.
Toronto got scoring from some unexpected sources -- 14 points each from DeMarre Carroll and Joseph.
In addition, emergency starter Bismack Biyombo, who replaced injured center Jonas Valanciunas, had a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
But Toronto's starting guards were largely ineffective.
Kyle Lowry had 10 points, and DeMar DeRozan, who was playing with a jammed right thumb, had nine points. Lowry fouled out with 1:58 left in the fourth quarter after he was called for an offensive infraction, hooking the defender with his off hand.
Miami got off to a hot start, shooting 55.6 percent and taking a 25-21 lead in the first quarter. Toronto shot just 36.8 percent.
The Heat extended their lead to 44-35 at halftime -- the first time in this series that Miami led at the break. Toronto shot just 22.7 percent in the second quarter.
Toronto, though, put together a 15-4 run to start the third quarter abd used that spurt to take a 62-60 lead after three quarters.
After shooting so poorly in the first half, Toronto made 64.7 percent in the third quarter. Carroll made 5-of-5 from the floor in the third as Toronto held Miami to 37.5 percent.
NEW YORK-- Emirates Team New Zealand won Sunday's final race of the New York City stop for the America's Cup World Series (ACWS) to remain on top in the points race competition between the world's top sailing teams.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova (8) blocks a pass intended for Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) during the first half in game four of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena in Atlanta. Cavaliers won 100-99 to sweep the best of seven game series 4-0. (Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports.)
Damian Lillard scored a career playoff-high 40 points and dished out 10 assists to lead the Portland Trail Blazers past the Golden State Warriors 120-108 on Saturday night at the Moda Center.
Al-Farouq Aminu collected 23 points and 10 rebounds and C.J. McCollum added 22 points for the Trail Blazers, who narrowed Golden State's lead in the Western Conference semifinals to 2-1.
