NBA roundup: Thunder pull even with Spurs

[May 03, 2016]  The Sports Xchange
 
 SAN ANTONIO -- Russell Westbrook scored 29 points and handed out 10 assists, and Kevin Durant added 28 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder outlasted the San Antonio Spurs 98-97 Monday in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinal and tied the best-of-seven series at one win apiece.

Durant canned a floating jump shot off an assist from Westbrook with 33 seconds left to give Oklahoma City a 96-91 lead, but the Spurs responded with an Aldridge 3-pointer, just his second of the season. Westbrook then made two free throws with 18.3 seconds left to push Oklahoma City's lead back to four points, at 98-94.

Aldridge (41 points) hit three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt with 13.5 seconds left to bring the Spurs to within 98-97.

On the ensuing inbounds play, San Antonio's Danny Green stole the ball from Durant, and it was eventually passed in the corner to Patty Mills, who missed a 3-pointer with two seconds left. The two teams scrambled for the ball under the basket, but the Spurs could not get off another shot.

Cavaliers 104, Hawks 93

CLEVELAND -- LeBron James scored 25 points and came up with two big steals late in the game as Cleveland continued its dominance over Atlanta to win the opener of an Eastern Conference semifinal series.

It was the eighth consecutive victory for the Cavs over the Hawks after sweeping them in the conference finals last season and winning all three meetings in the regular season this season.

Kyrie Irving had 21 points and eight assists for the Cavaliers, and Kevin Love had 17 points and 11 rebounds despite a tough 4-of-17 shooting night. Tristan Thompson had 14 rebounds for the Cavs, who improved to 9-0 all-time against the Hawks in the postseason.

Dennis Schroder scored a career-playoff-high 27 points for the Hawks, who went more than four minutes late in the game without a field goal as the Cavs pulled away. Paul Millsap had 17 points and 13 rebounds, and Kent Bazemore had 16 points and 12 rebounds for Atlanta.

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