NBA roundup: Heat, Cavs, Clippers cruise to 2-0 leads

[April 21, 2016]  The Sports Xchange
 
 MIAMI -- Shooting better than 55 percent for the second consecutive game, the Miami Heat defeated the Charlotte Hornets 115-103 in Game 2 of an Eastern Conference first-round series on Wednesday.

After a franchise playoff-best first half of shooting, the Heat held on in the second half to protect home-court advantage and go up 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.

The Hornets cut an 18-point deficit in the third quarter to seven with under four minutes to play, but the Heat clamped down defensively and Dwyane Wade, who led Miami with 28 points and eight assists, hit two key baskets late.

Hassan Whiteside scored 17 points on 8-of-8 shooting from the field, and Luol Deng had 16 points. They were two of five Heat players to finish in double figures. Kemba Walker had a game-high 29 points and Al Jefferson scored 25 on 12-of-17 shooting from the floor for the Hornets.

Cavaliers 107, Pistons 90

CLEVELAND -- LeBron James scored 27 points and Cleveland tied an NBA playoff record with 20 3-pointers in a Game 2 victory against Detroit. The Cavaliers hold a 2-0 series lead.

The Cavs struggled to put away the Pistons in Game 1 and struggled again Wednesday until late in the third quarter. They trailed by 10 early in the game and still trailed midway through the third before a Kevin Love 3-pointer gave them the lead for good at 63-62.

Cleveland's Kyrie Irving had 22 points, and J.R. Smith scored 21 points, all on 3-pointers. Love finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds after fighting early foul trouble. Andre Drummond led the Pistons with 20 points.

Clippers 102, Trail Blazers 81

LOS ANGELES -- Chris Paul scored 25 points, and Los Angeles rolled to a victory over Portland to take a 2-0 edge in their Western Conference quarterfinal series.

J.J. Redick scored 13 of his 17 points in the first half for the Clippers, while Blake Griffin added 12 points and nine rebounds. DeAndre Jordan collected 18 rebounds but scored only three points.

Damian Lillard and Mason Plumlee had 17 points apiece, and CJ McCollum chipped in 16 points for the Trail Blazers. Plumlee also had 10 rebounds. Maurice Harkless contributed 12 points and seven rebounds.

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