Grizzlies 104, Spurs 86
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Mike Conley had 15 points and seven assists to help the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies rout the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night and grab a commanding 3-1 lead in their opening series.
The Grizzlies already had made franchise history by winning their first playoff game in Game 1 and added their first playoff win at home. Now they are a game away from becoming the second eighth seed to knock off a No. 1 seed since the NBA expanded to a best-of-seven series and join the 2007 Golden State Warriors.
Game 5 is Wednesday in San Antonio.
Former Kansas star Darrell Arthur added 14 points off the bench for Memphis. Tony Allen had 12, Zach Randolph and O.J. Mayo 11 apiece.
Tony Parker led the Spurs with 23 points.
Mavericks 93, Trail Blazers 82
DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki scored 11 of his 25 points in the third quarter and the Dallas Mavericks avoided another late collapse to beat the Trail Blazers, taking a 3-2 lead in their first-round series.
Tyson Chandler had 14 points and 20 rebounds — his most ever in a playoff game — and Jason Kidd had 14 assists to make sure Dallas bounced back strong from blowing a 23-point lead over the final 14 minutes of Game 4.
Now the Mavericks have two days to rest up before trying to close out the series in Game 6 on Thursday night in Portland. It won’t be easy as the Trail Blazers have won all four meetings there this season.
History is certainly on Dallas’ side to pull out the series. Of the previous 157 series tied at 2, the Game 5 winner has come out on top 83 percent of the time.
Nuggets 104, Thunder 101
DENVER — Ty Lawson scored a career playoff-high 27 points and J.R. Smith and Danilo Gallinari hit clutch shots down the stretch to help Denver beat the Thunder to avoid being swept in the first round.
The series resumes Wednesday night with Game 5 in Oklahoma City.
The Nuggets still face a huge challenge in trying to become the first NBA team ever to overcome a 3-0 series deficit, but they finally found a formula for beating their nemesis.
Oklahoma City had beaten Denver five times this month, the Nuggets unable to figure out All-Stars Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and their amazing supporting cast.
Not on this night.
In denying the Thunder their first playoff series win since moving from Seattle in 2008, the Nuggets went to the hoop better than they had all series and relied on the smooth touch of Gallinari, who totaled just 13 points in the previous two games but finished with 18 Monday night to counter Durant's 31 points and Westbrook's 30.
