(The Sports Xchange) – Highlights of Wednesday’s National Basketball Association playoff games.
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Mavericks 113, Spurs 92
San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich received his third NBA Coach of the Year trophy but it was Dallas who stole the show as they blew out the top-seeded Spurs to even the Western Conference series.
The Mavericks forced 22 turnovers and ended a 10-game losing streak to the Spurs to tie the series 1-1. Game Three is in Dallas on Saturday.
Monta Ellis led the Mavericks with 21 points, one more than forward Shawn Marion, as the Mavericks out-scored San Antonio 57-41 in the second half. Dirk Nowitzki added 16.
Manu Ginobili had a big night off the bench, scoring 27 points, but the other Spurs leaders were quiet.
Tony Parker and Tim Duncan scored 12 and 11 points respectively.
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Heat 101, Bobcats 97
LeBron James scored 32 points to lead the Miami Heat as they earned a hard-fought playoff victory over the Charlotte Bobcats to take further control of the series.
The Heat now lead the best-of-seven first-round Eastern Conference playoff matchup 2-0. Game Three will be played at Charlotte on Saturday.
After trailing for virtually the entire night, Charlotte guard Kemba Walker made a three-pointer to pull the team within 98-97 with 11 seconds left.
The Heat made free throws and got a steal on the Bobcats next possession to seal it.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scored 22 and had 10 rebounds for Charlotte who also got 18 and 13 from Al Jefferson.
Chris Bosh added 20 for the Heat.
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Trail Blazers 112, Rockets 105
LaMarcus Aldridge delivered another scintillating performance and the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Houston Rockets to take a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference quarter-finals series.
Aldridge had 43 points and eight rebounds to win his duel with Rockets center Dwight Howard, who paired 32 points with 14 rebounds while adding four blocked shots.
