(Associated Press)
NBA Playoffs Sunday
Raptors 150, Nets 122
The Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics will tangle in the second round of the NBA playoffs after completing four-game sweeps.
The Raptors put an emphatic stamp on their sweep by blasting the Nets, 150-122.
The Raptors had two players score at least 20 points off the bench, led by 29 from Norman Powell. Serge Ibaka added 27 points on 12 of 14 shooting and grabbed 15 rebounds. Toronto set an all-time NBA record with 100 bench points.
Pascal Siakam finished with 20 points and 10 boards as the lone Toronto starter with more than 10 points.
The Raptors are 11-1 in the bubble, with the lone loss coming against Boston.
Celtics 110, 76ers 106
The Celtics took advantage of an injury and defeating the 76ers, 110-106. The game changed when Tobias Harris crashed to the floor at the 2:40 mark of the third quarter. Without Harris, Boston went on a 12-0 run and eventually led 96-79 in the opening minutes of the fourth.
Kemba Walker poured in 32 points in his first NBA series-clinching win.
Jayson Tatum finished with 28 points and a playoff career-high 15 rebounds.
Harris had 20 points despite his lengthy absence in the second half. Joel Embiid finished with 30 points and 10 boards for Philadelphia.
Dallas 135, LA Clippers 133 (OT)
Luka Doncic drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Mavericks a 135-133 triumph over the Clippers, evening the series at two games apiece. Doncic was sensational despite playing on a badly sprained ankle, delivering 43 points, 17 rebounds and 13 assists.
Trey Burke finished with 25 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 21 in a game that featured eight lead changes in OT.
The Mavericks were without forward/center Kristaps Porzingis because of right knee soreness.
Lou Williams pumped in 36 points and Kawhi Leonard had 32 for the Clippers, who trailed by eight heading into the fourth quarter.
Utah 129, Denver 127
The Jazz are a win away from advancing to the second round following a 129-127 win over the Nuggets in Game 4. Donovan Mitchell scored 18 of his 51 points in the fourth quarter and was 15 of 27 from the floor. He’s averaging 39 1/2 points in the seconds, including a 57-point assault in the opener.
Jamal Murray set a Denver playoff record with 50 points. That topped the old mark of 45 set by Spencer Haywood during the 1970 ABA playoffs, when the team was the Denver Rockets.
Rudy Gobert contributed 17 points and 11 rebounds for Utah. Mike Conley added 26 points in his second game since returning to the NBA bubble after leaving for the birth of his son.