PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Portland Trail Blazers have moved into the NBA’s Western Conference semifinals after Damian Lillard drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Blazers a 99-98 win over Houston. The game-winning bucket came less than a second after Chandler Parsons hit a reverse layup off a missed shot to put the Rockets ahead. Lillard finished with 25 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added team highs of 30 points and 13 rebounds for the Blazers.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Monta (MAHN’-tay) Ellis scored 12 of his 29 points during a fourth-quarter comeback that lifted the Dallas Mavericks over San Antonio 113-111, forcing a Game 7 in the NBA first-round series. Dirk Nowitzki added 22 points for the Mavericks, who shot 52 percent and handed the Spurs their first road defeat when leading after three quarters all season. The Spurs held a five-point lead before surrendering 37 points in the final period.
NEW YORK (AP) — Deron Williams scored 23 points and the Brooklyn Nets staved off elimination by beating the Toronto Raptors 97-83 in Game 6. He dominated his matchup with Kyle Lowry and helped the Nets put it away with a 3-pointer with 1:13 left that made it 92-79. Lowry scored just 11 points on 4 of 16 shooting for the Raptors, who host Game 7 on Sunday.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Derick Brassard scored 3:06 into overtime and the New York Rangers opened their Eastern Conference semifinal series with a 3-2 triumph over the Penguins in Pittsburgh. Dan Girardi assisted on first-period goals by Benoit Pouliot (POO’-lee-aht) and Brad Richards, and the Rangers maintained a 2-0 lead until Lee Stempniak and James Neal beat Henrik Lundqvist in the third period. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was held scoreless while recording a -3.
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks earned a 5-2 win over Minnesota in Game 1 of the NHL’s Western Conference semifinal series. The Hawks coughed up a 2-0 lead in the third period before Patrick Kane scored back-to-back goals. Bryan Bickell (BIK’-ul) also scored twice and Corey Crawford stopped 30 shots for Chicago.
