THE TORONTO RAPTORS took a 3-2 series lead in their NBA eastern conference playoff with a stylish 118-93 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in Toronto.
Norman Powell, making his second start of the series, produced 25 points to help the Raptors move within one win of reaching the second round, with game six in Milwaukee – where the Raptors have already been welcomed with the theme music to Barney — on Thursday.
“(Powell) is a sparkplug,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. “He’s the X-factor.”
Kyle Lowry added 16 points and 10 assists for the Raptors while Serge Ibaka contributed 19 points, DeMar DeRozan had 18, DeMarre Carroll added 12 and Cory Joseph scored 10 off the bench. But Bucks coach Jason Kidd said Powell’s energy had added another dimension for the Raptors.
“He’s playing extremely hard and he’s knocking down shots, but he’s in there to play defense and he’s playing at a very high level for those guys right now. … He’s picked them up here in the last couple of games just with his energy and spirit.”
The winners of the series will face the reigning NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers, who swept the Indiana Pacers in four games. The Cavs beat the Raptors in the Eastern Conference finals last season.
The Golden State Warriors swept into the second round of the NBA playoffs with a crushing 128-103 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Stephen Curry scored 37 points with eight assists and seven rebounds as the Warriors completed a four-game sweep of the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series against the Blazers.
Curry sat out the entire fourth quarter of a game the Warriors dominated from opening tip.
Their 45 first-quarter points matched an NBA playoff record for points in an opening quarter, and they were up by 24 at halftime.
“We came out on a mission,” Curry said. “It was a great way to put our foot on the gas pedal and get a win.”
Draymond Green added 21 points for the Warriors. Kevin Durant, who missed the last two games with a left calf injury, scored 10 points in just 20 minutes on the floor.
Six Warriors players scored in double figures as Golden state connected on 53.5 percent of their shots from the field, including 17 of 29 from three-point range.
Damian Lillard scored 34 points and Al-Farouq Aminu chipped in 25 for Portland, but the Trail Blazers never really threatened.
The Warriors scored the first six points of the third quarter to stretch their lead to 30 points.
Curry’s three-pointer with seven minutes to play in the third made it 91-58, and Portland wouldn’t get closer than 23 points the rest of the way.
The Warriors now await either the Los Angeles Clippers or Utah Jazz, whose series was tied at two games apiece.
The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Washington Wizards 111-101 to knot their Eastern Conference series at two games each.
Dennis Schroder shook off early foul trouble and a scoreless first half to finish with 18 points for the Hawks.
Paul Millsap led the Hawks with 19 points and Dwight Howard delivered his best performance of the series with 16 points and 15 rebounds.
Atlanta out-scored Washington 31-15 in the second quarter and led 59-50 at half-time. The Wizards responded with a 10-2 scoring run to open the third quarter and they were tied 77-77 going into the fourth.
The Hawks gained control with a 14-5 scoring run in the final period. Schroder made two three-pointers, a jump shot and a driving layup in the final four minutes.
Bradley Beal scored 32 points to lead the Wizards, who host game five tomorrow night.
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The UFC might aswell not have rankings and contenders anymore.
@Ciarán: Woodley faught Maia, Wonderboy*2 and Lawler in his last 4 fights: each the highest rank possible at the time… If anyone should be allowed a money fight its him. Besides, in diaz’s last 2 fights, he beat a champion and then lost to the same guy on a narrow decision. So compared to other welterweights he isnt an absurd choice… Its nothing like Bisping: making his 1st defence against someone not even in the top 10 and his 2nd defence against someone who hadnt faught in 4 years.
Coincidence that McGregor and Diaz will both have titles before their rematch? Not that I’m complaining, would be hard not to get excited about the build up to that.
@Johnny: what title will Diaz have? No chance will he beat Woodley
@Connery83: 100% agree, Diaz is the perfect style for Woodley to fight. Plus hed have no excuse to be cautious in this one.
@Connery83: Woodley barely beat Maia even the the entire fight was fought on the feat. Diaz is more than a match for him on the feet and if it goes to the ground Diaz is more than comfortable fighting on top or from his back. Diaz will beat him.
@Johnny: Maia is possibly the best at bjj in the entire ufc. Woodley was being cautious to avoid his submissions, but was comfortably better on the feet. Fans were angry that he didnt try to finish him. He also beat Wonderboy who is one of the best strikers
@Johnny: Woodley will punch a hole through his face. I actually fear for Nate in this fight, as he is so durable. Mate defends with his face and against the hardest hitter at 170 that’s a recipe for disaster
That’s preposterous! What has he done to deserve a shot
@Patrick Dara Kelly: Been the only person since 2010 to beat McGregor, a 2 weight champion, in mma.
@Rudiger McMonihan: fair achievement but why has that put him in line for a title shot, he’s 3-3 at 170.
He smokes a hell a lot of weed, with Conor the King of Coke and the majority of the roster on some kind drugs he’s perfect.
@Malachy Rivers: The main difference between them and athletes in other sports is the testing. Has a football player ever been caught using PEDs?
Great fight Woodley has me blocked on twitter so I hope he gets a beating:)