PHOENIX (AP) — Chris Paul scored 14 of his 28 points in another spectacular fourth quarter and the Phoenix Suns beat the Dallas Mavericks 129-109 on Wednesday night to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.
Paul — a 12-time All-Star who turns 37 on Friday — almost single-handedly turned a tight game into a comfortable victory, the Suns’ 11th win in a row against the Mavericks counting regular-season games.
The Mavs led 60-58 at halftime but the Suns quickly recaptured the lead after Devin Booker hit back-to-back 3-pointers. The Suns took an 89-83 advantage going into the final quarter and it looked like a tough fight was coming.
But that’s about the time Paul decided the game was his to control, hitting six shots in a row on everything from 3-pointers to mid-range jumpers to layups. The feisty Mavericks finally didn’t have an answer. Booker hit a pair of 3-pointers midway through the fourth to give the Suns a 114-95 lead.
Booker led the Suns with 30 points on 11-of-19 shooting, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range. The Suns shot 64.5% overall and made 52% of their 3-pointers.
Luka Doncic scored 35 points for Dallas on 13-of-22 shooting two nights after a 45-point performance in Game 1. Reggie Bullock added 16 points.
Game 3 is on Friday night in Dallas.
HEAT 119, 76ERS 103
MIAMI (AP) — Bam Adebayo scored 23 points, Jimmy Butler had 22 points and 12 assists and Miami beat Philadelphia to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Game 3 is Friday night in Philadelphia, with 76ers star Joel Embiid possibly ready to play after missing the first two games because because of a concussion and orbital fracture. The MVP finalist led the NBA in scoring.
Victor Oladipo scored 19 points on his 30th birthday and Tyler Herro added 18 for the Heat, the East’s No. 1 seed. Oladipo had 10 points in the fourth quarter.
Tyrese Maxey scored 34 points for Philadelphia. Tobias Harris had 21, and James Harden 20.
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