NBA playoffs roundup: Short-handed Bucks even series with Heat

Bucks 138, Heat 122

Brook Lopez and Jrue Holiday combined for 49 points, Bobby Portis stepped in for injured Giannis Antetokounmpo and contributed a double-double, and the Milwaukee Bucks rebounded from an opening loss to thump the visiting Miami Heat 138-122 in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference first-round series on Wednesday.

Four other Bucks scored at least 16 points, allowing Milwaukee to break even in its two opening home games before the best-of-seven moves to Miami for Games 3 and 4 beginning Saturday.

Both teams played without a star player injured in the Heat’s 130-117 triumph in Game 1. But while Antetokounmpo was a late scratch for Game 2 with a sore lower back, Miami’s Tyler Herro has been ruled out for the series with a broken right hand.

Lopez led all scorers with 25 points, while Holiday finished with 24 as part of a double-double with a game-high 11 assists. Jimmy Butler had 25 points to pace the Heat, and Bam Adebayo added 18 points.

Grizzlies 103, Lakers 93

Xavier Tillman recorded a career-high 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, and Memphis overcame the absence of injured Ja Morant to produce a victory over visiting Los Angeles.

The result evened the best-of-seven, first-round Western Conference playoff series at one win apiece. Game 3 will be played Saturday night in Los Angeles.

Jaren Jackson Jr. had 18 points, nine rebounds, and three blocked shots, and Desmond Bane added 17 points for the second-seeded Grizzlies. LeBron James had 28 points and 12 rebounds, and Rui Hachimura added 20 points off the bench for the seventh-seeded Lakers.

Nuggets 122, Timberwolves 113

Jamal Murray scored 40 points, Nikola Jokic had 27 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists, and host Denver beat Minnesota to take a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference first-round playoff series. Game 3 will be Friday in Minneapolis.

Michael Porter Jr. scored 16 points, and Aaron Gordon had 12 points and 10 rebounds for top-seeded Denver. Anthony Edwards had a franchise playoff record 41 points for the No. 8-seeded Timberwolves, hitting 14 of 23 shots — including 6 of 10 from 3-point range. Rudy Gobert scored 19 points and Mike Conley added 14.

Minnesota scored 40 points in the third quarter to lead 89-87 entering the fourth. Denver went on an 8-0 run to open the final quarter, grabbing a 95-89 lead before Minnesota moved in front 99-98. But the Nuggets scored the next six points and never trailed again.

–Field Level Media