MAGIC/PACERS
- Danny Granger scored 25 points to help the Pacers defeat the Orlando Magic 105-87 on Tuesday night and clinch their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series 4-1.
- Darren Collison scored 15 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter and George Hilladded 15 points for the Pacers.
- Nelson led Orlando with 27 points and made 5 of 8 3-pointers. Glen Davis, a thorn in Indiana’s side throughout the series, scored 15 but made just 6 of 17 shots.
CELTICS/HAWKS
- Al Horford scored 19 points, hit Atlanta’s final two baskets and came up with a huge defensive play helping the the Hawks keep their season alive with a 87-86 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference playoffs Tuesday night.
- Boston had a chance to clinch the series when Rajon Rondo stole Josh Smith‘s inbounds pass with 10 seconds remaining and raced down the court, looking for the winner.
- Rondo got into a jam along the sideline as Horford jumped out to protect him which caused Rondo to lose control and chuck a desperation pass, which was tipped by Josh Smith out of bounds as the buzzers sounded.
- Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett led the Celtics with 16 points apiece. Rondo had 13 points and 12 assists.
- Smith clearly looked hobbled by a sore knee that kept him out of Game 3 but still managed 13 points and 16 rebounds. Jeff Teague had 16 points, while Johnson and Marvin Williams had 15 apiece.
76ers/Bulls
- Luol Deng scored 24 points, Carlos Boozer added 19 points and 13 rebounds and Chicago beat the Philadelphia 76ers 77-69 on Tuesday night to avoid a first-round playoff exit.
- Deng hit 4 of 5 3-poin attempts and Boozer tied a career playoff high with six assists.
- Jrue Holiday scored 16 points for Philadelphia but hit just 5 of 17 shots. Lou Williams scored 13 points and Andre Iguodala and Spencer Hawes both finished with 11.
NUGGETS/LAKERS
- Andre Miller scored 24 points, including two free throws with 12.8 seconds left, and Denver survived Bryant’s late scoring barrage in a 43-point performance, avoiding playoff elimination with a 102-99 victory over Los Angeles in Game 5.
- JaVale McGee had 21 points and 14 rebounds for the Nuggets.
- Denver had a 15-point lead midway through the fourth quarter against the Lakers, but Bryant led a stunning comeback before his final three shots missed.
- Bryant scored 12 points over the final 4:45, hitting four 3-pointers that trimmed the Nuggets’ lead to 98-96 with 59 seconds left.
- Arron Afflalo scored a career playoff-high 19 points and Danilo Gallinari added 14 for the Nuggets, while rookie Kenneth Faried had 10 points and nine rebounds.
- Andrew Bynum had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, after he suggested the Nuggets were going to fold to them in this “closeout game.”
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