MIAMI (AP) — The top-seeded Miami Heart are going to Atlanta with a 2-0 lead in their first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks, thanks to a 115-105 win. Jimmy Butler delivered for Miami. Butler scored a playoff career-high 45 points, including a personal 7-0 run down the stretch. Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 29 for Atlanta. Trae Young got his scoring touch back — he had 25 points in Game 2, after being held to eight in Game 1.
PHOENIX (AP) — Brandon Ingram scored 37 points, CJ McCollum added 23 and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the top-seeded Phoenix Suns 125-114 in Game 2, evening the series in their Western Conference first-round matchup. Not only did the Suns lose the game, but they’re unsure about the health status of All-Star guard Devin Booker. Booker was spectacular in the first half with 31 points before leaving with right hamstring tightness in the third quarter. The Pelicans earned their first playoff win since 2018.
MEMPHIS (AP) — Ja Morant scored 23 points and handed out 10 assists as the Memphis Grizzlies looked much more like the team that posted the NBA’s second-best record, routing the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-96. That evens up their first-round Western Conference series at 1 apiece. Morant finished a rebound shy of a triple-double. Game 3 is Thursday night in Minneapolis. Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 20. All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns had 15 points and 11 rebounds.