Hawks hold off Nets, take 2-0 series lead
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ATLANTA — Paul Millsap scored 19 points and the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks again survived a tougher-than-expected test from the Brooklyn Nets, holding on for a 96-91 victory and a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference playoff series Wednesday night.
Squandering an early 12-point lead, the Hawks fell behind before halftime and spent the rest of the game struggling to put away the No. 8 seed.
It went down to the wire. Deron Williams missed an open 15-foot jumper that would’ve tied it with about 10 seconds to go. Kyle Korver rebounded, was fouled and made two free throws to clinch Atlanta’s win.
The best-of-seven shifts to Brooklyn for the next two contests. Game 3 is Saturday.
Millsap, who missed five games near the end of the season with a sprained right shoulder, ditched a pad that he felt restricted his shooting motion. He responded by hitting 7 of 11 shots.
Grizzlies 97, Blazers 82
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Mike Conley and Courtney Lee each scored 18 points, and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Portland Trail Blazers to grab the franchise’s first 2-0 lead in a playoff series.
The Grizzlies took full advantage of starting the playoffs with home-court advantage for only the second time in their short postseason history. They had only won their playoff opener once before, and that was on the road in San Antonio in 2011.
Marc Gasol had 15 points, and Zach Randolph and Beno Udrih added 10 apiece.
LaMarcus Aldridge led Portland with 24 points and 14 rebounds. Damian Lillard added 18 points but the Trail Blazers lost their first two playoff games for the first time since 2011, when they fell in six games to Dallas.
Bulls’ Mirotic out for Game 3
CHICAGO — Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic will miss Thursday’s playoff game at Milwaukee because of an injured left knee.
The Bulls ruled Mirotic out for Game 3, while veteran guard Kirk Hinrich (left knee) was listed as questionable after going through a full practice on Wednesday. Chicago leads the first-round series 2-0.
Coach Tom Thibodeau said Mirotic was feeling better Wednesday. He rode the stationary bike during practice and did some light shooting afterward, although he was not moving much or jumping.
“He still has a ways to go,” Thibodeau said.
Mirotic strained his quadriceps and bruised his knee in a scrum for a loose ball with Milwaukee’s Zaza Pachulia late in Monday’s victory, leading to a heated exchange and technical fouls for both players. Pachulia was also called for one about a minute earlier for elbowing Mirotic in the head. The second technical resulted in his ejection.
