By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Raptors and the Thunder got their road wins and the 2-1 advantage in the playoffs, the Warriors lost to Rockets, but are still leading with 2-1 and Enes Kanter had his best ever postseason game.
Kevin Durant scored 20 of his 34 points in the first half, Russell Westbrook had 20 of his 26 in the second, Enes Kanter had a playoff career-high 21 points and a game-high eight rebounds and the Thunder retook control of their first-round series with a 131-102 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 3 on Thursday night. Dirk Nowitzki played despite a right knee bruise and scored 16 points, but the Mavericks allowed the Thunder to dictate the pace and couldn’t keep up, never leading while missing 10 of their first 12 shots from 3-point range. Georgian center Zaza Pachulia added 5 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists for Dallas.
DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry scored 21 points each to help Toronto rout Indiana 101-85 and take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series while reclaiming the home-court advantage they squandered six days earlier. In the battle of the Euro-center Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas almost had a double double (9 p., 14 r.) against Frenchman Ian Mahinmi (7 p., 4 r.).
Finally, James Harden scored 35 points, including the game-winner with 2.7 seconds left, and the Rockets took advantage of Stephen Curry’s absence to get a 97-96 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. Lithuanian center Donatas Motiejunas added a double double (14 p., 13 r.) for the Rockets.