UNDATED (AP) — The Golden State Warriors were unable to complete a four-game sweep of Denver in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
Nikola Jokic pumped in 37 points and fed Will Barton for a 3-pointer with 8.3 seconds left in the Nuggets’ 126-121 victory against the Warriors. Barton’s trey came after Monte Morris hit a seven-footer than broke a 121-all tie with 33 ½ seconds left.
Morris came through after Denver wasted a 17-point lead. He nailed five 3’s in the third quarter and finished with 24 points.
Steph Curry dropped in 33 points, including a jumper that put Golden State ahead with just over a minute left. Klay Thomson had 32 points for the Warriors, who host Game 5 on Wednesday.
The Pelicans have knotted their series with the top-seeded Suns at two games apiece.
Brandon Ingram furnished 30 points and Jonas Valanciunas had a double-double in New Orleans’ 118-103 win against Phoenix. Valanciunas came away with 26 points and 15 rebounds for the Pelicans, who took control by outscoring the Suns, 35-23 in the third quarter. Ingram had 16 points in the period.
Phoenix got within four in the final period before New Orleans scored the next 12 points.
The Suns’ starting backcourt accounted for just 12 points, with Chris Paul finishing with four.
Deandre Ayton had 23 points and eight rebounds for the Suns, who will host Game 5 on Tuesday.
The Bucks are within one victory of advancing to the second round after completing a weekend assault of the Bulls in Chicago.
Grayson Allen and Giannis Antetokounmpo carried the Bucks to a 119-95 rout and a three-games-to-one lead over the Bulls.
Allen set playoff career highs with 27 points and six 3-pointers. He was 10 of 12 from the field and 6 of 7 from beyond the arc.
Antetokounmpo finished with 32 points and 17 rebounds for the Bucks, who outscored Chicago by 54 points after dropping Game 2.
Jrue Holiday had 26 points in helping Milwaukee put itself in position to finish the series at home on Wednesday.
Like the Bucks, the Miami Heat are up three games to one following a 110-86 pounding of the Hawks in Atlanta.
Jimmy Butler delivered 13 of his 36 points while Miami outscored the Hawks, 30-15 in the second quarter to take a 14-point lead. Butler also had 10 rebounds, four assists and one block.
PJ Tucker and Bam Adebayo ad-eh-BY’-oh) each had 14 points and eight rebounds for the Heat, who can close out the series at home on Tuesday.
Trae Young had a rough game, finishing with just nine points and recording as many assists as turnovers: five.
