WASHINGTON (AP) – Paul Pierce’s banked-in 21-foot jumper at the buzzer gave Washington a 103-101 victory over Atlanta on Saturday night, even with an injured John Wall reduced to cheerleading, and after a 21-point lead had dwindled down to nothing.
The Wizards lead the Eastern Conference semifinal series 2-1.
Washington was missing Wall, its All-Star point guard, for a second consecutive game because of a broken left hand.
The Wizards led by 21 with less than 10 minutes left – and then held off Atlanta, which used a 17-0 run to get within three points with less than 3 1/2 minutes remaining and tied the game on Mike Muscala’s 3-pointer with 14.1 seconds to go.
But Pierce came through as the clock hit zero, falling to his back on the court with both arms raised. Pierce scored 13 points and hit three of the Wizards’ 10 3s.
Game 4 in the best-of-seven series is Monday night at Washington.
It was the second straight day a bank shot at the buzzer won an NBA playoff game. Derrick Rose hit a banked 3 to give Chicago a 99-96 victory over Cleveland on Friday.
GRIZZLIES 99, WARRIORS 89
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Zach Randolph scored 22 points and Marc Gasol added 21 points and 15 rebounds as Memphis took a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinal.
Mike Conley and Courtney Lee both finished with 11 points for Memphis, which has won two straight with Conley, their point guard, back in the lineup.
MVP Stephen Curry finished with 23 points for Golden State but was 8 of 21 from the field, including 2 of 10 outside the arc. Klay Thompson had 20 points, and Harrison Barnes added 16.
The Warriors went just 6 of 26 from 3-point range and 19 of 28 at the free throw line.
Memphis outscored Golden State 46-32 in the paint and outrebounded the Warriors 44-39. The Grizzlies forced 17 turnovers they turned in 22 points, offsetting the Warriors’ 22 fast break points.
Game 4 is Monday at Memphis.
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