Doncic Helps Lakers Level Series Against Minnesota

Luka Doncic scored a game-high 31 points for nan Los Angeles Lakers arsenic they hit nan Minnesota Timberwolves 94-85 to level their Western Conference first-round play-off bid astatine 1-1.

Doncic sank 16 of his points successful nan first 4th arsenic nan location broadside started powerfully and his wide capacity besides included 12 rebounds and 9 assists.

LeBron James added 21 points to nan Lakers' tally arsenic he besides registered 11 rebounds, while team-mate Austin Reaves contributed 16 points.

"It was conscionable a mobility of if we would beryllium much beingness aliases not and I deliberation we showed that," said Doncic arsenic he helped his broadside to a 34-15 lead astatine nan extremity of nan first quarter.

"We were location for 48 minutes. We sewage up large successful nan first quarter, we learned from nan past crippled and we conscionable stuck pinch it."

Minnesota were not arsenic objective arsenic successful nan first game, pinch Julius Randle scoring 27 points and Anthony Edwards adding 25.

"It seemed for illustration each clip I caught nan ball, they benignant of went into a area successful a sense," said Edwards.

"It was benignant of confusing astatine times but we'll watch nan movie and beryllium fresh [for crippled three]."

Milwaukee Bucks prima Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a game-high 34 points but his visiting broadside were beaten 123-115 by nan Indiana Pacers and went 2-0 down successful their Eastern Conference first-round play-off series.

The Bucks had Damian Lillard backmost pursuing a five-week absence and he sank a three-pointer successful nan second stages of nan 4th fourth to thief his broadside trim a 15-point shortage and tie to wrong 2 points of nan Pacers astatine 115-113.

However, Andrew Nembhard, who scored 17 points, responded pinch a three-pointer for nan Pacers arsenic they held connected successful a crippled which included a first-quarter scuffle and a number of method fouls.

"It's fun," said Tyrese Haliburton. "This is what everybody lives for. We're each competitors, truthful having a batch of nosy competing correct now."

Haliburton scored 21 points and added 12 assists, while Pacers team-mate Pascal Siakam added 24 points and 11 rebounds.

Western Conference winners Oklahoma City Thunder went 2-0 up successful nan first-round play-off bid against nan Memphis Grizzlies courtesy of a comfortable 118-99 location win.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 27 points for nan Thunder arsenic team-mates Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren added 24 and 20 points respectively.

Jaren Jackson Jr scored 26 points and Ja Morant added 23 for nan Grizzlies but they struggled to problem their hosts.