WASHINGTON, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The top-seeded Phoenix Suns beat the Dallas Mavericks 129-109 on Wednesday to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.
Mikal Bridges' early floater announced the Suns' top form as they went on a 9-0 run in the first quarter. However, the Mavericks responded with a 10-0 second-quarter run to take a 60-58 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, the two teams were still evenly matched, but the Suns took control in the fourth quarter, going on a 23-2 run and scoring 40 points in total. Chris Paul dominated this quarter and scored 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting.
Despite All-Star guard Luka Doncic's 35 points and seven assists, the Mavericks were unable to win the game. Apart from Doncic, no Mavericks player scored more than 20 points, with Reggie Bullock scoring 16 points and Spencer Dinwiddie adding 11 points.
Devin Booker led the Suns with 30 points, Chris Paul added 28 points and eight assists, and Mikal Bridges contributed 11 points and six assists.
Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler combined for 45 points to help Miami Heat over the Philadelphia 76ers 119-103, making a 2-0 lead in the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals.
Without All-Star center Joel Embiid, the 76ers still struggled from both ends of the court with just 8 of 30 from 3-point-range. The heat led the first half with 60-52, and went on 13-2 and 10-0 runs in the second half to lead as many as 18 points and seal the win.
Adebayo led the Heat with 23 points, while Butler added 22 points and 12 assists, Victor Oladipo came off the bench to score 19 points.
Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 34 points, while James Harden, the three-time scoring champion, finished with 20 points but only four in the second half. ■
