Facing a four-game sweep, the Philadelphia 76ers kept the faith on Easter Sunday, and stayed alive in the first- round of their Eastern Conference playoffs.Lou Williams splashed in the go-ahead three-pointer with 8.1 seconds left as part of a 10-0 closing run to lift the 76ers over the visiting Miami Heat, 86-82.
"Absolutely incredible," Sixers coach Doug Collins said. "Easter Sunday, and I told the guys after the game, if you have faith, you have hope and if you have hope you have life. Our guys fought to stay alive."
Williams and Evan Turner scored 17 points apiece to pace the seventh-seeded Sixers, who fought back after blowing an early 16- point lead. Andre Iguoudala netted 16 while Elton Brand had 15 with 11 rebounds and a game-saving block in the closing seconds.
"Everyone was saying we were going to get swept," Brand said. "All right, now we didn't get swept. So now let's see what's going to happen next game."
With the series now 3-1 in Miami's favor, the Sixers will again be fighting for their playoff lives in game five on Wednesday night in Miami, because no team has ever come back after trailing 3-0.
LeBron James scored 31 points, Dwyane Wade 22 for second-seeded Miami, which let its first playoff sweep since 2005 slip away.
"It's never easy even after being up 3-0," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We knew this team wouldn't give up, it's not in their nature."
Still, Miami led 82-76 with 1:35 remaining, but couldn't get the stops down the stretch against their young and inexperienced opponents.
"We've proven we can close those type games out," Spoelstra said. "We were not able to tonight."
Turner's baseline floater, and Jrue Holiday's wide-open three- pointer with 46.6 seconds pulled the Sixers within one.
After Wade's missed jumper, Williams pushed the ball up court and pulled up to swish the three from the top of the arc with the Heat superstar defending for an 84-82 advantage.
"We tried to get in the lane, but they cut it off," Williams said. "So I figured a jump shot was our best shot."
Looking for the tie, James drove the right side past Iguodala for what appeared to be an easy layup. Brand, however, stepped over to deflect the shot with 3.8 seconds remaining. Thaddeus Young grabbed the miss, and Turner sank two from the stripe to give the Sixers life.
"When you're dealing with a team like that, it's easy to pack it in on your home court and not have to travel back down to Miami to play another game," Williams said. It was just great for us to come back to win."
Other NBA playoff action:
New Orleans 93, LA Lakers 88
Chris Paul had 14 of his 27 points in the final quarter to go along with 15 assists and a career-high 13 rebounds, and the Hornets held off the visiting Lakers to square their first-round Western Conference playoff series at 2-2.
Facing a potential 3-1 hole heading back to LA, Paul put on another dazzling performance reminiscent of his 33-point, 14 assist game one win.
Ahead by two, Paul dribbled down the clock and penetrated the left side before, drawing a double-team. The All-Star guard, however, found Jarrett Jack for a short jumper in the lane, making it 90-86 with 9.3 seconds left.
The Lakers got a quick dunk by Spaniard Pau Gasol off an inbound pass to pull within two. However, Jack sank three of four free throws around a missed three by Kobe Bryant to seal the win.
Bryant scored all 17 points in the second half, while Gasol and Ron Artest added 16 apiece for the two-time defending NBA champions, who will host swing game five on Tuesday night.
Boston Celtics 101, New York Knicks 89
Kevin Garnett had 26 points with 10 rebounds, Rajon Rondo added 21 points and 12 assists, and the visiting Celtics swept the Knicks to book a spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Ray Allen and backup Glen Davis scored 14 points apiece for the third-seeded Celtics, who after completing their first sweep since 1992 await the winner of the Heat-Sixers series.
After leading by 23, the Celtics had it sliced to 84-80 with 7:34 left. But Pierce and Rondo made layups, Allen hit a three, and the Knicks were sent packing in their first playoff appearance since 2004.
Carmelo Anthony had 32 points and nine rebounds to pace the Knicks, while Amar'e Stoudemire finished with 19 points and 12 boards.
Atlanta Hawks 88, Orlando Magic 85
Reserve Jamal Crawford scored 25 points, Joe Johnson added 20, including four free throws in the final 20 seconds, and the Hawks grabbed a 3-1 advantage in the opening-round of their Eastern Conference playoff series.
Orlando's Hedo Turkoglu had a shot to send the game into overtime but Al Horford knocked the ball out of his hands. Turkoglu scrambled to recover before forcing up a desperation three-point heave that missed badly at the final buzzer.
Dwight Howard had 29 points with 17 rebounds to pace fourth-seeded Orlando, which made just 2-of-23 from behind the arc and never led.
The fifth-seeded Hawks can wrap up the best-of-seven series on Tuesday night in Orlando.
"Absolutely incredible," Sixers coach Doug Collins said. "Easter Sunday, and I told the guys after the game, if you have faith, you have hope and if you have hope you have life. Our guys fought to stay alive."
Williams and Evan Turner scored 17 points apiece to pace the seventh-seeded Sixers, who fought back after blowing an early 16- point lead. Andre Iguoudala netted 16 while Elton Brand had 15 with 11 rebounds and a game-saving block in the closing seconds.
"Everyone was saying we were going to get swept," Brand said. "All right, now we didn't get swept. So now let's see what's going to happen next game."
With the series now 3-1 in Miami's favor, the Sixers will again be fighting for their playoff lives in game five on Wednesday night in Miami, because no team has ever come back after trailing 3-0.
LeBron James scored 31 points, Dwyane Wade 22 for second-seeded Miami, which let its first playoff sweep since 2005 slip away.
"It's never easy even after being up 3-0," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We knew this team wouldn't give up, it's not in their nature."
Still, Miami led 82-76 with 1:35 remaining, but couldn't get the stops down the stretch against their young and inexperienced opponents.
"We've proven we can close those type games out," Spoelstra said. "We were not able to tonight."
Turner's baseline floater, and Jrue Holiday's wide-open three- pointer with 46.6 seconds pulled the Sixers within one.
After Wade's missed jumper, Williams pushed the ball up court and pulled up to swish the three from the top of the arc with the Heat superstar defending for an 84-82 advantage.
"We tried to get in the lane, but they cut it off," Williams said. "So I figured a jump shot was our best shot."
Looking for the tie, James drove the right side past Iguodala for what appeared to be an easy layup. Brand, however, stepped over to deflect the shot with 3.8 seconds remaining. Thaddeus Young grabbed the miss, and Turner sank two from the stripe to give the Sixers life.
"When you're dealing with a team like that, it's easy to pack it in on your home court and not have to travel back down to Miami to play another game," Williams said. It was just great for us to come back to win."
Other NBA playoff action:
New Orleans 93, LA Lakers 88
Chris Paul had 14 of his 27 points in the final quarter to go along with 15 assists and a career-high 13 rebounds, and the Hornets held off the visiting Lakers to square their first-round Western Conference playoff series at 2-2.
Facing a potential 3-1 hole heading back to LA, Paul put on another dazzling performance reminiscent of his 33-point, 14 assist game one win.
Ahead by two, Paul dribbled down the clock and penetrated the left side before, drawing a double-team. The All-Star guard, however, found Jarrett Jack for a short jumper in the lane, making it 90-86 with 9.3 seconds left.
The Lakers got a quick dunk by Spaniard Pau Gasol off an inbound pass to pull within two. However, Jack sank three of four free throws around a missed three by Kobe Bryant to seal the win.
Bryant scored all 17 points in the second half, while Gasol and Ron Artest added 16 apiece for the two-time defending NBA champions, who will host swing game five on Tuesday night.
Boston Celtics 101, New York Knicks 89
Kevin Garnett had 26 points with 10 rebounds, Rajon Rondo added 21 points and 12 assists, and the visiting Celtics swept the Knicks to book a spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Ray Allen and backup Glen Davis scored 14 points apiece for the third-seeded Celtics, who after completing their first sweep since 1992 await the winner of the Heat-Sixers series.
After leading by 23, the Celtics had it sliced to 84-80 with 7:34 left. But Pierce and Rondo made layups, Allen hit a three, and the Knicks were sent packing in their first playoff appearance since 2004.
Carmelo Anthony had 32 points and nine rebounds to pace the Knicks, while Amar'e Stoudemire finished with 19 points and 12 boards.
Atlanta Hawks 88, Orlando Magic 85
Reserve Jamal Crawford scored 25 points, Joe Johnson added 20, including four free throws in the final 20 seconds, and the Hawks grabbed a 3-1 advantage in the opening-round of their Eastern Conference playoff series.
Orlando's Hedo Turkoglu had a shot to send the game into overtime but Al Horford knocked the ball out of his hands. Turkoglu scrambled to recover before forcing up a desperation three-point heave that missed badly at the final buzzer.
Dwight Howard had 29 points with 17 rebounds to pace fourth-seeded Orlando, which made just 2-of-23 from behind the arc and never led.
The fifth-seeded Hawks can wrap up the best-of-seven series on Tuesday night in Orlando.
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