The Golden State Warriors are a win away from the second round of the NBA Playoffs after edging out the Houston Rockets 109-106 on Tuesday (all times EST) in game four of their matchup.
Jimmy Butler, who scored a team-high 27 for the Warriors, came up big in the clutch at both ends of the floor to guide his side to victory.
Butler made three big free throws after getting fouled on a shot from beyond the arc to extend the home side’s lead to 107-104 inside the final minute.
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Alperen Sengun responded with a turnaround hook to get Houston but within a point. But the Rockets big man missed a similar shot from further out, while guarded by Draymond Green, that could’ve given the visitors the lead as Butler pulled down a key rebound.
Butler then iced the game at the other end with two more free throws as the Warriors improved to 3-1 in the first-round series.
Steph Curry was down on his best with 17 points after a 36-point outburst on Sunday, while Brandin Podziemski put up 26 points, six 3-pointers, five rebounds and five assists for Steve Kerr’s side.
Sengun posted a game-high 31 points with 10 rebounds and Fred VanVleet added 25 points with eight triples and six assists.
Golden State can close out the series in Houston on Thursday.
CAVS CRUSH HEAT
The Cleveland Cavaliers crushed the Miami Heat 138-83 to complete a 4-0 series sweep and cruise into the NBA Eastern Conference playoff semi-finals on Tuesday.
A dominant all-round offensive effort from the Cavaliers laid the foundations for a lopsided victory that saw the Heat exit the postseason with a whimper in front of their home crowd.
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers’ scoring with 22 points on a night when six Cleveland players finished in double figures.
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With Darius Garland (toe) missing from the Cleveland line-up, Mitchell received support from De’Andre Hunter with 19 points, Ty Jerome (18) and Evan Mobley (17).
The Eastern Conference No.1 seeds will face either the Milwaukee Bucks or Indiana Pacers in the next round. Indiana lead that series 3-1.
Mitchell said Cleveland had been determined to wrap up the series swiftly on Tuesday.
“We came out here with a goal in mind,” Mitchell told TNT television. “To keep our foot on their throat and on their neck and continue to play 48 minutes of basketball.”
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That ruthlessness was apparent from the tip-off, with Cleveland rapidly opening up a monster 43-17 lead after the first quarter against a shellshocked Miami line-up.
The Cavs cranked up the pressure in the second quarter, stretching their lead to as many as 45 points before reaching half-time with a whopping 72-33 lead.
The punishment continued after the break, with the Cavaliers keeping the points flowing to build on their advantage, opening up a 48-point lead at 96-48 midway through the third quarter.
That lead had grown to 111-63 heading into the fourth quarter, and the carnage continued in the final frame as Cleveland romped home.
ALL RESULTS
CAVALIERS 138 HEAT 83
ROCKETS 106 WARRIORS 109
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