Portland, Oregon: San Antonio put one foot into the NBA Western Conference finals with a 118-103 win at Portland on Saturday to take a 3-0 lead in their series, while Brooklyn avoided slipping to the same deficit by defeating Miami.
Tony Parker scored 29 points for the Spurs, who built a big early lead — just as they had in the opening two games of the series — by going 23 points up on the Trail Blazers in the first half, and controlled the game from there.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 21 points and 12 rebounds for Portland, who pulled within eight points in the third quarter but could not get any closer. The Blazers were hurt by 15 turnovers and only six points from their bench.
No NBA team has come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a seven-game series, suggesting San Antonio are bound for a Western Conference decider against either Oklahoma City or the Los Angeles Clippers. The Thunder lead that series 2-1.
Meanwhile, Brooklyn secured the win they badly needed by beating Miami 104-90, inflicting a first defeat on the Heat in this post-season and cutting the series deficit to 2-1.
Joe Johnson scored 19 points and Andray Blatche had career play-off highs of 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Nets.
Brooklyn, who swept Miami in the regular season, can tie the series with another home-court victory on Monday.
Miami’s LeBron James scored 16 points in the first quarter but only two baskets for the rest of the game. He finished with 28 points.
