Heat And Spurs Sweep, Knicks Play On – NBA Roundup For April 29th

UNDATED (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat managed to complete four-game sweeps of their NBA conference quarterfinal series on Sunday. The New York Knicks weren't as fortunate.

LeBron James poured in 30 points and the Heat advanced by downing the Bucks 88-77 in Milwaukee. Ray Allen shot 4-for-7 from three-point range and finished with 16 points to help Miami win without Dwyane (dwayn) Wade, who sat out with bone bruises on his right knee.

The Bucks got within 69-67 with 9:34 remaining before Allen and Mario Chalmers hit consecutive three-pointers to put the Heat back in control.

It's the first time the Heat have swept a series since acquiring James and Chris Bosh three years ago. They'll play the winner of the Chicago-Brooklyn series.

The Spurs sprinted out to an 18-point halftime lead and cruised to a 103-82 win over the Lakers in Los Angeles to earn a conference semifinal meeting with either Denver or Golden State. Tony Parker scored 23 points and the Spurs took advantage of the Lakers' 21 turnovers to turn the game into a rout.

San Antonio also helped itself by attempting 23 free throws, hitting 20 while the Lakers were going 5-for-12.

Lakers center Dwight Howard took just two shots, went 3-for-9 from the foul line and had just seven points before he was ejected for arguing a call early in the third quarter.

Boston is still alive in its series with the Knicks despite blowing a 20-point, second-half lead. Jason Terry scored the Celtics' last nine points in a 97-90 win over New York. Terry also scored the game's final six points and finished with 18.

Paul Pierce had a team-high 29 points and Jeff Green added 26 as the Celtics forced a fifth game Wednesday in New York.

Carmelo Anthony scored a game-high 36 points for the Knicks, who lost as J.R. Smith served a one-game suspension for his flagrant foul in Game 3.

Golden State took a 3-1 series lead by downing the visiting Denver Nuggets 115-101. Stephen (STEH'-fehn) Curry hit six of the Warriors' 11 three-pointers and finished with a game-high 31 points and seven assists. Jarrett Jack delivered 21 points and a game-high nine assists for the Warriors, who've who three straight since a last-second loss at Denver in the series opener.

Ty Lawson had a team-high 26 points for the Nuggets, who will try to stay alive when they host Game 5 on Tuesday.