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NBA playoffs Tuesday: Siakam’s 37 helps Pacers get back in series

Pascal Siakam recorded 37 points, 11 rebounds and six assists and the Indiana Pacers evened their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series with an impressive 125-108 victory over the host Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night in Game 2.

Myles Turner added 22 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three blocked shots for the sixth-seeded Pacers, who snapped a 10-game postseason losing streak dating back to 2018.

Andrew Nembhard scored 20 points, Tyrese Haliburton registered 12 points and 12 assists and Aaron Nesmith had 11 points and seven assists for Indiana, which had 38 assists on 50 made baskets.

Damian Lillard scored 34 points and Brook Lopez added 22 for the third-seeded Bucks. Both players made six 3-pointers.

Milwaukee was again without star Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf).

Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is Friday at Indianapolis.

Timberwolves 105, Suns 93: Minnesota takes 2-0 lead

Jaden McDaniels scored 25 points on 10-for-17 shooting and the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled away for a 105-93 win over the Phoenix Suns in Game 2 of their Western Conference quarterfinals series on Tuesday in Minneapolis.

Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert finished with 18 points apiece for Minnesota, which seized a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The Timberwolves won by double digits despite a subpar night from Anthony Edwards, who shot 3 of 12 from the field but finished with 15 points thanks in part to 7-of-8 success at the free-throw line.

Devin Booker led the Suns with 20 points on 6-for-13 shooting, though he was 1-for-6 from 3-point range. Kevin Durant finished with 18 points and Bradley Beal scored 14, but the pair combined to shoot 12 of 32 from the field.

Minnesota outscored Phoenix 55-42 in the second half to secure the victory.

Mavericks 96, Clippers 93: Series tied 1-1

Luka Doncic had 32 points and nine assists, and Kyrie Irving added 23 points as the Dallas Mavericks got the best of the Los Angeles Clippers 96-93 in Game 2 on Tuesday to even their first-round playoff series.

P.J. Washington scored 18 points and Derrick Jones Jr. had 10 as the Mavericks recovered from a double-digit defeat in Game 1 on Sunday when they trailed by as many as 29 points and scored just 30 in the first half.

Doncic and Irving combined to go 19 of 44 (43.2%) in the game after they struggled in the decisive first half of Game 1 when they combined to shoot 5 of 19 (26.3%). The Mavericks shot 42.1% in Game 2 after shooting 30.3% in Game 1.

The series moves to Dallas for Game 3 on Friday.

James Harden and Paul George each scored 22 points as the Clippers were unable to take advantage of Kawhi Leonard’s return. Leonard, who had not played since March 31 because of right knee inflammation, scored 15 points in 35 minutes.

Ivica Zubac finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers, who led by as many as six points early in the fourth quarter before the Mavericks rallied.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY