MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Kenyon Martin scored seven of his 11 points in the fourth quarter, and the Los Angeles Clippers advanced to the Western Conference semifinals with an 82-72 win Sunday over the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 7.
The Clippers won only their third postseason series in 41 years and just their second since relocating to Los Angeles. They also avoided becoming the ninth NBA team to blow a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven series. The Clippers move on to play the top-seeded Spurs starting Tuesday night in San Antonio.
Chris Paul scored 19 points despite playing with a strained right hip flexor. Nick Young added 13 off the bench as the Clippers finished off the series with their biggest margin of victory.
Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol each scored 19 for Memphis. Zach Randolph had a game-high 12 rebounds.
A year ago, the Grizzlies lost a Game 7 at Oklahoma City in the second round of the playoffs.
Heat 95, Pacers 86
MIAMI — LeBron James scored 32 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in his first game as a three-time MVP, Dwyanne Wade finished with 29 despite struggling from the floor, and Miami turned back Indiana to open their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Chris Bosh scored 13 points for the Heatbut left late in the first half with a lower abdominal injury and did not return. He was scheduled for an MRI to determine the extent of the problem. The Heat outscored the Pacers 25-16 in the fourth, with Wade and James combining for 22 of those points.
Wade and James outscored Indiana 42-38 in the second half.
David West and Roy Hibbert each scored 17 points and combined for 23 rebounds for the Pacers, who got 10 points each from Darren Collison and George Hill.
The Heat never led by more than two until 9:20 remained in the game, when a layup by James gave Miami a 76-72 edge. Wade added another basket about 30 seconds later, and the margin eventually reached eight when James made two free throws with 7:52 left.
Back came Indiana, which got within 86-85 on a 3-pointer by Hill with 4:51 left after Miami went cold again. But one big flurry - capped by a dunk from James in transition and Wade coming from behind to block a shot by Paul George at the rim about a half-minute later - gave the Heat some breathing room.
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