TORONTO Raptors tied their Eastern Conference semifinals series with Boston Celtics, 2-2, after breaking the latter, 100-93, Saturday night (Sunday in the Philippines).
Cameroonian Pascal Siakam led the way for the defending champions Raptors with 23 points and 11 rebounds while Kyle Lowry submitted 22 marks and 11 boards.
From a nip-and-tuck battle in the first two quarters, the Raptors created separation from the Celtics in the third behind Fred VanVleet and Serge Ibaka to establish a 79-68 advantage.
The Celtics tried their best to turn things around in the final period, but the Raptors had a timely response to keep their opponents at bay.
Denver Nuggets, meanwhile, defeated Los Angeles Clippers, 110-101, in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinals to level the series at 1-1.
The Nuggets nearly blew a 23-point lead if not for Gary Harris’ back-to-back game-sealing threes.
Jamal Murray finished the showdown with 27 points, Nikola Jokić contributed 26 marks and 18 rebounds while Harris and Paul Millsap contributed 13 markers apiece for Denver.
Miami Heat, on the other hand, is one victory away from earning a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals following a come-from-behind 115-100 Game 3 victory over Milwaukee Bucks on Sept. 4.
Houston Rockets, for its part, dominated Los Angeles Lakers in their Western Conference semifinals opener Friday, 112-97.
James Harden fired 36 points while Russel Westbrook added 24 markers for the victors.
The NBA holds all matches of its 2019-2020 playoffs at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex inside Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida, United States.
