ScoreBoard: Heat Sweep Bobcats; Hawks Take 3-2 Lead Against Pacers

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Lebron James had a game-high 31 points and game-high 9 assists to help the Miami Heat defeat the Charlotte Bobcats 109-98. Miami swept Charlotte 4-0 and became the first team to advance to the conference semifinals. Chris Bosh had 17 points and a team-high 8 rebounds. Kemba Walker led the Bobcats with 29 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. The Heat will face the winner of the Brooklyn Nets/Toronto Raptors series. This sweep will allow Dwyane Wade to get more rest for the Heat next opponent. If Wade stays healthy throughout the entire playoffs, the Heat have a good chance of winning their third championship in a row.

Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports

 
The Atlanta Hawks held on to beat the Indiana Pacers 107-97 to take a 3-2 series lead. The Hawks scored 41 second-quarter points and led 61-40 at halftime. The Hawks led 80-50 with 7 minutes left in the third quarter before the Pacers attempted a comeback. The Hawks had six players to score 12 points or more and reserve Shelvin Mack had a team-high 20 points. Paul Millsap had 18 points, 8 rebound s and 4 blocks for the Hawks. Kyle Korver had 16 points and a team-high 9 rebounds for the Hawks.

Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

 
Paul George had a all-around game with a game-high 26 points, game-high 12 rebounds, 6 assists and a game-high 6 steals for the Pacers. David West, Lance Stephenson and George Hill each scored 16 points for the Pacers. The eight seed Hawks will come home for game 6 and have a chance at upsetting the one seed Pacers.

I predicted the Hawks would make this a six game series and had a good chance of making this a seven game series if Roy Hibbert continued to play poorly. Hibbert played poorly again going scoreless in 12 minutes. If the Hawks win game six, I think they would beat the winner of the Washington Wizards/Chicago Bulls series and should advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.