The Brooklyn Nets desperately needed Deron Williams at his very best to stay alive in the first round of their playoffs series against the Atlanta Hawks, and Williams took over the show in a 120-115 overtime win on Tuesday morning.
Williams finished with seven three-pointers as part of his 35-point performance to help the Nets tie the series at 2-2.
Even though DeMarre Carroll made four of his five three-pointers en route to 20 points, and Jeff Teague added 20 points for the Hawks, the night belonged to Williams.
“It was definitely one of my better games this year for sure and probably as a Net,” Williams said after the game.
The series continues with Game 5 live on SuperSport on Thursday morning at Philips arena in Atlanta.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers will have to wait a few more days to find out their opponents in the second-round series as Michael Carter-Williams rescued the Milwaukee Bucks from imminent elimination in a 94-88 victory at the Chicago Bulls.
This was despite Spaniard Pau Gasol making nine of his 15 field goals to go with a team-high 25 points, 10 rebounds and two assists for the Bulls. Carter-Williams’ and Khris Middleton’s 22 and 21 points respectively, gave themselves a chance, cutting the series deficit to 3-2.
“We believe that we can beat this team, and we felt that we shouldn’t be going home right now,” Middleton said afterwards.
Chicago will have a third chance to close the series out on Friday morning at BMO Harris Bradley Centre in Milwaukee.
In Portland, the Trail Blazers made sure they did not get swept, beating the Memphis Grizzlies to stay alive in the playoffs by defeating the Memphis Grizzlies 99-92 after a huge effort from Damian Lillard, who had 32 points and seven assists.
Marc Gasol finished with 21 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in the loss, while LaMarcus Aldridge had 18 points and 12 rebounds for Portland, but the Grizzlies will try to close the series in Game 6 on Thursday at Memphis.
