Celtics & 76ers tie series; Lakers take control 2-0

Paul Pierce wiped out an 11-point deficit in the second half by scoring 36 points to carry the Boston Celtics to an 87-80 win against the Atlanta Hawks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, even with Rajon Rondo serving a suspension and Ray Allen sidelined again by an ailing ankle.




Jrue Holiday scored 26 points and Lou Williams added 20 as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Chicago Bulls, 109-92 to even their Eastern Conferece quarterfinal series at one in the Bulls' first game since Derrick Rose's season-ending knee injury.




Kobe Bryant scored 38 points and Andrew Bynum followed up his triple-double with a career playoff-high 27 points & nine rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers weathered the Denver Nuggets' late rally for a 104-100 victory to take a 2-0 series lead in the Western Conference quarterfinals.