Knicks & Spurs take 3-0 leads; Warriors up 2-1

Carmelo Anthony scored 26 points as the New York Knicks moved to the brink of a sweepby taking down the Boston Celtics, 90-76, in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first-round series. Quickly taking the crowd out of it in the first NBA game since the Boston Marathon bombings, the Knicks built a 16-point halftime lead and are now are on the verge of eliminating the Celtics. New York will go for the sweep this Sunday afternoon in Game 4.




Tim Duncan had 26 points & nine rebounds and Tony Parker had 20 points & seven assists in a largely silent Staples Center as the San Antonio Spurs destroyed the Los Angeles Lakers, 120-89, to push them to the brink of a first-round playoff elimination for the first time since 2007. The Lakers suffered their biggest home playoff loss in franchise history as San Antonio led throughout the final 44 minutes, going up by 18 in the first half and 25 early in the 4th quarter. The Spurs could close it out with a sweep in Game 4 at the Staples Center this Sunday night.




Playing on a sprained left ankle, Stephen Curry finished with 29 points and 11 assists as the Golden State Warriors survived against the Denver Nuggets, 110-108, to take a 2-1 series lead in the Western Conferece quarterfinals. Jarrett Jack added 23 points & seven assists and Harrison Barnes & Carl Landry each scored 19 points to help the Warriors rally from 13 points down in the third quarter. Game 4 will be this Sunday night in Oakland.