NBA PLAYOFFS ROUNDUP: NBA - Spurs open play-off series with easy win over Lakers

                             Spurs 91, Lakers 79

Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili scored 18 points apiece as host San Antonio pulled away in the second half of its first-round series opener against Los Angeles.

Tim Duncan added 17 points, 10 rebounds and three steals for the Spurs, who entered the post season with three straight losses but raised their game to take a 1-0 lead into Wednesday's Game two of the best-of-seven series.

Dwight Howard had 20 points and 15 rebounds and Pau Gasol added 16 and 16 rebounds for the Lakers, who struggled from the perimeter without injured superstar Kobe Bryant. Los Angeles went 3-of-15 from three-point range.
San Antonio trailed only once - at 2-0 - and took a 70-57 lead entering the fourth



                                     Heat 110, Bucks 87

LeBron James scored 27 points on 9-of-11 shooting and added 10 rebounds and eight assists as host Miami cruised past Milwaukee in Game One of a first-round play-off series.

Ray Allen chipped in 20 points off the bench and Dwyane Wade scored 16 for the top-seeded Heat, who shot 55.9 per cent from the floor and dominated the second half as they began their pursuit of back-to-back NBA titles.

Brandon Jennings scored 26 points and Monta Ellis had 22 as the only players in double figures for the eighth-seeded Bucks.

James had 15 points in the first half to help Miami grab a 52-45 lead at the break, but the Heat really started to open things up in the third quarter. Chris Bosh highlighted an 11-1 burst early in the period with a three-pointer and James' driving left-handed dunk helped Miami end the third with a 7-0 run and take an 80-65 lead into the fourth.

James and Chris Andersen took turns getting the crowd on its feet with some highlight finishes around the rim early in the final quarter and Allen's three-pointer with 5:54 left pushed it out to 96-73.

                                 Thunder 120, Rockets 91

Kevin Durant scored 24 points and Russell Westbrook had 19 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds as host Oklahoma City routed Houston in the opener of the first-round Western Conference series.

The top-seeded Thunder never trailed en route to matching the largest margin of victory in a postseason game in the franchise's five seasons since relocating from Seattle.

James Harden scored 20 points as the only starter in double figures for the eighth-seeded Rockets, who were playing their first playoff game in four years. The other Houston starters combined for 28 points.
The Thunder led by 13 points at halftime and quickly increased the advantage to 74-54 on two free throws by Westbrook with 8:07 left in the third quarter.
Game Two is in Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

                                            Pacers 107, Hawks 90

Paul George collected 23 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists as host Indiana Pacers took Game One of their first-round play-off series 107-90 from Atlanta Hawks.

George went 17-for-18 from the free throw line to lead a 30-for-34 effort from the stripe by the Pacers. George Hill added 18 points and Roy Hibbert had 16 for Indiana, which will host Game Two of the best-of-7 series on Wednesday.
Jeff Teague recorded 21 points and seven assists and Josh Smith scored 15 as the Hawks dropped their opening postseason game for the first time since 2008 at Boston.

The Pacers used a 13-2 run in the first quarter to take the lead and did not trail again.They went ahead 77-61 after Lance Stephenson's three-pointer with 4:52 left in the third.