AROUND THE NBA Wednesday’s playoff results

Wizards 109, Hawks 101

WASHINGTON

Bradley Beal took over in the fourth quarter with 16 of his 31 points, including a key late 3-pointer, helping the Wizards beat the Hawks for a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round series. John Wall finished with 32 points and nine assists, including the dish to Beal for his shot from beyond the arc with 38 seconds remaining that sealed the win for the hosts. Washington, which trailed 78-74 entering the final period, won despite only a combined seven points from starting forwards Markieff Morris and Otto Porter Jr., who were both in foul trouble early. Paul Millsap led the Hawks with 27 points and 10 rebounds, and Dennis Schroder scored 23 points. The series now shifts to Atlanta for Game 3 on Saturday.

Rockets 115, Thunder 111

HOUSTON

James Harden scored 35 points and the Rockets overcame 51 points from Russell Westbrook, clawing back from a double-digit deficit over the Thunder to take a 2-0 lead in the first-round Western Conference playoff series. Westbrook set a franchise playoff scoring record and added 13 assists and 10 rebounds in the most points ever scored in a postseason triple-double. It was the sixth career playoff triple-double for Westbrook, who had an NBA-record 42 in the regular season. But the Rockets contained him long enough in the fourth quarter to surge ahead, then hold on. Game 3 is Friday night in Oklahoma City. The game was tied before Houston scored 10 straight points with 3-pointers from Harden, Patrick Beverley and Eric Gordon to make it 114-104 with 1:22 remaining.

Associated Press