Basketball

Raptors and Heat to meet conference semi-finals, Klay stars in Warriors’ 118-106 win over Blazers

The Toronto Raptors claimed their first play-off series win in 15 years after seeing off the Indiana Pacers in the seventh and deciding game on Sunday.

With the first-round Eastern Conference post-season matchup level at 3-3, DeMar DeRozan recorded 30 points to lead the Raptors to their first series win since 2001.

Jonas Valanciunas chipped in with a double-double via 10 points and 15 rebounds as the Raptors earned a conference semi-final showdown against the Miami Heat, who will start on the road in Toronto for the first ever play-off meeting between the two teams.

Paul George’s 26 points and 12 rebounds were not enough to prolong the Pacers’ season.

The Heat fought back from the brink of elimination to advance with a 106-73 blowout over the Charlotte Hornets in game seven.

The series-deciding game was never particularly close, but the Heat really separated themselves in the third quarter, outscoring the Hornets 29-11 to open a 30-point lead ahead of the fourth.

Goran Dragic posted 17 first-half points and 25 through three quarters for the Heat, who trailed 3-2 in the series having claimed the opening two games.

Hornets star Kemba Walker was limited to just nine points in 36 minutes.

Meanwhile, defending champions the Golden State Warriors accounted for the Portland Trail Blazers 118-106 in game one of the Western Conference semi-final.

Klay Thompson posted a game-high 37 points and Draymond Green had a triple-double (23 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists) as the Warriors won in the absence of injured MVP Stephen Curry.

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