NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS

The 4th-seeded Miami Heat continue to toss in record 3s, good for 18 this time to turn back the 5th-seeded Indiana Pacers for the second straight time Thursday in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association playoffs, with the 4th-seeded Houston Rockets doing the same in handing the 5th-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder a second-straight defeat at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena VIsta, Fla.

Miami won 109-100 and Houston emerged victorious 111-98. In the other first round games, the East’s No. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks, bounced back from a first-game loss to the 8th-seeded Orlando Magic by winning this time, 111-96, to put the series at a game apiece in what is a best-of-seven.

Then there was the Los Angeles Lakers, the top seed in the Western Conference, dealing the 8th-seeded Portland Trailblazers a 111-88 setback after being surprised in the opener. The 6-foot-11 Anthony Davis took over for the Lakers with a game-high 31 points and 11 rebounds. He also blocked four shots and dished out five assists.

And yes, your sight is fine as three of the winning teams scored an unusual 111 points apiece, with the Heat two wins less. And one more once, the Magic turned in 96 points, the Thunder 98, and the Pacers 100.

On the Friday schedule is the 3rd-seeded Boston Celtics looking to win a third-straight over the 6th-seeded Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference, and the top-seeded, defending champion Toronto Raptors seeking the same in game three versus the 7th-seeded Brooklyn Nets, also in the East.

In the Western Conference games, the 3rd-seeded Denver Nuggets out to break the 1-1 tie that came about when the 4th-seeded Utah Jazz avenged the first-game loss with a stellar effort. Then it’s the 2nd-seeded Los Angeles Clippers meeting up with the 7th-seeded Dallas Mavericks after losing to them in game two.