Clippers advance, Heat clinch opener

MEMPHIS, Tennessee: The Los Angeles Clippers beat the Memphis Grizzlies 82-72 on Sunday to reach the second round of the NBA playoffs while the Miami Heat, led by MVP LeBron James, took another step toward the title they are expected to win by defeating Indiana in their series opener.
James and Dwyane Wade combined for 61 points as Miami beat the Indiana Pacers 95-86 but they lost forward Chris Bosh to an abdominal injury in the second quarter.
Chris Paul shook off an ailing hip to register 19 points for the Clippers, who reached the Western Conference semifinals for the first time in six years.
They set up a second round showdown with the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs, starting in Texas on Tuesday.
Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol each scored a team-high 19 points for the Grizzlies who rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to force the winner-takes-all decider in Memphis.
The Grizzlies led by a point heading into the fourth quarter but Los Angeles went on an 11-2 run at the start of the period to seize control in a physical game.
“It’s not what you wanted. It’s not what you expected,” said Memphis guard O.J. Mayo. “But the results are the results. You’ve got to go into the off-season very motivated.”
Bodies collided and players clashed during a tough contest that saw both teams shoot poorly but the Clippers found a way to prevail, helped by 41 points from their bench.
““That’s what we do, the bench comes in and we try to change the pace of the game,” reserve Eric Bledsoe told reporters.
“We come in and get stops and just run.”
In Miami, James hoisted the MVP trophy he was awarded on Saturday to the crowd before the game. Then, he lifted the Heat to victory, scoring 32 points and making 15 rebounds.
Wade added 29 for Miami who lost Bosh early. The Pacers led by six at halftime but failed to consolidate their advantage as the Heat assumed control.

Irving to be named NBA’s top rookie
Meantime, Kyrie Irving began his first pro season as the top pick and ended it as the top rookie.
Cleveland’s smooth, playmaking point guard has been chosen as the NBA’s Rookie of the Year, a person familiar with the voting told the Associated Press on Sunday.
Irving’s selection is hardly a surprise since the 20-year-old led all first-year players in scoring - 18.5 points per game - and renewed hope for Cleveland’s franchise. He’ll receive the award on Tuesday, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the league has not yet announced the winner.
ESPN.com and The Cleveland Plain Dealer first reported Irving’s win.
Results of the voting won’t be available until Tuesday, but it’s safe to assume Irving’s victory will be lopsided. After Minnesota guard Ricky Rubio suffered a season-ending knee injury, Irving was far and away the best all-around player in the rookie class.
The Cavs used the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft to select Irving, who played in just 11 games as a freshman at Duke because of a toe injury. However, it didn’t take long for the 6-foot-3 Irving to establish himself as one of the game’s rising stars. With a fearlessness on the floor, Irving made clutch shots, orchestrated fourth-quarter comebacks and managed to keep the Cavs competitive and in the playoff picture for several months before they traded guard Ramon Sessions in March and injuries took their toll.
Irving is the second Cavaliers player to win the award, joining LeBron James in 2004.
Irving’s is the final postseason award to be announced by the league. On Saturday, James, who spent seven seasons in Cleveland before signing with Miami, won his third MVP award in four seasons.
Irving recently treated himself to a postseason vacation in the Bahamas. In June, he’s expected to play on the Cavs summer league team in Las Vegas and will be part of a US Select Team which will train against the American Olympic team going to the London Games.