NBA Playoff Wrap: Patty Mills stars in Spurs OT victory, Grizzlies down Trail Blazers, Hawks beat Nets

NBA WRAP: Patty Mills played a starring role in San Antonio’s clutch playoffs victory over the Clippers and got some massive compliments for his performance.

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 22: Patty Mills #8 of the San Antonio Spurs is fouled by Dahntay Jones #31 of the Los Angeles Clippers during Game Two of the Western Conference quarterfinals of the 2015 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 22, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and condition of the Getty Images License Agreement. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

PATTY Mills has played a starring role in San Antonio’s playoff series-levelling victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, equalling his career high post-season points tally and earning massive, widespread praise in the process.

In the thrilling 111- 107 win, Mills shot 18 points — all in the second half and overtime — including a clutch pair of free throws to level the scores with less than nine seconds remaining in regulation time.

“I feel good,” Mills said. “It was a game of grit and grind and competitiveness. We showed competitiveness at the toughest times, which is good. We lacked that in the first game. We knew that before any Xs and Os in this game we needed to show that we can compete for 48 minutes and even more tonight in overtime.

Big shots from @Patty_Mills when we needed them #VeryClutch

— David Robinson (@DavidtheAdmiral) April 23, 2015

“It was a huge game. We knew this was going to be huge going back home for two games. The mindset was like it was a game seven. That was the way we treated it.

“It’s always good when you knock down one. You try to take the confidence into the next one. But just like any shooter will say ... it’s on to the next one. Short-term memory is always good for a shooter.”

Superstar teammate Manu Ginobili added: “Patty was huge down the stretch. We were struggling to score five-on-five. We were fouling so it was hard to pick up the pace. But he was huge. He made a few big shots.”

Mills also drew huge praise on social media for his clutch performance.

Patty Mills has turned into the clutchest Spur and as fearless a late-game player as there is in the league.

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 23, 2015

Patty led the bench tonight with 18 points.#BALA pic.twitter.com/RbbinlOU6b

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 23, 2015

Patty Mills is killer. He will always have a job in NBA love his game.

— BRANDON JENNINGS (@BrandonJennings) April 23, 2015

Mills shot five-from-nine from the field, including two three-pointers, along with an assist and three rebounds in 19:05 minutes off the bench.

Mills filled the void created when Tony Parker injured his ankle in game one against the Clippers.

Parker took the court in game two but was held to a solitary point in 29:49 minutes.

Mills signalled his intentions when he nailed a pair of crucial three pointers late in the third quarter, and again when he calmly nailed the two free throws that took the game into overtime.

Patty Mills of the San Antonio Spurs shoot a three pointer in front of J.J. Redick.

He shot four more pivotal free throws in OT to help the Spurs level the series at 1-1 heading to San Antonio.

Mills scored 14 and 17 points respectively in the final two games of San Antonio Spurs’ championship-winning series against the Miami Heat in 2014.

His equal-high playoff points tally came in the same season when he tallied 18 points against the Portland Trail Blazers. He has played 47 playoff games dating back to 2010.

“It was a huge game,” Mills told reporters after the game.

“Our mindset was it was like a game seven and that’s how we treated it.”

Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs smiles as he returns to the bench with Patty Mills #8.

“Nothing,” Mills replied when asked what was going on in his head when he lined up for the pressure free throws.

“Just keep it simple, step up and shoot.”

Mills’ Australian teammate, Aron Baynes, was not activated in game two after being dominated by Blake Griffin in the playoff opener.

Popovich instead went with Tiago Splitter, Boris Diaw, Matt Bonner to guard Griffin, who had 29 points.

Baynes played 20 minutes in Sunday’s loss.

“Patty will be coming out soon, talk to him,” a disappointed Baynes told AAP in the locker room.

PATTY THRILLS!

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 23, 2015

Patty Mills this overtime be like pic.twitter.com/pEhb3y8TU3

— SportsNation (@SportsNation) April 23, 2015

Patty Mills is my #podiumgame nominee

— J.A. Adande (@jadande) April 23, 2015

GRIZZLIES 97 — TRAIL BLAZERS 82

Known for pounding opponents inside with Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, the Memphis Grizzlies are showing they can be just as effective outside the paint.

Hey, they can even shoot 3-pointers.

The Grizzlies took full advantage of starting the playoffs at home for only the second time in their short postseason history. They had only won their playoff opener once before, and that was on the road in San Antonio in 2011.

Mike Conley and Courtney Lee each scored 18 points, and the Grizzlies beat Portland 97-82 Wednesday night to grab the franchise’s first 2-0 lead in a playoff series.

Gasol had 15 points, and Randolph and Beno Udrih added 10 apiece.

LaMarcus Aldridge led Portland with 24 points and 14 rebounds, and he also had four blocks with two steals. Damian Lillard added 18 points but the Trail Blazers lost their first two playoff games for the first time since 2011, when they fell in six games to Dallas.

Marc Gasol #33 of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts after making a basket against the Portland Trailblazers during the first quarter.

HAWKS 96 — NETS 91

Paul Millsap answered all those questions about his shoulder. Al Horford didn’t let a dislocated finger slow him down.

As for the Hawks, they’ve yet to show the form that carried them to the top of the Eastern Conference.

No. 1-seeded Atlanta again survived a tougher-than-expected test from the Brooklyn Nets, holding on for a 96-91 victory and a 2-0 lead in their playoff series Wednesday night.

Millsap, who missed five games near the end of the season with a sprained right shoulder, ditched a pad that he felt restricted his shooting motion. He responded by hitting 7 of 11 shots and finished with 19 points.

Horford also looked fine, scoring 14 points while leading the Hawks with 13 rebounds and seven assists. He did it all with his right hand taped, after dislocating his pinky finger in Game 1.

Kyle Korver chipped in with 17 points, knocking down three shots beyond the arc. But overall, the Hawks made only 39 per cent from the field.

Dennis Schroder #17 of the Atlanta Hawks drives against Brook Lopez #11 of the Brooklyn Nets.

Originally published as NBA Playoff Wrap: Patty Mills stars in Spurs OT victory, Grizzlies down Trail Blazers, Hawks beat Nets