NBA Playoffs Wrap: Andrew Bogut’s Golden State Warriors into second round after defeating New Orleans

ANDREW Bogut’s Golden State Warriors became the first team to progress to the second round of the NBA playoffs with victory over New Orleans.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) goes to the basket against New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis during the second half of Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series in New Orleans, Saturday, April 25, 2015. The Warriors won 109-98 to sweep the series. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

THE Golden State Warriors became the first team to punch their ticket to the second round of the NBA playoffs on Saturday with a 109-98 victory over New Orleans.

The Warriors, with Stephen Curry again leading the way, completed a four-game sweep of the Pelicans in the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series.

Golden State will next face either Portland or Memphis, who faced off later Saturday in game three of their series.

Portland were hoping a shift to their home court would signal a change of fortune after they dropped the first two games of the series in Memphis.

Curry scored 39 points, pulled down eight rebounds and handed out nine assists for the Warriors, who took a double-digit lead into the fourth quarter.

Andrew Bogut blocks a shot from New Orleans Pelicans centre Omer Asik.

Andrew Bogut’s impact was limited by early foul trouble, but the towering Australian centre still managed three blocks, three rebounds, two points and an assist in 22:14 minutes for the Warriors.

“Obviously they played well even though we swept them,” Bogut said of the Pelicans. “They weren’t four easy game. A lot of respect goes out towards a lot of their players. They really battled us and tested us.

“I think we needed that. We’re going on to the next round now. It’s a bit of advantage to get a bit of a rest. We’ve just got to make sure we don’t get too much rest.

“(Steph Curry) is an unbelievable player. He’s the best player in the NBA right now in my opinion. He’s the MVP. The shots that he makes ... He keeps us in games. He gets a lot of us open shots because he demands so much attention.”

Stephen Curry drives to the basket during another impressive display for the Golden State Warriors.

Although the desperate Pelicans managed to whittle the gap to as few as seven points, it was a vastly more comfortable affair than the Warriors’ game-three win, in which they overcame a 20-point deficit.

Klay Thompson scored 25 points and Draymond Green scored 20 of his 22 points in the first half.

Green also delivered 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Warriors, who posted their first sweep of a seven-game series since they won the 1975 NBA finals.

Pelicans star Anthony Davis contributed 36 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks and Eric Gordon chipped in 29 points in the defeat.

Brook Lopez #11 of the Brooklyn Nets attempts to drive past Pero Antic #6 and DeMarre Carroll #5 of the Atlanta Hawks.

NETS 91 — HAWKS 83

They were beaten badly in the regular season and were losing by a little in the playoffs.

On their seventh try this season, the Nets finally got a victory over Atlanta. Get another one Monday and they will be all even with the No. 1 seed in this Eastern Conference series.

Brook Lopez had 22 points and 13 rebounds, Thaddeus Young added 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Brooklyn trimmed Atlanta’s lead to 2-1 with a 91-83 victory Saturday. Bojan Bogdanovic added 19 points for the eighth-seeded Nets, who qualified for the playoffs on the final night of the regular season.

DeMarre Carroll scored a playoff career-high 22 points for the Hawks, who were denied what would have been their second 3-0 lead since moving to Atlanta in 1968. Paul Millsap added 18 points and 17 rebounds.

BUCKS 92 — BULLS 90

Jerryd Bayless cut right along the baseline, leaving Derrick Rose a couple of steps behind.

It was just the sliver of an opening Bayless needed to put up a game-winning layup at the buzzer.

Bayless’ basket gave Milwaukee a rousing 92-90 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, drawing the upstart Bucks within 3-1 in their Eastern Conference playoff series.

Chicago had a chance to win with the game tied at 90. But Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton tipped a dribble away from Rose to force a steal. Kidd called timeout to set up the final play.

With a total of 28 turnovers, the whole team played a part in failing to close out a four-game sweep.

Jimmy Butler had a playoff career-high 33 points for the Bulls. Pau Gasol had 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Rose finished with 14 points, six assists and eight turnovers.

O.J. Mayo finished with 18 points, including a 3-pointer with 1:42 left. Dudley had 13 points and five assists -- including the one on the game-winner -- while Bayless had 10 points.

Jeff Green #32 of the Memphis Grizzlies is fouled by Arron Afflalo #4 of the Portland Trail Blazers.

GRIZZLIES 115 — TRAIL BLAZERS 109

Marc Gasol had 25 points and the Memphis Grizzlies took a 3-0 lead in their playoff series over the Trail Blazers by withstanding a late Portland rally for a 115-109 victory on Saturday night.

Courtney Lee had 20 points and Mike Conley added 14 before leaving the game late in the third quarter with a facial injury. Memphis was already thin at point guard with reserve Beno Udrih sidelined with a sprained right ankle.

Game 4 is Monday night at Portland.

Nicolas Batum finished with 27 points for the Blazers, who have dropped seven straight games, including four to wrap up the regular season. C.J. McCollum added 26.

Zach Randolph added 16 points and the Grizzlies won their seventh straight against Portland, including a sweep of the four-game regular season series.

Originally published as NBA Playoffs Wrap: Andrew Bogut’s Golden State Warriors into second round after defeating New Orleans