Chicago Bulls’ Mike Dunleavy (34) drives against the Milwaukee Bucks’ O.J. Mayo during the second half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 30, 2015, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
MILWAUKEE — Mike Dunleavy scored 20 points and Chicago came close to an NBA playoff record, finally putting away Milwaukee with a 120-66 victory in Game 6 to clinch their first-round series Thursday night.
The Bulls, who move on to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round, finished four points from the NBA playoff record for largest margin of victory. Minnesota beat St. Louis 133-75 on March 19, 1956.
The game featured plenty of the intensity and bad blood that marked the first five games of the series and Dunleavy was in the middle of much of it. He drew the foul that led to the ejection of Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo for a flagrant 2 foul just before halftime.
Pau Gasol scored 19 points and Jimmy Butler added 16 for the Bulls, who led the series 3-0.
No Bucks starter scored more than ZaZa Pachulia’s eight points. It was the biggest playoff loss in team history. The Bucks lost by 36 points at New York in 1970.
CLIPPERS 102, SPURS 96
SAN ANTONIO — Blake Griffin had 26 points and 12 rebounds and Chris Paul had 19 points and 15 assists as Los Angeles held on to force a Game 7 in the first-round series.
Marco Belinelli hit two 3-pointers in the final 80 seconds, including one with 14 seconds remaining, to cut the Clippers’ lead to 98-96. But Jamal Crawford hit two free throws to preserve the win.
The Clippers, who won for the second time in San Antonio, forced a Game 7 on Saturday in Los Angeles. No other first-round series has gone the distance.
J.J. Redick added 19 points and DeAndre Jordan had 15 points and 14 rebounds for Los Angeles.
Belinelli led San Antonio with 23 points, including going 7 for 11 from 3-point range.