Suns oust Blazers
Jason Richardson scored 28 points, including five 3-pointers, and the Phoenix Suns advanced to the second round of the playoffs with a 99-90 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 6 on Thursday.
The sixth-seeded Suns will face seventh-seeded San Antonio, who advanced by beating Dallas 97-87 on Thursday night. The opening game of the Western Conference semifinals is Monday night in Phoenix.
The Suns last went to the second round in 2007, when they got past the Los Angeles Lakers to open the playoffs before falling to the Spurs. In 2008, the Spurs got the best of Phoenix in the first round.
Grant Hill of the Suns advanced past the first round for the first time in his career.
The Suns went up 53-41 at halftime and led by as many as 16 points in the second half. The Blazers tied it at 76 midway through the fourth quarter but could not pull ahead.
Associated Press
(China Daily 05/01/2010 page24)
