Raptors and Warriors tie up their respective series’ against Nets and Clippers.
The Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets are on the brink of being eliminated from the playoffs after defeats to the Washington Wizards and Portland Trail Blazers respectively.
Trevor Ariza had a career playoff-high 30 points for the Wizards as the hosts scored the first 14 points of the game on Sunday and never looked back as they controlled proceedings throughout.
The win gives them a 3-1 series lead heading back to Chicago for Game 5 on Tuesday, but despite the absence of forward Nene, Washington were able to make their shots from beyond the arc and largely control matters inside to limit the Bulls.
Taj Gibson scored a career-high 32 points on 13 for 16 shooting, but his team-mates combined to go for 22 for 62 from the field which ultimately ensured that they slipped up yet again to their Eastern Conference rivals and now face a tough task in avoiding an early exit.
Staying in the East, the Toronto Raptors picked up a hugely impressive road win against the Brooklyn Nets to level their series at 2-2.
DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points while Kyle Lowry added 22 and the Raptors conquered the Barclays Center despite almost squandering a 17-point lead.
Paul Pierce conceded that the Nets were rushing and pressing too much while also playing too much individual basketball, and for a team that assembled an expensive roster to bring immediate success, they will undoubtedly be feeling the pressure of a first-round exit.
Game 5 is in Toronto on Wednesday before the series switches back to Brooklyn on Friday for Game 6, but as is the case with a number of other match-ups, this one could easily go the distance.
Switching to the Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors also tied up their series at 2-2 with the Los Angeles Clippers, with Stephen Curry starring with 33 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
In what was a difficult 24 hours for the Clippers after an audio recording emerged of owner Donald Sterling making racist remarks, the players united with a silent protest prior to the game while also wearing black armbands, wristbands and socks in an attempt to make their feelings known.
However, while Curry sympathised with the opposition over their situation, he was keen to ensure that the focus remained on basketball as he made a blistering start to the game going 5-for-5 from three-point range.
Andre Iguodala added 22 points and nine assists while Warriors coach Mark Jackson got production across the roster as this evenly poised series takes another twist.
In the final game of the night the Portland Trail Blazers solidified their position against the Houston Rockets by taking a 3-1 lead with LaMarcus Aldridge leading the way again with 29 points and 10 rebounds.
Nicolas Batum added 25 points in the first win for the home team in the series, while it was also the third overtime game of the match-up.
James Harden had 28 points, Dwight Howard added 25 points and 14 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough as the Rockets now have a real fight on their hands.
NBA Results:
Chicago Bulls 89-98 Washington Wizards
Los Angeles Clippers 97-118 Golden State Warriors
Toronto Raptors 87-79 Brooklyn Nets
Houston Rockets 120-123 Portland Trail Blazers
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