MILWAUKEE — Ray Allen scored 23 points and broke the NBA career playoff record for 3-pointers, and the Miami Heat used another of their patented runs to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 104-91 on Thursday night for a 3-0 lead in their first-round series.
The Heat can complete the sweep in Game 4 on Sunday at the Bradley Center. No team has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a series in the NBA playoffs.
Allen’s five 3-pointers against the Bucks gave him 322 for his career, two more than Reggie Miller. LeBron James added 22 points for the Heat, and Chris Bosh had 16 points and 14 rebounds. Dwyane Wade scored only four points, but had 11 assists.
Larry Sanders and Brandon Jennings led the Bucks with 16 points each.
BULLS 79, NETS 76
CHICAGO — Carlos Boozer had 22 points and 16 rebounds, Luol Deng added 21 points and 10 boards, and Chicago held off Brooklyn in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series.
The Bulls had no field goals and two foul shots in the final 5:46 of the game, but still managed to beat the Nets for the second time in the postseason. They will try to grab a 3-1 lead when the series resumes in a quick turnaround Saturday afternoon.
Brooklyn shot 35 percent for the second straight game. Brook Lopez had 22 points and nine rebounds, and Deron Williams finished with 18 points on 5-for-14 shooting.
GRIZZLIES 94, CLIPPERS 82
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Zach Randolph had 27 points and 11 rebounds, and Memphis beat Los Angeles to pull to 2-1 in the series.
Memphis snapped the Clippers’ nine-game winning streak by outrebounding and dominating on second-chance points, the same things Los Angeles did so well on its home court to start the series.
Marc Gasol accepted his trophy as the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year before tipoff, then scored 16 points
Blake Griffin scored 16 points for the Clippers. Chris Paul had eight points on 4-of-11 shooting and added six assists.
Game 4 is Saturday in Memphis.
