Chris Paul scored 15 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter Monday night as Oklahoma City topped Houston, 104-100, to force a deciding game seven on Wednesday night (ESPN, 9 p.m.) in the first-round series of the NBA playoffs. … Jimmy Butler scored 40 points as Miami knocked off Milwaukee, 115-104, in the opening game of the second-round series. … Former Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson died Sunday night at age 78. Thompson guided the Hoyas to the NCAA championship in 1984. … Former UNC running back Natrone Means is offensive coordinator at Fayetteville State. The Broncos’ season has been pushed to the spring. … The Carolina Panthers announced that they will not allow fans in their season opener at home against Las Vegas on Sept. 13. … N.C. State will not have fans at its fall sports home events through the month of September. … San Diego acquired right-handed pitcher Mike Clevinger from Cleveland at the major league baseball trade deadline on Monday.