Sixers Cruise Past Nets In Game 1
By Dan Bruno
The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the visiting Brooklyn Nets, 121-101, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First-Round Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday.
The game got out to a competitive start but the Sixers pulled ahead late in the first quarter and took a five-point lead into the second. The pace picked up in the second quarter, but the hosts outscored the Nets, 37-34, to take a nine-point lead into the break. The Nets did not have a solution in the third, as the Sixers held the upper hand and carried a 12-point cushion into the final frame. The 76ers made no mistakes down the stretch and confidently closed out the home win to take a, 1-0, series lead.
Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 26 points, five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal, in 33 minutes. James Harden followed up with 23 points, four rebounds, 13 assists and a steal, while Tobias Harris added 21 points, four rebounds, four assists and a block. The Sixers shot 47.2 percent from the field, including 21-of-43 from deep.
Meanwhile, Mikal Bridges led the Nets with 30 points, five rebounds and a block, in 34 minutes. Cameron Johnson followed up with 18 points, four rebounds and two assists, while Spencer Dinwiddie added 14 points, three rebounds, seven assists and a steal. The Nets shot 55.7 percent from the field, including 13-of-29 from long range.
Game 2 is scheduled for Monday in Philadelphia.
The game got out to a competitive start but the Sixers pulled ahead late in the first quarter and took a five-point lead into the second. The pace picked up in the second quarter, but the hosts outscored the Nets, 37-34, to take a nine-point lead into the break. The Nets did not have a solution in the third, as the Sixers held the upper hand and carried a 12-point cushion into the final frame. The 76ers made no mistakes down the stretch and confidently closed out the home win to take a, 1-0, series lead.
Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 26 points, five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal, in 33 minutes. James Harden followed up with 23 points, four rebounds, 13 assists and a steal, while Tobias Harris added 21 points, four rebounds, four assists and a block. The Sixers shot 47.2 percent from the field, including 21-of-43 from deep.
Meanwhile, Mikal Bridges led the Nets with 30 points, five rebounds and a block, in 34 minutes. Cameron Johnson followed up with 18 points, four rebounds and two assists, while Spencer Dinwiddie added 14 points, three rebounds, seven assists and a steal. The Nets shot 55.7 percent from the field, including 13-of-29 from long range.
Game 2 is scheduled for Monday in Philadelphia.
Celtics Cruise Past Hawks In Season Opener
The Boston Celtics defeated the Atlanta Hawks, 112-99, at TD Garden in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs First Round on Sunday. The Celtics lead the series 1-0.
The Celtics didn't have problems getting past the Hawks in the playoff opener for both teams, and the win for Boston was never in doubt, given how the game happened. Boston took control of the game early on and raced to a 29-19 lead following the fourth quarter. Boston decided to limit the impact of Trae Young, allowing other Hawks players to beat them, and the plan worked to perfection. Atlanta didn't have answers to slow down Boston given how the game unfolded, and the Celtics bolstered their advantage following a 45-25 score in the second quarter. Up by 30 points entering the second half, Boston stepped off the gas and allowed Atlanta to reduce the deficit to "only" 19 points after a 31-20 score in the third quarter. The Hawks also won the fourth quarter, but the game was already decided by the time the final 12 minutes started. The final quarter ended with a 24-18 score, but the Celtics closed things out with ease.
Jaylen Brown led the way for the Celtics with 29 points and 12 rebounds, and he also added three assists with a steal across 37 minutes. Jayson Tatum notched 25 points, 11 rebounds and two assists. Derrick White posted 24 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Marcus Smart stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Al Horford had six points, nine boards, two assists and two blocks. Robert Williams III came off the bench and posted 12 points with eight rebounds.
Dejounte Murray led the way for the Hawks and finished with 24 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals. Trae Young posted 16 points and eight assists while adding three boards and two steals. Clint Capela had 12 points and eight rebounds. John Collins also had 12 points. De’Andre Hunter had 11 points while adding three rebounds and two steals.
The Celtics didn't have problems getting past the Hawks in the playoff opener for both teams, and the win for Boston was never in doubt, given how the game happened. Boston took control of the game early on and raced to a 29-19 lead following the fourth quarter. Boston decided to limit the impact of Trae Young, allowing other Hawks players to beat them, and the plan worked to perfection. Atlanta didn't have answers to slow down Boston given how the game unfolded, and the Celtics bolstered their advantage following a 45-25 score in the second quarter. Up by 30 points entering the second half, Boston stepped off the gas and allowed Atlanta to reduce the deficit to "only" 19 points after a 31-20 score in the third quarter. The Hawks also won the fourth quarter, but the game was already decided by the time the final 12 minutes started. The final quarter ended with a 24-18 score, but the Celtics closed things out with ease.
Jaylen Brown led the way for the Celtics with 29 points and 12 rebounds, and he also added three assists with a steal across 37 minutes. Jayson Tatum notched 25 points, 11 rebounds and two assists. Derrick White posted 24 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Marcus Smart stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Al Horford had six points, nine boards, two assists and two blocks. Robert Williams III came off the bench and posted 12 points with eight rebounds.
Dejounte Murray led the way for the Hawks and finished with 24 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals. Trae Young posted 16 points and eight assists while adding three boards and two steals. Clint Capela had 12 points and eight rebounds. John Collins also had 12 points. De’Andre Hunter had 11 points while adding three rebounds and two steals.
Knicks Defeat Cavaliers in Game 1, 101-97
The New York Knicks defeated the host New York Knicks, 101-97, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First-Round Playoffs at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Saturday.
While there were eight ties and six lead changes in this game, NY led for all but a handful of minutes. They got their lead up to 12 points at times and finished the game on a 9-4 run over the final two minutes to prevail. The Knicks shot 19-of-22 from the free-throw line, while the Cavs connected on just 15-of-21. New York also out-rebounded Cleveland, 60-47, while outscoring them in second-chance points, 23-12.
The Knicks (1-0) were led by Jalen Brunson, tallying 27 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals. Julius Randle registered 19 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Josh Hart led the bench with 17 points, 10 rebounds and two assists. RJ Barrett missed 10 of his 12 shots to finish with seven points, four rebounds, six assists and four steals.
The Cavaliers (0-1) were led by Donovan Mitchell, collecting 38 points, five rebounds, eight assists and three steals. Darius Garland generated 17 points and four steals. Jarrett Allen amassed 14 points, 14 rebounds and four assists, while Evan Mobley accrued eight points, 11 rebounds and two assists. Cedi Osman led the bench with nine points and two assists.
These teams are off until Tuesday, with Cleveland looking to even up the series at home.
While there were eight ties and six lead changes in this game, NY led for all but a handful of minutes. They got their lead up to 12 points at times and finished the game on a 9-4 run over the final two minutes to prevail. The Knicks shot 19-of-22 from the free-throw line, while the Cavs connected on just 15-of-21. New York also out-rebounded Cleveland, 60-47, while outscoring them in second-chance points, 23-12.
The Knicks (1-0) were led by Jalen Brunson, tallying 27 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals. Julius Randle registered 19 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Josh Hart led the bench with 17 points, 10 rebounds and two assists. RJ Barrett missed 10 of his 12 shots to finish with seven points, four rebounds, six assists and four steals.
The Cavaliers (0-1) were led by Donovan Mitchell, collecting 38 points, five rebounds, eight assists and three steals. Darius Garland generated 17 points and four steals. Jarrett Allen amassed 14 points, 14 rebounds and four assists, while Evan Mobley accrued eight points, 11 rebounds and two assists. Cedi Osman led the bench with nine points and two assists.
These teams are off until Tuesday, with Cleveland looking to even up the series at home.
Kings Edge Warriors, 126-123, in Rousing Game 1 Win
The Sacramento Kings defeated the Golden State Warriors, 126-123, at Golden 1 Center in Game 1 of their Western Conference First-Round Playoff Series. The Kings lead the series, 1-0.
The Kings (1-0) knew they'd be in for a battle against a Warriors (0-1) squad that finished the season in strong form and was getting Andrew Wiggins back from an extended absence due to a personal matter, and sure enough, the first quarter finished knotted at 29-29. Golden State was then even better in the second quarter, opening up a six-point lead going into halftime. Sacramento had managed to gain a one-point edge going into what turned out to be a wild final period, and the game ultimately wasn't decided until Stephen Curry's last-gasp three-point attempt just narrowly missed finding the net.
Curry led the Warriors with 30 points, adding six rebounds and two assists. Klay Thompson furnished 21 points, six boards, five assists and one steal. Wiggins and Jordan Poole contributed 17 points apiece while recording three rebounds and three assists, respectively. Donte DiVincenzo delivered 10 points, four assists and three rebounds.
De'Aaron Fox paced the Kings with 38 points, supplementing them with five assists, one rebound and three steals. Malik Monk supplied 32 points, three rebounds and two assists. Trey Lyles posted 16 points, six rebounds and one assist. Harrison Barnes totaled 13 points, seven rebounds, two assists and three steals. Domantas Sabonis generated a 12-point, 16-rebound double-double that included two assists and three steals.
The two teams reconvene for Game 2 at Golden 1 Center on Monday night.
The Kings (1-0) knew they'd be in for a battle against a Warriors (0-1) squad that finished the season in strong form and was getting Andrew Wiggins back from an extended absence due to a personal matter, and sure enough, the first quarter finished knotted at 29-29. Golden State was then even better in the second quarter, opening up a six-point lead going into halftime. Sacramento had managed to gain a one-point edge going into what turned out to be a wild final period, and the game ultimately wasn't decided until Stephen Curry's last-gasp three-point attempt just narrowly missed finding the net.
Curry led the Warriors with 30 points, adding six rebounds and two assists. Klay Thompson furnished 21 points, six boards, five assists and one steal. Wiggins and Jordan Poole contributed 17 points apiece while recording three rebounds and three assists, respectively. Donte DiVincenzo delivered 10 points, four assists and three rebounds.
De'Aaron Fox paced the Kings with 38 points, supplementing them with five assists, one rebound and three steals. Malik Monk supplied 32 points, three rebounds and two assists. Trey Lyles posted 16 points, six rebounds and one assist. Harrison Barnes totaled 13 points, seven rebounds, two assists and three steals. Domantas Sabonis generated a 12-point, 16-rebound double-double that included two assists and three steals.
The two teams reconvene for Game 2 at Golden 1 Center on Monday night.