Lakers Grab Series Lead With Road Win Over Grizzlies
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Memphis Grizzlies, 128-112, in Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals at FedExForum on Sunday. The Lakers lead the series 1-0.
The Lakers and the Grizzlies played a competitive game that should have gone down to the wire. However, the Lakers pulled away late in the fourth quarter to secure a win that didn’t reflect how the game unfolded. The Lakers got a strong start and jumped to a 32-27 score in the first quarter. However, the second quarter was a 12-minute period in which everything that could’ve gone wrong for the Lakers, went worse. Anthony Davis suffered an apparent shoulder injury, and the Grizzlies flipped the script with a 38-27 score that gave them a six-point lead at the break. The Lakers turned things around in the second half, Davis was healthy, and a 37-25 score restored them the lead with only 12 minutes left. The Lakers and Grizzlies went back and forth, and a three-pointer from Jaren Jackson Jr. made it 113-112 with 3:11 left. Los Angeles pulled away for good and never looked back since then, ending the game on a 15-0 run and securing a huge road win that flipped the home-field advantage.
Austin Reaves led the way for the Lakers with 23 points, four assists and three rebounds. LeBron James posted 21 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals. Anthony Davis filled the stat sheet and delivered 22 points, 12 rebounds, seven blocks, three assists and three steals. D’Angelo Russell had 19 points, seven assists and four rebounds. Rui Hachimura was the leading scorer for the Lakers with 29 points off the bench.
Jaren Jackson led the way for the Grizzlies with 31 points, five rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Desmond Bane recorded 22 points, six assists and five rebounds. Ja Morant ended with 18 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Dillon Brooks notched 15 points, four boards and two dimes. Xavier Tillman had two points, three rebounds and three assists.
The Lakers and the Grizzlies played a competitive game that should have gone down to the wire. However, the Lakers pulled away late in the fourth quarter to secure a win that didn’t reflect how the game unfolded. The Lakers got a strong start and jumped to a 32-27 score in the first quarter. However, the second quarter was a 12-minute period in which everything that could’ve gone wrong for the Lakers, went worse. Anthony Davis suffered an apparent shoulder injury, and the Grizzlies flipped the script with a 38-27 score that gave them a six-point lead at the break. The Lakers turned things around in the second half, Davis was healthy, and a 37-25 score restored them the lead with only 12 minutes left. The Lakers and Grizzlies went back and forth, and a three-pointer from Jaren Jackson Jr. made it 113-112 with 3:11 left. Los Angeles pulled away for good and never looked back since then, ending the game on a 15-0 run and securing a huge road win that flipped the home-field advantage.
Austin Reaves led the way for the Lakers with 23 points, four assists and three rebounds. LeBron James posted 21 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals. Anthony Davis filled the stat sheet and delivered 22 points, 12 rebounds, seven blocks, three assists and three steals. D’Angelo Russell had 19 points, seven assists and four rebounds. Rui Hachimura was the leading scorer for the Lakers with 29 points off the bench.
Jaren Jackson led the way for the Grizzlies with 31 points, five rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Desmond Bane recorded 22 points, six assists and five rebounds. Ja Morant ended with 18 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Dillon Brooks notched 15 points, four boards and two dimes. Xavier Tillman had two points, three rebounds and three assists.
Heat Defeat Bucks in Game 1, 130-117
The Miami Heat defeated the host Milwaukee Bucks, 130-117, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First-Round Playoffs at Fiserv Forum on Sunday.
A 33-24 first quarter carried Miami to their win, maintaining the lead for the final 47 minutes of this 48-minute game. They got their lead up to 15 points at times, and Milwaukee never attempted a game-tying shot after the opening six minutes. The Heat shot 60 percent from the field and 60 percent from three-point range (15-of-25) while holding the Bucks to 50 percent from the field and 24 percent from long range (11-of-45). Miami also outscored Milwaukee in the paint, 62-46, and in fastbreak scoring, 14-6.
The Heat (1-0) were led by Jimmy Butler, collecting 35 points, five rebounds, 11 assists and three steals. Bam Adebayo accrued 22 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Gabe Vincent totaled 15 points, two rebounds and six assists, while Tyler Herro tallied 12 points, two rebounds and two assists before breaking his hand. Kevin Love led the bench with 18 points and eight boards.
The Bucks (0-1) were led by Khris Middleton, finishing with 33 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Jrue Holiday had 16 points, seven rebounds and 16 assists. Grayson Allen generated 12 points, two rebounds and three assists, while Brook Lopez amassed 10 points, four rebounds and three blocks. Bobby Portis led the bench with 21 points and eight boards.
Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a back injury early and did not return.
These teams are off until Wednesday, with Milwaukee looking to even up the series at home.
A 33-24 first quarter carried Miami to their win, maintaining the lead for the final 47 minutes of this 48-minute game. They got their lead up to 15 points at times, and Milwaukee never attempted a game-tying shot after the opening six minutes. The Heat shot 60 percent from the field and 60 percent from three-point range (15-of-25) while holding the Bucks to 50 percent from the field and 24 percent from long range (11-of-45). Miami also outscored Milwaukee in the paint, 62-46, and in fastbreak scoring, 14-6.
The Heat (1-0) were led by Jimmy Butler, collecting 35 points, five rebounds, 11 assists and three steals. Bam Adebayo accrued 22 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Gabe Vincent totaled 15 points, two rebounds and six assists, while Tyler Herro tallied 12 points, two rebounds and two assists before breaking his hand. Kevin Love led the bench with 18 points and eight boards.
The Bucks (0-1) were led by Khris Middleton, finishing with 33 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Jrue Holiday had 16 points, seven rebounds and 16 assists. Grayson Allen generated 12 points, two rebounds and three assists, while Brook Lopez amassed 10 points, four rebounds and three blocks. Bobby Portis led the bench with 21 points and eight boards.
Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a back injury early and did not return.
These teams are off until Wednesday, with Milwaukee looking to even up the series at home.
Clippers Finish Strong In Phoenix
By Dan Bruno
The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the host Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of the Western Conference First-Round Playoffs at Footprint Center on Sunday.
The Clippers jumped out to a great start with a, 30-18, lead after one quarter, but the Suns bounced back in the second and outscored the visitors, 36-29, to cut it to a five-point game by halftime. The Suns kept the pressure on in the third and brought it to a tie at 85, heading into the final frame. The Clippers jumped back in front early in the fourth and after a couple of lead changes they held the edge through the final few minutes to secure the, 1-0, series lead.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 38 points, five rebounds, five assists, a steal and a block, in 42 minutes. Eric Gordon followed up with 19 points and two assists, while Ivica Zubac totaled 12 points and 15 rebounds. The Clippers shot 44.1 percent from the field, including 10-of-31 from long range.
Meanwhile, Kevin Durant led the Suns with 27 points, nine rebounds, 11 assists, two blocks and steal, in 45 minutes. Devin Booker followed up with 26 points, three assists, four steals and three blocks, while Torrey Craig added 22 points, four rebounds and a steal. The Suns shot 47 percent from the field, including 6-of-20 from deep.
Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday in Phoenix.
The Clippers jumped out to a great start with a, 30-18, lead after one quarter, but the Suns bounced back in the second and outscored the visitors, 36-29, to cut it to a five-point game by halftime. The Suns kept the pressure on in the third and brought it to a tie at 85, heading into the final frame. The Clippers jumped back in front early in the fourth and after a couple of lead changes they held the edge through the final few minutes to secure the, 1-0, series lead.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 38 points, five rebounds, five assists, a steal and a block, in 42 minutes. Eric Gordon followed up with 19 points and two assists, while Ivica Zubac totaled 12 points and 15 rebounds. The Clippers shot 44.1 percent from the field, including 10-of-31 from long range.
Meanwhile, Kevin Durant led the Suns with 27 points, nine rebounds, 11 assists, two blocks and steal, in 45 minutes. Devin Booker followed up with 26 points, three assists, four steals and three blocks, while Torrey Craig added 22 points, four rebounds and a steal. The Suns shot 47 percent from the field, including 6-of-20 from deep.
Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday in Phoenix.
Nuggets Dominate Timberwolves, 109-80
The Denver Nuggets defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 109-80, on Sunday night at Ball Arena in Game 1 of their Western Conference First Round Playoff Series. The Nuggets lead the series, 1-0.
The Nuggets (1-0) entered the game as heavy home favorites, but the Timberwolves (0-1) were very competitive during a first quarter from which they emerged with a manageable 26-23 deficit. However, the tide turned in the middle periods, as Denver outscored Minnesota by a 61-35 margin to set up the easy victory. The visitors shot only 37.0 percent and were outrebounded by a 54-38 margin.
Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 18 points, adding five assists, two rebounds, two steals and one block. Jaylen Nowell delivered 12 points, two assists and one rebound. Karl-Anthony Towns generated an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double that included two assists. Kyle Anderson matched Towns' scoring and also produced three assists, one rebound, two steals and one block.
Jamal Murray paced the Nuggets with 24 points, complementing them with eight rebounds, eight assists and one block. Michael Porter contributed 18 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and one steal. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope supplied 15 points, four boards and one assist. Bruce Brown furnished 14 points, three boards, one assist and one block. Nikola Jokic managed a 13-point, 14-rebound double-double that included six assists and one steal. Aaron Gordon matched Jokic's scoring and also tallied five rebounds, one assist and one steal.
The two teams reconvene at Ball Arena for Game 2 on Tuesday night.
The Nuggets (1-0) entered the game as heavy home favorites, but the Timberwolves (0-1) were very competitive during a first quarter from which they emerged with a manageable 26-23 deficit. However, the tide turned in the middle periods, as Denver outscored Minnesota by a 61-35 margin to set up the easy victory. The visitors shot only 37.0 percent and were outrebounded by a 54-38 margin.
Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 18 points, adding five assists, two rebounds, two steals and one block. Jaylen Nowell delivered 12 points, two assists and one rebound. Karl-Anthony Towns generated an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double that included two assists. Kyle Anderson matched Towns' scoring and also produced three assists, one rebound, two steals and one block.
Jamal Murray paced the Nuggets with 24 points, complementing them with eight rebounds, eight assists and one block. Michael Porter contributed 18 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and one steal. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope supplied 15 points, four boards and one assist. Bruce Brown furnished 14 points, three boards, one assist and one block. Nikola Jokic managed a 13-point, 14-rebound double-double that included six assists and one steal. Aaron Gordon matched Jokic's scoring and also tallied five rebounds, one assist and one steal.
The two teams reconvene at Ball Arena for Game 2 on Tuesday night.