Murray, Jokic Lift Nuggets To Overtime Win Over Jazz
The Denver Nuggets defeated the Utah Jazz in overtime, 135-125, in Game 1 of the Western Conference Playoffs on Monday at Orlando.
The game between the Nuggets and the Jazz was a tightly-contested affair that needed extra time to settle after both teams went back and forth during the entire contest. Denver looked like the better team and led by as much as 12 points in the first half, but the Jazz came from behind and built a five-point lead during the third quarter. They couldn't protect the advantage and Denver turned things around in the fourth, although Nikola Jokic missed a potential game-winning bucket with a layup that bounced off the rim. Jamal Murray came up big after regulation, however, as he scored or assisted in 16 of Denver's 20 points in OT and the Nuggets rode his back on route to a big win in the first game of the series.
Jamal Murray was the best player for the Nuggets in Game 1, as he finished with a team-high 36 points while adding nine assists and five rebounds. Nikola Jokic contributed 29 points and 10 rebounds, while also adding three assists and two steals. Michael Porter Jr. had 13 points with eight assists, and Torrey Craig contributed 11 points. Jerami Grant (19 points) and Monte Morris (14 points, four assists) produced off the bench as well.
The Jazz didn't have Mike Conley so Donovan Mitchell had to carry the team offensively, and the star shooting guard responded with a career-high 57 points (on 19.of-33 shooting) while adding nine rebounds and seven assists. Joe Ingles filled the stat sheet with 19 points, six assists and five rebounds, while Rudy Gobert notched 17 points, seven boards and four blocks. Jordan Clarkson registered 18 points off the bench.
The game between the Nuggets and the Jazz was a tightly-contested affair that needed extra time to settle after both teams went back and forth during the entire contest. Denver looked like the better team and led by as much as 12 points in the first half, but the Jazz came from behind and built a five-point lead during the third quarter. They couldn't protect the advantage and Denver turned things around in the fourth, although Nikola Jokic missed a potential game-winning bucket with a layup that bounced off the rim. Jamal Murray came up big after regulation, however, as he scored or assisted in 16 of Denver's 20 points in OT and the Nuggets rode his back on route to a big win in the first game of the series.
Jamal Murray was the best player for the Nuggets in Game 1, as he finished with a team-high 36 points while adding nine assists and five rebounds. Nikola Jokic contributed 29 points and 10 rebounds, while also adding three assists and two steals. Michael Porter Jr. had 13 points with eight assists, and Torrey Craig contributed 11 points. Jerami Grant (19 points) and Monte Morris (14 points, four assists) produced off the bench as well.
The Jazz didn't have Mike Conley so Donovan Mitchell had to carry the team offensively, and the star shooting guard responded with a career-high 57 points (on 19.of-33 shooting) while adding nine rebounds and seven assists. Joe Ingles filled the stat sheet with 19 points, six assists and five rebounds, while Rudy Gobert notched 17 points, seven boards and four blocks. Jordan Clarkson registered 18 points off the bench.
Raptors Dominate Game 1
By Dan Bruno
The Toronto Raptors defeated the Brooklyn Nets, 134-110, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoffs on Monday at Orlando.
The Raptors took control from the start, with a 10-point lead mid way through the first quarter and a 17-point lead heading into the second. They stayed in the driver's seat through the second, where they pushed their lead to 33, before taking a 22-point lead into halftime. The Nets came to life in the third, where they outscored the Raptors, 35-22, and cut it to an eight-point game, but the Raptors bumped their lead back up to 10 points heading into the fourth. The Raptors got back to business in the fourth and ensured it was nothing but closing time, as they outscored the Nets by double digits in the quarter, earning the 1-0 series lead.
Fred VanVleet led the Raptors with 30 points, 11 assists, two steals and a block, in 39 minutes. Serge Ibaka followed up with 22 points, seven rebounds, three assists and a block, in 25 minutes off the bench, while Kyle Lowry totaled 16 points, seven rebounds, six assists and a block. The Raptors shot 47 percent from the field, including 22-of-44 from deep.
Meanwhile, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot led the Nets with 26 points, seven rebounds and two assists, in 33 minutes. Caris LeVert added 15 points, 15 assists, seven rebounds and a steal, while Joe Harris chipped in 19 points, six rebounds and two assists. The Nets shot 47 percent from the field, including 13-of-42 from long range.
Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday.
The Raptors took control from the start, with a 10-point lead mid way through the first quarter and a 17-point lead heading into the second. They stayed in the driver's seat through the second, where they pushed their lead to 33, before taking a 22-point lead into halftime. The Nets came to life in the third, where they outscored the Raptors, 35-22, and cut it to an eight-point game, but the Raptors bumped their lead back up to 10 points heading into the fourth. The Raptors got back to business in the fourth and ensured it was nothing but closing time, as they outscored the Nets by double digits in the quarter, earning the 1-0 series lead.
Fred VanVleet led the Raptors with 30 points, 11 assists, two steals and a block, in 39 minutes. Serge Ibaka followed up with 22 points, seven rebounds, three assists and a block, in 25 minutes off the bench, while Kyle Lowry totaled 16 points, seven rebounds, six assists and a block. The Raptors shot 47 percent from the field, including 22-of-44 from deep.
Meanwhile, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot led the Nets with 26 points, seven rebounds and two assists, in 33 minutes. Caris LeVert added 15 points, 15 assists, seven rebounds and a steal, while Joe Harris chipped in 19 points, six rebounds and two assists. The Nets shot 47 percent from the field, including 13-of-42 from long range.
Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday.
Celtics Defeat Sixers, 109-101
The Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 109-101, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoffs in Orlando on Monday.
The final scoreline is unfair to Philly, as neither team led by more than 11 points in this game. In fact, there were seven ties and 13 lead changes in total. The Celtics did all of their damage in second and four quarters, outscoring the Sixers, 64-45. That second quarter actually allowed them to lead for all but a few minutes in the second half. The 12 steals recorded by Boston were critical, with Philadelphia picking up just five steals while losing the turnover differential, 18-7.
The Celtics were led by Jayson Tatum, who amassed 32 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks. Jaylen Brown amassed 29 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Kemba Walker totaled 19 points and five assists. Gordon Hayward had 12 points, four rebounds, three assists and four steals but suffered an injury late.
The Sixers were led by Joel Embiid, who tallied 26 points, 16 rebounds and two steals. Josh Richardson accrued 18 points, six rebounds and two assists. Tobias Harris finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and eight assists while Al Horford accumulated six points, seven rebounds and six assists. Alec Burks led the bench with 18 points, six rebounds and two assists.
These teams will play Game 2 on Wednesday.
The final scoreline is unfair to Philly, as neither team led by more than 11 points in this game. In fact, there were seven ties and 13 lead changes in total. The Celtics did all of their damage in second and four quarters, outscoring the Sixers, 64-45. That second quarter actually allowed them to lead for all but a few minutes in the second half. The 12 steals recorded by Boston were critical, with Philadelphia picking up just five steals while losing the turnover differential, 18-7.
The Celtics were led by Jayson Tatum, who amassed 32 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks. Jaylen Brown amassed 29 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Kemba Walker totaled 19 points and five assists. Gordon Hayward had 12 points, four rebounds, three assists and four steals but suffered an injury late.
The Sixers were led by Joel Embiid, who tallied 26 points, 16 rebounds and two steals. Josh Richardson accrued 18 points, six rebounds and two assists. Tobias Harris finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and eight assists while Al Horford accumulated six points, seven rebounds and six assists. Alec Burks led the bench with 18 points, six rebounds and two assists.
These teams will play Game 2 on Wednesday.
Clippers Topple Mavericks, 118-110
The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 118-110, in Game 1 of their Western Conference quarterfinal-round series in Orlando on Monday night. The Clippers lead the series, 1-0.
What would be a rollercoaster first half began with the Clippers (1-0) opening the game on an 18-2 run over the first 3:30 before the Mavericks (0-1) outscored them, 36-16, over the rest of the period to take a four-point lead into the second quarter. Los Angeles battled back to enter halftime trailing by only three points, and they subsequently limited Dallas to 13 third-quarter points, with Kristaps Porzingis' ejection early in the period certainly aiding that cause. However, their lead would be constantly threatened throughout the final 12 minutes, including when the Mavericks knotted the game at 91 with 9:02 left, but the Clippers had enough to hold on for the victory thanks to key buckets from Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.
Luka Doncic overcame an early ankle injury that saw him go to the locker room in the first quarter to lead the Mavericks with 42 points, a figure he complemented with nine assists, seven rebounds and three steals and that serves as a record for a player in his first playoff game. Tim Hardaway, Jr. furnished 18 points, six boards, one assist and one steal. Porzingis supplied 14 points, six rebounds, one assist and one block over 20 minutes before getting tossed. Seth Curry poured in 14 points to lead the bench.
Leonard paced the Clippers with 29 points, adding 12 rebounds, six assists and three steals. George finished with 27 points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals. Marcus Morris registered 19 points, six boards, one assist and four steals. Lou Williams totaled 14 points, five assists, three rebounds and one steal. Ivica Zubac contributed a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double that included one assist and two blocks.
The two teams reconvene for Game 2 on Wednesday night.
What would be a rollercoaster first half began with the Clippers (1-0) opening the game on an 18-2 run over the first 3:30 before the Mavericks (0-1) outscored them, 36-16, over the rest of the period to take a four-point lead into the second quarter. Los Angeles battled back to enter halftime trailing by only three points, and they subsequently limited Dallas to 13 third-quarter points, with Kristaps Porzingis' ejection early in the period certainly aiding that cause. However, their lead would be constantly threatened throughout the final 12 minutes, including when the Mavericks knotted the game at 91 with 9:02 left, but the Clippers had enough to hold on for the victory thanks to key buckets from Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.
Luka Doncic overcame an early ankle injury that saw him go to the locker room in the first quarter to lead the Mavericks with 42 points, a figure he complemented with nine assists, seven rebounds and three steals and that serves as a record for a player in his first playoff game. Tim Hardaway, Jr. furnished 18 points, six boards, one assist and one steal. Porzingis supplied 14 points, six rebounds, one assist and one block over 20 minutes before getting tossed. Seth Curry poured in 14 points to lead the bench.
Leonard paced the Clippers with 29 points, adding 12 rebounds, six assists and three steals. George finished with 27 points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals. Marcus Morris registered 19 points, six boards, one assist and four steals. Lou Williams totaled 14 points, five assists, three rebounds and one steal. Ivica Zubac contributed a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double that included one assist and two blocks.
The two teams reconvene for Game 2 on Wednesday night.