Magic Pull Huge Upset, Defeat Bucks In Game 1
The Orlando Magic defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, 122-110, on Tuesday in Game 1 of the 2019-20 Eastern Conference Playoffs First Round.
The Magic were massive underdogs ahead of this series, but the Bucks hadn't been playing at their best in the Orlando bubble and those struggles continued for the top-seeded team in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee got off to a good start and led by six early on, but Orlando jumped out to a 33-23 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. The Magic didn't relinquish their lead the rest of the way and, in fact, they led by as much as 18 points in the second quarter. The Bucks struggled on both ends of the court, while the Magic played as best as they could play given their absences, which translated to a 12-point win for Orlando. It remains to be seen how Milwaukee will respond, but this is clearly not the start the Bucks envisioned to their playoff tenure.
Nikola Vucevic led the way for the Magic with 35 points and 14 rebounds, and he was one of six Orlando players that finished with double-digit scoring totals. Gary Clark had 15 points with six rebounds, Markelle Fultz chipped in with 15 points and six assists as the starting point guard, and D.J. Augustin produced 11 points with 11 dimes coming off the bench. Orlando shot 49.4 percent from the field as a team in this surprising win.
Giannis Antetokounmpo paced the Bucks with a 31-point, 17-rebound performance, but the rest of the team was unable to support him properly. Khris Middleton had 14 points and six rebounds, but he shot 4-for-12 from the field and only drained two of his six three-point attempts. Eric Bledsoe had 15 points, and George Hill notched 16 points.
The Magic were massive underdogs ahead of this series, but the Bucks hadn't been playing at their best in the Orlando bubble and those struggles continued for the top-seeded team in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee got off to a good start and led by six early on, but Orlando jumped out to a 33-23 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. The Magic didn't relinquish their lead the rest of the way and, in fact, they led by as much as 18 points in the second quarter. The Bucks struggled on both ends of the court, while the Magic played as best as they could play given their absences, which translated to a 12-point win for Orlando. It remains to be seen how Milwaukee will respond, but this is clearly not the start the Bucks envisioned to their playoff tenure.
Nikola Vucevic led the way for the Magic with 35 points and 14 rebounds, and he was one of six Orlando players that finished with double-digit scoring totals. Gary Clark had 15 points with six rebounds, Markelle Fultz chipped in with 15 points and six assists as the starting point guard, and D.J. Augustin produced 11 points with 11 dimes coming off the bench. Orlando shot 49.4 percent from the field as a team in this surprising win.
Giannis Antetokounmpo paced the Bucks with a 31-point, 17-rebound performance, but the rest of the team was unable to support him properly. Khris Middleton had 14 points and six rebounds, but he shot 4-for-12 from the field and only drained two of his six three-point attempts. Eric Bledsoe had 15 points, and George Hill notched 16 points.
Heat Topples Pacers, 113-101
The Miami Heat defeated the Indiana Pacers, 113-101, in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal-round series in Orlando on Tuesday afternoon. The Heat leads the series, 1-0.
The Heat (1-0) didn't exactly get off to the best of starts, as they trailed by six and allowed 33 points during the first quarter. However, Miami bounced back in the second to erase that deficit and enter halftime with a four-point lead. The Pacers (0-1) managed to whittle that advantage to one point going into the final period, but Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic were able to stave off repeated Indiana comebacks with key buckets and free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
Butler lead the Heat with 28 points, adding four assists, three rebounds, four steals and two blocks. Dragic delivered 24 points, six rebounds, five assists and one steal. Bam Adebayo generated a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double that also included six assists and three blocks. Tyler Herro supplied 15 points, four assists, three rebounds and one steal.
Malcolm Brogdon and T.J. Warren co-led the Pacers with 22 points each, with Brogdon dishing out 10 assists and Warren posting eight rebounds and four steals. Justin Holiday delivered 11 points, three rebounds and one block. Jakarr Sampson turned in 10 points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal. Myles Turner and Aaron Holiday compiled nine points each, with Turner also pulling down nine rebounds.
The two teams reconvene Thursday afternoon in Orlando for Game 2.
The Heat (1-0) didn't exactly get off to the best of starts, as they trailed by six and allowed 33 points during the first quarter. However, Miami bounced back in the second to erase that deficit and enter halftime with a four-point lead. The Pacers (0-1) managed to whittle that advantage to one point going into the final period, but Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic were able to stave off repeated Indiana comebacks with key buckets and free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
Butler lead the Heat with 28 points, adding four assists, three rebounds, four steals and two blocks. Dragic delivered 24 points, six rebounds, five assists and one steal. Bam Adebayo generated a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double that also included six assists and three blocks. Tyler Herro supplied 15 points, four assists, three rebounds and one steal.
Malcolm Brogdon and T.J. Warren co-led the Pacers with 22 points each, with Brogdon dishing out 10 assists and Warren posting eight rebounds and four steals. Justin Holiday delivered 11 points, three rebounds and one block. Jakarr Sampson turned in 10 points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal. Myles Turner and Aaron Holiday compiled nine points each, with Turner also pulling down nine rebounds.
The two teams reconvene Thursday afternoon in Orlando for Game 2.
Shorthanded Rockets Blow By Thunder
By Dan Bruno
The Houston Rockets defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder, 123-108, in Game 1 of the Western Conference first-round playoffs on Tuesday at Orlando.
The contest got out to a competitive start, but the Rockets pulled away towards the end of the first quarter and took an eight-point lead into the second. They kept the momentum going and pushed their lead to 17, early in the second and up to 21 later in the quarter, before settling on a 16-point lead at halftime. The Thunder came out strong to start the third quarter, but the Rockets kept the upper hand and mounted a run to bring their lead up to 23 points, before the Thunder cut it back to 21, heading into the final frame. The Thunder outscored the Rockets, 25-19, in the fourth but it was hardly enough to make a dent in the difference, as the shorthanded Rockets held on for the 1-0 series lead.
Despite missing Russell Westbrook (quadriceps), the Rockets had no trouble putting points on the board, as Jeff Green stepped up with 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting and Eric Gordon added 21 points, while James Harden led the way with 37 points on 12-of-22 shooting. The Rockets shot 48 percent from the field, including 20-of-52 from deep.
Meanwhile, Danilo Gallinari led the Thunder with 29 points on 9-of-17 shooting, three rebounds, three assists and a block, in 33 minutes. Chris Paul followed up with 20 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists and two steals, while Steven Adams totaled 17 points and 12 rebounds. The Thunder shot 44 percent from the field, including 13-of-35 from long range.
Game 2 takes place on Thursday.
The contest got out to a competitive start, but the Rockets pulled away towards the end of the first quarter and took an eight-point lead into the second. They kept the momentum going and pushed their lead to 17, early in the second and up to 21 later in the quarter, before settling on a 16-point lead at halftime. The Thunder came out strong to start the third quarter, but the Rockets kept the upper hand and mounted a run to bring their lead up to 23 points, before the Thunder cut it back to 21, heading into the final frame. The Thunder outscored the Rockets, 25-19, in the fourth but it was hardly enough to make a dent in the difference, as the shorthanded Rockets held on for the 1-0 series lead.
Despite missing Russell Westbrook (quadriceps), the Rockets had no trouble putting points on the board, as Jeff Green stepped up with 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting and Eric Gordon added 21 points, while James Harden led the way with 37 points on 12-of-22 shooting. The Rockets shot 48 percent from the field, including 20-of-52 from deep.
Meanwhile, Danilo Gallinari led the Thunder with 29 points on 9-of-17 shooting, three rebounds, three assists and a block, in 33 minutes. Chris Paul followed up with 20 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists and two steals, while Steven Adams totaled 17 points and 12 rebounds. The Thunder shot 44 percent from the field, including 13-of-35 from long range.
Game 2 takes place on Thursday.
Trail Blazers Defeat Lakers, 100-93, in Game 1
The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 100-93, in Game 1 of the Western Conference first-round playoffs in Orlando on Tuesday.
Portland got out to a 36-25 lead after the first quarter and that carried them to this victory. In fact, they led for all but a handful of minutes, despite the fact that there were seven ties and six lead changes in total. The Trail Blazers actually finished the game on a 19-6 run across the final 7:30 to prevail. Portland held Los Angeles to just 35 percent from the field and 16 percent from three-point range. They did that while winning the defensive rebounding battle, 45-38, and doubling them up in blocks, 8-4.
The Trail Blazers (1-0) were led by Damian Lillard and his 34 points, five rebounds and five assists. C.J. McCollum totaled 21 points and five boards. Jusuf Nurkic accumulated 16 points, 15 rebounds and three assists. Carmelo Anthony had 11 points, 10 rebounds and five assists while Hassan Whiteside led the bench with seven points, eight rebounds and five blocks.
The Lakers (0-1) got a monster triple-double from LeBron James, who tallied 23 points, 17 rebounds and 15 assists. Anthony Davis led the team in scoring with 28 points, 11 rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Kyle Kuzma led the bench with 14 points and eight boards. Alex Caruso, Danny Green and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope combined to shoot 5-of-27 from the field.
Game 2 will be on Thursday.
Portland got out to a 36-25 lead after the first quarter and that carried them to this victory. In fact, they led for all but a handful of minutes, despite the fact that there were seven ties and six lead changes in total. The Trail Blazers actually finished the game on a 19-6 run across the final 7:30 to prevail. Portland held Los Angeles to just 35 percent from the field and 16 percent from three-point range. They did that while winning the defensive rebounding battle, 45-38, and doubling them up in blocks, 8-4.
The Trail Blazers (1-0) were led by Damian Lillard and his 34 points, five rebounds and five assists. C.J. McCollum totaled 21 points and five boards. Jusuf Nurkic accumulated 16 points, 15 rebounds and three assists. Carmelo Anthony had 11 points, 10 rebounds and five assists while Hassan Whiteside led the bench with seven points, eight rebounds and five blocks.
The Lakers (0-1) got a monster triple-double from LeBron James, who tallied 23 points, 17 rebounds and 15 assists. Anthony Davis led the team in scoring with 28 points, 11 rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Kyle Kuzma led the bench with 14 points and eight boards. Alex Caruso, Danny Green and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope combined to shoot 5-of-27 from the field.
Game 2 will be on Thursday.