Toronto Raptors v Brooklyn Nets (Raptors lead 1-0)
The Toronto Raptors absolutely destroyed the Brooklyn Nets in their first game to the tune of a 134-110 thrashing. Needless to say, the Raptors came out with some intensity anticipating another win.
The Raptors were not ready for what the Nets brought in that first quarter, but they quickly snapped out of it and began to chip away at the Nets’ lead. With the Nets barely holding on to a four-point lead, the Raptors were about to take this game over. The Nets threw a few big haymakers, but it was not enough to keep the Raptors from seizing control by the end of the first quarter. But unlike Monday, the Nets did not just lay down in defeat. The Nets hung with the Raptors and were still holding the lead at the half, 53-50.
The Nets’ confidence was on full display as the Raptors lost focus again in the third quarter. The Nets opened up their lead and were up 80-74 on the reigning champion Raptors. Not only was the offense coming together, but they held the Raptors to only 74 points through three quarters after allowing 134 points in the last game. I give a lot of props to the coaching and players making adjustments from the first game.
The Raptors finally woke up in the fourth quarter, and the Nets looked like they were running on straight adrenaline. The Raptors took total advantage and as they outscored the Nets 30-19 for a 104-99 win and a commanding 2-0 series lead. The Nets just didn’t have enough left in the tank to take out the Raptors, but what they showed in this game was a significant adjustment and a step toward making this a respectable series.
The Nets were paced by Garret Temple 21PTS but were let down by their best player Caris Levert (5-22FG 11PTS). The Nets should still be very excited about how they competed in this game. They fought hard but ran out of gas and needed Levert to return to his stellar play. They were paced by Kyle Lowry (21PTS 9REB) and Fred Van Fleet (24PTS 5REB 10 AST).
The Raptors took the 2-0 lead, but this game could have easily gone to the Nets. I loved the way the Nets played today, and they deserved to win at least one. The Raptors better be ready to play solid basketball. I still feel that this series will be a sweep, but what the Nets showed today is that it will be a well-fought sweep.
Denver Nuggets v Utah Jazz (Nuggets Lead 1-0)
The Jazz took that OT loss, bottled up all the frustration, and came out and just put a throttling on the Denver Nuggets.
The Jazz came to play in this game, and the adjustments head coach Quin Snyder made were perfect. The Nuggets might be in real trouble even though they have more talent than the Jazz. The Jazz is only going to get better once veteran PG Mike Conley returns as early as Friday’s game. But if the Jazz play as they did in the destruction of the Nuggets on Wednesday, it won’t even matter. The Nuggets fell to the Jazz 124-105. The Jazz had this game won after the tip-off, and the Nuggets never made it interesting.
The Jazz was lead by Donovan Mitchell (11-14 FG 6-7 3PT 4-4FT 30PTS 1REB 8AST 1STL 3TO 34MIn), whose game might have been even better than his last game, but he allowed his teammates to get involved, which led to better production overall. Joe Ingles, Rudy Gobert, and Jordan Clarkson led the rest of the players in stats, but overall the Jazz played a near-perfect game, and it allowed their starters to get even more rest for game three on Friday.
The Nuggets had no bright spots in this awful game and will need to throw it out the window. Head coach Mike Malone has to make some major adjustments, and his players have to play up to their talent level if they don’t want to go down 2-1 to the Jazz.
Nikola Jokic (28PTS 11REB 6AST) and Michael Porter Jr (28PTS 6REB) led the Nuggets, but it did not matter as many of the Jazz players were sitting out by the end of the third quarter. Good to see Porter bounce back in his second playoff game ever, but the Nuggets have to play a different game and have a whole new mindset in game three. I still like the Nuggets to win this series, but the Jazz have given me something to think about.
Boston Celtics v Philadelphia 76ers (Celtics lead 1-0)
The first game between the Boston and Phillie was a gritty performance by a beat-up 76ers forcing a close game. On Wednesday, the 76ers came out firing, and Boston was not ready for their valiant start. Boston was able to weather the storm and counter the 76ers start and hit them back hard.
After the first quarter, it was all downhill for the 76ers. The second quarter began with the 76ers in the lead, 33-27. The game ended, 101-128, with the Celtics taking a commanding 2-0 lead.
The 76ers are dead in the water after this game. Joel Embiid (11-21FG 0-2 3PT 12-13FT 34PTS 10REB 3AST 1BLK 2TO 34MIN) did all he could for his team, but with no one else on the team showing up in the game, the Celtics were too much for the 76ers. The 76ers cannot do a lot in this situation except hope Embiid is able to keep playing at this high level or hope the Celtics players have some down games. But more than likely, this is going to be a sweep.
The Celtics leaders were Jayson Tatum (12-20FG 8-12 3PT 1-2FT 5REB 5AST 31MIN), who has truly become a top 10 player in this league, and the 76ers, like most teams, do not have anyone who can stop him. Kemba Walker (22PTS) and Jaylen Brown (20PTS) scored in bunches. No one on the 76ers, other than Embiid, scored 20 or more. Brad Stevens of the Celtics decided just to let Embiid eat while the other players were going to be made to starve, and starve they did.
The Celtics played a pretty flawless game even with the 76ers coming out quite hot, but Boston did not crumble when this happened, they stuck to their game plan and crushed any thought of the 76ers getting a win.
Los Angeles Clippers v Dallas Mavericks (Clippers up 1-0)
Luka Doncic played his heart out in his first playoff game in his career, but his record-setting performance of 42 points was not enough to win against the veteran Clippers team. The Mavericks need to help Doncic out if they have any chance of winning any games.
The Mavericks killed it in the first half and had the lead at the half, 61-56, and Doncic (22PTS 7AST 6REB) was well on his way to a triple-double. Luka’s great play continued, but he also picked up his fourth foul in the third quarter with 8 minutes left. The Mavericks had no choice but to let him play. It was a very chippy and physical quarter with a lot of fouls and free throws.
With a late run to end the quarter, the Mavericks opened up a nice lead heading into the fourth with the score at 98-85. The Mavs had 12 minutes left to pull off the upset, while the Clippers needed their superstars to come up big. Luka picked up his fifth foul with 11:37 left in the game and had to be taken out.
The Mavericks held their own with their star sitting on the bench and were still up 13 points with seven minutes to go. The Mavericks were able to hold their own and didn’t have to bring Luka back in until four minutes were left in the game, and their lead was still 12 points. The closest it got was 10 points for the Clippers, but the Mavericks held their own in what was a hideous second half with lots of missed shots and fouls, but the Mavericks deserved all their credit.
The Mavericks beat the Clippers and tied this series up at 1-1 with a 127-114 beat down. Luka Doncic (8-17FG 4-7 3PT 8-12FT 28PTS 8REB 7AST 1TO) could have had an even bigger game if it was not for foul trouble. Doncic has now scored 70 points in his first two playoff games, passing the great Kareem Abdul Jabaar for second-most points after two playoff games behind the hall of fame center George Mikan. Luka also reduced his turnover rate in this game after having 11 in game one.
As a team, the Mavericks only turned the ball over nine times, which is amazing to do against a defensive team like the Clippers. The Mavericks had six players score in the double figures: Kristaps Porzingas, Tim Hardaway Jr., Boban Marjanovic, Trey Burke, Seth Curry, and Luka Doncic. Their bench is the biggest reason this game was as lopsided as it was, they stepped up huge in this game and made the Clippers bench, look weak.
The Clippers’ shining light was Kawhi Leonard (10-21FG 2-6 3PT 13-14FT 35PTS 10REB 2AST 1STL 3TO), but his good game could not make up for the rest of the team. Paul George (4-17FG 2-10 3PT 4-4FT 10REB 2AST 1BLK 2TO) is considered the second-best on the team, but George was the worst player in tonight’s game the court.
This series is tied at 1-1 with the next game on Friday. The Mavericks have looked like the best team in this series, and are gaining confidence with every minute they are on the court. The Clippers are not playing their dominant style of basketball that we saw throughout the regular season. This series may be going seven games, but I’ll stick with the Clippers to advance.