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Here is a recap of day 2 of the NBA playoffs featuring wins from the Clippers, Bucks, Thunder, and Celtics.
Sunday's Game 1 of a Western Conference quarterfinals series saw James Harden score 28 points to help the Los Angeles Clippers overcome the absence of Kawhi Leonard and defeat the cold-shooting Dallas Mavericks 109-97.
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07:30 - 22.04.2024
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With Leonard out for the fourth-seeded Clippers due to soreness in his surgically repaired right knee, Harden and Ivica Zubac each made a play.
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11:25 - 21.04.2024
NBA Playoffs: Nuggets, Knicks, Cavaliers and Timberwolves win
Here is a recap of day 1 of the NBA playoffs featuring wins from the Nuggets, Knicks, Cavaliers, and Timberwolves.
Zubac scored 20 points and pulled down 15 rebounds, setting a play-off career high. Meanwhile, Harden finished with six 3-pointers out of eleven attempts and eight assists.
In this best-of-seven series, Los Angeles gained the upper hand via a valiant defensive effort as well.
Bucks beat Pacers
In the first game of their series, the Milwaukee Bucks overcame the loss of a great player as well, defeating the Indiana Pacers 109-94 in Game 1 as Damian Lillard established a franchise play-off record with 35 points in the first half.
Despite Giannis Antetokounmpo's injury, which he acquired late in the regular season, Lillard's dominant play through the first two quarters of the game was more than enough to give Milwaukee a 1-0 series lead, even though he did not score after the break.
After halftime, Khris Middleton scored 15 of his 23 points, which allowed the Bucks to maintain a double-digit lead for the duration of the second half.
Bobby Portis recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Middleton contributed 10 rebounds.
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Celtics beat Heat
The top-seeded Boston Celtics handed the defending Eastern Conference champions a 114-94 loss in Game 1 of their quarterfinal series, making it even harder for the Miami Heat to manage the absence of two important players.
Boston's play-off triple-double of 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists was his first-ever. The team fell in seven games to Miami in the East finals of the previous season.
With 20 more points from Derrick White and 18 from Kristaps Porzingis, Boston never fell behind against a Miami squad minus starting guard Terry Rozier and six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler.
With 24 points, Bam Adebayo led Miami, and Delon Wright scored 17 points off the bench.
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Thunder beat Pelicans
In the first game of a new Western Conference series, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 94-92 thanks to a game-winning three-point play from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with 28 points and 32.5 seconds remaining.
Even though New Orleans overcame a 10-point hole early in the fourth quarter, the Thunder still won.
With standout player Zion Williamson sidelined with a left hamstring strain, the Pelicans had a chance to win but CJ McCollum missed a three-point attempt.
For the Thunder, Holmgren finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Jalen Williams contributed 19 points.
Trey Murphy scored 21 points to lead New Orleans, and Jonas Valanciunas added 13 points and 20 rebounds.
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