76ers and Nets Face Off in Key Game 4
The Philadelphia 76ers take on the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on Saturday afternoon in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series. The 76ers lead the series, 2-1.
The 76ers (2-1) saw star center Joel Embiid get ruled out shortly before tip-off in Game 3 on Thursday night with his ongoing knee soreness. However, they impressively brushed off his absence, as they notched a 131-115 victory to take a 2-1 lead in the series. That gives Philadelphia consecutive wins after a disconcerting 111-102 Game 1 loss on their home court. A third straight triumph would give the 76ers a seemingly commanding lead heading back to their Wells Fargo Center home floor.
Ben Simmons led the way for the 76ers with 31 points, adding nine assists, four rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Tobias Harris posted a 29-point, 16-rebound double-double that also included three assists and one steal. J.J. Redick poured in 26 points. Jimmy Butler furnished 16 points, seven assists, two rebounds and two steals. Boban Marjanovic contributed 14 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
The 76ers will list Embiid as doubtful for Saturday's contest.
D'Angelo Russell and Caris LeVert co-led the Nets with 26 points. Jarrett Allen and Spencer Dinwiddie generated matching 15-point efforts while pulling down six and four rebounds, respectively. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson came off the bench to produce 14 points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal. Joe Harris supplied eight points, four rebounds and one assist.
The Nets will be without Ed Davis (ankle) for Saturday's game.
The 76ers (2-1) saw star center Joel Embiid get ruled out shortly before tip-off in Game 3 on Thursday night with his ongoing knee soreness. However, they impressively brushed off his absence, as they notched a 131-115 victory to take a 2-1 lead in the series. That gives Philadelphia consecutive wins after a disconcerting 111-102 Game 1 loss on their home court. A third straight triumph would give the 76ers a seemingly commanding lead heading back to their Wells Fargo Center home floor.
Ben Simmons led the way for the 76ers with 31 points, adding nine assists, four rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Tobias Harris posted a 29-point, 16-rebound double-double that also included three assists and one steal. J.J. Redick poured in 26 points. Jimmy Butler furnished 16 points, seven assists, two rebounds and two steals. Boban Marjanovic contributed 14 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
The 76ers will list Embiid as doubtful for Saturday's contest.
D'Angelo Russell and Caris LeVert co-led the Nets with 26 points. Jarrett Allen and Spencer Dinwiddie generated matching 15-point efforts while pulling down six and four rebounds, respectively. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson came off the bench to produce 14 points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal. Joe Harris supplied eight points, four rebounds and one assist.
The Nets will be without Ed Davis (ankle) for Saturday's game.
Nuggets Look To Even Series Against Spurs
The Denver Nuggets take on the San Antonio Spurs at AT & T Center on Saturday afternoon in Game 4 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series. The Spurs own a 2-1 series lead.
The Spurs (2-1) entered Game 3 looking to avenge a blown opportunity in Game 2 on Denver's home floor of Pepsi Center. San Antonio had almost pulled off the improbable feat of taking a 2-0 series lead on one of the tougher home floors in the NBA. While that was not to be thanks to a dynamic fourth-quarter performance by Jamal Murray, San Antonio bounced back by securing a 118-108 win with a strong second half.
Nikola Jokic led the way for the Nuggets with 22 points, adding eight rebounds and seven rebounds. Malik Beasley followed with 20 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Paul Millsap poured in 14 points. Gary Harris and Torrey Craig generated matching 12-point efforts while dishing out seven assists and pulling down six rebounds, respectively. Monte Morris furnished 10 points, seven assists and two rebounds.
The Nuggets will come into Saturday's game without any short-term injuries to report.
Derrick White paced the Spurs with a career-high 36 points, adding five rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block. DeMar DeRozan followed with 25 points and also supplied five assists, four rebounds and three steals. LaMarcus Aldridge registered an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double that also included five assists and one block. Rudy Gay generated his first career postseason double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Jakob Poeltl and Bryn Forbes netted 10 points apiece.
The Spurs also come into Saturday's game with a clean bill of health.
The Spurs (2-1) entered Game 3 looking to avenge a blown opportunity in Game 2 on Denver's home floor of Pepsi Center. San Antonio had almost pulled off the improbable feat of taking a 2-0 series lead on one of the tougher home floors in the NBA. While that was not to be thanks to a dynamic fourth-quarter performance by Jamal Murray, San Antonio bounced back by securing a 118-108 win with a strong second half.
Nikola Jokic led the way for the Nuggets with 22 points, adding eight rebounds and seven rebounds. Malik Beasley followed with 20 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Paul Millsap poured in 14 points. Gary Harris and Torrey Craig generated matching 12-point efforts while dishing out seven assists and pulling down six rebounds, respectively. Monte Morris furnished 10 points, seven assists and two rebounds.
The Nuggets will come into Saturday's game without any short-term injuries to report.
Derrick White paced the Spurs with a career-high 36 points, adding five rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block. DeMar DeRozan followed with 25 points and also supplied five assists, four rebounds and three steals. LaMarcus Aldridge registered an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double that also included five assists and one block. Rudy Gay generated his first career postseason double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Jakob Poeltl and Bryn Forbes netted 10 points apiece.
The Spurs also come into Saturday's game with a clean bill of health.
Pistons Host Bucks in Game 3
The Detroit Pistons play host to the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 3 of the first-round Eastern Conference playoffs at Little Ceasar's Arena on Saturday.
The Bucks (2-0) finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA and it's easy to see why when looking at their recent form. In fact, their first two victories in the postseason were absolute blowouts, with Milwaukee winning by an average of 28 points per game. That's pretty much on par with what Milwaukee did in the regular season, as they had the most double-digit victories of any team in the league. They simply have too many weapons for the Pistons to deal with. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the ring leader but players like Eric Bledsoe and Khris Middleton can take over anytime they want too. That's why this club finished top-five in both offensive and defensive efficiency in the regular season and they were the only club to accomplish that feat.
The Pistons (0-2) have had to play the first two games without Blake Griffin (knee) but they simply wouldn't have been competitive, even with him in the lineup. This is a simple case of being outmatched by a superior opponent and one has to wonder if they'll even play a competitive game in this series. Making the postseason is a step in the right direction though and the addition of one more all-star could make this a top-four team in the east next season. It's unclear if they'll make a move like that but steps in the right direction is all you can ask for at this point. Where they really need help is in their wings, as they're simply outmatched at the shooting guard and small forward positions every night. Getting a shooter or a playmaker at that position could make all the difference and it's clear that Pistons fans are looking forward to next season after this disastrous start to the postseason.
Not only did Milwaukee sweep their season series over Detroit, they've now won 11 of their last 13 games over the Pistons in total. In fact, seven of those 11 victories have been decided by double-digit margins
The Bucks (2-0) finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA and it's easy to see why when looking at their recent form. In fact, their first two victories in the postseason were absolute blowouts, with Milwaukee winning by an average of 28 points per game. That's pretty much on par with what Milwaukee did in the regular season, as they had the most double-digit victories of any team in the league. They simply have too many weapons for the Pistons to deal with. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the ring leader but players like Eric Bledsoe and Khris Middleton can take over anytime they want too. That's why this club finished top-five in both offensive and defensive efficiency in the regular season and they were the only club to accomplish that feat.
The Pistons (0-2) have had to play the first two games without Blake Griffin (knee) but they simply wouldn't have been competitive, even with him in the lineup. This is a simple case of being outmatched by a superior opponent and one has to wonder if they'll even play a competitive game in this series. Making the postseason is a step in the right direction though and the addition of one more all-star could make this a top-four team in the east next season. It's unclear if they'll make a move like that but steps in the right direction is all you can ask for at this point. Where they really need help is in their wings, as they're simply outmatched at the shooting guard and small forward positions every night. Getting a shooter or a playmaker at that position could make all the difference and it's clear that Pistons fans are looking forward to next season after this disastrous start to the postseason.
Not only did Milwaukee sweep their season series over Detroit, they've now won 11 of their last 13 games over the Pistons in total. In fact, seven of those 11 victories have been decided by double-digit margins
Jazz Look For Redemption In Crucial Game 3
By Dan Bruno
The Utah Jazz play host to the Houston Rockets in Game 3 of the Western Conference first-round playoffs, at Vivint Smart Home Arena on Saturday evening.
The Rockets hold a 2-0 series lead after dominating the first two games at home. They won by 32 points in Game 1, and 20 points in Game 2, while the Jazz were unable to contain James Harden who averaged 30.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 10 assists over the first two games. Chris Paul has been dominant as well, as he is averaging 15.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists over the first two games. The Rockets' role players have also come up large, as Clint Capela tallied 16 points and 12 rebounds in Game 1, while Eric Gordon and P.J. Tucker tallied 16 points each in Game 2. The Rockets have been efficient so far, shooting 49 percent from the field, including 38.5 percent from long range, over Games 1 and 2. They have also kept it up on the defensive end, holding the Jazz to 39 percent shooting in Game 1, and 40 percent shooting in Game 2.
Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell has had a tough start to the playoffs, as he is averaging 15 points, three rebounds and three assists, while shooting 12-of-37 from the field over the first two games. Joe Ingles has also struggled, averaging 5.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists over the first two games. Rudy Gobert had the best performance of any Utah player so far, with 22 points, 12 rebounds, a block and an assist, in Game 1. Nonetheless, during the regular season the Jazz were significantly better at home than away, as they had a home record of 29-12, and were 21-20 on the road, and have a chance now to turn things back in their direction.
The Rockets hold a 2-0 series lead after dominating the first two games at home. They won by 32 points in Game 1, and 20 points in Game 2, while the Jazz were unable to contain James Harden who averaged 30.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 10 assists over the first two games. Chris Paul has been dominant as well, as he is averaging 15.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists over the first two games. The Rockets' role players have also come up large, as Clint Capela tallied 16 points and 12 rebounds in Game 1, while Eric Gordon and P.J. Tucker tallied 16 points each in Game 2. The Rockets have been efficient so far, shooting 49 percent from the field, including 38.5 percent from long range, over Games 1 and 2. They have also kept it up on the defensive end, holding the Jazz to 39 percent shooting in Game 1, and 40 percent shooting in Game 2.
Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell has had a tough start to the playoffs, as he is averaging 15 points, three rebounds and three assists, while shooting 12-of-37 from the field over the first two games. Joe Ingles has also struggled, averaging 5.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists over the first two games. Rudy Gobert had the best performance of any Utah player so far, with 22 points, 12 rebounds, a block and an assist, in Game 1. Nonetheless, during the regular season the Jazz were significantly better at home than away, as they had a home record of 29-12, and were 21-20 on the road, and have a chance now to turn things back in their direction.