|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
By: Marvin Azrak
The NBA playoffs have arrived, which means intense basketball every night. In the Sports section of The Jewish Voice we’ll be giving you the latest updates, as 16 teams fight for the right to crown themselves as world champions. However due to space constraints, only the Western Conference side of the bracket will be looked at this week. Don’t worry, we’ll dive into the Eastern Conference quarterfinals next week, which include the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets.
1 Nuggets Vs 8 Timberwolves(Denver leads series 1-0)
The Timberwolves finished the regular season as the Conference’s eight seed, earning a bid in the “7th seed game” at the Los Angeles Lakers last Tuesday. The Wolves were seemingly on their way to a victory after taking a 15 point lead in the third quarter. However, LeBron James and Anthony Davis had other ideas, as the dynamic duo brought the hosts back for a 105-100 overtime victory. The defeat put the Wolves in a win or go home situation against the 10th seeded Oklahoma City Thunder who had upended the ninth ranked New Orleans Pelicans. Minnesota took care of business 120-95, but it likely came at the cost of them putting their best foot forward in game one against Denver.
The top-seeded Nuggets took an early lead and never looked back en route to a dominant 109-80 game one victory on Sunday.
PRE SERIES PREDICTION: Nuggets in 5. Game one clearly backed that.
4 Phoenix Suns Vs 5 Los Angeles Clippers(LA leads series 1-0)
Kawhi Leonard poured in 38 points, including two late 3-pointers, and Russel Westbrook added nine points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks and two steals, as the Clippers defeated the Suns 115-110 in Phoenix to take a 1-0 series lead.
Westbrook made a pair of free throws with 17.7 seconds left, giving the Clippers a 113-110 lead, then swatted Devin Booker’s layup attempt at the other end, forcing the turnover which led to a dunk from Terrance Mann, clinching the victory.
Kevin Durant scored 27 points for the Suns, who lost for the first time with him on the floor. Phoenix acquired the two-time NBA Finals MVP from Brooklyn in February, but injuries limited him to eight games.
Devin Booker added 26 points for the Suns, who enter the playoffs as title favorites despite being the fourth seed.
Los Angeles led by 16 midway through the third quarter, before Phoenix roared back. A Torrey Craig slam gave the Suns the lead, highlighting a 15-0 run which put Phoenix in front 77-68.
But led by 12 in the third from Leonard, the Clippers rallied to tie the game at 81, setting the stage for the dramatic fourth quarter. Eric Gordon added 19, including 12 in the first quarter and a clutch three pointer late to put the Clippers up 109-103 with 1:33 remaining. The Suns made it 109-108, before Westbrook took over on both ends of the floor.
The win came in spite of the Clippers missing eight-time All-Star Paul George, who sprained his right knee last month. He is doubtful for the series, but could return if the Clippers go deep in the postseason.
PRE-SERIES PREDICTION: Suns, who I picked to win the title, in 7.
(3) Sacramento Kings Vs (6) Golden State Warriors (Sacramento leads series 2-0)
This by far has been the most entertaining series of the first round. On one hand, it’s the Kings, who are here for the first time since 2006 against the reigning champion Warriors in a modern Northern California playoff battle. So far, Sacramento has looked the part of the better team as per the regular standings would indicate, as they held serve backed by their deafening home crowd.
In game 1, all-star De’aaron Fox poured in 38 points, 29 coming In the second half after taking the first 24 minutes to adjust to the playoff physicality. But when his team needed him most, Fox was there, as his late three pointer in the fourth gave Sacramento the lead for good, en route to a 126-123 win. It was the Kings first playoff win since April 30, 2006, against the San Antonio Spurs. As they’ve done after every win this season, the Kings blasted a purple beam outside the arena to the delight of their jubilant fans.
Monk finished with 32 points off the bench and Domantas Sabonis had 12 points and 16 rebounds.
Curry led Golden State with 30 points, while Klay Thompson added 21 and Wiggins and Jordan Poole each added 18.
The Warriors players were quoted as saying “Things will be different on Monday”, but that didn’t happen as the Kings pulled away late for a 114-106 win and a 2-0 series lead.
Fox scored 24 points and made a backbreaking 3-pointer, as Sacramento became the first team to take a 2-0 series lead over the Warriors in the Stephen Curry era. The contest didn’t lack drama, as in the fourth quarter
Tempers flared when Draymond Green stomped on Sabonis’ chest with 7:03 to play, leading to an ejection for a flagrant foul
During the review, fans in Sacramento yelled profanities toward Green, who welcomed them on by waving his hands, before standing on a chair and yelling back.
The Warriors tied things soon thereafter, but the Kings went on a 17-8 run, highlighted by Fox’s 3-pointer, which made it 107-101 with 2:17 to play. Davion Mitchell put it away with another 3 that made it 112-103 with 1:18 left. Game three is in San Francisco on Thursday.
PRE SERIES PREDICTION: Warriors in 6, and it’s not looking great at the moment. Still, I have faith in the champions. I expect them to rebound at home and even the series.
(2) Memphis Grizzlies Vs (7) Los Angeles Lakers
Rui Hachimura scored a playoff career-best 29 points, including 21 in the second half, and LeBron James added 21 points and 11 rebounds as the seventh-seeded Lakers beat the No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies 128-112 on Sunday to take a 1-0 series lead.
Memphis had the NBA’s best home record at 35-6 in the regular season, but the Lakers proved why playoff basketball is a different story.
Austin Reaves added 23 points, including nine straight in the closing minutes, Anthony Davis had 22 points and 12 rebounds, and D’Angelo Russell, had 19 points.
PRE- SERIES PREDICTION: Lakers in 6, and my upset pick is off to a great start.
Who do you have winning it all? Email me at [email protected] for a chance to be featured in next week’s article!
