NBA Playoff Update April 23, 2018

These first round series are getting good! After all the blowouts and sweeps in last years playoffs, I am ecstatic that we are going to get multiple Game 6’s & 7’s this year.

The Bucks held off the Celtics, The Warriors failed to close out the Spurs in San Antonio, The Raptors ran out of gas in a horrible Game 4 loss to the Wizards, and the Cavs pulled out a slugfest against the Pacers

Bucks Beat Celtics 104-102 (Series Tied 2-2)

After falling behind by as many as 20 points, the Celtics rallied in the second half to briefly take the lead in the fourth quarter. Boston’s comeback efforts were led by the new one-two punch of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, who scored 34 and 21 points respectively. The comeback came up just short, but these young guys are studs.

Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 27 points, including his game-winning tip-in. Khris Middleton continued his strong play with 23 points, while Jabari Parker had a second consecutive strong effort off the bench, scoring 16 points.

All year I was wondering what happened to Thon Maker, he looked like such a promising young player during last years playoffs. He has finally made an impact during these two homes games.

Game 5 will take place on Tuesday in Boston.

Spurs Beat Warriors 103-90 (Warriors Lead 3-1)

Manu Ginobili scored 10 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and helped the Spurs avoid a series sweep as coach Gregg Popovich remained out. LaMarcus Aldridge had 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Spurs. Aldridge banked in a 3-pointer with 4:22 remaining to stop the Warriors’ run and Ginobili took over with a pair of 3-pointers in the final minutes.

Kevin Durant had 34 points and 13 rebounds for the Warriors. Aside from Durant, only Klay Thompson (12) and Shaun Livingston (10) scored in double figures for the Warriors.

Golden State outscored San Antonio 29-21 in the third quarter and went on a 13-5 run beginning two minutes into the fourth quarter to pull within 88-86 with 6 minutes remaining.

San Antonio shot 53 percent on 3-pointers after shooting just 26 percent in the opening three games. The Spurs were 15 for 28 on 3-pointers on Sunday while the Warriors were 7 for 28.

Wizards Beat Raptors 106-98 (Series Tied 2-2)

I give John Wall a lot of crap. His stats are always good….. not what I complain about, I complain that he doesn’t get his teammates involved. The Wizards scored 40 points in the first half, and then came out of half time guns blazing scoring 40 in the 3rd quarter. Thats because the ball was moving. In the middle of a heated game, Bradley Beal fouled out with five minutes left in the game on a controversial call. Wall definitely stepped up the last 5 minutes.

The Raptors led by as many as 14 early in the second half when Lowry got a turnaround three-pointer to fall, but Washington knotted the score at 58 with an 18-4 barrage. DeRozan finished with 35 points but needed 29 shots to get them, and Lowry finished with 19.

This time, in a 106-98 loss at Capital One Arena, Toronto failed to protect an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter, with DeRozan, in particular, either passing up open looks or trying to convert off-balance shots amid myriad defenders in the paint.

Cavaliers 104 Beat Pacers 100 (Series Tied 2-2)

The Cavs once again showed up to Indiana in matching suits. The Cavaliers jumped off to a tremendous run early on. LeBron James had 23 of his 32 points in the first half alone. He was clearly the deciding factor. Unlike previous games, he did get some decent help from his role players. Kyle Korver was huge in the second half