2023 NBA Playoffs – rezal404
NBA: Warriors’ Draymond Green suspended for Game 3 vs Kings
Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors yells to the bench during the second quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings of Round 1 Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs at the Golden 1 Center on April 15, 2023 in Sacramento, California. Loren Elliott/Getty Images/AFP
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was suspended one game by the NBA for stepping on Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis’ chest on Monday in Game 2 of a Western Conference first-round playoff series.
Green’s history of unsportsmanlike acts played a role in the league’s decision to issue the suspension, NBA executive vice president/head of basketball operations Joe Dumars said Tuesday in a statement announcing the punishment.
Green will not be paid for the contest he misses, Game 3 on Thursday in San Francisco. FULL STORY
NBA: Devin Booker, Suns level series with Clippers
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after hitting a three-point shot against the LA Clippers during the first half of Game Two of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Footprint Center on April 18, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP
Devin Booker recorded 38 points and nine assists and the Phoenix Suns evened their first-round Western Conference playoff series at one game apiece with a 123-109 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night.
Kevin Durant added 25 points, six rebounds and five assists as Phoenix rebounded from a Game 1 home loss. Torrey Craig scored 17 points and made five 3-pointers, Chris Paul added 16 points and eight assists and Deandre Ayton had 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Suns. FULL STORY
Devin Booker was MESMERIZING in Game 2.
38 PTS
14-22 FGM
9 AST
Suns WTied 1-1… the series shifts to L.A. Thursday on NBA TV! pic.twitter.com/k8HjAQMZi1
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2023
NBA: Jayson Tatum, Celtics cruise past Hawks for 2-0 series lead
Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics takes a shot against Dejounte Murray #5 of the Atlanta Hawks during the fourth quarter of Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images/AFP
Jayson Tatum led five scorers in double figures with 29 points as the Boston Celtics seized a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series with Tuesday night’s 119-106 win over the visiting Atlanta Hawks.
Tatum added 10 rebounds and six assists to lead the Boston offense. Derrick White added 26 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter. Jaylen Brown (18 points), Marcus Smart (14) and Malcolm Brogdon (13) also scored in double figures. FULL STORY
Jayson Tatum (29 PTS, 10 REB, 6 AST) had it going in the @celtics Game 2 win! They now hold a 2-0 series lead.
📺 BOS/ATL Game 3, Friday, 7pm/et, ESPN pic.twitter.com/I3cDtt2aVl
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2023
NBA: Cavaliers throttle Knicks to even series 1-1
Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers waves to the crowd during the fourth quarter of Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 18, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Knicks 107-90. Jason Miller/Getty Images/AFP
Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley each posted double-doubles and Darius Garland helped key a decisive second-quarter surge Tuesday night for the host Cleveland Cavaliers, who evened their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series with the New York Knicks with a 107-90 victory in Game 2.
Game 3 is scheduled for Friday night in New York.
Mitchell, the seventh-leading scorer in the NBA this season at 28.3 points per game, had just 17 points Tuesday but collected a career-high 13 assists. Mobley had 13 points and 13 rebounds while Garland scored 32 points, including 26 in the first half. FULL STORY
Donovan Mitchell made play after play in the Game 2 win on his way to 13 assists, his most in any regular season or playoff game. CLE/NYK is now tied at 1-1 going into Game 3.
📅 Friday, 8:30pm/et on ABC#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/B4GxlGXPlF
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2023
NBA: Warriors’ Draymond Green faces suspension after stamp on Domantas Sabonis
Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors steps over Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings in the second half during Game Two of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Golden 1 Center on April 17, 2023 in Sacramento, California. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/AFP
Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green is facing possible suspension after getting ejected late in Game 2 of their first round series against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday (Manila time).
Green was thrown out after stepping on the chest of Kings center Domantas Sabonis after the two got tangled up with seven minutes left in the game.
“I’ve got to land my foot somewhere,” said Green. “I can only step so far when I’m pulling my leg away. It is what it is.” FULL STORY
NBA: De’Aaron Fox lifts Kings past Warriors for 2-0 series lead
De’Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings dunks the ball on gsin the first half during Game Two of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Golden 1 Center on April 17, 2023 in Sacramento, California. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/AFP
De’Aaron Fox scored 11 of his team-high-tying 24 points in the fourth quarter and fed Harrison Barnes for a tiebreaking dunk with 5:14 remaining, delivering the host Sacramento Kings a second straight win over the Golden State Warriors, 114-106, Monday night in a Western Conference first-round playoff game.
The contest featured the ejection of Golden State’s Draymond Green for stomping on Domantas Sabonis.
The scene shifts to San Francisco for Games 3 and 4, beginning Thursday night with the defending champions down 2-0 in the best-of-seven series. FULL STORY
Bucks ‘mostly optimistic’ about Giannis Antetokounmpo in Game 2
Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks waits for a free throw during Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Miami Heat at Fiserv Forum on April 16, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Miami defeated Milwaukee 130-117. Stacy Revere/Getty Images/AFP
Milwaukee Bucks star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo should benefit from a two-day break between the first two games in the first-round series with the Miami Heat.
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer voiced optimism about Antetokounmpo’s status for Game 2 on Wednesday. Milwaukee lost to the No. 8 seed Heat, 130-117, on Sunday.
Antetokounmpo left Game 1 in the second quarter Sunday after sustaining a lower back contusion. FULL STORY
NBA: 76ers take 2-0 lead in series vs Nets
Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Brooklyn Nets in the third quarter during Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center on April 17, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Nets 96-84. Mitchell Leff/Getty Images/AFP
Tyrese Maxey hit six 3-pointers and scored 33 points to lift the host Philadelphia 76ers to a 96-84 victory and a 2-0 series lead over the Brooklyn Nets in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs on Monday.
Joel Embiid added 20 points, 19 rebounds, seven assists and three blocked shots, and Tobias Harris had 20 points and 12 rebounds. James Harden chipped in with eight points, seven assists, five rebounds and four steals. FULL STORY
Tyrese Maxey balled out in the Sixers Game 2 win 🔥
33 points
3 rebounds
6 threesThey’re up 2-0 heading into Game 3 on Thursday.
📺 7:30pm/et on TNT pic.twitter.com/QPjBD5cPTT— NBA (@NBA) April 18, 2023
NBA: Balanced Nuggets blast Timberwolves in Game 1
Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is guarded by Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter during Round 1 Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 16, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP
Jamal Murray had 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, Nikola Jokic finished with 13 points and 14 rebounds and the host Denver Nuggets routed the Minnesota Timberwolves 109-80 in Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series on Sunday night.
Michael Porter Jr. had 18 points and 11 rebounds, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 15 points, Bruce Brown added 14 points and Aaron Gordon had 13 points for the top-seeded Nuggets.
Roll the tape 🎥 pic.twitter.com/I7xxvuegFe
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) April 17, 2023
Anthony Edwards scored 18 points, Karl-Anthony Towns had 11 points and 10 rebounds, Jaylen Nowell scored 12 points, Kyle Anderson added 11 and Rudy Gobert finished with 13 rebounds for Minnesota. FULL STORY
NBA: Kawhi Leonard scores 38, Clippers stun Suns in Game 1
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers dive for a loose ball during the first half Game One of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Footprint Center on April 16, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP
Kawhi Leonard poured in 38 points during his first playoff game in 22 months to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 115-110 victory over the host Phoenix Suns on Sunday night in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round series.
Leonard was 13 of 24 from the field and added five rebounds and five assists in his first postseason contest since tearing the ACL in his right knee against the Utah Jazz in June 2021. Eric Gordon added 19 points for the fifth-seeded Clippers.
KAWHI WENT OFF ‼️
38 points
5 rebounds
5 assistsClippers win a thrilling Game 1 in Phoenix. pic.twitter.com/G1rQPOOjHe
— NBA (@NBA) April 17, 2023
Kevin Durant had 27 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds in his first playoff game for the fourth-seeded Suns. It marked the first time Phoenix lost in nine games with Durant on the court. FULL STORY
NBA: Heat topple Bucks in Game 1 amid injuries to Giannis Antetokounmpo, Tyler Herro
Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat dunks against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at Fiserv Forum on April 16, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Stacy Revere/Getty Images/AFP
Jimmy Butler had 35 points and 11 assists and the visiting Miami Heat defeated the Milwaukee Bucks — who played most of the game without Giannis Antetokounmpo — 130-117 in Game 1 of an Eastern Conference first-round playoff series Sunday.
Bam Adebayo scored 22 points for the eighth-seeded Heat, who were playing less than 48 hours after qualifying by beating Chicago in a play-in elimination game. Kevin Love had 18, Caleb Martin and Gabe Vincent added 15 apiece and Tyler Herro scored 12 before being sidelined for good in the second quarter because of a broken right hand. FULL STORY
Grizzlies’ Ja Morant could miss time with hand injury; X-rays negative
Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies injures his hand during the second half against the Los Angeles Lakers during Game One of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at FedExForum on April 16, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. Justin Ford/Getty Images/AFP
Ja Morant’s status for the rest of the Memphis Grizzlies’ first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers is up in the air after he injured his right hand late in Sunday’s Game 1 loss in Memphis.
Morant left the game with 5:48 left in regulation, which gave way to a 15-0 game-ending run for the Lakers to pull away 128-112.
Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said X-rays came back negative. “I’m in a good bit of pain,” Morant told reporters afterward. FULL STORY
Ja Morant headed to the locker room with an apparent injury after this play. pic.twitter.com/MZOrSN9Tmz
— ESPN (@espn) April 16, 2023
NBA: Lakers outlast Grizzlies in playoff series opener; Morant injured
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers goes to the basket against Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half of Game One of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at FedExForum on April 16, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Getty Images via AFP)
LOS ANGELES – Japan’s Rui Hachimura came off the bench to score 29 points and the Los Angeles Lakers surged late Sunday to beat Memphis 128-112 in an NBA playoff series opener.
But the Grizzlies suffered their biggest blow when All-Star guard Ja Morant injured his right hand in a fall to the court midway into the fourth quarter and ran to the locker room, his future status uncertain.
The Lakers took a 1-0 lead in the Western Conference best-of-seven opening round series, which continues on Wednesday at Memphis. FULL STORY
RUI. HACHIMURA.
29 PTS, 6 REB, 5 3PM, 11/14 FG 🔥
Lakers take Game 1 in Memphis. pic.twitter.com/kocNoHj1X1
— NBA (@NBA) April 16, 2023
NBA: Jalen Brunson helps Knicks survive Cavaliers in Game 1
Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks celebrates after scoring during the fourth quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 15, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Knicks defeated the Cavaliers 101-97. Jason Miller/Getty Images/AFP
Jalen Brunson scored 21 points in the second half Saturday night for the visiting New York Knicks, who rebounded with a late surge to edge the Cleveland Cavaliers 101-97 in Game 1 of an Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.
The Knicks were forced to rally back after squandering a 10-point fourth quarter lead. Brunson finished with a team-high 27 points.
Game 2 is Monday night in Cleveland. FULL STORY
Jalen Brunson (27 PTS, 2 STL) was CLUTCH in his first playoff appearance as a Knick!
He had 21 points in the 2nd half to help lead the Knicks to a Game 1 win in Cleveland.#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/iuDjLo7C60
— NBA (@NBA) April 16, 2023
NBA: De’Aaron Fox comes up big, Kings topple Warriors in Game 1
De’Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings walks off the court after defeating the Golden State Warriors in Game One of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at the Golden 1 Center on April 15, 2023 in Sacramento, California. Loren Elliott/Getty Images/AFP
De’Aaron Fox scored a game-high 38 points in his NBA postseason debut and teamed with Malik Monk for 28 fourth-quarter points as the Sacramento Kings edged the visiting Golden State Warriors 126-123 on Saturday night in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round series.
The game marked the Kings’ return to the playoffs for the first time in 17 years. Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is scheduled for Monday night, also in Sacramento.
The Warriors led for most of the first three quarters, and by as many as 10 points, but when the Kings went almost exclusively to Fox and Monk in the fourth, they responded. FULL STORY
38 POINTS for De’Aaron Fox… tied for the 2nd-most EVER in a playoff debut!
Kings win a THRILLING Game 1 👑 pic.twitter.com/tUAW0hIt0u
— NBA (@NBA) April 16, 2023
NBA: Jaylen Brown leads Celtics past Hawks in 1st round playoffs opener
Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics takes a shot against John Collins of the Atlanta Hawks during the first quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs between the Boston Celtics and the Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden on April 15, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Getty Images via AFP)
Jaylen Brown scored 29 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Boston Celtics over the Atlanta Hawks, 112-99 in their Eastern Conference Playoffs first round opener.
Brown played with a wrapping on cut fingers and a protective mask he has had for two months due to a facial fracture.
“Got to come out and be ready to go,” he said. FULL STORY
NBA: Embiid, Harden spark 76ers over Nets in playoff opener
Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers controls the ball against Spencer Dinwiddie of the Brooklyn Nets in the first quarter during Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center on April 15, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Getty Images via AFP)
Joel Embiid scored 26 points and James Harden added 23 to lead the Philadelphia 76ers over the Brooklyn Nets 121-101 in an NBA first-round playoff series opener on Saturday.
The host Sixers, who led the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage, sank a club playoff record 21 3-pointers in 43 attempts to seize a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference best-of-seven opening series, which continues Monday in Philadelphia.
“(That) was a good win for us,” Harden said. “We’ll be watching film. Game two is going to be the toughest game of the series for us. We’ll be ready to go.” FULL STORY
NBA: 76ers embracing pressure ahead of Game 1 vs Nets
FILE – James Harden #1 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers speak during the third quarter against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center on February 10, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images/AFP
The Philadelphia 76ers began the regular season with aspirations of winning their first championship since 1983.
But the Sixers haven’t even advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals since 2001.
After 54 wins, the Sixers earned the No. 3 seed and will host the sixth-seeded Brooklyn Nets in Game 1 of a first-round series on Saturday afternoon.
Before the Sixers can even ponder a deep playoff run, they’ll have to get past the pesky Nets. FULL STORY
NBA: Warriors begin title defense against Kings
FILE – Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after shooting a three-point shot against the Sacramento Kings during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center on April 07, 2023 in Sacramento, California. Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images/AFP
The defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors have the history, the momentum and even the season series.
But the Sacramento Kings have the home-court advantage when the Northern California rivals meet in the NBA playoffs for the first time in an opening-round series that tips off Saturday night in the state capital.
The Warriors needed an 8-2 finish to the regular season not only to avoid the league’s play-in tournament but land in what some of their players have admitted is a favorable spot. Travel between the sites will be done on a 90-minute bus ride rather than as much as a four-hour flight. FULL STORY
LOOK: 2023 NBA PLAYOFFS BRACKET
The 2023 NBA Playoffs bracket FIRST ROUND. –AFP
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