by After the completion of the Play-In Tournament, the 16-team NBA Playoffs began over the weekend, with the first games of the best of seven series’ played on Saturday and Sunday. For lovers of high-stakes intrigue and upsets, these opening games might not have been for you as the higher-seeded team won in all eight matchups, the first time the playoffs have begun with eight straight home wins since 2013.
The slate began in the Eastern Conference, where the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the fifth-seeded Orlando Magic, 97-83. As many expected, the game was a defensive battle as both teams came into the matchup with top-10 defensive ratings on the year. Cleveland took advantage of Orlando’s playoff inexperience and led wire to wire. As expected, Donovan Mitchell led the game in scoring with 30 with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen each having 16-point double-doubles and Darius Garland chipping in 14 as well. Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 24 as well as Franz Wagner with 18. Game 2 will be on Monday night as the Cavaliers will look to get one step closer to that series win that eluded them last season.
The first series to begin in the Western Conference was between the third-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves and the sixth-seeded Phoenix Suns. Minnesota controlled the game, winning 120-95 behind a 33-point outburst from Anthony Edwards. Despite his youth, Edwards continued to show up for the big moments, highlighted by his constant chirping at Suns star Kevin Durant. Edwards had help though, as Karl-Anthony Towns, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Rudy Gobert, and Naz Reid each scored in double figures. Durant led Phoenix with 31, as Devin Booker struggled with his shot, shooting 5-16 from the field and finishing with just 18 points. Game 2 will be on Tuesday as Minnesota will look to take full control of this aging Suns squad.
Back in the East, the second-seeded New York Knicks beat the seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers, 111-104. A playoff win in Madison Square Garden is about as electric as it gets, but another injury to Joel Embiid stole the show once again. In the second quarter, the 76ers superstar landed awkwardly on his left knee and left the game. Although he would return in the second half, things were clearly not the same and Philadelphia just did not have the firepower to compete with New York. The Knicks were led by a balanced effort, with Jalen Brunson leading the way with 22 points. Josh Hart put in 21 points and 13 rebounds while Miles McBride came off the bench to score 21 as well. Tyrese Maxey led the way for Philadelphia with 33 and Embiid had 29 on 8-22 shooting. Without much time to rest, all eyes will be on Maxey (who is questionable with an illness)and Embiid’s availability for game 2 on Monday night.
The final game on Saturday came between the second-seeded Denver Nuggets and the seventh-seeded Los Angeles Lakers. Looking to avenge the sweep that they suffered at Denver’s hands in last year’s Western Conference Finals, the Lakers came out hot, and held a double-digit lead at one point in the first half. However, Nikola Jokic and Co. were just too much for Los Angeles and the Nuggets won 114-103. It was a balanced effort for Denver, as all five scorers ended in double figures, led by Jokic with 32 and 12 rebounds and Murray with 22 points and 10 assists. Los Angeles was led by a big day from Anthony Davis, who had 32 points and 14 rebounds. LeBron James chipped in 27 points as well. Game 2 will come on Monday, as the Lakers will try to snap their growing playoff skid.
The first game on Sunday was a rematch of the 2022 and 2023 Eastern Conference Finals between the first-seeded Boston Celtics and the eighth-seeded Miami Heat. It was already a tall order to take down this juggernaut Boston squad, but without star Jimmy Butler to a knee injury, Miami stood no chance, falling 114-94. As expected, the Celtics exhibited a balanced effort but were led by Jayson Tatum, who had a 23-point, 10-rebound, and 10-assist triple double. Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, and Al Horford were all also in double-figures. Bam Adebayo led an adrift Miami team with 24 along with a surprising 17 off the bench from Delon Wright. The Heat will have time to recalibrate, as game 2 won’t take place until Wednesday.
Up next, the Kawhi Leonard-less fourth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers had a surprisingly convincing victory over the fifth-seeded Dallas Mavericks, 109-97. With Leonard out and Dallas rounding into form coming into the playoffs, everything seemed in place for the Mavericks to cruise to victory, but that is not how things went down. Los Angeles came out hot, eventually leading by 26 points at halftime and holding Dallas to only eight points in the second quarter. James Harden looked like a past version of himself, scoring 28 points to lead the way for the Clippers. Paul George and Ivica Zubac were not far behind, scoring 22 and 20, respectively. The stars showed up for the Mavericks, as Luka Doncic had 33 points and 13 rebounds and Kyrie Irving scored 31, but hardly anyone else did. The rest of the team scored just 33 combined points over the duration of the game. With Leonard still questionable, Dallas will have the opportunity to even the series on Tuesday night.
Another team blemished by injury, the third-seeded Milwaukee Bucks who were without Giannis Antetokounmpo to a calf injury, faced the sixth-seeded Indiana Pacers. Thanks to a sizzling 35-point first half from Damian Lillard, Milwaukee was able to cruise to a 109-94 victory. Despite Antetokounmpo’s absence, the Bucks were in full control practically the whole game and Indiana, behind star point guard Tyrese Haliburton’s poor night, looked lost. After scoring 35 in the first two quarters, Lillard hardly needed to do anything else and didn’t record a point in the second half. Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis picked up the slack, combining for 38 points and 21 rebounds in a controlled effort. Pascal Siakam had a big night in the loss, scoring 36 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. Milwaukee will hope that Antetokounmpo returns on Tuesday for game 2, as it’ll be difficult to hold Haliburton’s crew down for long.
The last series to begin came in Oklahoma City, as the first-seeded Thunder took on the eighth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans. The game was the closest of any in the weekend’s slate, but Oklahoma City overcame their inexperience to snag a 94-92 win. New Orleans had a chance to win it, but a three-pointer in the final seconds by CJ McCollum came up just short after a superb defensive possession by Thunder rookie Cason Wallace. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander overcame the flurry of athletic wing defenders that New Orleans threw at him to lead the way 28 points and Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren were big time contributors as well, with each in double-figures. The Pelicans struggled with efficiency without star forward Zion Williamson, with Trey Murphy III and McCollum leading them in scoring with 21 and 20 respectively. Brandon Ingram struggled to get into any sort of rhythm and only had 12 points on 5-17 from the field, a testament to Luguentz Dort’s stellar defense. With the opening game jitters out of way, Oklahoma City will look to take full control of the series on Wednesday night.
