Magic Rally Past Cavs To Tie Series
By Dan Bruno
The Orlando Magic defeated the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers, 112-89, in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference First-Round Playoffs at Kia Center on Saturday afternoon.
The game got out to a competitive start as the Cavs held a one-point edge after one quarter, but they picked up momentum and rushed to a nine-point advantage by halftime. The Magic came out on another level in the third and outscored the visitors, 37-10, in the quarter to take an 18-point lead into the final frame. The Magic stayed in control and cruised to their second straight win, tying the series at 2-2.
Franz Wagner led the way in the win with 34 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and a block, in 40 minutes of action. Jonathan Isaac followed up with 14 points, seven rebounds, a steal and two blocks, while Markelle Fultz and Jalen Suggs chipped in 12 points each. Paolo Banchero was relatively quiet with nine points, four rebounds, five assists, a steal and two blocks.
Meanwhile, Jarrett Allen led the Cavs with 21 points, nine rebounds and a steal, in 29 minutes. Donovan Mitchell followed up with 18 points, six assists and three steals, while Evan Mobley and Darius Garland tallied 14 points each.
The series is now set to swing back to Cleveland for Game 5, which is scheduled for Tuesday.
The game got out to a competitive start as the Cavs held a one-point edge after one quarter, but they picked up momentum and rushed to a nine-point advantage by halftime. The Magic came out on another level in the third and outscored the visitors, 37-10, in the quarter to take an 18-point lead into the final frame. The Magic stayed in control and cruised to their second straight win, tying the series at 2-2.
Franz Wagner led the way in the win with 34 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and a block, in 40 minutes of action. Jonathan Isaac followed up with 14 points, seven rebounds, a steal and two blocks, while Markelle Fultz and Jalen Suggs chipped in 12 points each. Paolo Banchero was relatively quiet with nine points, four rebounds, five assists, a steal and two blocks.
Meanwhile, Jarrett Allen led the Cavs with 21 points, nine rebounds and a steal, in 29 minutes. Donovan Mitchell followed up with 18 points, six assists and three steals, while Evan Mobley and Darius Garland tallied 14 points each.
The series is now set to swing back to Cleveland for Game 5, which is scheduled for Tuesday.
Thunder Roll Pelicans, 106-85, Grab 3-0 Series Lead
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the host New Orleans Pelicans, 106-85, in Game 3 of the Western Conference First-Round Playoffs at Smoothie King Center on Saturday.
Oklahoma City leads this series, 3-0.
Oklahoma City won all four individual quarters in this game, never relinquishing the lead after the opening five minutes. They held a double-digit lead for the final 22 minutes and got their lead up to 24 points at times. The Thunder shot 48 percent from the field and 47 percent from three-point range while holding the Pelicans to 38 percent from the field and 28 percent from long range. OKC also recorded 27 assists to 16 turnovers, while NOLA had 18 assists to 20 turnovers.
The Thunder (3-0) were led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, accruing 24 points, five rebounds, eight assists and four steals. Josh Giddey generated 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Jalen Williams had 21 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals, while Luguentz Dort amassed 12 points, four rebounds and three assists.
The Pelicans (0-3) were led by Brandon Ingram, finishing with 19 points and three rebounds. CJ McCollum collected 16 points, five rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Herbert Jones totaled 15 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Trey Murphy tallied 10 points, six rebounds, two assists and three steals, while Larry Nance led the bench with nine points, 13 rebounds, five assists and two steals.
These teams will play Game 4 on Monday in New Orleans.
Oklahoma City leads this series, 3-0.
Oklahoma City won all four individual quarters in this game, never relinquishing the lead after the opening five minutes. They held a double-digit lead for the final 22 minutes and got their lead up to 24 points at times. The Thunder shot 48 percent from the field and 47 percent from three-point range while holding the Pelicans to 38 percent from the field and 28 percent from long range. OKC also recorded 27 assists to 16 turnovers, while NOLA had 18 assists to 20 turnovers.
The Thunder (3-0) were led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, accruing 24 points, five rebounds, eight assists and four steals. Josh Giddey generated 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Jalen Williams had 21 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals, while Luguentz Dort amassed 12 points, four rebounds and three assists.
The Pelicans (0-3) were led by Brandon Ingram, finishing with 19 points and three rebounds. CJ McCollum collected 16 points, five rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Herbert Jones totaled 15 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Trey Murphy tallied 10 points, six rebounds, two assists and three steals, while Larry Nance led the bench with nine points, 13 rebounds, five assists and two steals.
These teams will play Game 4 on Monday in New Orleans.
Celtics Cruise To Victory Over Heat In Game 3
The Boston Celtics defeated the Miami Heat, 104-84, at Kaseya Center on Saturday in Game 3 of the first round in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Celtics now lead the series 2-1.
The Celtics played Game 3 of the series with a sense of urgency, and it showed, as they played with intensity and quickly established their terms against a Heat team that struggled to get things going on offense. A 21-12 lead after the first quarter gave Boston an early advantage, and a 42-27 second quarter essentially put the game out of Miami’s reach by halftime. The Celtics slowed things down a bit in the third quarter, though Miami also played better, but the game was essentially over as a fighting expression. The Heat won the second half by a four-point margin. However, that was not enough to mount a comeback, and the Celtics cruised to an easy victory. The Celtics now hold a 2-1 lead in the series. Game 4 is scheduled for Monday in Miami.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown led the way for the Celtics since both scored 22 points. Tatum also added 11 rebounds and six assists, while Brown chipped in with eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. Kristaps Porzingis notched 18 points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Derrick White had 16 points, five rebounds and three assists. The Celtics shot 47.6 percent from the field and 29.7 percent from three-point range.
Bam Adebayo had 20 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Tyler Herro had 15 points, two rebounds and two assists. Jaime Jaquez Jr. posted 12 points, five rebounds and five assists. Nikola Jovic contributed 15 points and eight rebounds. The Heat shot 41.6 percent from the field and 32.1 percent from three-point range.
The Celtics played Game 3 of the series with a sense of urgency, and it showed, as they played with intensity and quickly established their terms against a Heat team that struggled to get things going on offense. A 21-12 lead after the first quarter gave Boston an early advantage, and a 42-27 second quarter essentially put the game out of Miami’s reach by halftime. The Celtics slowed things down a bit in the third quarter, though Miami also played better, but the game was essentially over as a fighting expression. The Heat won the second half by a four-point margin. However, that was not enough to mount a comeback, and the Celtics cruised to an easy victory. The Celtics now hold a 2-1 lead in the series. Game 4 is scheduled for Monday in Miami.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown led the way for the Celtics since both scored 22 points. Tatum also added 11 rebounds and six assists, while Brown chipped in with eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. Kristaps Porzingis notched 18 points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Derrick White had 16 points, five rebounds and three assists. The Celtics shot 47.6 percent from the field and 29.7 percent from three-point range.
Bam Adebayo had 20 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Tyler Herro had 15 points, two rebounds and two assists. Jaime Jaquez Jr. posted 12 points, five rebounds and five assists. Nikola Jovic contributed 15 points and eight rebounds. The Heat shot 41.6 percent from the field and 32.1 percent from three-point range.
Lakers Topple Nuggets, 119-108, in Critical Game 4
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets, 119-108, on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena in Game 4 of their Western Conference quarterfinal-round series. The Nuggets lead the series, 3-1.
The Lakers (1-3) were down to their proverbial last out in the series coming into the night, but the first half portended a potential sweep-averting victory. Los Angeles owned a five-point lead after one over the Nuggets (3-1), and their advantage was up to 13 points by halftime. Denver was able to make a two-point dent in its deficit in the third, but the hosts matched them point for point in the fourth quarter to secure the solid victory.
Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 33 points, adding 14 rebounds, 14 assists, one steal and one block. Michael Porter Jr. furnished 27 points, 11 boards, one assist and one steal. Jamal Murray supplied 22 points, six rebounds, five assists and one block. Kentavious Caldwell-Cope registered 14 points, three assists, two rebounds and four steals.
LeBron James paced the Lakers with 30 points, supplementing them with five rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block. Anthony Davis generated a 25-point, 23-rebound double-double that included six assists and one block. Austin Reaves and D'Angelo Russell generated matching 21-point efforts while recording six and four assists, respectively. Russell added four rebounds.
The series now shifts back to Ball Arena in Denver for Game 5, which takes place Tuesday night.
The Lakers (1-3) were down to their proverbial last out in the series coming into the night, but the first half portended a potential sweep-averting victory. Los Angeles owned a five-point lead after one over the Nuggets (3-1), and their advantage was up to 13 points by halftime. Denver was able to make a two-point dent in its deficit in the third, but the hosts matched them point for point in the fourth quarter to secure the solid victory.
Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 33 points, adding 14 rebounds, 14 assists, one steal and one block. Michael Porter Jr. furnished 27 points, 11 boards, one assist and one steal. Jamal Murray supplied 22 points, six rebounds, five assists and one block. Kentavious Caldwell-Cope registered 14 points, three assists, two rebounds and four steals.
LeBron James paced the Lakers with 30 points, supplementing them with five rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block. Anthony Davis generated a 25-point, 23-rebound double-double that included six assists and one block. Austin Reaves and D'Angelo Russell generated matching 21-point efforts while recording six and four assists, respectively. Russell added four rebounds.
The series now shifts back to Ball Arena in Denver for Game 5, which takes place Tuesday night.