Defending NBA champion the Golden State Warriors conquered the Houston Rockets in its Western Conference semifinal opener, while the Boston Celtics upstaged the Milwaukee Bucks.
Kevin Durant proceeded with his strong NBA playoff structure on Sunday, scoring 35 points to lead the Warriors to a 104-100 triumph against the Rockets in Game 1.
The 10-time All-Star, who arrived at the midpoint of 35 points for every game in the Warriors’ first-round series win against the Los Angeles Clippers, hit 11-of-25 shots against Houston.
On multi day when Stephen Curry (18 points) fought foul inconvenience and Klay Thompson had a calm 13, Golden State required all Durant could offer. However the game was not chosen until the last seconds.
With the Rockets trailing by three points with 10 seconds remaining, James Harden propelled an errant three-point endeavor. Chris Paul got the bounce back, however had the ball stripped away. Eric Gordon recuperated the ball outside the ball out of bounds.
In any case, Paul, contending with an official that he had been fouled on the play, was required a technical. Curry hit the free toss for the final margin.
In Sunday’s first amusement, the Celtics shut down Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks for a 112-90 triumph in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference elimination round.
The Celtics frustrated Antetokounmpo, constraining him to seven-of-21 shooting, as Boston attracted first blood Milwaukee.
Nothing came simple for Antetokounmpo, who scored 22 however had a game-low minus-24.
In all out attack mode end, the Bucks had no response for Kyrie Irving, who scored 26 points and included 11 helps. Horford posted 20 and Jaylen Brown pitched in 19.
Gordon, Green impress
Rockets guard Gordon scored 27 on 10-of-19 shooting for the Rockets.
Draymond Green missed just two of nine shots, scored 14 and had nine bounce back and helps.
Harden inefficient
Solidify scored 35, however hit just nine-of-27 shots from the field, and four-of-16 three-pointers.
Bucks monitor Pat Connaughton made just two-of-10 shots and one of his seven three-point endeavors.
Horford denies Giannis… twice!
You don’t see Antetokounmpo get dismissed all the time — not to mention twice on a similar play by Horford.
76ers at Raptors
The Toronto Raptors won Game 1 rather effectively, yet review that the Philadelphia 76ers had an unsatisfying performance in its Eastern Conference first-round series opener against the Brooklyn Nets. Kawhi Leonard scored a career playoff-high 45 points on Saturday, and the 76ers certainly can do a better job than that on the defensive end.