Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 factors to carry the host Oklahoma City Thunder to an exhilarating 94-92 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday in Game 1 of a Western Conference first-round playoff sequence.
In the fourth quarter, Oklahoma City skilled a stretch of five-plus minutes with no subject objective because the Pelicans went up 90-88. But then Gilgeous-Alexander turned issues round.
First, he hit a pull-up jumper to tie the sport with 1:36 remaining, then fought by way of site visitors — and a foul — to hit a floater, sinking the following free throw to offer the Thunder a 93-90 edge with 32.5 seconds to play.
With 14 seconds left, the Pelicans, down 94-92, had the ball with an opportunity to tie or take the lead, however Cason Wallace locked in defensively on CJ McCollum, first reaching out for a deflection, then retaining him from getting a clear look. McCollum’s potential game-winner missed the mark with 1.3 seconds to go.
Trey Murphy III led New Orleans with 21 factors, McCollum added 20 and Jonas Valanciunas had 13 factors and 20 rebounds. Jalen Williams added 19 factors for Oklahoma City.
Bucks 109, Pacers 94
Damian Lillard scored all 35 of his factors within the first half as host Milwaukee turned again Indiana in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference playoff sequence.
Lillard made 11 of 24 pictures from the ground and 6 of 11 from 3-point vary. Khris Middleton collected 23 factors, 15 within the second half, for the Bucks, who will host Game 2 on Tuesday night time.
Pascal Siakam recorded 36 factors and 13 rebounds for the Pacers, who missed their first 14 makes an attempt from 3-point vary and completed 8-for-38 from past the arc. Myles Turner added 17 factors and eight rebounds.
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Celtics 114, Heat 94
Jayson Tatum completed with 23 factors, 10 rebounds and 10 assists and Boston capitalized on a quick begin to defeat visiting Miami in Game 1 of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff sequence.
The top-seeded Celtics, who scored the sport’s first 14 factors, made 22 of 49 makes an attempt from 3-point vary (44.9 p.c), whereas eighth-seeded Miami was 12 of 37 (32.4 p.c) from distance. Game 2 within the best-of-seven sequence is Wednesday in Boston.
Derrick White added 20 factors for the Celtics. Miami’s Bam Adebayo led all scorers with 24 factors, whereas Delon Wright got here off the bench to attain 17 and Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 16.
Clippers 109, Mavericks 97
James Harden scored 28 factors and Ivica Zubac set his playoff profession excessive with 20 whereas including 15 rebounds as Los Angeles made an announcement in Game 1 of a first-round Western Conference sequence with a victory over visiting Dallas.
The Clippers have been taking part in with out star Kawhi Leonard due to knee irritation, however they’d lots to get previous the Mavericks, getting 22 factors from Paul George and 13 apiece from Terance Mann and Russell Westbrook.
Luka Doncic scored 33 factors to go together with 13 rebounds, and Kyrie Irving added 31 factors for Dallas. Los Angeles’ high-level protection was current from the beginning, holding the Mavericks to simply eight factors within the second quarter and 30 within the first half.
