Superstar’s cheeky exchange with KD amid bold playoffs statement; contenders get feisty: NBA Wrap
Minnesota celebrity Anthony Edwards loved a little bit of smack discuss with Kevin Durant because the Timberwolves took a 1-0 collection lead over the Suns due to a 120-95 victory.
Edwards topped the scoring charts for Minnesota with 33 factors together with 9 rebounds and 6 assists, whereas Rudy Gobert additionally starred with a double-double due to 14 factors and 16 rebounds.
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But Edwards was undeniably the star of the present for the No. 3 seed within the Western Conference and he lapped up each little bit of the environment.
There was maybe no higher standout second from the 22-year-old when he drained a three-pointer with lower than a minute remaining within the third quarter.
Edwards made his means round Phoenix’s double group earlier than draining a 3 pointer excessive of a lunging Durant.
As he backed up into his personal court docket, Edwards was seen speaking loads of trash to Durant in what could possibly be an indication of a particular rivalry brewing on this playoff collection.
Durant was the Suns’ most deadly with 31 factors whereas Devin Booker chipped in with 18 factors.
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CAVS COME OUT FLYING
Donovan Mitchell scored 30 factors because the Cleveland Cavaliers roared out of the gates within the NBA playoffs on Saturday, main wire to wire in a 97-83 victory over Orlando in sport considered one of their Eastern Conference collection.
Jarrett Allen added 16 factors and 18 rebounds because the Cavs received the rebounding battle 54-40 in a victory that Allen hoped would set the tone for the best-of-seven collection.
“We keep saying ‘throw the first punch,’” Allen mentioned in an on-court postgame interview. “I think it was the perfect example tonight.” Evan Mobley additionally scored 16 factors and grabbed 11 rebounds and Darius Garlanded added 14 factors with eight assists for the Cavs, who’re nonetheless smarting from a first-round loss to the New York Knicks final season.
Mitchell, who missed Cleveland’s regular-season finale with a nagging knee damage, appeared unhindered in a dominant offensive show.
Orlando’s Paolo Banchero scored 24 factors however had 9 of the Magic’s 12 turnovers.
Cleveland coughed up 18 turnovers and went chilly within the third quarter because the Magic reduce a 12-point halftime deficit to 4 factors.
A pair of baskets from Mitchell sparked an 18-2 scoring run that noticed the Cavs push the result in 20 early within the fourth quarter.
“I think we did good,” Allen mentioned.
“We wanted to bring the physicality.”
Things bought testy within the second quarter, with Cleveland reserves Georges Niang and Isaac Okoro each assessed technical fouls — Niang for crowding into Markelle Fultz after Fultz fouled him on a drive to the basket.
“I loved it,” Allen mentioned of the Cavs’ take-no-prisoners mentality. “That’s what we’re all about.”
NBA PLAYOFF RESULTS
Cavaliers 97-83 Magic (Cavs lead 1-0)
Timberwolves 120-95 Suns (Timberwolves lead 1-0)
Knicks v Sixers
Nuggets v Lakers
