The National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs are just over halfway through the first round, and there are a few surprises. The top seeds in each conference have been struggling. 3 teams are facing elimination as of the results on Sunday, April 27th. But 4 of the remaining 5 series are tied at 2 games apiece.
In the only close game on Sunday, the 5th seeded Portland Trail Blazers beat the 4th seeded Houston Rockets 123-120 in overtime at Portland. You’d think that teams who finished the regular season with the same 54-28 regular season record would be tied in their series after 4 games, but that’s not the case. LaMarcus Aldridge has been huge for the Trial Blazers, with 2 40-point games, leading them to a 3-1 series lead.
The other 4th and 5th seeded teams are also at 3-1 in favor of the 5th seeded team, the Washington Wizards in the Eastern Conference. Trevor Ariza scored 30 points for the Wizards on Sunday, in their 98-89 win over the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls will face elimination in Game 5 at home on Tuesday.
Also in the Eastern Conference on Sunday, the 3rd seeded Toronto Raptors have tied their series with the Brooklyn Nets at 2 games, with an 87-79 road win in Brooklyn. DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors with 24 points. Game 5 will be back in Toronto on Wednesday.
In Oakland, the Golden State Warriors evened their series with the Los Angeles Clippers at 2 games also, with a 118-97 rout. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 33 points. Game 5 will be back in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
The other 4 series all played on Saturday. As I mentioned, the top seeds certainly aren’t cruising along in the first round of the NBA playoffs. The San Antonio Spurs, who finished the regular season with the best record in the league, have fallen behind the 8th seeded Dallas Mavericks, 2 games to 1, after Vince Carter nailed a 3-pointer to give the Mavericks a 109-108 victory on Saturday.
The Indiana Pacers, who are the top seed in the Eastern Conference, evened their series with the 8th seeded Atlanta Hawks, who finished the regular season with a 38-44 record, with a 91-88 victory. The Pacers struggled down the stretch in the regular season, and it has continued into the playoffs.
Oklahoma City, who is the 2nd seed in the Western Conference evened their series with the Memphis Grizzlies at 2 games, with a 92-89 overtime win on Saturday. Reggie Jackson, not Mr. October, actually led the Thunder with 32 points, rather than MVP candidate Kevin Durant. Game 5 is Tuesday in Oklahoma City.
The 2-time defending champion Miami Heat are plugging along nicely, leading their series with the Charlotte Bobcats 3-0, after a 95-88 victory on Saturday. LeBron James, not surprising led the Heat with 30 points. The Bobcats face elimination on Monday at home.
I look for the Spurs and Pacers to prevail in their series, even though they have struggled thus far. The Heat will close out the Bobcats real soon. I also think the Thunder will win their series with the Grizzlies, but probably in 7 games.
The Wizards and Trail Blazers just need one more win, and I don’t see the Bulls and/or Rockets winning 3 in a row to take those series. The Nets should outlast the Raptors, probably also going 7 games. But the Clippers, with the racism allegations against their owner Donald Sterling, seem to be a bit rattled. I think they will be eliminated by the Warriors.
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