The matches of the night in the NBA
Milwaukee Bucks 110-122 Orlando Magic
Indiana Pacers 101-113 Miami Heat
Houston Rockets 123-108 Oklahoma City Thunder
Los Angeles Lakers 93-100 Portland Trail Blazers
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– Damian Lillard spoiled the first game of LeBron James in the Playoffs with the Los Angeles Lakers! The number 1 seed in the West was beaten by the Portland Trail Blazers (93-100). Author of 34 points including a decisive long-distance shot in the money-time, Lillard was therefore the great architect of this success. Despite a certain clumsiness, CJ McCollum (20 points) and Jusuf Nurkic (16 points, 15 rebounds) supported him well. For his part, James released a big triple-double: 23 points, 17 rebounds and 16 assists. But the King was not very skilful (9/20 on shots), just like Anthony Davis (28 points, 8/24 on shots). The Blazers were in Playoffs mode, the Lakers not really… And in the hottest times, Lillard was so exceptional. In the 4th QT, he thus compiled 9 points and 2 assists. Chief Lillard!
DAME FROM DEEP. WOW. pic.twitter.com/mgiBp7fiu6
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 19, 2020
– What a disastrous start to the Playoffs for the Milwaukee Bucks! The number 1 seed in the Eastern Conference fell to Orlando Magic (110-122). And this victory is well deserved for the Floridians! Immediately on the right pace, the Magic took the lead with a Nikola Vucevic (35 points, 14 rebounds) absolutely huge! Untenable, the Montenegrin thus achieved his career record in points to allow the feat of his team.
Despite the absence ofAaron Gordon, injured, Orlando was solid with Terrence Ross (18 points), Gary Clark (15 points) and DJ Augustin (11 points, 11 assists). Without being in a great day, Evan Fournier (9 points) also claimed an important prize-winning basket in the money-time. In front, Giannis Antetokounmpo (31 points, 17 rebounds, 7 assists) was too lonely with the Bucks … His lieutenants Khris Middleton (14 points at 4/12 on shots) and Eric Bledsoe (15 points at 5/11 on shots) disappointed. Reaction expected from Game 2 for Milwaukee.
Previews playoffs NBA : Milwaukee Bucks (1) vs Orlando Magic (8)
– In this defeat of the Milwaukee Bucks against the Orlando Magic, Giannis Antetokounmpo responded present. We do not know if this is reassuring for the franchise of Wisconsin … In any case, for its part, the Greek Freak did not wait long before putting into action. Like this poster on the Florida defense. It’s up to his teammates to level up now.
Giannis already making posters ???? pic.twitter.com/9OrU4CEeVC
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 18, 2020
– For the anecdote, the number 1 seeds in the East and the West were both led 0-1 by the number 8 seeds on only one occasion in the history of the NBA: in 2003. The result at the time? The Detroit Pistons and the San Antonio Spurs (future champions) had managed to eliminate the Orlando Magic (4-3) and the Phoenix Suns (4-2). It remains to be seen if Damian Lillard and Nikola Vucevic intend to slow down thereafter …
– Jimmy Butler, what a murderer! We know it, we must always be wary of the former Chicago Bulls in great moments … And he has proven it again. The Miami Heat took the best over the Indiana Pacers (113-101) with a Butler (28 points) determining. Author of 10 of the last 12 points of the Floridians, he sealed the outcome of this game with two three-point shots. He had not scored behind the arc since March 2 … Well supported by a super Goran Dragic (24 points) and one Bam adebayo (17 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists) active, Butler therefore led his team to victory. TJ Warren (22 points) and Malcolm Brogdon (22 points) did try to answer, but the Heat were a tone above in this Game 1.
Jimmy Butler spoke, assumed then dominated …
Playoff Jimmy is a beautiful sight in a HEAT jersey ????
Just look at what he did on both ends of the floor in crunch time to finish the Pacers in Game 1. #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/k3q74FA5ol
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) August 18, 2020
– And if some doubt it, Jimmy Butler, besides being an assassin, still has a strong character. In his quarrel with the Pacers player TJ Warren, the star of the Miami Heat did not hesitate to chamber. After a dunk, he asked his opponent to shut up with a wave of his hand. Loved or hated, Butler probably leaves no one indifferent!
Close friends Jimmy and TJ saying hello ???? pic.twitter.com/YtERu1wyDI
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 18, 2020
– James Harden taught the lesson. The Houston Rockets easily dominated the Oklahoma City Thunder (123-108). Even without Russell Westbrook, injured, Harden took matters into his own hands by planting 37 points against OKC. In its wake, Eric Gordon (21 points) and Jeff Green (22 points) also contributed. Opposite, the Thunder quickly chased after the score but a Danilo Gallinari (29 points) inspired. Chris Paul came close to the triple-double (20 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists), but the young talents of OKC were not necessarily up to this first game of the Playoffs, like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (9 points to 2/8 on shots). A one-sided game.
Making it look easy. #OneMission l @memorialhermann pic.twitter.com/pT9MC2jthu
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) August 19, 2020
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