Bucks and Pacers Set for Game 3
The Milwaukee Bucks take on the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday afternoon in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal-round series. The series is tied 1-1.
The Bucks (1-1) got a series they entered as an underdog off on the right foot with a Game 1 win, but playing without their perennial team MVP caught up to them in a 125-108 loss in Game 2. Damian Lillard paced the Bucks with 34 points, supplementing them with five assists, four rebounds and one steal. Brook Lopez finished with 22 points, three assists, one rebound and two blocks. Khris Middleton posted 15 points, six assists and five rebounds. Bobby Portis turned in 14 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and one steal.
The Bucks will list Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and Chris Livingston (illness) as doubtful for Friday's game. Middleton (ankle) will carry a questionable tag.
The Pacers (1-1) were able to rectify some of their offensive issues in Game 2 after scoring only 94 points in Game 1 on miserable 39.6 percent shooting. In Game 2, Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 37 points, complementing them with 11 rebounds and six assists. Myles Turner furnished 22 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three blocks. Andrew Nembhard recorded 20 points, four boards and three assists. Tyrese Haliburton contributed a 12-point, 12-assist double-double that included four rebounds, one steal and one block. Aaron Nesmith registered 11 points, seven assists, five rebounds and one block.
The Pacers will come into Friday's game without any short-term injuries to report.
Friday's game marks the eighth meeting between the teams since the start of the regular season. Indiana has won five of the first seven games.
The Bucks (1-1) got a series they entered as an underdog off on the right foot with a Game 1 win, but playing without their perennial team MVP caught up to them in a 125-108 loss in Game 2. Damian Lillard paced the Bucks with 34 points, supplementing them with five assists, four rebounds and one steal. Brook Lopez finished with 22 points, three assists, one rebound and two blocks. Khris Middleton posted 15 points, six assists and five rebounds. Bobby Portis turned in 14 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and one steal.
The Bucks will list Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and Chris Livingston (illness) as doubtful for Friday's game. Middleton (ankle) will carry a questionable tag.
The Pacers (1-1) were able to rectify some of their offensive issues in Game 2 after scoring only 94 points in Game 1 on miserable 39.6 percent shooting. In Game 2, Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 37 points, complementing them with 11 rebounds and six assists. Myles Turner furnished 22 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three blocks. Andrew Nembhard recorded 20 points, four boards and three assists. Tyrese Haliburton contributed a 12-point, 12-assist double-double that included four rebounds, one steal and one block. Aaron Nesmith registered 11 points, seven assists, five rebounds and one block.
The Pacers will come into Friday's game without any short-term injuries to report.
Friday's game marks the eighth meeting between the teams since the start of the regular season. Indiana has won five of the first seven games.
Mavs Look To Bring Momentum Back Home
By Dan Bruno
The Dallas Mavericks play host to the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 3 of the Western Conference First-Round Playoffs at American Airlines Center on Friday evening.
The series is tied at 1-1, as the Clippers came up with a 12-point home win in Game 1, while the Mavericks took control in Game 2 and held on to steal one on the road.
The Mavs got out to a good start in Game 2 and led by four points at halftime, but the Clippers came got in front for a one-point edge heading into the final frame. The visitors picked up momentum in the fourth and rallied to a nine-point advantage with just under a minute and a half left on the clock. The Clippers fought until the final buzzer, but the Mavs stayed clutch down the stretch to secure the first road win of the series.
Luke Doncic led the Mavs in the win with 32 points, six rebounds, nine assists, a steal and a block, in 46 minutes. Kyrie Irving followed up with 23 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals, while P.J. Washington added 18 points, six rebounds, a steal and two blocks. On the other side, James Harden and Paul George tallied 22 points each to lead the Clippers. Ivica Zubac logged a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Kawhi Leonard finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists, four steals and a block.
Leonard (knee), who missed Game 1, is listed as questionable for action in Game 3. The Mavs are also dealing with injuries, as Daniel Gafford (back) is listed as questionable, while Tim Hardaway (ankle) will be sidelined.
The Mavs will look to carry the momentum back home, where they had a 25-16 record this season and now have an opportunity to take control of the series.
The series is tied at 1-1, as the Clippers came up with a 12-point home win in Game 1, while the Mavericks took control in Game 2 and held on to steal one on the road.
The Mavs got out to a good start in Game 2 and led by four points at halftime, but the Clippers came got in front for a one-point edge heading into the final frame. The visitors picked up momentum in the fourth and rallied to a nine-point advantage with just under a minute and a half left on the clock. The Clippers fought until the final buzzer, but the Mavs stayed clutch down the stretch to secure the first road win of the series.
Luke Doncic led the Mavs in the win with 32 points, six rebounds, nine assists, a steal and a block, in 46 minutes. Kyrie Irving followed up with 23 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals, while P.J. Washington added 18 points, six rebounds, a steal and two blocks. On the other side, James Harden and Paul George tallied 22 points each to lead the Clippers. Ivica Zubac logged a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Kawhi Leonard finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists, four steals and a block.
Leonard (knee), who missed Game 1, is listed as questionable for action in Game 3. The Mavs are also dealing with injuries, as Daniel Gafford (back) is listed as questionable, while Tim Hardaway (ankle) will be sidelined.
The Mavs will look to carry the momentum back home, where they had a 25-16 record this season and now have an opportunity to take control of the series.
Suns host T'Wolves in Game 2 on Friday
The Phoenix Suns play host to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Footprint Center on Friday.
Minnesota leads this series, 2-0.
The Timberwolves (2-0) shocked the NBA world when they came within one game of the top seed in the Western Conference during the regular season, but they're not sneaking up on anyone anymore. They have looked like the best team in these playoffs through two games, blowing out Phoenix in the first two games of this series. What was really impressive about the Game 2 win was that they got it despite Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns struggling. That's a rare sight but to get 25 points from Jaden McDaniels changes everything for this team. They're also playing the best defense in these playoffs, but that's no surprise since they had the best defense during the regular season.
The Suns (0-2) were a massive disappointment during the regular season, and that's carried over into the postseason. Two blowout losses are not how you want to start things, scoring 95 and 93 points in those defeats. That's unacceptable for any team, especially one that possesses three of the best scorers in the NBA. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker have yet to get going in this series and it could be over soon if they don't clean things up. What's also frustrating is that Grayson Allen rolled his ankle again in Game 2. He was already recovering from an ankle sprain and to re-injure it is a bad sign for the remainder of this series.
Phoenix has won 10 of their last 11 regular season games over Minnesota, despite trailing this series, 2-0.
Minnesota leads this series, 2-0.
The Timberwolves (2-0) shocked the NBA world when they came within one game of the top seed in the Western Conference during the regular season, but they're not sneaking up on anyone anymore. They have looked like the best team in these playoffs through two games, blowing out Phoenix in the first two games of this series. What was really impressive about the Game 2 win was that they got it despite Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns struggling. That's a rare sight but to get 25 points from Jaden McDaniels changes everything for this team. They're also playing the best defense in these playoffs, but that's no surprise since they had the best defense during the regular season.
The Suns (0-2) were a massive disappointment during the regular season, and that's carried over into the postseason. Two blowout losses are not how you want to start things, scoring 95 and 93 points in those defeats. That's unacceptable for any team, especially one that possesses three of the best scorers in the NBA. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker have yet to get going in this series and it could be over soon if they don't clean things up. What's also frustrating is that Grayson Allen rolled his ankle again in Game 2. He was already recovering from an ankle sprain and to re-injure it is a bad sign for the remainder of this series.
Phoenix has won 10 of their last 11 regular season games over Minnesota, despite trailing this series, 2-0.