This is the Hangover. We get basketball-wasted all the time. Yes, we recap the NBA every night in our own way.
I know. I’m not thrilled either that I’m doing these recaps late.
#3 OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 131 @ #6 DALLAS MAVERICKS 102
WEST First Round – Game 3 – THUNDER lead series, 2-1
Kevin Durant kept shooting as shooters do… and he was better than Game 2. 11 for 25 was his final tally; not the best but he would obviously take that over 7 for 33. He scored 20 points in the first half.
In this fast-paced environment, the steady Dallas Mavericks were the turtles in this race. And the Thunder took no naps on the way to the finish line. OKC now has a 2-1 series lead after that Game 2 scare.
BEHIND THE LINES
Kevin Durant (OKC): 34 pts, 7 rebs.
Russell Westbrook (OKC): 26 pts, 15 assts.
Enes Kanter (OKC): 21 pts, 8 rebs.
Raymond Felton (DAL): 18 pts, 4 stls.
Wesley Matthews (DAL): 22 pts, 5 rebs.
#2 TORONTO RAPTORS 101 @ #7 INDIANA PACERS 85
EAST First Round – Game 3 – RAPTORS lead series, 2-1
The Raptors jumped on the Pacers early, going up by 23. DeMar DeRozan got off to a fast start and, although he reverted back to a not-so-glamorous field goal percentage (7 for 19), that early push was enough to keep Canada separated the rest of the game.
This is the Toronto team we knew in the regular season.
BEHIND THE LINES
Kyle Lowry (TOR): 21 pts, 8 assts.
DeMar DeRozan (TOR): 21 pts.
Paul George (IND): 25 pts, 10 rebs, 6 assts.
#1 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 96 @ #8 HOUSTON ROCKETS 97
WEST First Round – Game 3 – WARRIORS lead series, 2-1
The Warriors were once again without Stephen Curry.
The Rockets looked like a team that cared, going up by 17 points in the first half. But being the champions that they are, the Warriors stormed back. We were used to seeing Curry and Draymond Green on Dubs comebacks but this time around, it was orchestrated by Shaun Livingston (16 points) and Ian Clark (11 points).
Up by one, Trevor Ariza threw an inbounds pass away to the Dubs and Clark scored a lay-up with 11 seconds left to give GS the lead. But James Harden came back and got away with a push (which the NBA has since acknowledged; that is gross… and to be clear, the game wasn’t greatly officiated on both sides) on the way to the go-ahead basket with 2.7 seconds left. As you saw on the picture above, the Rockets looked extremely excited after seeing Harden convert.
The Warriors never got a shot off as Green dribbled the ball off his foot. The Warriors suffered their 10th overall loss of the season. But, really, it’s pretty embarrassing that the Rockets still have a tough time going against this Warriors team without Curry.
BEHIND THE LINES
Donatas Motiejunas (HOU): 14 pts, 13 rebs.
Dwight Howard (HOU): 13 pts, 13 rebs.
James Harden (HOU): 35 pts, 8 rebs, 9 assts.
Marreese Speights (GS): 22 pts.
At least, we got one close game on Thursday.
WATCH THIS PLAY
James Harden with the play that thrilled the Rockets fans but not the Rockets bench.
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)
Follow Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass for all tweets about the NBA and terrible pop music. Also, check out his podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental.
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