This is the Hangover. We get basketball-wasted all the time. Yes, we recap the NBA every night in our own way.
#1 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS 101 @ #8 DETROIT PISTONS 91
EAST First Round – Game 3 – CAVALIERS lead series, 3-0
It had been a while since The Palace at Auburn Hills had a playoff game. And again, the Pistons were very game against the #1-seeded Cavs. But it was once again the devastation of the three-point bomb that did the Pistons in. In the final minute (with Cleveland needing to get a shot in with 0.7 seconds on the shot clock), Matthew Dellavedova flung a crosscourt inbounds pass to the right corner where Kyrie Irving was open. Kyrie drained a three and I have never seen LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Kyrie this happy together. That made it an eight-point lead for Cleveland and it was curtains for Detroit.
They even did the press conference together afterwards, too. It was cute. Like they were ready to go together to the prom and mack on the ladies that went stag.
BEHIND THE LINES
LeBron James (CLE): 20 pts, 13 rebs, 7 assts.
Kevin Love (CLE): 20 pts, 12 rebs.
Kyrie Irving (CLE): 26 pts.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (DET): 18 pts, 4 stls.
Reggie Jackson (DET): 13 pts, 12 assts.
#4 ATLANTA HAWKS 103 @ #5 BOSTON CELTICS 111
EAST First Round – Game 3 – HAWKS lead series, 2-1
The Celtics led big early as they went up by 19 twice. But you know how both teams are when it comes to big leads; the Hawks caught them in the fourth quarter and led by one. But Evan Turner made huge baskets to give the Celtics back the lead and Isaiah Thomas capped off a career performance by draining a three to give Boston a seven-point lead inside two minutes.
The 5’8″ dynamo finished with 42 points and a whack on Dennis Schroder‘s cranium that might cost him Game 4. You can take a look-see here.
BEHIND THE LINES
Isaiah Thomas (BOS): 42 pts.
Jonas Jerebko (BOS): 11 pts, 12 rebs.
Evan Turner (BOS): 17 pts, 7 assts, 5 stls.
Dennis Schroder (ATL): 20 pts.
Al Horford (ATL): 8 pts, 13 rebs, 6 assts, 4 blks.
Kent Bazemore (ATL): 20 pts, 8 rebs.
Jeff Teague (ATL): 23 pts, 5 assts.
#2 SAN ANTONIO SPURS 96 @ #7 MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 87
WEST First Round – Game 3 – SPURS lead series, 3-0
The Grizzlies fought valiantly against the Spurs; they came into the fourth quarter leading by one. But not only were they outmatched in talent but they were also outmanned (Memphis came into the game with only nine active players). Eventually, Kawhi Leonard overwhelmed them in everything; you see the stuffed stat line. Danny Green would make a three to put the Spurs up six. Then Kawhi would make a three to put up the final tally.
The Spurs can end it all on Sunday. Ho-hum as always (let’s just ignore that last season for the Spurs).
BEHIND THE LINES
LaMarcus Aldridge (SA): 16 pts, 10 rebs.
Kawhi Leonard (SA): 32 pts, 7 rebs, 5 blks, 4 stls.
Zach Randolph (MEM): 20 pts, 11 rebs.
Matt Barnes (MEM): 17 pts, 11 rebs.
WATCH THIS PLAY
That clutch Kyrie three that finally seemed to bring the Cavs together. Watch out…?
(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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