2017 Playoff Hangover (Day 5): Warriors, Rockets, Wizards Go Up 2-0 In Their Series

This is the NBA Playoff Hangover. We’re going to recap all the important games and talk about the hijinks that went on during or after. Here ya go.

#5 ATLANTA HAWKS 101 @ #4 WASHINGTON WIZARDS 109
EAST 1st Round * Game 2 * WIZARDS lead series, 2-0

(PHOTO CREDIT: Rob Carr/Getty Images.)

This continued to be an MMA bout. So many free throws were shot. We’ll get to the amount in a bit.

The physicality still gave the edge to the Wizards in the first half. Then the Hawks had a huge third quarter. Paul Millsap and Dennis Schroder led a 13-0 run to take the lead going into the fourth.

But the Wiz took back the momentum in the fourth as Brandon Jennings led a rally on his own. His assist to Jason Smith tied the game. The backcourt then closed it out. John Wall‘s poke and breakaway dunk gave the Wizards a five-point lead. Then Bradley Beal made a three in the next possession to put the game in the icebox.

(VIDEO CREDIT: OmarionVEVO.)

The Wiz take a 2-0 series lead as they go back to the ATL. By the way, the Hawks shot 38 free throws compared to D.C.’s 33. That’s quite a bit of trips to the charity stripe.

#6 OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 111 @ #3 HOUSTON ROCKETS 115
WEST 1st Round * Game 2 * ROCKETS lead series, 2-0

The Thunder jumped on them early as Russell Westbrook had his usual dominant game. OKC led by as many as 15 points in the first quarter.

Houston went on a quick 9-0 run at the end of the third. Then with James Harden sitting on the bench, Eric Gordon, Patrick Beverley, and Lou Williams kept getting bucket after bucket. The game was tied at 104 with 3:16 left.

Rockets then shattered the glass.

While Russ kept chucking, Harden, Gordon, and PatBev spurred the Rockets to 10 unanswered points. Westbrook ultimately shot 4/18 in the fourth (17/43 overall) on his way to what seemed like an empty 51-point triple-double. The Thunder missed a golden opportunity to tie the series.

#8 PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS 81 @ #1 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 110
WEST 1st Round * Game 2 * WARRIORS lead series, 2-0

This is kind of scary. Because Kevin Durant sat this game out with a calf strain and it really didn’t matter.

JaVale McGee kept dunking on fools in the first half. And then in the second half (right after Charles Barkley said STUPIDLY that the Warriors aren’t a good defensive team), G. State just turned on the afterburners. Dame Lillard and C.J. McCollum never got it going while Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, McGee, and Draymond Green were all over the place as they boosted their 9-point halftime lead to 25 going into the fourth.

I feel so bad for the Blazers so here are some corgi pics to make them feel better.