This is the Hangover. We get basketball-wasted all the time. Yes, we recap the NBA every night in our own way.
#2 TORONTO RAPTORS 83 @ #7 INDIANA PACERS 100
EAST First Round – Game 4 – Series is TIED, 2-2
The Raptors’ playoff woes came back once again. The Pacers flew everywhere defensively and they got good help from nearly the entire roster. Ian Mahinmi, in particular, had one hell of a game as he went 20-10-5. You know his rap sheet.
And, yes, the Raptors starting backcourt struggled again. Mahinmi had more points than Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan combined. And the vaunted duo went 8 for 27 together. They can’t keep struggling like this. Now both teams are guaranteed to go back to Indy for a Game 6.
BEHIND THE LINES
George Hill (IND): 22 pts.
Ian Mahinmi (IND): 22 pts, 10 rebs, 5 assts.
Jonas Valanciunas (TOR): 16 pts, 6 rebs.
#3 MIAMI HEAT 80 @ #6 CHARLOTTE HORNETS 96
EAST First Round – Game 3 – HEAT lead series, 2-1
So Steve Clifford did make some line-up adjustments after all. He went big in the starting line-up with Al Jefferson and Frank Kaminsky up front and it worked wonders. Frank “The Tank” went for 11 points in the third quarter (15 for the game) as he repeatedly went to the post against the smaller Heat players. Jeremy Lin was sensational all game as Playoff Linsanity made the Heat chase him all over the place.
The buzz gave Charlotte their first playoff win since 2002. Unfortunately, they didn’t win any games during the Bobcats era.
BEHIND THE LINES
Jeremy Lin (CHA): 18 pts.
Marvin Williams (CHA): 12 pts, 14 rebs.
Hassan Whiteside (MIA): 13 pts, 18 rebs, 4 blks.
Luol Deng (MIA): 19 pts, 8 rebs.
#3 OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 119 @ #6 DALLAS MAVERICKS 108
WEST First Round – Game 4 – THUNDER lead series, 3-1
(PHOTO CREDIT: LM Otero/AP.)
This was a physical battle once again between the Thunder and the Mavs. But the first couple of minutes cost the Mavericks Deron Williams. Deron, who had been battling a sports hernia, left the game early in the first and is assumed to be done for the season.
OKC led, 33-18, after one. And in between all this chippiness, the Mavs never got closer than seven points; they couldn’t stop Enes Kanter in the fourth quarter. Kevin Durant was thrown out of the game late after he got charged with a Flagrant Two foul against Justin Anderson. Let’s keep it consistent, guys, since Isaiah Thomas didn’t get suspended (eventually given a Flagrant One) for essentially doing the same thing.
Thunder are one game away from advancing to the second round.
BEHIND THE LINES
Enes Kanter (OKC): 28 pts (12/13 FG), 6 rebs.
Russell Westbrook (OKC): 25 pts, 5 rebs, 15 assts.
Dirk Nowitzki (DAL): 27 pts, 8 rebs.
Raymond Felton (DAL): 19 pts, 11 assts.
#4 LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS 88 @ #5 PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS 96
WEST First Round – Game 3 – CLIPPERS lead series, 2-1
The Blazers led for the whole game until the coach’s son (you know… Austin Rivers) converted a lay-up to give the Clips a 78-77 lead. He was rumored to be heard yelling to Doc Rivers, “DADDY, DID I DO GOOD?!” (Of course, that didn’t happen. Don’t be silly.)
But a combination of missed jumpers by J.J. Redick and missed foul shots by DeAndre Jordan gave the lead back to Portland. A clutch putback jam by Maurice Harkless gave PDX a five-point lead. With the Clips down six with 40 seconds left, Chris Paul pulled up for three and it hit nothing but… yeah. Nothing.
Who would’ve thought before the year that the Blazers would win a playoff game this season? And, really, they have a pretty good chance in winning this series. But one game at a time, everybody.
BEHIND THE LINES
Damian Lillard (POR): 32 pts, 5 rebs.
C.J. McCollum (POR): 27 pts, 5 rebs.
Mason Plumlee (POR): 6 pts, 21 rebs, 9 assts.
Chris Paul (LAC): 26 pts, 9 assts, 3 stls.
DeAndre Jordan (LAC): 11 pts, 16 rebs.
Blazers/Clippers was the only game that didn’t end in a double-digit margin. 18 of 26 playoff games this season have had margins of 10 points or more. What a close postseason!
Also, I find this AP recap from the Heat/Hornets game really hilarious. From ESPN:
“Repeatedly clapping his hands together hard.” I mean, was he supposed to do one of those dainty golf claps? Michael Jordan owns the team; why wouldn’t he be enthusiastic?
WATCH THIS PLAY
You can go ahead and watch the Top 10 plays from the NBA but I agree with their #1. Enjoy the two-minute video!
(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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