The hole weekend of the NBA playoffs is at all times one of the vital thrilling occasions at the league calendar, and the 2022 postseason were given underway Saturday in standard type.
The 4 sequence openers started with a couple of lower-seeded groups stealing home-court benefit with Sport 1 upsets, because the Jazz crowned the Mavericks in Dallas and the Timberwolves shocked the Grizzlies in Memphis.
Then a pair championship hopefuls were given breakout performances from younger guards as Tyrese Maxey scored 38 issues to guide the Sixers previous the Raptors and Jordan Poole had 30 issues to boost the Warriors over the Nuggets.
Sunday guarantees much more pleasure with 4 extra sequence openers.
The league-leading Suns glance to proceed their dominance in opposition to the Pelicans. The defending-champion Greenbacks get started their street to a repeat in opposition to the Bulls. And the Celtics and Nets tip-off in what could be essentially the most attention-grabbing sequence of the 1st around.
SATURDAY RECAP:Warriors and Sixers roll, Jazz and Wolves thieve home-court
TITLE KEYS:How each and every NBA playoff crew can win the 2022 championship
FEEL THE HEAT:9 stars going through essentially the most force within the NBA playoffs
Practice at the side of USA TODAY Sports activities right through the day for reside updates and research from all of Sunday’s motion:
Fast takeaways from Boston’s victory over Brooklyn
Jayson Tatum stored the day for the Boston Celtics. His riding layup as time expired gave the Celtics a 115-114 victory. It’s essential to say the Celtics have been fortunate to get Sport 1. The Celtics scrambled on their ultimate ownership – and Marcus Good delivered a move to Tatum simply in time.
There’s a explanation why the Brooklyn Nets are regarded as a perilous No. 7 seed. They have got Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Even with Durant suffering in Sport 1 in opposition to Boston, the Nets virtually pulled off the disillusioned because of Irving, who had 39 issues, six assists, 5 rebounds, 4 steals and a block. And he did it entrance of Boston crowd that despises him for leaving the Celtics.
With out Celtics heart Robert Williams (left knee damage), veteran giant Al Horford got here via with 20 issues and 15 rebounds.
How did the Celtics pull this off? Tatum (31 issues), Jaylen Brown (23 issues), Good (20 issues) and Horford delivered sufficient offensively – a blended 94 issues.
Regardless of what number of video games this sequence is going, it’s going to be a amusing one. Let’s hope it is going seven.
— Jeff Zillgitt
With Durant suffering, Nets-Celtics tied at hafltime
Brooklyn megastar Kevin Durant had simply seven issues on 2-for-10 capturing within the first half of in opposition to Boston, however Kyrie Irving and Goran Dragic off the bench helped the Nets cross into halftime tied with Boston at 61-all. Irving had 15 issues and Dragic 11 within the opening half of. Boston megastar Jayson Tatum had 15 issues and 7 assists, and Al Horford contributed 14 issues. Marcus Good had a pleasant all-around half of with seven issues, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and a thieve. Brooklyn will have to be ok with the first-half consequence – at the street, tied and with Durant now not making pictures. The Nets simply posted 61 issues in opposition to the league’s perfect protection with out a lot from Durant. There have been 17 lead adjustments and 8 ties within the first 24 mins
Bruce Brown’s disparaging quote on Celtics’ within recreation hits giant board
Bruce Brown used to be requested closing week about the important thing to slowing down a Celtics crew that earned the No. 2 seed in the back of the play of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. As a result of heart Robert Williams III, who had surgical procedure on the finish of March to fix a torn meniscus in his left knee, is more likely to pass over the first-round sequence, Brown stated he concept you will want to focal point on neutralizing Boston’s entrance courtroom.
“We will’t let Tatum get 50,” Brown stated. “We were given to be bodily with them. Now they do not have Robert Williams, so they have got much less of a presence within the paint, and shall we assault Al Horford and (Daniel) Theis. So them now not having Robert Williams is very large.”
When informed of his teammate’s feedback simply mins previous, Kevin Durant used to be noticeably irked by way of them.
“We appreciate our combatants,” Durant stated. “We do not wish to discuss what we are going to do to them. I simply do not like that, however that is how Bruce is. He is available in and assists in keeping the similar power right through the entire season. However we do not wish to say (expletive) like that. Let’s simply cross available in the market and hoop.”
The Celtics scoreboard operator did their section to stoke the Celtics’ ire, hanging Brown’s message at the Jumbotron.
Fast takeaways in Warmth’s win over Hawks
When Duncan Robinson is going 8-for-9 on 3s and P.J. Tucker makes 4-for-4, the Miami Warmth are tricky to overcome. And that used to be the case in Miami’s 115-91 win in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks.
The three-ball is a very powerful as ever. Miami made 18-for-38 (47.4%), and Atlanta used to be simply 10-for-36 (27.8%) – a 24-point distinction simply on 3s.
Just right information for the Hawks: Trae Younger more than likely received’t battle like that once more from the sphere. He used to be 1-for-12, together with 0-for-7 on 3s. The closing time he made only one box objective in a recreation used to be Jan. 15, 2021 in opposition to Utah.
Miami’s protection, ranked No. 4 within the common season, pressured 18 turnovers, had 12 steals and restricted the Hawks to 38.7% capturing from the sphere.
In his first recreation since March 11, John Collins (foot and finger accidents) confirmed he can give a contribution. He had 10 issues and 4 rebounds in 21 mins.
The Warmth are deep: Off the bench, Robinson led all scorers with 27 issues, and 9 Warmth avid gamers scored no less than six issues. Jimmy Butler had 21 issues, six rebounds and 4 assists, and Kyle Lowry had 10 issues, 9 assists, 4 rebounds and two steals.
Kyrie Irving receives an unfriendly Boston Lawn crowd
When Kyrie Irving is offered ahead of the Nets face the Celtics in Boston, his chilly reception wasn’t a lot of a thriller.
Irving, who left Boston in unfastened company after pronouncing he sought after to re-sign, has now not been a fan favourite there. In a go back to Boston closing yr, Irving stepped on the Celtics’ brand mid-court. And his most up-to-date feedback hasn’t smoothed issues over.
Irving hopes everybody has moved on from that, asking fanatics to bear in mind the nice occasions they’d.
“I am hoping shall we transfer previous my Boston generation and mirror on one of the most highlights I left at TD Lawn that they may be able to replay,” he informed newshounds this weekend. “Transfer ahead. Only a new paradigm, child.”
Accidents/sicknesses piling up for Raptors
Coming off a 131-111 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday, Toronto trainer Nick Nurse stated on Sunday that rookie of the yr candidate Scottie Barnes (sprained left ankle), Thaddeus Younger (sprained left thumb) and Gary Trent Jr. (non-COVID sickness) are most likely unsure for Sport 2 on Monday. “It doesn’t glance nice for any of the ones guys,” Nurse informed newshounds.
Hawks’ John Collins anticipated to offer it a cross
Atlanta Hawks ahead John Collins, who hasn’t performed since March 11 with foot and finger accidents, is anticipated to play in in opposition to Miami Sunday in Sport 1 in their first-round Jap Convention sequence. Hawks trainer Nate McMillan known as Collins a game-time resolution. Atlanta heart Clint Capela, who injured his knee in a play-in recreation, is out indefinitely however may go back later within the sequence.
Who moves first in Celtics vs. Nets?
The Brooklyn Nets have Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, two of essentially the most talented offensive avid gamers within the league. So it’s comprehensible one would assume the Nets have an opportunity in opposition to the Boston Celtics of their Jap Convention first-round sequence. However should you’ve been paying consideration, the Celtics had been the most productive crew within the East for the previous three-plus months and the most productive defensive crew within the NBA for all the season. The Celtics are too nice on each side of the ball with All-NBA avid gamers (Jayson Tatum), All-Defensive avid gamers (Marcus Good) and one of the most recreation’s maximum underappreciated avid gamers (Jaylen Brown). The Celtics are only a higher all-around crew. Pick out: Celtics 113, Nets 103.
— Jeff Zillgitt
Trainer Willie Inexperienced’s speech fires up Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans are simply essentially the most feel-good crew within the NBA playoffs. They were given out to a horrendous 1-12 get started for first-year trainer Willie Inexperienced. And would-be franchise savior Zion Williamson hasn’t performed a recreation this season on account of a foot damage. Their second-best participant, Brandon Ingram, used to be restricted to 55 video games on account of accidents.
However the Pelicans grabbed the general playoff spot within the Western Convention after they beat the L.A. Clippers 105-101 within the play-in recreation on Friday. Their praise: a gathering with the Suns, the crew with the league’s perfect file.
For a protracted whilst, it gave the look of Friday will be the finish of the street for the Pelicans. They have been down 84-74 to begin the fourth quarter. However Ingram led them again with some giant baskets within the ultimate quarter following an inspirational speech by way of Inexperienced, who informed them they’d been via an excessive amount of to let one thing like a 10-point deficit get of their method.
