The final two semifinal series in the NBA Playoffs tipped off last night. Cleveland traveled to Detroit to square off with the top seed Pistons, the Lakers flew to Oklahoma City to take on the West's one seed Thunder. Potential stars out tonight for game two in the other two semifinals. Let's talk about it!
Tuesday Night Games
Detroit Pistons DEF Cleveland Cavaliers 111-101 (DET Leads Series 1-0)
The Pistons trailed this game 7-6 just under three minutes into the game. They took the lead after a Duncan Robinson three moments later and they never trailed again. They played forty five minutes of a forty eight minute game with out trailing. That is pretty darn impressive and what you expect to see out of a one seed. Even in a game the Cavs hardly lead, they didn't play a bad game. They just couldn't get over the hump when they fell behind. The Cavs shot a better percentage from the field, hit more three pointers, shot better from the free throw line. What went wrong was the turnovers. The deciding factor in this game was ball security. Detroit protected the ball more and that was the difference. The Cavs turned the ball over twenty times, eight more than Detroit. They lost by five possessions. Game two is Thursday night in Detroit at 7:00 pm EST. The Cavs will need to clean up the turnovers, keep the offensive production the same, and play a bit better defense if they want to knot this series at one heading back to Cleveland.
Oklahoma City Thunder DEF Los Angeles Lakers 108-90 (OKC Leads Series 1-0)
This game was back and forth for the first quarter. The Lakers jumped out to an early lead, the Thunder battled back. The Lakers gained another lead and the Thunder closed in again. To end the first quarter the Thunder scored nine of the last eleven points to carry a lead into the second quarter. That was a lead they would never give back. A five point first quarter lead turned into an eight point half time lead. Ending the third quarter the lead swelled to twelve points. The final punches landed in the fourth as the Thunder claimed an eighteen point victory in game one. LeBron did all he could to keep the Lakers in the game, leading all scorers with twenty seven points. Ultimately if the Lakers want any chance to win a game this series they need Luka back and quick. Thursday night we may get much of the same in game two as it seems likely Luka will not be lacing up his shoes to battle with LeBron against the Thunder.
Wednesday Night Game 2's
Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks - 7:00 pm EST on ESPN
The Knicks not only won game one, they squeezed the life out of the 76ers for forty eight straight minutes. I want to say this is one of the pivotal games in this series, but after watching the 76ers erase the deficit against the Celtics and knock them off in game seven, I think it might be a bit early to call it that. But boy does this game feel massive. If the Knicks come out tonight like they did on Monday night the 76ers better watch out. Being down two games to zero and getting blown out twice could feel like a dagger even after just two games. But again, they got smoked twice by the Celtics and still showed fight, enough fight to win the series. Embiid is listed as probable tonight and is the only real injury concern for either team. I don't see a world where he does not play tonight, especially after how game one went.
Prediction:
Knicks: 124
76ers: 106
Minnesota Timberwolves at San Antonio Spurs - 9:30 pm EST on ESPN
This series I believe will be the best series of all the semifinals. It may not go all seven games like I predicted the Cavaliers and Pistons series to go, but the competitive levels of each game will make it the best. Game one had the closest margin of victory out of all four games played the last two days. I don't see why that wouldn't continue. There are injury concerns for the Wolves heading into this game. The biggest one being Anthony Edwards ability to give you enough to win. In game one he played just twenty five minutes, but they were valuable minutes. He scored eleven of his eighteen points in the fourth quarter. He is listed as a game time decision tonight. I think that decision is an easy one, he's playing. A guy who has been sparking the Wolves offense and could potentially make his first appearance since game five against the Nuggets is Ayo Dosunmu. He is also listed as a game time decision. He is more of a question mark in my eyes. I think with Edwards probable to play the Wolves may err on the side of caution. Regardless of the injuries the Wolves have, I think the Spurs find a way late to win this game and tie the series at one game a piece.
Prediction:
Spurs: 97
Timberwolves: 92
Check back tomorrow for the recap of tonight's games and the look ahead at game two of the Cavaliers v Pistons and the Lakers v Thunder series!
As always Who Dey & Go Redlegs!
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