NBA Playoff Update

The Boston Celtics made the New York Knicks’ return to the postseason a brief one. Now the Celtics have a long break before that expected trip to Miami. Kevin Garnett had 26 points and 10 rebounds, Rajon Rondo added 21 points and 12 assists, and the Celtics swept their way into the Eastern Conference semifinals, holding on for a 101-89 victory over the Knicks on Sunday.

 

 

The Philadelphia 76ers told each other in the huddle in the final possessions they were going back to Miami. Lou Williams proved them right, hitting a 3-pointer with 8.1 seconds left to lead the 76ers to an 86-82 win over the Heat on Sunday and avoid a sweep. Miami was 95 seconds away from winning Game 4, holding an 82-76 lead. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the rest of the Heat didn’t score again

 

 

For most of the night, the Atlanta Hawks struggled to make free throws and labored to put away the Orlando Magic. But with the game on the line at the line, Joe Johnson came through. Jamal Crawford scored 25 points for the Hawks and Johnson made four big free throws in the final 20 seconds to preserve an 88-85 victory over the Magic. Atlanta has a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference series and can wrap it up in Orlando on Tuesday night. …

 

 

Hornets fans rejoiced in knowing they would get to see Paul and Co. back in the Big Easy at least one more time, thanks to the All-Star guard’s first triple double of the season….Paul had 27 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds, and the New Orleans Hornets held on for a 93-88 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night to even their first-round playoff series at 2-2.

”Regardless of what happens in this series, it was good to see the city with a smile on their face,” said Paul, who hit 7 of 14 shots and all 11 of his free throws. ”It was fun, man. I’m just so thankful to get to say this is my way of life.”

 

 

Miami Heat star Chris Bosh headed into the playoffs as a married man after a secret wedding in Miami Beach earlier this month, TMZ reported Saturday….Bosh, 27, wed his 26-year-old fiancee, Adrienne Nicole Williams, on April 9, free of press attention.

TMZ learned of the ceremony through documents filed in Dade County, Fla.

It reported that Williams hosted a bachelorette party in the Bahamas in the buildup to the wedding, with singer Kelly Rowland and Scottie Pippen’s wife, Larsa, among the guests.

Bosh has enjoyed a honeymoon period on the court since the nuptials, averaging 21.7 points and 9.7 rebounds as the Heat have a 3-1 series lead over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Monday Schedule

Spurs @ Grizzlies 5pm

Blazers @ Mavericks 5:30pm

Thunder @ Nuggets 7:30pm

 

Bulls & Blazers grab a win!!

Before Thursday night’s playoff game against the Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy got a text message from Charles Barkley….The text encouraged Roy to keep his ”head up, have fun out there and stay positive.”

Roy, who has struggled in the second half of the season after double knee surgery, had lamented about how he was being treated after playing limited minutes in Game 2.

Boosted by his family and dozens of encouraging texts such as Barkley’s, Roy came off the bench and scored 16 points to help the Blazers to a 97-92 victory.

The win narrowed Dallas’ lead in the first-round series to 2-1.

”I was playing tonight. I was in go mode,” Roy said. ”I didn’t worry about nothing else. I didn’t worry about playing time, I didn’t worry about who was playing. When it was my time I was going.”

 

 

Derrick Rose was beaten up and shaken up by Indiana’s trapping defense, which was intent on shutting him down at all costs…..he struggled all game long and even lost his cool at times, but he still found a way to be the difference-maker. He scored 23 points, including the go-ahead layup with 17.8 seconds left, to help the Bulls beat the Pacers 88-84 on Thursday night and take a 3-0 lead in their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.

 

Miami 101

Philly 94

Heat lead 3-0

 

NBA Schedule Tonight

Celtics @ Knicks 4pm

Magic @ Hawks 5pm

Lakers @ Hornets 6:30 pm

 

 

Dallas owner Mark Cuban was struck in the face by an object thrown at the Rose Garden during the Mavericks’ Game 3 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night, ESPNDallas.com reported.

Cuban was not injured in the incident that occurred midway through the fourth quarter of the 97-92 defeat.

“I don’t know what it was, but something hit me in the face,” said Cuban, according to the report.

Dallas holds a 2-1 series lead, with Game 4 set for Saturday at 5 p.m. ET.

 

Is Oklahoma City for Real?!

Read Article