SAN FRANCISCO — Road teams had a 50 percent winning clip in the opening round of the 2021 NBA playoffs that were in held at four separate venues today.
The Bucks opened the hostilities at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee with a 109-107 overtime thriller over a tough Miami Heat team whose relentless defense gave the hosts all they could handle. It needed a Khris Middleton jump shot with less than a second to go in OT to settle that one.
MAVS 113, CLIPPERS 103. The Dallas Mavericks scored a stunning win in Los Angeles where they outlasted the Clippers, 113-103, at Staples Center.
Luka Doncic presided over the upset with a triple-double that saw him notch 31 points, 10 rebounds and 11 dimes.Tim Hardaway Jr chipped in 31 and Ktistaps Porzingis finished with 14 and four boards.
Kawhi Leonard topped the Clips with 26 and Paul Geroge added 18.
NETS 104, CELTICS 93. With their Big 3 healthy, the Brooklyn Center ran away in the second half to dispose of the Boston Celtics at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Kevin Durant led the scoring parade with 32 while James Harden and Kyrie Irving combined for 60 as the Nets, who trailed by six at halftime, turned on their firepower in the final 24 minutes of action.
Jayson Tatum was the main man for Boston with 22. Marcus Smart had 17 and Kemba Walker registered 15.
BLAZERS 123, NUGGETS 109. In the nightcap of a four-game schedule, the Portland Trail Blazers secured a convincing 123-109 road triumph over the Nuggets at the Ball Arena in Denver.
Damian Lillard erupted for 34 points and C.J. MCCollum added 22 for the Blazers who stormed to a 38-25 third quarter run that turned the tide against a Denver team that is missing the services of star point guard Jamal Murray.
Nikola Jokic tallied 34 points and 16 rebounds but he was held to a single assist as the Denver offsne bogged down with only 22 dimes compared to the Blazers’ 29.
