2016 NBA Playoffs: Cavaliers' Big 3 deliver in win over Pistons, Spurs defeat Grizzlies by 32 points
[1] Cleveland Cavaliers 106-101 [8] Detroit Pistons [Cleveland lead series 1-0]
Heading into his 11th post-season, LeBron James was preparing for a round in the Playoffs which has never made him sweat a lot. In all of his 10 Playoff seasons so far, James has never lost in the first round and since the 2014 Playoffs, he’s never lost a game in the first round.
Both those records remained intact as Cleveland shut down Detroit in the last five minutes of the game and executed on almost every possession when it was their turn on offense.
The Cavaliers’ Big 3 came up huge for them with James recording 22 points, 11 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks, Kevin Love putting up 28 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, and Kyrie Irving scoring 31 points to go along with his 6 assists and 5 rebounds.
No other Cavalier scored in double figure but maybe the team doesn’t need that when their core erupts the way they did on Sunday. Also this:
This is the 7th time that LeBron James, Kyrie Irving & Kevin Love have combined for 80 or more points as teammates
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 17, 2016
7-0 in those games
A young and inexperienced Pistons squad did not wilt under the Playoff spotlight and gave the Cavaliers a run for their money all night. They shot an incredible shooting percentage of 50.7% from the field and 51.7% from beyond the arc.
However, the squad just failed to execute on offense when it mattered the most and eventually came away with loss despite a good outing by the team as the eighth seed against the favorites.
Game 2 is on Wednesday at the Quicken Loans Arena.
[3] Miami Heat 123-91 [6] Charlotte Hornets [Miami lead series 1-0]
Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside was too much for the Charlotte Hornets to handle. He finished the game with 21 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks and +19 in NBA.com’s +/- rating.
To make matters worse for his rivals, no Hornets player other than Kemba Walker (19 points) and Nicolas Batum (24 points) could get going, struggling to keep with a Heat team that was shooting 57.6% from the field and 50% from the three point line.
As many as eight players scored above eight points for Miami led by a game high 31 points from Luol Deng. The onslaught began from the get go as the Heat scored 41 in the first quarter, equalling the most they have scored in a quarter in the Playoffs.
Their 123 points are also the most scored by the franchise in Playoffs history while for the Hornets, the 32 point drubbing is the worst Playoff loss in franchise history.
Game 2 will be played at the American Airlines Arena on Wednesday.
[2] San Antonio Spurs 106-74 [7] Memphis Grizzlies [San Antonio lead series 1-0]
At halftime, the short handed Memphis Grizzlies were relatively competitive trailing only by 11 to the San Antonio Spurs. Then in the third quarter, the flood gates opened as the Spurs shot 68% from the field and outscored the Grizzlies 33-14.
Kawhi Leonard filled the stat sheet with 20 points, 4 steals, 3 blocks and 2 rebounds while forward LaMarcus Aldridge put up 17 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks.
The Spurs’ third quarter shot chart:
Spurs made 10 of their first 11 shots in the 3rd quarter to put this game away pic.twitter.com/MmRsRPAsNN
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 18, 2016
The loss was the franchise worst for Memphis, their previous worst loss being by 27 in the 2011 post-season. With the win, the Spurs have now won 11 of their last 12 Playoff openers. Normally the Spurs bench provides the team with the explosive torch they need however courtesy of their third quarter outburst it was starters who shone on Sunday.
San Antonio’s starting five outscored their counter parts 62-32.
It was a historic night for 2007 NBA Finals MVP Tony Parker, who finished the night with 15 points and 6 assists. In the matter of one game Parker jumped two spots to fifth on the all-time Playoffs asissts leaders list, surpassing greats like Steve Nash and Larry Bird in the process.
Game 2 will be played at the AT&T center on Tuesday.
[4] Los Angeles Clippers 115-95 Portland Trailblazers [Los Angeles lead series 1-0]
The Superstar duo of Blake Griffin and Chris Paul put up big numbers, stepped up when it mattered and led their squads to a win over the Portland Trailblazers. Paul had 28 points, 11 assists and 6 rebounds while Griffin had 19 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists.
The duo played a huge role in establishing the team’s dominance over the fairly under talented squad of the Trailblazers, they had 17 of the team’s 23 assists.
Portland’s leaders the back court of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum had torrid shooting nights, shooting a combined 10 of 28 (35.7%) totalling just 30 of the team’s 95 points. Small Forward Al Farouq Aminu had a surprisingly good all round game for Portland with his box score of 10 points, 12 rebounds and 3 assists.
Other than the one point lead in the opening minutes, the Trailblazers failed to keep up with the Clippers. Los Angeles went about their business and slowly with regular blows put the game out of reach for Portland.
If Game 1 was a preview for things to come then expect this series to done in four games, unless Lillard and McCollum have the one hot shooting game which Portland could win.
Game 2 will be played on Wednesday at the Staples Center.