NBA Weekly Recap: May 1
The conference semifinals are underway, we look back at the paths that the remaining eight teams took to get here.
So here's a recap of all the action this week from around the Association:
Boston fighting the hangover?
After many viewed the 7th-seeded Brooklyn Nets as the favorites in Round 1, the Boston Celtics quickly put that to bed, as they swept the Nets.
Coming off a physical, but manageable, series with Brooklyn, the Celtics fell to the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, 101-89.
The defending champions were led by Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 24 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists to give them a 1-0 series lead.
Are Sixers already feeling the Heat?
After the Miami Heat dismantled the Atlanta Hawks and Trae Young’s offense, they’ll match up with the Philadelphia 76ers, a team who needed six games to close out a 3-0 series lead.
The Sixers will continue to face struggles in the postseason, as MVP candidate Joel Embiid will miss the first two games of this series with a right orbital fracture and mild concussion he sustained in Game 6 vs Toronto.
Luka finally moves past the 1st Round
One of the brightest young talents in the league, Luke Doncic has been plagued by his inability to secure a First Round series win…until now.
The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Utah Jazz in six games, in which Jalen Brunson was the focal point of the Mavs’ offense while Doncic was injured.
Down 1-0, Brunson scored a career-high 41 points to even the series and provide the momentum swing that would see Dallas win three of the next four games.
Splash bros bring their own “Poole” to the party
MVP-favorite Nikola Jokic was no match for the offensive showing that Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson displayed in Round 1, and Jordan Poole only added insult-to-injury.
Poole, who was widely regarded as the Most Improved Player this season, averaged 21 points against the Nuggets and led all scorers in Game 1 with 30 points.
The Warriors currently lead the two-seed Memphis Grizzlies, 1-0, after a nail-biting 117-116 victory.
Phoenix escapes without their star
After Phoenix Suns’ guard Devin Booker went down with an injury in Game 2, the New Orleans Pelicans put up a “David vs Goliath-Esque” fight against the top seed in the West, but in this story, Goliath won.
In a close-out Game 6, Chris Paul carried the load for the Suns, scoring 33 points on a perfect 14-14 shooting night.
Paul was also able to sprinkle in 5 rebounds and 8 assists in that win.
With the four top seeds in each conference remaining, the NBA Playoffs are sure to provide plenty of action and great games leading up to the presentation of the Larry O’ Brien Championship Trophy.
Carlos Garcia is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email him at cag6082@psu.edu.
