NBA roundup: Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder survive Pelicans challenge to take Game 1
In the opening game of a Western Conference first-round playoff series, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are playing at home, to an exciting 94-92 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.
Oklahoma City went more than five minutes in the fourth quarter without making a field goal as the Pelicans led 90-88. However, Gilgeous-Alexander changed the course of events.
With 1:36 remaining in the game, he first made a pull-up jumper to tie the score. Then, with 32.5 seconds left, he battled through traffic and a foul to make a floater and sink the subsequent free throw to give the Thunder a 93-90 lead.
The Pelicans, trailing 94-92, had a chance to tie or take the lead with 14 seconds remaining on the clock, but CJ McCollum was unable to get a clear look from Wallace, who locked in defensively. With 1.3 seconds remaining, McCollum's potential game-winning shot was off target.
Trey Murphy III led New Orleans with 21 points, McCollum added 20 and Jonas Valanciunas had 13 points and 20 rebounds. Jalen Williams added 19 points for Oklahoma City.
Bucks 109-94 Pacers
In the first game of their Eastern Conference playoff series, host Milwaukee defeated Indiana thanks to 35 points from Damian Lillard.
Lillard made 11 of 24 shots from the floor and 6 of 11 from 3-point range. Khris Middleton collected 23 points, 15 in the second half, for the Bucks, who will host Game 2 on Tuesday night.
The Pacers, who missed their first 14 3-point attempts, finished 8-for-38 from beyond the arc, got 36 points and 13 rebounds from Pascal Siakam. Myles Turner chipped in with eight rebounds and 17 points.
Celtics 114-94 Heat
In the first game of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series, Boston overcame visiting Miami thanks to a strong start led by Jayson Tatum, who finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.
The eighth-seeded Miami Heat made 12 of 37 (32.4 percent) from 3-point range, while the top-seeded Celtics, who scored the game's first 14 points, made 22 of 49 attempts (44.9 percent). Boston will host Game 2 of the best-of-seven series on Wednesday.
For the Celtics, Derrick White scored 20 more points. With 24 points, Miami's Bam Adebayo led all scorers. Delon Wright scored 17 points off the bench, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 16.
Clippers 109-97 Mavericks
In Game 1 of a first-round Western Conference series, Los Angeles made a statement by defeating visiting Dallas. James Harden scored 28 points, and Ivica Zubac set a playoff career high with 20 points and 15 rebounds.
The Clippers had enough to defeat the Mavericks despite playing without star player Kawhi Leonard due to knee inflammation. Paul George scored 22 points, while Terance Mann and Russell Westbrook each contributed 13.
For Dallas, Kyrie Irving added 31 points, and Luka Doncic added 33 points and 13 rebounds. From the outset, Los Angeles' elite defence was evident as they limited the Mavericks to just eight points in the second quarter and thirty in the first half.
SportsLigue