The 2021 NBA Playoffs tipped off Saturday. Here’s a look at the keys to how each game unfolded.
Milwaukee Bucks 109, Miami Heat 107 (OT)
Bucks lead series 1-0
The opening game of the 2021 NBA Playoffs was a slugfest! Both teams stayed competitive in opposite ways on the offensive end. MIlwaukee was 56.9 percent on 2’s. This includes blitzing Miami 56-24 in the paint, 12-2 in fastbreak points, and 19-8 on second chance points. However, they were an anemic 5-of-31 (16.1 percent) from 3-point range and 60.6 percent from the free throw line.
Miami, meanwhile, went 32.7 percent from inside the arc, including 6-of-16 in the restricted area. Instead, they kept pace by going 40.0 percent from 3-point range and 78.9 percent from the line.
Also, the stars definitely didn’t come out to shine in this matchup. Jimmy Butler shot 4-of-22 from the field and conceded six turnovers, Bam Adebayo went 4-of-15, and Giannis Antetokounmpo went 10-of-27 from the field, 6-of-13 from the line, and gave up five turnovers.
Dallas Mavericks 113, Los Angeles Clippers 103
Mavericks lead series 1-0
The Mavericks were bolstered by Luka Doncic’s 31 points and 11 assists. His 5-of-11 night from beyond the arc as well as Tim Hardaway Jr.’s 5-of-9 3-point performance were key to helping Dallas outpace LA in made 3-pointers 17-11. Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard (1-of-6), Paul George (2-of-8), and Marcus Morris (0-of-6) combined to go 3-of-20 from long range.
Brooklyn Nets 104, Boston Celtics 93
Nets lead series 1-0
In what will likely be the recurring theme in this series, the Celtics were just no match for the Nets and their Big Three. Kevin Durant (32 points), Kyrie Irving (29), and James Harden (21) combined for 82 points on 44.8 percent shooting from the field.
The only reason Brooklyn’s win wasn’t more decisive was because the team collectively shot 23.5 percent on 3-pointers and the team beyond of the Big Three made just 34.6 percent of their shots. Boston could only muster a 36.9 percent performance from the field in response.
Portland Trail Blazers 123, Denver Nuggets 109
Trail Blazers lead series 1-0
Portland’s 38-25 third quarter really turned the tables in the their favor. That period was punctuated by Portland taking and making all seven of their free throws while Denver failed to take a trip to the line. On top of that, the Blazers also hit two more 3-pointers in the frame than their opponent.
In the end, Portland went 19-of-40 (47.5 percent) from 3-point range and 18-of-19 from the line. Meanwhile, Denver went 11-of-36 (30.6 percent) from 3 and only 4-of-8 from the charity stripe. The Nuggets were only able to stay afloat as long as they did by outscoring Portland in the paint 52-38.
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