Milwaukee famous person Giannis Antetokounmpo and Memphis star guard Ja Morant suffered critical accidents that threatened to disrupt two title contenders on Sunday in NBA playoff series-opening defeats.
The Los Angeles Lakers took benefit of Morant’s absence late within the fourth quarter for a late surge that produced a 128-112 victory at Memphis whereas the top-seeded host Bucks, who misplaced their Greek star within the first quarter, fell 130-117 to the eighth-seeded Miami Heat.
But damage fears for Antetokounmpo and Morant, two of the NBA’s most electrifying stars, had been amplified by upset residence losses for his or her golf equipment in best-of-seven first spherical openers.
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Antetokounmpo averaged 31.1 factors and 11.8 rebounds a sport this season for an NBA-best 58-24 Bucks squad whereas Morant averaged 26.2 factors for a Grizzlies workforce that was 51-31.
Morant harm his already-sore proper hand halfway into the fourth quarter attempting to brace a tough touchdown to a excessive fall after contact whereas driving to the basket.
Morant’s taped proper hand took the influence. Morant rose and ran off to the locker room, grabbing his sore hand and screaming as he exited after scoring 18 factors.
“I’m in a superb little bit of ache,” Morant said after the game, declaring his status was “in jeopardy” for sport two on Wednesday. “Feels prefer it’s one factor after one other.”
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Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said after the game that x-rays on Morant’s right hand were negative but he would likely be kept out of workouts, his status “one game at a time.”
At Milwaukee, Antetokounmpo went onto the ground within the first quarter after defensive contact on a transfer to the ring and suffered a decrease again bruise that ended his evening with sport two in Milwaukee on Wednesday.
“We’ll monitor him,” said Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer, who added an x-ray came back “clear” on Antetokounmpo.
“We have to attend and see what the medical doctors say… you’ve bought to take it daily and see how he’s doing and the way he feels.”
The Heat, among the NBA’s worst 3-point shooting teams this season, made 15-of-25 from beyond the arc at Milwaukee.
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While the Bucks had gone 11-8 in games without Antetokounmpo this season, the Heat led by as many as 15 points with the big man gone.
Miami suffered its own injury setback when guard Tyler Herro suffered a broken right hand diving for a loose ball in the final seconds of the second quarter. He’s expected to be out four to six weeks after averaging 20.1 points this season.
Jimmy Butler led Miami with 35 factors and 11 assists. Gabe Vincent was 4-of-5 from 3-point vary and Kevin Love was 4-of-7 on 3-pointers.
With Antetokounmpo scoring only eight points, Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 33 points.
– Clippers defeat Suns –
Kawhi Leonard scored 13 of his game-high 38 points in the fourth quarter to spark the Los Angeles Clippers to a 115-110 victory at Phoenix in their series opener.
Russell Westbrook had nine points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and three blocked shots, the biggest on Devin Booker in the final seconds to help seal victory.
Kevin Durant had 27 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds but suffered his first loss since joining the Suns from Brooklyn.
Clippers forward Paul George was out with a sprained right knee and is questionable for the playoffs.
Japan’s Rui Hachimura got here off the Lakers bench to match an NBA report for reserve playoff scoring with 29 factors whereas a closing 30-11 LA run.
“That’s probably the best game he has had in his career,” Memphis’ Desmond Bane stated of Hachimura. “Let’s see if he can do it once more on Wednesday.”
Austin Reaves, making his playoff debut, scored 14 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter for the Lakers after Memphis opened the period with an 11-2 run for a 101-98 lead.
Anthony Davis had 22 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocked shots for the Lakers while LeBron James contributed 21 points, 11 rebounds and five assists and D’Angelo Russell added 19 points and a game-high seven assists.
It was the first time since 1988 the Lakers had four players with 20 or more points in a playoff game.
Jaren Jackson led Memphis with 31 points
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