(Los Angeles) Denver outscored Minnesota (109-80) in Game 1 of their NBA playoff series after a night marked by upset wins for the Miami Heat at Milwaukee and both teams from Los Angeles, the Lakers and Clippers, to Memphis and Phoenix.
In addition to these unexpected setbacks at home, the Bucks, seeded number one in the East, and the Grizzlies, N.2 in the West, recorded the injuries of their star players, Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks) and Ja Morant ( Grizzlies), uncertain for the future.
To end this first weekend of the playoffs, Denver, the No. 1 seed in the West, for its part, respected the logic against Wolves: six Nuggets players scored at least 13 points, Nikola Jokic , the double MVP (best player) in title, distinguished himself with a double-double (13 points, 14 rebounds as well as 6 assists).
On the side of Minnesota, already behind at the break (55-44), Anthony Edwards (18 points) was the best scorer (18 points), while the French Rudy Gobert, who took 13 rebounds, had to settle for 8 units.
For the rest, the favorites disappointed on Sunday.
In the East, the Milwaukee Bucks sank against the Heat (117-130), despite Khris Middleton’s 33 points and 9 rebounds. Because the Wisconsin franchise fell on a Jimmy Butler of the great days, who scored 35 points and offered 11 assists.
Above all, the Bucks lost the 2019 and 2020 double MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, to injury, released in the first quarter, after injuring his lower back. His presence in Game 2 on Wednesday is uncertain.
The first exams (x-rays) are “good”, said coach Mike Budenholzer. “We’ll watch him and see how he wakes up tomorrow morning” (Monday morning), he said, however.
Despite the victory, Miami can also wince, as it lost Tyler Herro, who suffered a fractured right hand and will be out for four to six weeks.
In Memphis, LeBron James’ Lakers also created a surprise by winning the first game of the series against the Grizzlies (112-128).
The LA franchise relied on superstar James (21 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists) and Anthony Davis (22 points, 12 rebounds) to demonstrate that they should be counted on, despite their No. .7.
LeBron James, 38, who is in his sixteenth postseason, became the oldest player to score at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and distribute 5 assists in the finals.
In addition to their star duo, the Lakers were able to count on the contribution of Austin Reaves, who scored 23 points in his first playoff game, and Rui Hachimura, who added 29 off the bench.
It’s the first time since 1988 that the Lakers have had four players with 20 or more points in a playoff game.
On the Grizzlies side, Ja Morant, limited to 18 points, went out injured late in the game and his status for Game 2 is, like LeBron James, “uncertain”, in his own words.
X-rays showed no fractures, but “he hurts” in his right hand, said his coach Taylor Jenkins. “Let’s take it day by day,” he added.
In Phoenix, the other LA franchise, the Clippers, also won (115-110), facing the Suns of Kevin Durant (27 points, 11 assists, 9 rebounds), Devin Booker (26 points) and Chris Paul ( 7 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists).
The Clippers, who were able to count on Kawhi Leonard (38 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists), played without Paul George (right knee), still injured and who should miss the entire first round.
Russell Westbrook scored 9 points, took 10 rebounds and made 3 blocks, including a particularly decisive one on Booker, ten seconds from the end, sealing the victory for the Clippers.