Day 3 of the NBA Playoffs showed a difference in two worlds or in this case, two conferences. The Eastern Conference has teams being dominant while the Western Conference has some chaos going on. Two series ended up 2-0 and other two series ended up 1-1 on Day 3.
Recap of Day 3:
The opening game was Game 2 of the Brooklyn/Toronto series on NBATV. Brooklyn continues to show they won't give up despite playing against the defending champs. However, the defending champs are not taking the Nets lightly and it shows. The Nets had six players score in double-figures led by Garrett Temple with 21 points but couldn't reach 100 points in the game (99). The Raptors had four players score in double-figures but three of the four scored over 20 points led by Fred VanVleet and Norman Powell with 24 points each. Without any stars on the team for Brooklyn, this matchup is just terrible against the defending champs.
Brooklyn Nets 99-Toronto Raptors 104
TOR Leads Series 2-0
Game 3 will be Friday at 1:30PM on NBATV
Switching from NBATV to TNT for a triple header. The next game was Game 2 between the Utah Jazz and the Denver Nuggets. After dropping Game 1 even with Donovan Mitchell scoring 57 points, the Jazz didn't let it happen again on yesterday. More balance scoring for the Jazz led by Mitchell again with 30 points and 8 assists. Jordan Clarkson add 26 points as the Jazz sent a message to the Nuggets. As for the Nuggets, Jamal Murray didn't off like he did in Game 1, scoring only 14 points on yesterday (36 points in Game 1). The Joker, Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 28 points and 11 rebounds. Welcome to the series Utah Jazz.
Utah Jazz 124-Denver Nuggets 105
Series Tied 1-1
Game 3 will be on Friday at 4PM on TNT
Going back to the East for what thought would be a rivalry renewed, has not been for one team. Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics faced off in Game 2 of their series. The 76ers are in major trouble in this series and it's not a very good look for anybody in the Sixers' organization including the head coach, Bret Brown. At one point in the game the Sixers had a 14 points but found themselves down 28 points before they knew it. Joel Embiid led the Sixers with 34 points and 10 rebounds, but the next highest scorer was Josh Richardson with 18 points. The Sixers bench only scored 20 points collectively. Enes Kanter off the Celtics bench scored half of the Sixers' bench by himself with 10 points. Boston's bench combined for 41 points. A 21-point difference in bench play for Boston despite losing Gordon Hayward for the rest of this series and more. Jayson Tatum continues to dominant this series, scoring 33 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Kemba Walker added 22 points and Jaylen Brown put in 20 points as the Celtics won by 27.
Philadelphia 76ers 101-Boston Celtics 128
BOS Leads Series 2-0
Game 3 will be on Friday at 6:30PM on TNT
The final game of the day and TNT's triple header was the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers in Game 2 of their series. A lot of questions was raised after Game 1 when Kristaps Porzingis was ejected in the 3rd Quarter and the Clippers took advantage to win Game 1. Game 2 however, was a completely different story. The Dallas Mavericks played like a fluid cohesive team better than the Clippers. Six Mavericks scored in double-figures led by Luka Doncic with 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. Kristaps Porzingis had 23 points and 7 rebounds. Three bench players were part the six scoring in double-figures: Seth Curry 15 points, Trey Burke 16 points, and Boban Marjanovic 13 points with 9 rebounds. The Clippers saw Paul George struggle with 14 points on 8 of 24 shooting and Montrezl Harrell still trying to get back into basketball shape only had 10 points off the bench. Despite 35 points and 10 rebounds from Kawhi Leonard, it was not the Clippers night.
Dallas Mavericks 127- Los Angeles Clippers 114
Series Tied 1-1
Game 3 will be on Friday at 9PM on TNT
Today's NBA Playoff Slate:
Four more Game 2's on the deck for Thursday but also tonight is the NBA Draft Lottery in-between Game 3 and Game 4 of today. Everything will be televised on ESPN starting at 1PM today.
Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers 1:30PM ESPN (MIA Leads 1-0)
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets 3:30PM ESPN (HOU Leads 1-0)
Orlando Magic vs. Milwaukee Bucks 6PM (ORL Leads 1-0)
NBA Draft Lottery 8:30PM ESPN
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Lakers 9PM ESPN (POR Leads 1-0)
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