The top two seeds in each conference had very different outings in their playoff openers. In the East, Boston mostly rolled through a Heat team missing Jimmy Butler. In the West, Oklahoma City needed a big game from MVP finalist Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to fend off New Orleans for the Thunder’s first home playoff victory since 2019.
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, left, defends as Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum , right, drives toward the basket in the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, April 21, 2024, in Boston. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drives past New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III in the first half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, April 21, 2024, in Oklahoma City.
The Celtics did to Miami what they did to opponents throughout the season, launching and connecting on a deluge of 3-pointers that helped put the Heat in a 34-point hole.Celtics’ Jayson Tatum OK after collision late in win over Heat and expects nothing less in playoffs“If you think you’re not going to see a different version of Miami, then you’re kidding yourself,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said.
“We’re not going to bring their 3s down to 25, that’s not realistic. And we’re not going to shoot 50. But there is a balance there,” Spoelstra said. “We got some good looks on some plays, some we can learn from,” he said. “These series are long and you have to improve throughout the series.”— NEED TO KNOW: The Celtics looked like the NBA’s top team in Sunday’s series opener, getting a triple-double from Tatum and tying a franchise playoff record with 22 3-pointers in their 114-94 victory. Boston let up off the gas a little in the fourth quarter, allowing Miami to cut into a 34-point deficit.
— PRESSURE IS ON: Actually, it’s the Celtics. The opener saw Boston continue its dominance at home this season. The Celtics entered the playoffs aware they were carrying championship expectations and don’t want to let up in Game 2 as they try to make this a quick series against the short-handed Heat.— NEED TO KNOW: The Thunder held on in Game 1 despite getting outrebounded 52-44 and giving up 20 rebounds to Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas.
Miami Heat Boston NBA LA State Wire MA State Wire OK State Wire Jaylen Brown Jimmy Butler Sports New Orleans Erik Spoelstra NBA Basketball Lebron James Caleb Martin Joe Mazzulla Terry Rozier Zion Williamson Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Jayson Tatum
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