The Dallas Mavericks started the first round of the play-offs in the North American basketball league NBA with a defeat.
The team lost to the Los Angeles Clippers 97:109. The series continues again on Wednesday in Los Angeles. The Mavs squandered a successful start to the decisive phase of the season in the first half when they only scored 30 points, only eight of which came in the second quarter.
The Boston Celtics started the play-offs with a win. The best team in the main round dominated against the former champions Miami Heat, who qualified via the play-in tournament, and won clearly at TD Garden at home with 114:94.
🏆 SUNDAY’S FINAL SCORES 🏆
Jayson Tatum drops his first postseason triple-double and the @celtics knock down 22 threes to take Game 1! Game 2 is Wednesday at 7pm/et on TNT.
Derrick White: 20 PTS (4 3PM), 4 AST
Kristaps Porzingis: 18 PTS (4 3PM)
Jaylen Brown: 17 PTS, 8 REB pic.twitter.com/hec9to97tw— NBA (@NBA) 21. April 2024
Tatum gets a little revenge
Last season, Miami dashed the Celtics’ title dreams when they won the Conference Finals in game seven. This time, however, Jayson Tatum provided the first small revenge. The star player achieved his first playoff triple-double with 23 points as well as ten rebounds and assists each.
Without Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks won the first game against the Indiana Pacers at home with 109:94. The Bucks could thank Damian Lillard, who scored all of his 35 points in the first half and ensured the decisive lead.
The closest duel on the first day of the play-offs took place in Oklahoma City. There the local Thunder beat the New Orleans Pelicans 94:92. However, the best team from the West had more trouble than expected. The most successful thrower of the game was MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 28 points.
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