The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Toronto Raptors in the opening game of the Eastern Conference Finals thanks to a strong display from Brook Lopez. Zion Williamson’s stepdad says that Zion is excited to represent the Pelicans while the Grizzlies want to draft Ja Morant.
Bucks finish with a flourish, rally to top Raptors 108-100 | Associated Press
The Toronto Raptors had a lead after the first three quarters in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but Brook Lopez had an excellent fourth quarter and led the Milwaukee Bucks to a 108-100 victory with a double-double of 29 points and 11 rebounds along with four blocks.
“I think it speaks a little bit to the character of the group,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “They just stick with it. I think it’s become a little bit of a theme in the playoffs: I think eventually, hopefully, we feel like if we stick with what we’re doing good things will happen for us.”
29 PTS | 4 3PM | 11 REB | 4 BLK
Brook Lopez does it all, scoring a #NBAPlayoffs career-high in the @Bucks Game 1 home victory! #FearTheDeer
Game 2: Friday (5/17), 8:30pm/et, TNT pic.twitter.com/CTAEvkTpTc
— NBA (@NBA) May 16, 2019
Stepdad: Zion’s excited to play for Pelicans | ESPN
Zion Williamson perhaps expected the New York Knicks to get the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft Lottery but his stepdad says that Zion will have no problems representing the New Orleans Pelicans, who have the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft.
“We’re excited [about coming to New Orleans],” Lee Anderson said. “We’re excited about that. And you said about returning to Duke … there has been a lot of speculation, but that is nothing that we have even considered,” Anderson added.
Report: Grizzlies Want to Draft Ja Morant With No. 2 Pick, Leaving R.J. Barrett Open for Knicks | Sports Illustrated
Murray State Racers point guard Ja Morant will likely be the No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft and the Memphis Grizzlies seem like the strongest candidate to select him.
Murray State PG Ja Morant met Wednesday with the top three teams in next month’s NBA Draft — New Orleans, Memphis and New York, league sources tell ESPN. Grizzlies are focused on Morant at No. 2.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 16, 2019
Raptors not named Lowry go 0-for-15 in 4th | ESPN
The Toronto Raptors suffered a 108-100 defeat in the opening game of the Eastern Conference Finals because of a weak fourth quarter performance as only Kyle Lowry managed to hit a field goal.
Lowry scored 14 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter but the rest of his teammates combined for a miserable three points and such a bad display pretty much sealed Toronto’s fate in Game 1.
“Pretty frustrating,” Lowry said. “Fourth quarter killed us. … They outplayed us in the fourth quarter. They got a little bit more aggressive. They made some big shots, made some big plays.
Kyle Lowry: 30 PTS (10-15 FG, 7-9 3PT) 8 REB, 2 AST
4TH QUARTER
Kyle: 5-7 FG
Rest of Raptors: 0-15— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) May 16, 2019
NBA MOCK DRAFT: What the experts are predicting for all 30 first-round picks | Business Insider
Following a wild lottery, the NBA Draft order has been decided and the New Orleans Pelicans will have the No. 1 pick while Memphis Grizzlies, New York Knicks, and Los Angeles Lakers follow. NBA experts Jonathan Givony of ESPN, Sam Vecenie of The Athletic, The Ringer, Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated, Ricky O’Donnell of SB Nation, Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report, and Gary Parrish of CBS are giving their prediction for all 30 first round picks.
The Pelicans, I'm told, have sold in the neighborhood of 3,000 season-ticket packages for next season in the wake of winning last night's NBA lottery and the chance to draft Zion Williamson No. 1 overall
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 15, 2019
