The Boston Celtics opened Round 2 with a road win over the Milwaukee Bucks, while the Golden State Warriors beat the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of the Western Conference semis, where head coach Steve Kerr compared Kevin Durant to legendary Michael Jordan.
Horford locks down Giannis, Bucks in Game 1 win | ESPN
The Boston Celtics surprised many as they secured a comfortable 112-90 road victory over the Milwaukee Bucks to open the Eastern Conference semis and Al Horford showed why he is one of the best defensive big guys in the NBA. Horford successfully slowed down leading MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo, limiting the Greek Freak to 7-of-21 from the floor and “just” 22 points in 34 minutes, while he posted a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds on the other end.
“We’ve said all year you can’t overstate Al Horford’s importance to our team,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. “The numbers back that up.”
👏 @Al_Horford (20 PTS, 11 REB, 3 BLK) comes up big in the @celtics Game 1 road W! #Celtics #NBAPlayoffs
Game 2: Tuesday (4/30), 8pm/et, TNT pic.twitter.com/slgZ8P5xWN
— NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2019
Steve Kerr compares Kevin Durant to Michael Jordan | 247sports
The Golden State Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets 104-100 in the opening game of the Western Conference semis, mostly thanks to a sensational performance from Kevin Durant, who finished the tilt with 35 points in 43 minutes.
Head coach Steve Kerr certainly knows a thing or two about great players after playing alongside such legends as Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan and David Robinson.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said “some guy named Michael” probably had a playoff stretch like this. Then, he went to praise the way Kevin Durant is producing. pic.twitter.com/BcWHWsCs9Q
— Rusty Simmons (@JRustySimmons) April 28, 2019
Lillard time: Blazers guard continues to beat the odds | Associated Press
After defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games in Round 1 of the NBA playoffs, the Portland Trail Blazers and Damian Lillard continue to be the dark horses of this campaign and it seems that they will not stop with Round 2 against the Denver Nuggets.
Lillard’s three-pointer buzzer-beater is still fresh in our memory and plenty of fellow NBA players and teammates expressed how good Damian is.
“This was not a coming-out party. This is who he is,” said Blazers guard Seth Curry. “You watch basketball, you pay attention, you watch highlights, you know who he is as a player. He has done this all year and he’s been doing this every year.”
“Damian Lillard’s on a tear right now,” Denver’s Paul Millsap acknowledged.
“Obviously he can score the ball with the best of them. But Dame has a chip on his shoulder, and he has since the day he walked into this league,” said Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green. “Just the way he grinds, he played like a guy from Oakland with a chip on his shoulder and a guy who has been doubted forever.”
ICYMI: Tied game. Clock winding down.
Damian Lillard with the 37-ft game-winner ⌚️ pic.twitter.com/yNEjC9YyLR
— ESPN (@espn) April 24, 2019
Rockets’ Harden wants ‘a fair chance’ from refs | ESPN
The Houston Rockets fell to the Golden State Warriors 104-100 in Game 1 of the Western Conference semis and James Harden was far from happy with the officials.
“I’m going to try to be a nice guy because I really don’t want to give the charity to them. I’d rather have my charity have the money,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. “So, I mean, the response was they came in halftime and said they missed them. That’s what they told me. They missed four of them. That’s 12 foul shots. So be it. They’re trying to do the best they can do.”
“I mean, I just want a fair chance, man,” said Harden after the loss. “Call the game how it’s supposed to be called, and that’s it. And I’ll live with the results.”
Draymond did not want to hear about James Harden's comments about officiating during Game 1. pic.twitter.com/u75tf43ULO
— ESPN (@espn) April 28, 2019
