After just two first-round NBA playoff series went as far as six games, we already have that number guaranteed in the second round. The Toronto Raptors and Denver Nuggets each claimed road victories Sunday to even their conference semifinals 2-2 with the Philadelphia 76ers and Portland Trail Blazers, respectively. Elsewhere, LeBron James admits on HBO that he was “stunned” by Magic Johnson’s departure from the team, and the Warriors and Celtics look to rebound Monday from Game 3 defeats.
Remember Kawhi Leonard and all those big playoff games in San Antonio? His Game 4 performance against Philadelphia is why Toronto traded for him. Now the Raptors return to the north with home-court advantage back.
Kawhi Leonard’s last 6 games…
PPG: 35.5
FG: 62.5%
Mid-range: 64.3%
3P: 52.6%
FT: 86.0%Absolutely absurd.
— John Schuhmann (@johnschuhmann) May 5, 2019
Meanwhile, Nikola Jokic has also been extremely important to the Denver Nuggets, who shook off a four-overtime loss in Game 3 to post a Game 4 road victory. Will they have enough energy left to finish the series?
📈 Nikola Jokić passed Fat Lever as the franchise’s all-time leader in playoff triple-doubles today. #NBAPlayoffs #MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/aFEjWkFXah
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) May 6, 2019
Seeing LeBron remember how he felt when Magic Johnson announced he was resigning from the Lakers was something to behold.
LeBron and Lonzo look back on the night Magic stepped down (NSFW)#TheShopHBO
(via @uninterrupted)pic.twitter.com/U0xXGOczbo
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 5, 2019
The Warriors couldn’t quite pull off a 3-0 series lead on the Rockets, losing Game 3 in overtime. Can they rebound to get the all-important split on the road and return home with a 3-1 lead? If not, this could be the beginning of the end for the Golden State dynasty.
Warriors are preparing for “possibly seismic change” this summer when KD and Klay become free agents, per @wojespn pic.twitter.com/7bnhNVpBxz
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 6, 2019
It’s a similar scenario in Boston, where the Celtics were built to contend for championships but are a loss away from being in serious trouble against Giannis and the top-seeded Bucks.
Celtics look on as the Bucks take a 2-1 series lead. pic.twitter.com/e0VUMLVdMo
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 4, 2019
TOP STORIES
• Kawhi Leonard Strikes Again, Raptors Beat Sixers In Game 4 | CBS Philly
• Nuggets survive wild Game 4 to even series vs. Blazers | Yahoo Sports
• Disbelieving LeBron ‘stunned’ by Magic’s exit | ESPN.com
