2024-04-22 05:29:26
Updated 43 minutes ago
image caption, Jayson Tatum was one of six Boston players to score in double figures
The Boston Celtics began their NBA playoff campaign with a 114-94 win over the Miami Heat.
Jayson Tatum’s triple-double helped lead the top seeds once morest last season’s losing finalists.
The Heat entered the playoffs as the number eight seed following beating the Chicago Bulls in a play-in elimination game.
But without injured star player Jimmy Butler, the Heat found the Celtics too strong in the best-of-seven series opener.
Tatum scored 23 points, had 10 rebounds and dished out 10 assists – and was one of six players to score in double figures for Boston, but warned his team they “can’t relax” once morest the team that eliminated them from the playoffs last year . .
“They are not going to give up, they are not going to lie down,” he said.
There are 16 teams in the first round of the playoffs playing best-of-seven series in a knockout format. The eight winners advance to the next round.
James Harden scored 28 points for the Los Angeles Clippers as they beat the Dallas Mavericks 109-97 in the first game of their series.
The home team led 56-30 at halftime and despite a fightback led by Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, with 33 and 31 points respectively, the Mavericks were too much to deal with.
Damian Lillard scored all 35 of his points in the first half as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Indiana Pacers 109-94 despite the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
His 35 points were a record for any Bucks player in any half of a playoff game.
The Bucks defense held the prolific Pacers offense under 100 points for just the second time this season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points for the Oklahoma City Thunder to help them pull off a thrilling 94-92 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
In the Thunder’s first playoff game since 2020, Gilgeous-Alexander made two key baskets in the final two minutes to give Oklahoma City the series lead.
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