Shumpert out??

                                                                         Maddie Meyer Getty Images 

The New York Knicks are off to a poor start this season, 3-7. While struggles seem to mount one name has come up frequently, Iman Shumpert. After having a great rookie season, the small forward appears to have lost his place among his teammates. Apparently after a few games the Knicks have discussed Shumpert in various trades. The latest eye catching proposal is trading not only Iman Shumert but Amare Stoudemire for floor general Rajon Rando . Although this deal hasn't been confirmed of denied it is still an exploring topic.

Detroit handed New York their third-straight loss, 92-86. Tonight they will face the current conference leaders, the Indiana Pacers who are, 9-1. Its going to take a miracle to pull out a win.

Stay tuned.

No Kobe, No Problem: Lakers Defeat Clippers 116-103

AP

Without their superstar and leader Kobe Bryant, the hopes of the lakers coming out on top against the Clippers looked slim to none. But young reserves put on a great performance, carrying the entire team with 76 points, to defeat Chris Paul and the Clippers 116-103.

The Clippers were shooting close to 60 percent and had a slight edge over the Lakers at the break, 57-55. The largest lead in the third quarter was 63-55. But during the final 12 minutes, the Lakers bench knocked down shots everywhere, outscored the Clippers 41-24. Xavier Henry led the bench with a career-high 22 points, Pau Gasol led the starters with 15. Jordan Farmar added 16, Jodie Meeks scored 13, Jordan Hill had 12, and Chris Kaman had 10. Steve Nash got much needed rest thanks to the production of the reserves. Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant watched his team in street clothes and looked impressed, smiling throughout the game.

AP

Blake Griffin was the leading man for Doc Rivers new team with 19 points, DeAndre Jordan had 17, Chris Paul scored 15 and newly acquired J.J Reddick finished with 13.

Warriors vs Clippers recap next !

Champs Torch D-Rose and the Bulls

SB Nation: Mike Ehrmann

After receiving championship rings and watching the 2013 Championship banner rise to the rafters, it was time to take on the Chicago Bulls with the return of their floor general Derrick Rose. Miami made a statement on opening night and cruised pass Chicago, 107-95.

The Bulls would get off to a good start by taking a 15-10 lead in the first quarter. Miami then responded with a 31-5 run to create a 21 point gap. The Big 3 wasn't responsible for this run alone, this was a complete team effort. Everyone who stepped on the floor for Miami, contributed offensively. Including 42 pts off the bench. Lebron James lead his team with 17 points and 6 rebounds, Chris Bosh added 16, and Dwyane Wade finished with 13. Miami also had 7 players in double figures including, Shane Battier, Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole.

Miami maintained control for the rest of the game, with the largest lead reaching 25. Chicago fought back late in the fourth and were able to trim the deficit to 8. However, following a missed jumper by Jimmy Butler, Shane Battier would connect on another 3-pointer to seal the deal. Carlos Boozer was the leading man for the Bulls with 31 points, Jimmy Butler showed promise with 20 points, Luol Deng only finished with 4. Joakim Noah continued to struggle with ball handling and scored 2 points. Derrick Rose who still appears rusty, finished with 12.

Recap of the Miami vs Sixers and New York at Chicago next.

Round 2: Golden State vs. San Antonio

Game 2: The Warriors tie the series 1-1

Klay Thompson recorded a career-high 34 points for a huge victory against the Spurs in game 2, 100-91. The Warriors evened the series at 1-1 and finally got their win in San Antonio for the first time since Valentine’s Day 1997. Stephen Curry scored 22 points, Harrison Barnes had 13, Carl Landry finished with 10 and Andrew Bogut had 6 points along with 11 rebounds. During the first half it was all Klay Thompson, who scored 29 points and was 7 for 8 from the perimeter; Golden State led by 19 at half time. Then it seemed like deju vu when the Spurs rallied by going on a 16-4 run to cut into the Warriors lead late in the third. Heading into the fourth, Golden State led by 11 and the Spurs continued to battle. Manu Ginobili saved his team during the previous game with a big 3-pointer. In this game he did so again to help San Antonio get within 97-89 with 4 minutes left in the game; however they only made 1 of their last 5 shots. Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 23 points, Tony Parker had 20. Manu Ginobili scored 12 points and Kawhi Leonard added 11 points and 12 boards.

Golden State will host Game 3 on Friday.

Game 1: Spurs lead 1-0

 

Game 1 of the Western Conference semi-finals between the young Warriors and the veteran Spurs was a thriller. After going into double overtime, Manu Ginobili hit a clutch 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left for the win, 129-127. Tony Parker finished with 28 points, Danny Green had 22 and Tim Duncan scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Kawhi Lenoard added 18 points and Manu Ginobili ended with 16. San Antonio trailed by 16 with 4 minutes left in the game. Down the stretch, Golden state missed nine shots, allowing the spurs to go on an 18-2 run, to tie the game at 106. During overtime the Warriors were down by 5, but responded with six straight points, giving them the lead with less than 4 seconds left. San Antonio was down by 1 point, and with Manu Ginobili’s huge three sealed the deal for the Spurs. Stephen Curry had a big night with 44 points and 11 assist, Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes both finished with 19, Jarrett jack scored 15 and Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 15 rebounds.

The Warriors have not won a game in San Antonio since 1997. They will have chance to do so in Game 2 on Wednesday. 

 

-@SarahtresChic15





Semi-finals :Indiana vs. New York

 Game 2: Knicks even the series 1-1

After a disappointing game 1 against the Pacers, the New York Knicks tied the series on Tuesday, 105-79. Carmelo Anthony got out of his shooting slump and scored 32 points. Iman Shumpert played well, finishing with 15 points, including a stellar put-back dunk and Raymond Felton added 14 points. Pablo Prigioni and Kenyon Martin both finished with 10 points respectively. New York lead early once again, but the difference during this game was, they extended the lead throughout. The Pacers continued to battle and finally took a 64-62 lead late in the third. New York responded with a 10-2 run to end the period. Once in the fourth, Indiana struggled offensively and committed more turnovers, they would finish with 21 turnovers in total. The game started off close and eventually turned into a blowout. The Pacers lost momentum in the fourth, when the Knicks went on a 30-2 run, outscoring Indiana, 33-13. Paul George had 20 points, David west ended with 13 and George Hill added 12.

The Pacers will host Game 3 at the Field House on Saturday.

Game 1:Pacers lead 1-0

 

On May 7^th 1995, the Indiana Pacers took on the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern conference finals.  The Pacers were trailing the New York Knicks 105-99 with only 18.7 seconds left it seemed like the Knicks would come out on top..so we thought. Reggie Miller stunned New York and scored 8 points in 8.9 seconds leading his team to victory 107-105.

On Sunday in Game 1 of this season’s semi-finals, the Pacers returned to New York spoiling their first second round Game since 2000, as they came out on top with the win 102-95. David West finished with 20 points and Paul George scored 19. Indiana lived up to their name as the best defensive team in the league and mixed in steady offense. Roy Hibbert and George Hill both ended with 14 points and native New Yorker Lance Stephenson added 11 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. The Knicks led early in the first half but the Pacers went on a 13-4 run during the last five minutes of the second quarter. After a clutch 3-pointer by George Hill, the Pacers took a 52-46 lead at halftime. Indiana continued their solid offense, outscoring the Knicks, 21-11 and entered the fourth quarter with an 81-65 lead. Although New York managed to find some offense during the final 12 minutes, but it wasn’t enough, as the Pacers held on to snag home court. Carmelo Anthony got into foul trouble late and ended with 27 points along with 11 rebounds. Raymond Felton scored 18 and J.R. Smith added 17 points.

Game 2 returns to Madison Square garden on Tuesday, where the Knicks hope to tie the series at 1-1.

-@SarahTresChic15

Oklahoma City vs. Houston

Game 6: The Thunder advance to the semi-finals, 4-2

 

The Oklahoma City Thunder are heading to the second round of the playoffs, after defeating former teammate James Harden and the Houston Rockets on Friday, 103-94. After losing their All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant was forced to carry most of the load offensively, but with six players in double figures this win was a team effort. Kevin Durant had 27 points, Kevin Martin had a great game after poor shooting in game 5 with 25 points and Reggie Jackson added 17 points and dished out 8 assist. Although the Rockets started off the game with the lead during the first 12 minutes, the Thunder responded and went on a 12-2 run in the second quarter, putting them up by 5. This was Kevin Martin's most efficient part of the game, with 21 of his 25 in the first half. I’m sure Oklahoma City knew that closing out a series against James Harden wasn’t going to be easy, as he knocked down a 3-pointer bringing them within 58-54 at the break. Heading into the third, Oklahoma City picked up their defense, limiting the Rockets to 23 points for the entire quarter. That was a major difference from the previous two games. Once in the fourth quarter, the Thunder went on a 14-4 run extending their lead to 92-81. And with two clutch 3-pointers by Derek fisher and Kevin Durant, the Thunder secured their spot in the semi-finals. James Harden ended with 26 points, Chandler Parsons added 25 and Omer Asik finished with 13 points and 13 boards.

Oklahoma City will take on Zach Randolph and the Memphis Grizzlies. Game 1 is on Sunday.

-@SarahTresChic15

Indiana vs. Atlanta

Game 6: Pacers eliminate Hawks

The Indiana Pacers snapped their 13-game losing streak in Atlanta, with a victory over the Hawks,81-73. David West and Paul George both had 21 points and the Pacers advanced to the second round. Roy Hibbert scored 17 points and 11 rebounds and Lance Stephenson grabbed 11 rebounds along with 8 points. Atlanta struggled for most of the game and they even set a franchise record with only 9 points in the entire second quarter. The Hawks had a lot of trouble finding their range and went 1 of 21 from the field. Indiana was leading by 15 entering the fourth, and the Hawks finally found some rhythm, cutting into the Pacers lead 76-73. However Indiana’s stifling defense didn’t allow Atlanta to get any closer. In addition defense, the Pacers dominated the boards, grabbing 53 over Atlanta’s 35 rebounds. Al Horford had 15 points to lead the Hawks and Josh Smith and Devin Harris scored 14 each.

Indiana will head to New York to face the Knicks for game 1 of the semi-finals. Now that Atlanta’s season is officially over they will have to deal with a lot of questions. With only three players under contract, we can predict a lot of changes. Will long time member Josh Smith remain a Hawk? Stay tuned

-@SarahTresChic15

 

New York vs. Boston

Game 6: Knicks win the series 4-2

After blowing two opportunities to eliminate the Celtics, New York got their victory with a win in Boston, 88-80. The Knicks have finally advanced to the semi-finals for the first time since 2000. Carmelo Anthony had 21 points, Iman Shumpert had a great game with 17 and rookie from Argentina Pablo Prigioni finished with 14. New York led for the entire game with their lead being as much as 26. But the Celtics didn’t give up. During the fourth quarter, Boston went on to score the next 20 points to put them within striking range, and they got within 79-75 and had a sense of hope as the period was coming to a close. The Celtics were on the verge of a chance to extend the series with this major comeback until, Carmelo Anthony knocked down a clutch jumper. Jeff Green ended with 21 points before fouling out and Kevin Garnett scored 15 points with 10 rebounds. Paul Pierce and Jason Terry both finished with 14 and Avery Bradley added 10 points.

New York will take on the Indiana Pacers for this next round of playoff action. Game 1 will be on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. The aging Celtics will have a lot of decisions to make this summer to prepare for next season. Will Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo get another chance to play together? Or will Boston rebuild with fresh bodies ?

-@SarahTresChic15

Denver vs. Golden State

Game 6: Golden State Advances to the Second Round 4-2

After a physical game 5, and Mark Jacksons accusations about “cheap play” by the Nuggets that earned him a $25,000 fine, the Warriors sent the Nuggets home for good with a 92-88 victory. Stephen Curry made 4 of his 8 3-pointers, finishing with 22 points; Rookie Draymond Green had a career-high 16 points and 10 rebounds and Andrew Bogut had a great game with 14 points and grabbed 21 boards. The Nuggets knew this was a “win or go home” game and came out fighting with an early 34-23 lead. But Andrew Bogut kept his team close grabbing big rebounds. Golden State would continue to dominate the boards ending the night with a 55-44 advantage. At the break, the Nuggets only led by 2. The Warriors took over and by the end of the third quarter they were up 73-62. During the fourth quarter the Nuggets struggled offensively, until they made 13 straight to get them back in the game. For Golden State, sloppy possessions led them to 10 turnovers. Denver pulled within 2 with only 32 seconds left. Wilson Chandler missed a clutch lay-up, then got a second attempt with a put-back shot, missed it and eventually the ball went out of bounds. After video review the ball was out on Denver ruining their chances for a win. Andre Iguodala led his team with 24 points and Ty Lawson had 17. Kenneth Faried and Wilson Chandler both ended with 11 each.

The Golden State Warriors have advanced to the second round for the first time in six years. The Semi-finals will begin on Monday in San Antonio against the Spurs. Miraculously David Lee was cleared to play during this game after what was supposed to be a season ending injury. Although he missed his one shot attempt he did get 1 rebound. Stay tuned for second round coverage.

Game 5: Denver avoids elimination, 2-3

The Denver Nuggets avoided a early playoff exit on Tuesday, with a 107-100 win over the Golden State Warriors. Andre Iguodala had 25 points and 12 rebounds, Ty Lawson had 19 points along with 10 assist and Wilson Chandler also scored 19 points. Kenneth Faried who energized his team, finished with a double-double, 13 points and 10 boards. After losing 3 straight, the Nuggets were off to a good start and went back to playing their style of basketball. Denver was up 44-31 and the game started to get a little chippy, as Andrew Bogut tossed Kenneth Faried to the floor by his neck. Andrew Bogut would receive a flagrant foul to the delight of the fans at the Pepsi Center. At the end of the first two quarters the Nuggets had a 66-46 lead. Golden State eventually cut into Denver’s lead by going on an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter, but the Nuggets continued to stay ahead. Harrison Barnes led the Warriors with 23 points and 9 rebounds, Jarrett Jack scored 20 and Klay Thompson ended with 19. Klay Thompson’s backcourt counterpart, Stephen Curry struggled with his perimeter shot before finally making one with 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter, to get his team within 5. He would only make 1 of 7, finishing with 15 points.  

The series heads over to Oakland for Game 6. Golden State will have another chance to eliminate the Nuggets and Denver will make a push for a win to extend the series to Game 7.

Game 4: Golden State leads 3-1

The Golden State Warriors took a 3-1 series lead on Sunday, as they defeated the third seeded Nuggets, 115-101. Stephen Curry scored 31 points including 22 in the third quarter. Jarrett Jack had 21 points and 9 assist, Klay Thompson added 13 and Andrew Bogut with 12 points and 5 rebounds. The game stayed close for most of the first half, with Stephen Curry only scoring 7 points. With a little over 4 minutes to go, Denver cut the deficit to 1 and then Stephen Curry hit his first 3-pointer. Golden State scored the last 11 points to close out the first half with a 56-44 lead. Entering the third, the Nuggets went on a 14-4 run, reducing the Warriors lead, to get within 62-58. However, Stephen Curry was just getting started. He hit 5 of his 8 3-point attempts that extended the Warriors lead to 91-72. The Nuggets continued to trail for the rest of the game.Ty Lawson had 26 points for Denver, followed by Andre Iguodala with 19 points and 8 rebounds.   

Game 5 will take place in  Denver were the Warriors have a chance to close out the series.

- @SarahTresChic15

Milwaukee vs. Miami

Game 4: The Heat win the series 4-0

The Big three and the Miami Heat cruised past the Milwaukee Bucks to advance to the semi-finals, after Sunday’s victory 88-77. Lebron James scored 30 points along with 8 rebounds and 7 assist, leading his team to their fourth straight win. Although Dwyane Wade didn’t play in this game due to a bruised knee, and he wasn’t needed. Ray Allen had another great night after setting a NBA career playoff record on Thursday, finishing with 16 points. Udonis Halsem had 13 points and Chris Bosh added 10. Milwaukee wasn’t too far behind; they only trailed by 4 at the break and by 5 entering the fourth. But the Bucks lacked offense in the final quarter and were outscored 21-15. Monte Ellis had 21 points to for his team, Mike Dunlevy with 17 to help cut into Miami’s lead, and Larry Sanders grabbed 11 rebounds. The very confident, Brandon Jennings who declared that the Bucks would beat the Heat in 6 games, was a no show. He finished with 3 points, only making 1 of his 7 attempts and didn’t participate in the fourth quarter.

Miami has won 12 straight going all the way back to the end of March. They will now get a lot of rest and wait for the winner of the Chicago vs. Brooklyn series.

Game 3: The Heat lead the series 3-0

 

After getting off to a good start, Milwaukee couldn’t withstand Miami’s run in the second half, falling to the Heat 91-104. Ray Allen scored 23 points including 5 3-pointers giving him the NBA career playoff record with 322 made 3-pointers. Lebron James had 22 points and Chris Bosh ended with 16 points and 14 rebounds. The Bucks were up 50-48 at halftime and it looked as if they had a slight chance, after leading for most of the game. As we know the Heat like to go on their infamous runs, in which they did 23-7 late in the third quarter. Once Miami had a ten point lead going into the fourth, Milwaukee wouldn’t come close again. Brandon Jennings and Larry Sanders had 16 points apiece. Esran Ilyasova followed with 15 and Luc Mhah A Moute added 12.

No team in the NBA has overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series. Milwaukee will have another chance for at least 1 win back at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on Sunday for game 4.

-@SarahTresChic15

San Antonio vs Los Angeles

 

Game 4: Spurs win 4-0

The post season has come to an end for the injured Los Angeles Lakers as they succumbed to the San Antonio Spurs last night, 103-82. Tony Parker ended with 23 points, Kawhi Leonard scored 13 and Tim Duncan had 11. The Lakers struggled and frustration mounted, as Dwight Howard got two technical-fouls to get him ejected in the beginning of the third quarter. He finished with 7 points and 8 rebounds. Kobe Bryant made an appearance after Dwight Howard got ejected to pick up his teams spirits. Pau Gasol had 16 points before he exited the game receiving a standing ovation for his efforts.

The Spurs will now get rest and await the winner of the Denver vs. Golden State series. Los Angeles will now go through lots of rehab to prepare them for next season. I am sure they will have to deal with a lot of questions this summer; will Kobe Bryant return to the old Kobe? Will Dwight remain a Laker? My answer is yes. Hopefully this uncharacteristic season will motivated them for the future.

Game 3: Spurs lead 3-0

The Spurs handed Los Angeles their worst home playoff loss in franchise history on Friday, 120-89. Tim Duncan had 29 points and 9 rebounds, Tony Parker added 20 points and 7 assist. Once again this game was all San Antonio. They had solid offense from 10 players shooting at 61 percent from the field. The Lakers luck seemed to be getting worst and worst by each game. Entering this game they were without, leader Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Steve Blake and Jodie Meeks. Mike D’Antoni was forced to place Darius Morris and recently required Andrew Goudelock from the D-league. Andrew Goudelock actually played well after a slow start with 10 points late in the first half, to get the Lakers within 11 at the break. He finished with a career high 20 points in his first NBA playoff game. Darius Morris had a decent game with 24 points, including 12 in the fourth. For the bigs, Dwight Howard scored 25 points, 11 rebounds and Pau Gasol recorded his first career playoff triple-double, 11 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assist.

Los Angeles is on the verge of losing in the first round for the first time since 2007. With majority of their players injured, its going to take a miracle to advance pass the veteran Spurs. San Antonio will have an opportunity to end this series in 4 on Sunday back at Staples Center.

-@SarahTresChic15

New York vs Boston

Game 4: Boston extends the series 1-3

The Celtics avoided a huge disappointment and series sweep yesterday, as they beat the Knicks in overtime, 97-90. What a turn of events, with Boston shooting at 51 percent, big difference from the poor shooting in the previous games. Paul pierce scored 29 points to lead his team, followed by Jeff Green with 26. But the key to the game was Jason Terry, who scored the last nine points for Boston, finishing with 18 for the game. The Celtics led by 19 at the half and maintained their lead for the beginning of the third. Then, the Knicks outscored Boston, 30-14 in the third quarter, reducing their deficit to 68-65. Heading into the fourth, the Celtics continued to hold on to their lead, but thanks to Raymond Felton the Knicks stayed close. New York rallied and tied the game at 84 apiece. The game was tied once again at 88 and the Celtics recovered to take the lead for the rest of the game. Carmelo Anthony had 32 points for New York, and Raymond Felton ended with 27, including 16 in the fourth quarter. Due to J.R. Smith’s ejection in game 3, he was suspended for this game. Although the Knicks managed to reduce their deficit, J.R. Smith’s offensive presence was missed.

Game 5 heads back to New York on Wednesday were the Knicks have a chance to win their first playoff series since their 1999-2000 season. Boston will continue to try to make history and steal this round from the Knicks.

Game 3: Knicks Lead 3-0

 

The struggles continued for Boston back home at TD Garden, with the Knicks defeating the Celtics 90-76. Carmelo Anthony finished with 26 points and Raymond Felton scored 15 points and 10 assist. J.R. Smith added 15 points before getting a flagrant 2 for elbowing Jason terry in the chin, which led to an automatic ejection. The dismissal of J.R. Smith didn’t make a difference, as New York dominated the entire game. Boston only scored 31 points for the first two quarters and was down 16 points at the half. The Celtics got within 11 but didn’t take care of the ball, as Pablo Priginoi got a quick steal for Carmelo Anthony to knock down the 3-pointer. New York got 26 points off of Boston’s 18 turnovers. Jeff Green scored 21 points, Paul Pierce had 17 points and Jason Terry added 14. Kevin Garnett had 12 points and 17 rebounds but missed a few easy offensive opportunities.

New York has the chance to go for a sweep back in Boston on Sunday. However, J.R. Smith’s flagrant 2 may lead to a suspension for that game after it is reviewed by the NBA. For the Celtics, they will continue to fight to become the first NBA team to win a series after trailing 3-0.

 

-@SarahTresChic15

Zach Randolph's Fashion Transformation

Zach Randolph had a dominant performance last night with, 27 points and 11 rebounds to lead his team to victory over the Clippers 94-82. The Memphis Grizzlies are finally in the series with their first win. As he and teammate Marc Gasol answered questions from reporters in their post-game press conference, I noticed how dapper he looked in his plaid brown suit, complimented by a moss colored tie.  Zach Randolph has come a long way in the fashion department. Here’s a look at his style evolution over the years.

 

Playoffs 2010-11

Playoffs 2012-13

 

From casual tee's and polos to neat and trim. This look will definitly be considered one of the top ten ensembles from this seasons playoffs.

 

 

-@SarahTresChic15

Playoff 2013: Day 3 & 4

The Bulls vs The Nets: Series tied 1-1

When Chicago opened the playoffs in Brooklyn against the Nets, they lacked execution and aggressiveness. This was uncharacteristic of a team that ended two impressive streaks in the weeks before. Well during game 2 Monday night, they responded to adversity by tying the series 1-1, with a 90-82 win over the Nets. Luol Deng led the Bulls with 15 points and 10 rebounds and Joakim Noah endured the pain of his foot injury to finish with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Kirk Hinrich and Carlos Boozer both scored 13 points and Boozer grabbed 10 rebounds. This victory was a team effort, with production from the bench, including Joakim Noah’s backup, Nazr Mohammed. Brook Lopez ended with 21 points, but overall, the Nets only shot 35 percent from the field and struggled from the 3-point line. Joe Johnson only made 6 of his 18 shots and finished with 17 points. It was a one point game at the break, thanks to a 3-pointer at the buzzer by C.J. Watson however Chicagos defense suffocated the Nets and they only scored 11 points for the entire 3rd quarter. Deron Williams struggled offensively only making 1 of his 9 shots, finishing with 8 points.
Now with the series even, the Nets head to Chicago to take on the Bulls tomorrow tonight for Game 3.

Grizzles vs Clippers: Clippers lead 2-0

What a battle this was between the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night. The game went down to the wire and with a tenth of a second left in regulation, Chris Paul made a clutch shot to give his team the victory 93-91. All-star point guard Chris Paul finished with 24 points and 9 assist. Blake Griffin scored 21 points and 8 rebounds and Jamal Crawford added 15 points off the bench. The game stayed close in the first half, with neither team leading by more than 8 points. The Grizzlies took the lead early in the first half, but Jamal Crawford tied it with a 3 pointer. Los Angeles took over in the second quarter finishing the half with 50-44 lead over the Grizzlies. Heading into the third quarter, the Clippers extended their lead and then Memphis continued to respond. Mike Conley had a career high 28 points including 10 to keep his team in the game during the fourth quarter. Marc Gasol ended up with 17 points, including a dunk that tied the game at 91. Tony Allen added 16 points and 10 rebounds and Zach Randolph had 13. The Grizzlies fought hard but came up short.

The Clippers are up 2-0 and will continue the series in Memphis tomorrow night.

Celtics vs Knicks: The Knicks lead 2-0

The Knicks took care of the Celtics last night, giving them a 2-0 lead over Boston. This is New York’s first 2-0 lead since the 2000 Eastern Conference semifinals. Carmelo Anthony went for 34 points, Sixth Man of the Year, J.R. Smith added 19 and Raymond Felton finished with 16 points. The Celtics were off to a good start in the first half, but like the last game, they struggled after the break. Once Boston entered the second half they lacked defense and couldn’t get off offensively. They missed majority of their shots in the third quarter, and got outscored 24-4 by the Knicks. New York continued to dominate every part of the game making it very difficult for the Celtics to get back in the game. Paul Pierce had 18 points; Kevin Garnett scored 12 points and 11 rebounds. Jason Terry made a few 3-pointers in the first half, but failed to do so in the second. This game was very similar to the first meeting, as Boston only had 22 points after halftime.

The Celtics are on the verge of being eliminated and will host game 3 on Friday. Boston will have to play with urgency to keep them in the series.

Bucks vs The Heat: Miami leads 2-0

 

Milwaukee came into game two with the hopes of stealing home, unfortunately the Miami Heat have Dwyane Wade and Lebron James. Dwyane Wade finished with 21 points and Lebron James had 19, and the Heat beat the Bucks 98-96. Miami got production from multiple players including, Chris Bosh, Shane Battier and Chris Andersen, who all finished with 10 apiece. Milwaukee came out playing hard and was within 47-43 at halftime. Throughout most of the third quarter the game stayed closed, with Miami only having a 3 point lead. The fourth quarter was all Miami as they went on a 12-0 run extending their lead to 80-65. Ersan Ilyasova had 21 points for the Bucks; Mike Dunleavy scored 16 and Larry Sanders 14. During the first game, Monte Ellis and Brandon Jennings combined for 48 points. After getting blown out they decided to make an adjustment and get their teammates involved. Although they managed to facilitate, they neglected to score themselves, scoring only 15 points between them.

Brandon Jennings remains confident that his team will stay in the series. Game 3 takes place on Thursday in Milwaukee. Will the Bucks manage to pull out a win at home? Stay tuned

 

Warriors vs Nuggets: Golden State ties the series 1-1

The Nuggets are the NBA’s best home team this season with a record of 38-3. After more than three months the Golden State Warriors shocked everyone at the Pepsi Center, with a 131-117 win over the Nuggets. Stephen Curry finished with 30 points and 13 assist, Jarrett Jack scored 26 points, Harrison Barnes with 24 and Klay Thompson added 21. The Warriors were without their All-Star David Lee, and still managed to outrebound Denver 36-26. Golden State dominated the glass and shot at a high 64.6 percent from the field. Ty Lawson and Corey Brewer both had 19 points and Andre Iguodala and Andre Miller each scored 18. The Nuggets got Kenneth Faried back after he suffered an ankle injury, but they had a hard time offensively and struggled from the 3-point line. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson knocked down huge three’s everytime Denver would rally to get back into the game. The Nuggets eventually got within 10, but once again Golden State continued hot shooting from the outside, at 56 percent.

Golden State became one of two teams to steal a game on the road, so far in this season’s playoffs. The series continues on Friday, at Oracle Arena for game 3.

 

-@SarahTresChic15