Bucks vs. Magic
After a surprise game one, the Milwaukee Bucks have begun taking measures in their own hands and are looking to close out the series. The Magic do not seem to be on the same level as the Bucks, and can’t do anything to stop them.
Starting out the game strong, the Bucks were clamping down on defense and letting their offense flow. The Bucks have been starting to find their rhythm throughout this series, which bodes well for the rest of the Bucks playoff run. They were able to pull out to a 17 point lead by half, and when Nikola Vucevic started off slow the rest of the Magic team was not able to get going offensively. While Vucevic started warming up after half, the Magic were already too far behind and even a 18 point game from Evan Fournier was not enough to close the gap to the Bucks. One of the biggest things that the Bucks were able to get from this bubble was the fact that Khris Middleton,21, was able to get in a rhythm. While Giannas will always be a force on offense, the Bucks will need to get their role players going and it seems like they have done that in this series as 5 players other than Giannis got into double digits.
Final Game: MIL 118 ORL 104
MIL wins series 4-1
Thunder vs. Rockets
With the return of Rusell Westbrook, the Houston Rockets will be getting another MVP, and it will be up to the Thunder to find a way to stop the Rockets offense.
The Houston Rockets were able to pull out to a 1o point lead by the end of the first quarter, and having both Westbrook and Harden on the floor seemed unstoppable. The Rockets did have Westbrook on a minute restriction, and the Thunder were able to take advantage during the second quarter. They were running on all cylinders, and this seemed to be the same script as the last two games. The Thunder got another huge first half from Dennis Schroder, and seemed to be taking advantage of their height. In the start of the second half, the Rockets came out with a fire and jumped out to an 18 point lead until the whole game changed. After a big scuffle between PJ Tucker and Dennis Schroder, the refs decided to eject both Tucker and Schroder dealing a huge blow to both teams. After losing Schroder the Thunder were not able to get a spark offensively, and let the Rockets continue their offensive onslaught. The Rockets were able to get both Eric Gordan,20 points, and Robert Covington, 22 points, going, and also had another great game from Harden, 31 points.
The Rockets have one of the most explosive offenses, and the Thunder have not been able to slow down the small ball offense. If the Thunder can get anything going offensively when Dennis Schroder comes back, they will hope that it is enough to keep up with the Rockets.
Final Score: HOU 114 OKC 80
Lakers vs. Blazers
After losing both Damian Lillard and Zach Collins to injury, the Blazers were hobbled offensively and the Lakers were looking to take advantage of that and close out the series.
While the Blazers seemed to have no chance at winning this game without Lillard, they continued to fight and kept the game close. The Blazers were able to tie the game up at 68 by the end of the first half, and were riding CJ McCollum,36 points, and Carmelo Anthony, 27 points. While the Lakers did give the Blazers some chances, they pulled out an 8 point lead by the end of the third and never looked back. The Lakers had a lackluster game from their role players as none of them got past 15 points, but their stars saved them. Both Lebron James, 36 points, and Anthony Davis, 43 points, turned it up in crunch time to put the Blazers away for good.
Final Score: LAL 131 POR 122
LAL wins series 4-1
Top Image:USATodaySports/Jess Root