Los Angeles Lakers beat Minnesota Timberwolves 94-85 to level their Western Conference first-round play-off series at 1-1. Luka Doncic scored a game-high 31 points for the Lakers. Doncic sank 16 of his points in the first quarter as the home side started strongly and his overall performance also included 12 rebounds and nine assists.
LeBron James scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Lakers. Austin Reaves scored 16 points for his teammate. Doncic gave his team a 34-15 lead at the end of the first quarter, and he said, "It was just a question of whether we would be more physical or not and I think we showed that." "We spent 48 minutes there. We took a big lead in the first quarter, learned from our previous game, and just kept going." Anthony Edwards added 25 points and Julius Randle scored 27 points for Minnesota, which did not play as well as in the first game. Edwards mentioned that "it seemed like every time I caught the ball, they kind of went into a zone in a sense." "It was kind of confusing at times but we'll watch the film and be ready [for game three]."
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a game-high 34 points but his visiting side were beaten 123-115 by the Indiana Pacers and went 2-0 down in their Eastern Conference first-round play-off series.
The Bucks had Damian Lillard back following a five-week absence and he sank a three-pointer in the latter stages of the fourth quarter to help his side reduce a 15-point deficit and draw to within two points of the Pacers at 115-113.
However, Andrew Nembhard, who scored 17 points, responded with a three-pointer for the Pacers as they held on in a game which included a first-quarter scuffle and a number of technical fouls.
Tyrese Haliburton stated, "It's fun." "This is what everybody lives for. We're all competitors, so this competition is a lot of fun." Haliburton scored 21 points and added 12 assists, while Pacers team-mate Pascal Siakam added 24 points and 11 rebounds.
With a comfortable victory at home of 118-99, the Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder went 2-0 in the first round play-off series against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Thunder were led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 27 points, and teammates Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, who scored 24 and 20 points, respectively. The Grizzlies, led by Jaren Jackson Jr. with 26 points and Ja Morant with 23, were unable to trouble their opponents.
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