🏀 Russ Is Clutch

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You know the feeling when you look forward to something for so long, and when it finally comes, it actually lives up to the expectations? It’s a cathartic experience, truly. That’s how we felt watching the first weekend of the NBA playoffs (minus all injuries, of course 🙏)

We’ve now seen one game in each of the eight series, and you’re not going to believe this… but there were a bunch of great ones. Let’s break it all down.

Today’s Lineup

Postseason Beamin’ Sacramento makes a statement. 😳

JB Balls Out In CLE: These Knicks might have that dog in them… 🐶

The Best 3 for 19 Game Ever? Russell Westbrook delivered down the stretch 💪

PrizePicks

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Start Your Engines…

Sizzling Sixers upend Nets 121-101 to kick off playoffs (PHI 1, BKN 0)

Brooklyn learned early that the “anyone but him” strategy can be a double-edged sword. In the first few minutes of the game, their aggressive double-teams of Joel Embiid paid off. The next 42 minutes of game time were less successful. Because Philadelphia. Just. Kept. Hitting. Threes. 21, to be exact, on 43 attempts (that’s 49%.) The craziest part? The Nets actually shot better from the floor. But Brooklyn’s turnovers and struggles on the defensive glass limited how many shots they were actually able to take (Philadelphia attempted 19 more shots.) Sixers land the first blow in this series.

Celtics get wire-to-wire, 112-99 win against Hawks (BOS 1, ATL 0)

If NBA games were five quarters long, Atlanta would have had a real shot at completing the comeback. Alas…for the time being, four-quarter games prevail, so Boston was able to fend off the Hawks. You could tell it was going to be a long day for Atlanta when the score was Hawks 19, The Jays 19 after the first quarter. ATL came alive a bit in the second half, cutting Boston’s 30-point halftime lead to 14 with about ten minutes left. But 5-29 from 3PT just isn’t going to cut it in the playoffs against an elite team like Boston.

Brunson, Knicks steal Game 1 in Cleveland, 101-97 (NYK 1, CLE 0)

Gritty. Grimy. Ugly. The Knicks don’t care what you call it—they got the job done on Saturday. Jalen Brunson steadied the Knicks, leading the way with 27 points. And (like he’s done in seemingly every game since he was dealt to NY) Josh Hart provided countless big-time moments. This is not the series with the most household names, but it’s going to be a whole lot of fun. Knicks strike first.

Kings beat Warriors 126-123 in instant classic (SAC 1, GSW 0)

Our ears are ringing, and we weren’t even at the actual game. Mark Jones and Doris Burke were probably great on the call for this game, they were just really hard to hear over the delirious crowd inside Golden 1 Center.

The fourth quarter of this game felt like eating eight scoops of pre-workout then base-jumping into a canyon where a bear is waiting to wrestle you at the bottom. Probably—we haven’t actually done that. Every shot in the fourth felt like the “game-changing” shot, until the next shot. It was madness in the best sense. Steph Curry tried to ruin the Kings’ playoff homecoming by scoring 13 points in the fourth quarter, but 4th Quarter Fox was not to be outdone, with 15 of his own in the final frame. Just incredible shot-making all around. We love basketball.

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!

The Reaves & Rui Show lifts LA to 128-112 win over Grizzlies (LAL 1, MEM 0)

Someone just watched their first-ever NBA game, and now they think Rui Hachimura (29 PTS) and Austin Reaves (23 PTS) are the greatest basketball players in the world. And could you blame them? The duo came up huge in LA’s impressive Game 1 win in Memphis.

With just over three minutes left, the score was 113-112. Then LA rattled off 15 straight to slam the door and quiet a rocking FedEx Forum. That run, though, came while Memphis was without Ja Morant, and the other biggest story in this game is the star PG’s health. Morant left with about six minutes left in the game after hurting his hand on a drive. Here’s to hoping Ja will be back ASAP.

Heat get impressive 130-117 win over Bucks, but injuries loom large (MIA 1, MIL 0)

Playoff Jimmy Butler was up to his old ways: 35 points, 11 assists, and 3 steals for the man who plays his best when the lights are brightest. Khris Middleton’s 33 and Jrue Holiday’s 16 assists couldn’t top Miami’s calculated shooting barrage (15/25 3PT).

Also, if anyone here did something to anger the Basketball Gods, please let us know, because all these injuries are bumming us out. Giannis Antetokounmpo landed hard on a drive attempt early in the game, eventually being ruled OUT for the remainder of the game. Then Miami had some brutal injury luck of their own as Tyler Herro broke his hand while diving for a loose ball.

Kawhi, Russ help Clippers close out 115-110 win over Suns (LAC 1, PHX 0)

Sometimes, box scores tell the story. Take Kawhi Leonard—he was as dominant as his 38 points suggest. But sometimes, they don't capture everything. Take Russell Westbrook—he shot 3/19 from the field. And yet, the Clippers absolutely would not have won without his defense, rebounding, and passing down the stretch. Russ made winning play after winning play, the biggest coming on this masterful stop (and subsequent save off) of Devin Booker with under 20 seconds left. Gutsy win in the desert for LAC.

Nuggets come out firing in second half, down T’Wolves 109-80 (DEN 1, MIN 0)

Us at halftime: Well, Minnesota didn’t play great in the first half, but only went into the locker room down 11. If they can just get some shots to fall, this might be a good g—oh wait Denver just went supernova mode and now they’re up 25 in the third quarter.

No one dominated for Denver…and that’s what could make them dominant. If need be, Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, or even Michael Porter. Jr can take over a game with their scoring. But sometimes it’s not necessary. All five starters scored at least 13 points Sunday, and Bruce Brown gave 14 off the bench. Denver kind of phoned it in the last few weeks of the season—but after Game 1, they look more than ready for a playoff run.

Unsung Heroes: Playoff Edition

In the throng of playoff previews, how often did you see the name Trey Lyles pop up? Not too many! The Kings power forward has been a solid bench piece this season (averaging 7.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game), but his role transitioned to something closer to “game-changer” on the season’s biggest stage. Lyles scored 16 points on Saturday, shooting 4-6 from deep. Every single one of those baskets seemed to come at a crucial moment. Whenever Golden State was on the verge of making a run, Lyles popped back up like:

Frozen Moments

• Did Kevin Huerter give us the best IG hype video of the year?

• How about (B-Ball) Paul Reed pulling out the Harlem Globetrotters move in the playoffs?

• You meant to do that, right, CP3?

What We’re Enjoying

Back In Office by Saba & No ID: Strictly bars. The perennially underrated, Chicago-based rapper Saba is back for a new single with legendary producer No ID, and—as expected—the combo delivers. Listen to the song and check out the video below.

Signing Off

And we’re out of here! It’s the most wonderful time of the year folks, let’s Enjoy it while we can. Try to go out of your way to do something kind this week—it will impact someone more than you even realize! Talk soon.

-Quinn Everts

Trivia Answer: Do you have any memories of the year 2020? If you do, you’ll recall Luka Doncic scoring an NBA-record 42 points in his first-ever playoff game.

Before you go…

Our collaboration with the NBA continued this weekend! Go check out the two new pieces we released on the NBA App, where we break down what to Enjoy about each first round series!