Let us read it for you. Listen now. Your browser does not support the audio element. CLEVELAND — Donovan Mitchell put up 32 points, while Max Strus added 24 from the bench as the Cleveland Cavaliers took down the Toronto Raptors 126-113 on Saturday in Game 1 of their NBA Eastern Conference first-round playoff series. James Harden contributed 22 points and 10 assists, with Evan Mobley chipping in 17 points and seven rebounds for fourth-seeded Cleveland, which will host Game 2 on Monday night. This was a playoff career high for Strus, who had missed the first 67 games this season due to a broken left foot sustained during offseason training. “When you see the work he’s put in all season, it’s for this moment, right? This is a regular occurrence with Max, maybe not 24 (points), but just the energy level and boost he gives us,” said Mitchell, who has scored at least 30 points in an NBA-record nine consecutive series openers. “You give him credit for his journey; it can be tough mentally for him to keep pushing through.” RJ Barrett led the Raptors with 24 points, while Scottie Barnes had 21 as Toronto made its playoff return since 2022. The Raptors were without point guard Immanuel Quickley due to a mild right hamstring strain. Jamal Shead stepped in for Quickley and finished with 17 points, including five three-pointers. Barrett’s three-pointer brought Toronto within four at 45-41 before Cleveland exploded with a decisive run of 27-9 over the last minute of the second quarter and first seven minutes of the third. Strus scored 11 points during that stretch and hit all three of his three-point attempts as the Cavaliers went an impressive 10 of 16 from the field, including making five out of eight beyond the arc. “We just kept saying in timeouts (during the first half) to stay patient. We’re going to create some separation,” Cavaliers Coach Kenny Atkinson stated. “We needed that separation for our confidence. Going into halftime down is always tougher when talking to players about trusting what we’re doing.” Cleveland’s biggest lead reached as much as 24 points (100-76) following Sam Merrill’s three-pointer just seconds into the fourth quarter. LAKERS 107, ROCKETS 98 LOS ANGELES — Luke Kennard set a career playoff high with 27 points; Le Bron James added another solid performance with19 points and13 assists as a short-handed Los Angeles Lakers team took advantage of Kevin Durant’s absence to win against Houston in their first-round playoff opener. Deandre Ayton recorded a double-double with19 points and11 rebounds for fourth-seeded Lakers, managing an impressive victory despite missing their top two scorers. Both teams entered this game without their key players: Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves (Newark) have been sidelined indefinitely since April2 due to injuries; meanwhile Durant was scratched late because of a bruised right knee. The Lakers shot well at60.6% while holding Houston to37.6% shooting thanks to strong defensive efforts. Alperen Sengun led Houston with19points while Jabari Smith Jr. contributed16pointsand12reboundsfor fifth-seeded Rockets who finished just one game behind Los Angeles during regular season play. Amen Thompson also chipped in17pointsbut Houston’s young roster struggled early after being viewed as favorites due to Laker injury issues. The next matchup is scheduled for Tuesday night in Los Angeles. Kennard was traded from Atlanta back in early February; becoming crucial off-the-bench player before stepping into more significant role recently amid absences within LA’s starting backcourt. His contributions included fourthree-pointersandmakingnineoutofhisfirst12shotsin Game1. KNICKS113 HAWKS102<p NEW YORK Jalen Brunson scored28points Karl-Anthony Towns added25with19cominginthesecondhalf leadingthe New York Knicks past Atlanta Game1oftheireasternconferenceplayoffseries<p OGAnunoby chippingin19points Josh Hartadding10pointsof14reboundsforthe Knicksintheirfirstpostseasongameunder Mike Brownafterfourtripsinfiveyearsundertom Thibodeau culminatinginthelastyearthe Knicksreachedthe Eastern Conferencefinalssince2000<p The No3seedinthe Eastagainthisseasonwillhost Game2on Mondaynight<p CJMc Collumled Hawkswith26while Jalen Johnsonscoresscores23for Hawkswhohad20winsagainstsixlossesafter All Starbreaksecuring No6seed.
Brunsonwhocurrentlyholds Knicksrecordwitheight40-pointgamesinpostseasonwasnearlyhalftowardsanotheroneafteropeningquarterheremadehisfirstsixattemptsfallingfor19poointleadingknicksto30-24lead. Mc Collumpickedup12secondhalfassistanceas Atlantaattemptscutthatdown57-55
Brunson didn’t dominate secondhalfbut Townstookovertakeaftergettingonlysixbygoingonefromsixatthebreak
Bothteamsstartedfiringquicklywith Knicksmissing8from9toopenwhile Atlantastartedmovingfastat6for7beforethingssloweddowninthirdquarter. Mc Collumwasreviewedforemploymenttothetechnicalfoulwhilekickinglegupontjumperswungintobrunsonsgroinareaand Hawksmadetwointentionalfoulsagainstbackupcenter Mitchell Robinsonwhorecoveredfrompoorshootingat51percent making1out4. Theteammateslookedbetterwhenbackplayinglaterhenceforthhoweveritmayhavebeenalreadytootlate.
With Knicksupbyeight Townslandedathreepointerfollowed Gabe Vincent’sbasket Jordan Clarksongatheredtogethertheseconddripkinjoindowninsideplacepassingelsewherecallednumbertwolaterforthetenthbaseridingpointspreadthereasonland1700move102861minutetojumpplentyoverfanbenefit. NUGGETS116 TIMBERWOLVES105<p DENVER — Jamal Murray netted30pointsmakingall16ofthefree throwsalong Nikola Jokich completingtriple doubleperformanceas Denverbouncedbackfollowingweakystarttopass Minnesota Openingtie Up intheirfirstroundplayoffseries<p Jokichproduced25points13rebounds11assistsalongwithbloody noseinsomeaggressivecontestbetween Northwest Divisionrivals. Thesupportincluded42totalfoulsalongsideunsportsmanlikecallsobtainedvia Jaden Mc Danielswhopushed Jokicbacksidethefieldandtechnicalsissued Dukeyscoach David Adelman. Julius Randall Aaron Gordonalsobecamechargedlatelystilloverallgreatnightsportdynamics.”Winningagrimygameitfeltgood”Adelmansaid.”Bothteamsareexperiencedusedwinningthesegamesknowhowphysicalmatchups”. Secondmatchset Mondaynight isessentialplayersshowingsince Anthony Edwardsaveraged22duringpainfulkneewhilealsofetchingsevenassistspassiprospectedhistorycareer postseasonassistsrecordholder. Donte Di Vincenzocaughtfourthree pointers.“We’vegotta makesmarterplaysstaycomposed,”Timberwolves Coach Chris Finchexpressesdedicatedencouragementparalleledcompetitorsachievedthroughobservationmatchingbarely. Essentiallyequallymatchedpairsofaroundtenseasonscreating Nuggetsadvancing15-14regulartimegoalssince202223bothcapturedplayoffsagainsteachotherafterinitialstretcheven.”
Initialquarterdisplaytwotechnicalchallengesincluding Adelmanspecificallymarkedtechnicalpowerflagrantcallsrendering Murraylessroomlandinga longjumpertothedownstatusandrevealed Gordonfellinto3foulshittingaroundovercentralshipservicedowncountanincominggoalformarchers. Admittedlypossessingdistinctcaseparametersfinishingtimeconsumedbelowoutsideindefinitehighlightsupplementaryproductivitydramatizingeachassignationalignment appearanceskeepingresultsviewablethroughoutnextsegmenttoanalyze successive opportunities demonstrate prospects embraced proactively adjustmentpotential maximizing encounters transitioningprogressive future alignments.”
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