Celtics Use Big Fourth Quarter to Take Series Lead
The Boston Celtics have officially silenced the doubters from their 2-0 series deficit, as they took their third straight game on Wednesday night, 108-97, at home. The win gives them a 3-2 series lead, as they used a big fourth quarter to pull away with the victory. Boston outscored Chicago by 13 in the final 12 minutes after trailing by two following three quarters. Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley had 24 points apiece, while Al Horfod added 21 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds. The Bulls shot a solid 50 percent from the field on the night, but they turned the ball over 16 times while getting no production from their star. Jimmy Butler was held to just 14 points, which could not support Dwayne Wade's 26-point effort. The Celtics used a 20-5 second half run to go up by 15 and they would not look back after that. Boston can put an end to the first-round series in Game 6 back in Chicago on Friday night.
Wizards Edge Hawks for Series Advantage
The Washington Wizards were happy to be back at home in their first-round series on Wednesday night, as they took a 3-2 series lead with a 103-99 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Bradley Beal led the way with 27 points, while John Wall had another impressive performance with 20 points and 14 assists. The win helped them overcome Dennis Schroder's 29-point, 11-assist night, which included a career-high five three-pointers. Paul Millsap also showed up in the loss with 21 points and 11 rebounds, but got no help down low from Dwight Howard, who sat most of the second half with four fouls. The home team has now won every game this series, but the Wizards look to snap that streak by closing out the series in Game 6 on Friday night in Atlanta.
Predators, Oilers Earn Game-1 Road Wins
The second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs began on the Western Conference side on Wednesday night, with the road teams taking home-ice advantage away early on. First, Vernon Fiddler scored with 5:05 left in regulation to give the Nashville Predators a 4-3 win over the St. Louis Blues. P.K. Subban added a goal and two assists, while Colon Wilson and Filip Forsberg also found the back of the net in the win. The Predators did blow a 3-1 lead, but Fiddler's fifth career playoff goal in his 43rd career playoff game put them on top for good. Pekka Rinne made 27 saves in net, but Nashville did lose Kevin Fiala to a nasty leg injury. He suffered a broken femur and will miss the remainder of the postseason.
Meanwhile, in Anaheim, Adam Larsson scored his second goal of the game with 4:40 left in the third, leading the Edmonton Oilers to a 5-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Larsson threw the puck in off of the skate of Ducks' defenseman Josh Manson's skate for the game-winner. Leon Draisaitl had two third-period assists to help the Oilers secure the win after Jakob Silfverberg tied the game up with 9:13 to play. The loss for the Ducks is the first regulation defeat in 19 games, a streak that dates back to March 10th. Mark Letestu added two power play goals, while Cam Talbot made 33 saves to hold off the Ducks until the third. Edmonton outscored Anaheim 4-2 in the final 20 minutes of play. Game 2 is back at the Honda Center on Friday night.
The Boston Celtics have officially silenced the doubters from their 2-0 series deficit, as they took their third straight game on Wednesday night, 108-97, at home. The win gives them a 3-2 series lead, as they used a big fourth quarter to pull away with the victory. Boston outscored Chicago by 13 in the final 12 minutes after trailing by two following three quarters. Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley had 24 points apiece, while Al Horfod added 21 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds. The Bulls shot a solid 50 percent from the field on the night, but they turned the ball over 16 times while getting no production from their star. Jimmy Butler was held to just 14 points, which could not support Dwayne Wade's 26-point effort. The Celtics used a 20-5 second half run to go up by 15 and they would not look back after that. Boston can put an end to the first-round series in Game 6 back in Chicago on Friday night.
Wizards Edge Hawks for Series Advantage
The Washington Wizards were happy to be back at home in their first-round series on Wednesday night, as they took a 3-2 series lead with a 103-99 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Bradley Beal led the way with 27 points, while John Wall had another impressive performance with 20 points and 14 assists. The win helped them overcome Dennis Schroder's 29-point, 11-assist night, which included a career-high five three-pointers. Paul Millsap also showed up in the loss with 21 points and 11 rebounds, but got no help down low from Dwight Howard, who sat most of the second half with four fouls. The home team has now won every game this series, but the Wizards look to snap that streak by closing out the series in Game 6 on Friday night in Atlanta.
Predators, Oilers Earn Game-1 Road Wins
The second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs began on the Western Conference side on Wednesday night, with the road teams taking home-ice advantage away early on. First, Vernon Fiddler scored with 5:05 left in regulation to give the Nashville Predators a 4-3 win over the St. Louis Blues. P.K. Subban added a goal and two assists, while Colon Wilson and Filip Forsberg also found the back of the net in the win. The Predators did blow a 3-1 lead, but Fiddler's fifth career playoff goal in his 43rd career playoff game put them on top for good. Pekka Rinne made 27 saves in net, but Nashville did lose Kevin Fiala to a nasty leg injury. He suffered a broken femur and will miss the remainder of the postseason.
Meanwhile, in Anaheim, Adam Larsson scored his second goal of the game with 4:40 left in the third, leading the Edmonton Oilers to a 5-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Larsson threw the puck in off of the skate of Ducks' defenseman Josh Manson's skate for the game-winner. Leon Draisaitl had two third-period assists to help the Oilers secure the win after Jakob Silfverberg tied the game up with 9:13 to play. The loss for the Ducks is the first regulation defeat in 19 games, a streak that dates back to March 10th. Mark Letestu added two power play goals, while Cam Talbot made 33 saves to hold off the Ducks until the third. Edmonton outscored Anaheim 4-2 in the final 20 minutes of play. Game 2 is back at the Honda Center on Friday night.
