Cavs Set Playoff Record in Game-2 Rout of Raptors
The Cleveland Cavaliers went off for a record-setting performance on Tuesday night en route to a 125-103 blowout of the Toronto Raptors and a 2-0 series lead. LeBron James led the way with 39 points, passing Kareem-Abdul Jabbar for second on the all-time postseason scoring list. He also helped the Cavs set a team record for points in a playoff game, as they shot 54 percent from the floor and from three-point range. The Raptors have not had good luck in Cleveland during the postseason, as they lost for a fifth straight time there by an average of 24.2 points. "King James" has now won road games in 27 consecutive series and finished Wednesday night 10-of-14 from the floor, including four 3-pointers and 15 free throws. Kyrie Irving added 22 points, while Channing Frye chipped in 18 in the Cavs' sixth straight win this postseason. They have not lost in the postseason since Game 4 of last year's NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors. DeMar DeRozan could not find an answer when asked how to guard LeBron, and even offered money to the person that can figure it out. Toronto has a lot to figure out as they head into Game 3 back on their home floor Friday night.
Spurs Lose Parker in Game-2 Win Over Rockets
Coming off an embarrassing blowout on their home floor in Game 1, the San Antonio Spurs rebounded in Game 2 with a 121-96 rout of the Houston Rockets to even the series at one apiece. Kawhi Leonard led the charge with 34 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds, while helping his defense hold James Harden to just 13 points on 3-for-17 shooting. There was one major downside for the Spurs, and that was the loss of Tony Parker, who was carried off with a left leg injury. The incident occurred with 8:43 left in the game when the Spurs' point guard landed awkwardly on his leg following a jump shot. He has been diagnosed with a torn quadriceps and will miss the remainder of the postseason. He finished with 18 points in 26 minutes on Wednesday. San Antonio jumped ahead early by shooting 62 percent in the opening quarter and finished the night at 54 percent from the floor. LaMarcus Aldridge helped that effort with 15 points after a dismal four-point effort just two nights prior. The series shifts to Houston for Game 3 on Friday night.
Penguins Take Commanding Lead, Ducks Even Series in OT
The Pittsburgh Penguins were forced to move along without their star, Sidney Crosby, but that did not phase them on Wednesday night, as they took a 3-1 series lead with a 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals. Marc-Andre Fleury was dominant between the pipes with 36 saves, while getting goal support from Patric Hornqvist, Jake Guentzel, and Justin Schultz. Guentzel's goal was good for his playoff-leading eighth, while Schultz's came with the man-advantage in the win that puts the Caps on the brink of elimination. This is the case despite the Capitals out-shooting the Penguins by nearly 50 shots in the series, yet they are now trying to avoid being sent home by Pittsburgh for the ninth time in 10 playoff meetings. On Wednesday, they struggled on the power play at 0-for-4, while their star, Alex Ovechkin, recorded just two shots the entire night. Game 5 of the series is back in D.C. on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, the Anaheim Ducks have come back to even their series at two, as Jakob Silfverberg scored just 45 seconds into overtime for a 4-3 win in Edmonton. It was the Ducks' second straight road win after dropping the first two games of the series on their home ice. John Gibson made 29 saves in the win, while Ryan Getzlaf had two goals and two assists in the crucial victory heading back home. On the other end, the Oilers got 35 saves from Cam Talbot, as Connor McDavid, Milan Lucic, and Drake Caggiula found the back of the net in the loss. The Ducks trailed 2-0 after one period, but led for most of the third period before Caggiula's tally tied the game with under two minutes left in regulation. The series returns to the Honda Center for Game 5 on Friday night.
The Cleveland Cavaliers went off for a record-setting performance on Tuesday night en route to a 125-103 blowout of the Toronto Raptors and a 2-0 series lead. LeBron James led the way with 39 points, passing Kareem-Abdul Jabbar for second on the all-time postseason scoring list. He also helped the Cavs set a team record for points in a playoff game, as they shot 54 percent from the floor and from three-point range. The Raptors have not had good luck in Cleveland during the postseason, as they lost for a fifth straight time there by an average of 24.2 points. "King James" has now won road games in 27 consecutive series and finished Wednesday night 10-of-14 from the floor, including four 3-pointers and 15 free throws. Kyrie Irving added 22 points, while Channing Frye chipped in 18 in the Cavs' sixth straight win this postseason. They have not lost in the postseason since Game 4 of last year's NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors. DeMar DeRozan could not find an answer when asked how to guard LeBron, and even offered money to the person that can figure it out. Toronto has a lot to figure out as they head into Game 3 back on their home floor Friday night.
Spurs Lose Parker in Game-2 Win Over Rockets
Coming off an embarrassing blowout on their home floor in Game 1, the San Antonio Spurs rebounded in Game 2 with a 121-96 rout of the Houston Rockets to even the series at one apiece. Kawhi Leonard led the charge with 34 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds, while helping his defense hold James Harden to just 13 points on 3-for-17 shooting. There was one major downside for the Spurs, and that was the loss of Tony Parker, who was carried off with a left leg injury. The incident occurred with 8:43 left in the game when the Spurs' point guard landed awkwardly on his leg following a jump shot. He has been diagnosed with a torn quadriceps and will miss the remainder of the postseason. He finished with 18 points in 26 minutes on Wednesday. San Antonio jumped ahead early by shooting 62 percent in the opening quarter and finished the night at 54 percent from the floor. LaMarcus Aldridge helped that effort with 15 points after a dismal four-point effort just two nights prior. The series shifts to Houston for Game 3 on Friday night.
Penguins Take Commanding Lead, Ducks Even Series in OT
The Pittsburgh Penguins were forced to move along without their star, Sidney Crosby, but that did not phase them on Wednesday night, as they took a 3-1 series lead with a 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals. Marc-Andre Fleury was dominant between the pipes with 36 saves, while getting goal support from Patric Hornqvist, Jake Guentzel, and Justin Schultz. Guentzel's goal was good for his playoff-leading eighth, while Schultz's came with the man-advantage in the win that puts the Caps on the brink of elimination. This is the case despite the Capitals out-shooting the Penguins by nearly 50 shots in the series, yet they are now trying to avoid being sent home by Pittsburgh for the ninth time in 10 playoff meetings. On Wednesday, they struggled on the power play at 0-for-4, while their star, Alex Ovechkin, recorded just two shots the entire night. Game 5 of the series is back in D.C. on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, the Anaheim Ducks have come back to even their series at two, as Jakob Silfverberg scored just 45 seconds into overtime for a 4-3 win in Edmonton. It was the Ducks' second straight road win after dropping the first two games of the series on their home ice. John Gibson made 29 saves in the win, while Ryan Getzlaf had two goals and two assists in the crucial victory heading back home. On the other end, the Oilers got 35 saves from Cam Talbot, as Connor McDavid, Milan Lucic, and Drake Caggiula found the back of the net in the loss. The Ducks trailed 2-0 after one period, but led for most of the third period before Caggiula's tally tied the game with under two minutes left in regulation. The series returns to the Honda Center for Game 5 on Friday night.
