NBA Playoffs Round Up: Bulls beat Celtics again to lead series 2-0, Raptors level series
The Chicago Bulls heaped further misery on the Boston Celtics as they took a commanding lead in their first-round playoff series, while the Toronto Raptors drew level with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Jimmy Butler led the way as the Bulls emerged 111-97 winners against the NBA’s Eastern Conference top seeds in game two on Tuesday.
All-Star Butler recorded 22 points to help the eighth-seeded Bulls take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Also in the east, the Toronto Raptors bounced back to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 106-100.
The Raptors went down in game one, but Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan ensured Toronto levelled the series.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers topped the Utah Jazz 99-91.
CHICAGO VETERANS PROVING WORTH
There were doubts about Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade during the regular season and whether they could lead the Bulls.
But on Tuesday, Rondo and Wade showed just why they were recruited to Chicago.
Rondo had 11 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds, while Wade posted 22 points – including 16 in the second half.
The underperforming Celtics, who were led by Isaiah Thomas’ team-high 20 points, will travel to Chicago for game three on Friday.
Boston are the first number one seed to lose the first two games of an opening-round playoff series since the Phoenix Suns in 1993. The Suns actually won three straight to eliminate the Los Angeles Lakers in five games, so all hope is not yet lost for the Celtics.
RAPTORS BOUNCE BACK
Lowry was back to his best as the Raptors squared the series in Toronto.
He scored 22 points as well as the clinching basket with 10 seconds remaining at home to the Bucks, while DeRozan had 23 points of his own.
Milwaukee are one of the youngest teams in the NBA and their rising stars had an off night in Toronto. After scoring 28 points on 13-of-18 shooting in Saturday’s 97-83 win over the Raptors, Giannis Antetokounmpo was just nine-of-24 from the floor in Tuesday’s loss. The 22-year-old still finished with a team-high 24 points and 15 rebounds, but the shooting was too inconsistent.
Also in his third NBA season, 26-year-old Matthew Dellavedova had an awful shooting night. He missed badly on seven of his 10 attempts and finished with seven points. Rookie guard Malcolm Brogdon was also off, going three-of-11 from the floor.
Game three is in Milwaukee on Thursday.
RAPTORS HOLD OFF BUCKS
The BEST moments down the stretch as the @Raptors even the series at 1! #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/vhVDszJyH8
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2017
Vintage Rondo. #NBAGIF pic.twitter.com/H4SuFtyWwh
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2017
CLIPPERS RESPOND
The Clippers were upstaged by the Jazz in game one.
However, there was no repeat of that this time around thanks to Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan.
Griffin put up 24 points, Paul had a double-double consisting of 21 points and 10 assists, while Jordan scored 18 points and collected 15 rebounds.
The Western Conference series moves to Utah on Friday.
WARRIORS SEEKING 2-0 LEAD
The Golden State Warriors are back on home court to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday. The Houston Rockets entertain the Oklahoma City Thunder, while the Washington Wizards and the Atlanta Hawks meet in the east.
