Leonard and Harden lead Clippers to easy 117-83 win over Jokic and Nuggets for a 2-1 series lead
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points and the Los Angeles Clippers rolled to a 117-83 victory over Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series. James Harden and Norman Powell added 20 points apiece in the first playoff game at the Clippers’ new Intuit Dome. After the teams split the first two games in Denver, which were decided by a combined five points, this one was a blowout. The Clippers led by 20 points in the first half and Denver never got its deficit to single digits. Game 4 is Saturday in Inglewood. Jokic had his second triple-double of the series with 23 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists. Jamal Murray also had 23 points for the Nuggets.
Thunder rally from 29 points down after Morant leaves with injury, top Grizzlies for 3-0 series lead
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Chet Holmgren scored all but one of his 24 points in the second half as the Oklahoma City Thunder rallied from a 29-point deficit after Ja Morant left the game with a hip injury and beat the Memphis Grizzlies 114-108 for a 3-0 lead in the first-round series. Morant was hurt with just over three minutes left in the first half and Memphis leading 67-40. They got the next basket after he exited and still led by 26 points at halftime. The 29-point comeback was the second-largest in an NBA postseason game since play-by-play data began being recorded in the 1996-97 season.
Towns scores 31, Brunson has 30 and Knicks beat Pistons 118-116 for a 2-1 lead in series
DETROIT (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns scored 31 points, Jalen Brunson had 30 and the New York Knicks held on for a 118-116 win over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round series. OG Anunoby added 22 points for New York. Game 4 is on Sunday in Detroit. The Pistons have lost eight straight home playoff games since 2008, pulling within one of an NBA record set by Philadelphia from 1968 to 1971. When Detroit won at New York in Game 2, the franchise ended a league-record, 15-playoff game losing streak to take home-court advantage, but the Knicks snatched it back.
Grizzlies guard Ja Morant exits playoff game vs Thunder with left hip contusion after hard fall
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis guard Ja Morant was knocked out of the Grizzlies’ playoff game against Oklahoma City on Thursday night with a left hip contusion after taking a hard fall under the basket late in the first half. Morant went down hard with just over three minutes remaining in the half and was ruled out for the remainder of the game early in the second half after not joining the team at the start of the third quarter. Memphis was on a fast break after a Thunder turnover. Scotty Pippen was driving to the basket when he dropped the ball off to Morant at the rim. Luguentz Dort, who was stumbling at the time, fell into Morant while he was in the air, sending the Morant crashing to the floor.