BBNBA: Lakers take 2-1 series lead over Suns

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The NBA playoffs are proving to be just as exciting as we thought they would be, BBN. Last night gave us three great games with lots of eye-catching highlights. Let’s talk about it.

RECAP:

ANTHONY DAVIS LEADS LAKERS TO BIG WIN

There’s a reason we are told to “fear the brow” – and last night was a perfect example of why. Anthony Davis was a monster in last night’s Lakers vs. Suns matchup, ending with 34 points and 11 rebounds in L.A.’s 109-95 win. LeBron James put up 21 points and nine rebounds for the Lakers, which was Los Angeles’ first home playoff game in more than eight years.

Suns star Devin Booker struggled, ending the game with only 19 points though he averages more than 25 a game on the season. His frustrations boiled over in the final minute of the game when Booker was ejected after being given a flagrant 2 foul for his hard foul on Dennis Schröder. Just seconds later, Suns forward Jae Crowder was awarded a technical foul and sent to the locker room behind Booker.

Devin Booker was given a flagrant 2 and was ejected for this push of Dennis Schröder. pic.twitter.com/dJBseyJGkW

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 28, 2021

A.D. was not happy about the play, calling out his fellow former Wildcat for what he called a “dirty” play.

“Can’t happen… that’s a dirty play”

Anthony Davis on Devin Booker getting ejected for pushing Dennis Schroder pic.twitter.com/daRLhLD91Q

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 28, 2021

With the win, the No. 7 seed Lakers now lead the series 2-1. Game 4 will be Sunday back at the Staples Center.

HEAT CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE, FALL BEHIND 0-3

The Miami Heat are anything but hot right now, folks. Last night, they were embarrassed once again, falling 113-84 to the Milwaukee Bucks. Former Texas A&M Aggie Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 22 points and eight rebounds. Two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo added 17 points, along with a monstrous performance on the boards with 17 rebounds.

Jimmy Butler put together a spirited effort for the Heat, ending with 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Bam Adebayo added 17 points and eight rebounds of his own, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the large lead that the Bucks claimed early. The Heat shot 37.6% from the field and went 9-32 from three.

As the game became a clear blow-out, the season-high 17,000 fans in attendance looked for entertainment somewhere. They found it in trolling Antetokounmpo for his slow free-throw routine.

Heat fans counting down Giannis during his free throws 😅 pic.twitter.com/Bhji5lvHbu

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 28, 2021

With the win, the Bucks now hold a commanding 3-0 series lead. Though Heat players vowed to give it their all in Game 4, history is not on Miami’s side. No team in NBA history has ever come back from down 0-3 to win a series.

NUGGETS TAKE SERIES LEAD OVER TRAIL BLAZERS

The Denver Nuggets are back in business after a 120-115 win over the Trail Blazers last night. It was an exciting one, with both teams desperate for a win and the series lead. MVP favorite Nikola Jokic dominated the game with 36 points and 11 rebounds. It was Austin Rivers who stole the show, though.

Rivers joined the Nuggets late last month as they struggled with injuries, including Jamal Murray’s unfortunate ACL tear. Last night, Rivers proved his worth to Nuggets fans, hitting four three-pointers in the final quarter to give Denver the lead and win. He ended with 21 points, 16 of them coming in the fourth quarter.

AUSTIN RIVERS 🔥
Scored 16 of his 21 PTS in the 4th quarter

Jokic: "He won the game."

Coach Malone: "The guy was sitting at home for 2 & a half months waiting for the phone to ring & it wasn't ringing. That's crazy to even think about." pic.twitter.com/PUHU4h9vS6

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) May 28, 2021

Damian Lillard put up 37 for Portland, but shot only 5-16 from three. The Trail Blazers struggled collectively from deep, ending 14-45 as a team. Though he acknowledged his team’s offensive woes, Lillard also took time to express his displeasure with the officiating crew.

Damian Lillard: "I felt like everything we did was a foul. Maybe some of them were fouls, but every damn thing we did, the whistle was being blown. … It was a lot of things we could have done differently. We can't make no excuses and blame it on that."

— Sean Highkin (@highkin) May 28, 2021

Denver now holds a 2-1 series lead over Portland. Game 4 is on Saturday in Portland.