The NBA playoffs continued on Tuesday, with high stakes action taking place throughout the league. The Los Angeles Lakers even out the series with the Timberwolves, with the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder both securing a dominant 2-0 lead.
Lakers 94, Timberwolves 85 – Series tied to 1-1
After a rough Game 1 loss, the Los Angeles Lakers levelled their first round series with a 94-85 victory at the Crypto.com Arena.
Luka Doncic in LA was smoking 16 of 31 points in the opening quarter in the first playoff run against LA. He added 12 rebounds and nine assists in almost triple double performances. LeBron James built a 22-point first-half lead, contributing 21 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists despite the volatile fourth quarter.
The Timberwolves struggled offensively, hitting 3-5/25 and finishing at a low 85 points in the season. Julius Randle led Minnesota with 27 points, while Anthony Edwards added 25 in a physical game with 46 fouls.
Game 3 will shift to Minneapolis on Friday.
Thunder 118, Grizzlies 99 – Oklahoma City leads 2-0
Oklahoma City followed the historic 51-point game one victory with another compelling performance, beating the Memphis Grizzlies 118-99.
Shy Gilgaus Alexander paced the Thunder with 27 points, while Jalen Williams added 24 points. Rookie Centre Chetholmglen is everywhere, with 20 points, 11 boards and five blocks installed. OKC dominated early with a 9-0 run, never looking back, leading by 23 people.
The Grizzlies fought behind Jalen Jackson Jr. (26 points) and Ja Morant (23) in the third quarter, but were unable to fill the gap in the fourth.
Game 3 is set in Memphis on Thursday.
Pacers 123, Bucks 115 – Indiana Up 2-0
In the East, the Indiana Pacers postponed a late rally from the Milwaukee Bucks, winning 123-115, earning a 2-0 lead in the series.
Pascal Siakam had 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Tyrese Haliburton announced 12 assists to score 21 points. The Pacers never followed, but after a ferocious 13-0 $ run, they saw their 15-point four-quarter lead trimmed into two.
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetocomo spent the monster night with 34 points, 18 rebounds and seven assists. Damian Lillard, who returned five weeks later due to calf issues, was missing with 14 points and seven assists in his playoff debut with the Bucks.
The game was elaborately transformed with multiple technical fouls, including those of Bobby Portis, who scored 28 points from the bench.
Game 3 heads to Milwaukee on Friday.
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