Can the upstart Lakers and Heat keep the pressure on the Grizzlies and Heat and head home up 2-0? The health of Ja Morant (hand) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (back) will take center stage — in both Wednesday’s Game 2, and possibly the rest of the series. In Denver, the Nuggets looked like they returned to midseason form after a dominating Game 1 over the Timberwolves.
Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns bounced back after a disappointing Game 1 by handing the Los Angeles Clippers a 123-109 defeat to even their first-round series. Booker led the way with 38 points as all Suns starters scored in double-figures. Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points for Los Angeles, and he’s averaging 34.5 for the series. Game 3 will be Thursday night in Los Angeles.
The Boston Celtics are rolling through the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs. The defending Eastern Conference champions are up 2-0 on the Atlanta Hawks after their 119-106 victory in Game 2 Tuesday night. Jayson Tatum led the way with 29 points for Boston who as a team produced impressive shooting splits of 55.8/45.5/80. Atanta’s trio of Dejounte Murray, Trae Young and De’Andre Hunter scored a combined 71 points, but the Hawks’ depth has just been no match for that of the Celtics.
The Cavaliers evened their series with the Knicks at 1, win a 107-90 victory, behind an amazing performance from Darius Garland, who led all scorers with 32 points, including six 3s. Garland and Caris LeVert (24 points) combined to knock down 51.5% of their 3-point shots. It was also Cleveland’s first postseason victory that did not involve LeBron James since April 1998. Shooting woes plagued the Knicks starters, as none of them shot 50%. Julius Randle (40%) scored 22 points and Jalen Brunson (29%) scored 20 points.
Below is a quick look at Tuesday’s scores and Wednesday’s slate followed by a series-by-series schedule for the full first round.Â
All times listed are Eastern. Games on ESPN, ABC and NBA TV can be streamed on fuboTV (try for free).
Tuesday’s results
- Game 2: Celtics 119, Hawks 106 (Boston leads 2-0)
- Game 2: Cavaliers 107, Knicks 90 (Series tied 1-1)
- Game 2: Suns 123, Clippers 109 (Series tied 1-1)
Wednesday’s schedule
- Game 2: Lakers at Grizzlies, 7:30 p.m., TNT (Los Angeles leads 1-0)
- Game 2: Heat at Bucks, 9 p.m., NBA TV (Miami leads 1-0)
- Game 2: Wolves at Nuggets, 10 p.m., TNT (Denver leads 1-0)
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Bucks vs. No. 8 Heat (Miami leads 1-0)
Game 1: Heat 130, Bucks 117
Game 2: Heat at Bucks, Wednesday, April 19 (9 p.m., NBA TV)
Game 3: Bucks at Heat, Saturday, April 22 (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
Game 4: Bucks at Heat, Monday, April 24 (TBD)
Game 5: Heat at Bucks, Wednesday, April 26 (TBD)*
Game 6: Bucks at Heat, Friday, April 28 (TBD)*
Game 7: Heat at Bucks, Sunday, April 30 (TBD)*
No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 7 Hawks (Boston leads 2-0)
Game 1: Celtics 112, Hawks 99
Game 2: Celtics 119, Hawks 106
Game 3: Celtics at Hawks, Friday, April 21 (7 p.m., ESPN)
Game 4: Celtics at Hawks, Sunday, April 23 (7 p.m. TNT)
Game 5: Hawks at Celtics, Tuesday, April 25 (TBD)*
Game 6: Celtics at Hawks, Thursday, April 27 (TBD)*
Game 7: Hawks at Celtics, Saturday, April 29 (TBD)*
No. 3 76ers vs. No. 6 Nets (Philadelphia leads 2-0)
Game 1: 76ers 121, Nets 101
Game 2: 76ers 96, Nets 84
Game 3: 76ers at Nets, Thursday, April 20 (7:30 p.m., TNT)
Game 4: 76ers at Nets, Saturday, April 22 (1 p.m., TNT)
Game 5: Nets at 76ers, Monday, April 24 (TBD)*
Game 6: 76ers at Nets, Thursday, April 27 (TBD)*
Game 7: Nets at 76ers, Saturday, April 29 (TBD)*
No. 4 Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Knicks (Series tied 1-1)
Game 1: Knicks 101, Cavaliers 97
Game 2: Cavaliers 107, Knicks 90
Game 3: Cavaliers at Knicks, Friday, April 21 (8:30 p.m., ABC)
Game 4: Cavaliers at Knicks, Sunday, April 23 (1 p.m., ABC)
Game 5: Knicks at Cavaliers, Wednesday, April 26 (TBD)*
Game 6: Cavaliers at Knicks, Friday, April 28 (TBD)*
Game 7: Knicks at Cavaliers, Sunday, April 30 (TBD)*
Western Conference
Game 1: Nuggets 109, Timberwolves 80
Game 2: Timberwolves at Nuggets, Wednesday, April 19 (10 p.m., TNT)
Game 3: Nuggets at Timberwolves, Friday, April 21 (9:30 p.m., ESPN)
Game 4: Nuggets at Timberwolves, Sunday, April 23 (9:30 p.m., TNT)
Game 5: Timberwolves at Nuggets, Tuesday, April 25 (TBD)*
Game 6: Nuggets at Timberwolves, Thursday, April 27 (TBD)*
Game 7: Timberwolves at Nuggets, Saturday, April 29 (TBD)*
No. 2 Grizzlies vs. No. 7 Lakers (Los Angeles leads 1-0)
Game 1: Lakers 128, Grizzlies 112
Game 2: Lakers at Grizzlies, Wednesday, April 19 (7:30 p.m., TNT)
Game 3: Grizzlies at Lakers, Saturday, April 22 (10 p.m., ESPN)
Game 4: Grizzlies at Lakers, Monday, April 24 (TBD)
Game 5: Lakers at Grizzlies, Wednesday, April 26 (TBD)*
Game 6: Grizzlies at Lakers, Friday, April 28 (TBD)*
Game 7: Lakers at Grizzlies, Sunday, April 30 (TBD)*
No. 3 Kings vs. No. 6 Warriors (Sacramento leads 2-0)
Game 1: Kings 126, Warriors 123
Game 2: Kings 114, Warriors 106
Game 3: Kings at Warriors, Thursday, April 20 (10 p.m., TNT)
Game 4: Kings at Warriors, Sunday, April 23 (3:30 p.m., ABC)
Game 5: Warriors at Kings, Wednesday, April 26 (TBD)*
Game 6: Kings at Warriors, Friday, April 28 (TBD)*
Game 7: Warriors at Kings, Sunday, April 30 (TBD)*
No. 4 Suns vs. No. 5 Clippers (Series tied 1-1)
Game 1: Clippers 115, Suns 110
Game 2: Suns 123, Clippers 109
Game 3: Suns at Clippers, Thursday, April 20 (10:30 p.m., NBA TV)
Game 4: Suns at Clippers, Saturday, April 22 (3:30 p.m., ABC)
Game 5: Clippers at Suns, Tuesday, April 25 (TBD)*
Game 6: Suns at Clippers, Thursday, April 27 (TBD)*
Game 7: Clippers at Suns, Saturday, April 29 (TBD)*
(* – if necessary)
2023 NBA playoff bracket
Kim O’Reilly / CBS Sports
