Winners and losers from Tuesday’s NBA playoff action

The Lakers consciously tried to make somebody aside from MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander beat them in Sport 1. Chet Holmgren embraced the problem, placing up a team-high 24 factors, 12 rebounds and three blocks as OKC gained, 108-90.

On an evening when the Lakers managed to drive SGA into seven turnovers and restricted him to fifteen pictures, Holmgren picked up the slack, sinking each of his threes in addition.

In his first sport on the bench after signing a contract extension, Pistons head coach Bickerstaff pushed all the suitable buttons in his Sport 1 win. Ron Holland II barely performed within the first spherical, however he contributed six factors in 10 minutes and had a plus/minus of +8 Tuesday night time. Bickerstaff rode with Daniss Jenkins for 29 minutes, who had 12 factors and 7 rebounds plus a giant dunk to finish the sport.

It has been a formidable week for Bickerstaff, who has now gained 4 straight video games, together with an epic Sport 6 comeback, all whereas holding his crew disciplined and enjoying collectively within the face of adversity.

Losers

Fatigued groups

The Thunder had been the one crew to brush their opening collection, getting previous the Phoenix Suns in 4 video games. They’d had eight days off earlier than Sport 1 towards the Lakers, who clearly ran out of gasoline, scoring solely 37 factors after halftime. They may have been brisker if L.A. may have completed off the Houston Rockets in 4 video games, as an alternative of six.

That appeared to harm the Cavaliers after their seven-game battle with the Toronto Raptors, although the Pistons additionally performed a seven-gamer. The distinction could have been the Pistons’ youthful wing gamers. 20-year-old Holland 23-year-old Ausar Thompson and 24-year-old Jenkins all offered defensive power — Jenkins collected 4 steals — towards a backcourt of Harden and Donovan Mitchell that appeared weary by the top of the sport.

Allen was the hero within the Cavaliers’ Sport 7 win over the Toronto Raptors. He scored 22 factors, grabbed 19 rebounds and blocked three pictures, wanting dominant. As soon as Allen received his third foul midway by means of the primary quarter, he basically disappeared from Sport 1. He completed with solely two factors and three rebounds in what may have been a winnable sport with just a bit extra from Allen.

Reaves deserves credit score for speeding again from his indirect pressure in simply 4 weeks, however he didn’t look snug throughout Sport 1. In fact, the Thunder’s protection makes plenty of opposing guards look uncomfortable.

The Lakers guard had extra turnovers (4) than made baskets (three) within the loss, capturing 3-of-16 and ending with eight factors. With Luka Doncic unlikely to return, LeBron James desperately wants Reaves to supply offensive assist and outdoors capturing if the Lakers are going to drag off an enormous upset.