Day Seven: NBA Playoffs Capsule Recaps

Look I get it, you were you out late, partying with friends and opened a tab with the bar only to realize it was a bad idea and you missed all of last night’s NBA playoff action.

Well you’re in luck. So rest up that hangover, and check out these capsule recaps from the three playoff games last night where the Celtics took a huge bite out of the Big Apple, the Hawks made the Magic disappear, and the Lakers swatted the Hornets.

Game three: (3) Boston Celtics vs. (6) New York Knicks, Madison Square Gardenceltics_logo

  • Final Score: Celtics 113, Knicks 96.
  • No Chauncey Billups in action, Amar’e Stoudemire played with back spasms, and Carmelo Anthony didn’t duplicate his game two performance spelled doom for the Knicks.
  • Celtics’ Rajon Rondo: 15 points, 20 assists, and 11 rebounds.
  • Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony: 15 points, 11 rebounds, and five turnovers.
  • Key Stats: Rondo’s 20 assists set a Celtics playoff record. After Anthony’s herculean effort in game two, he went 4-16 for the game.
  • “You can’t give them that big an opening that they can smell blood,” Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said.
  • “I would say our bigs are getting Ray and Paul open,” Rondo said. “Ray and Paul made them pay.”
  • Boston leads series 3-0. Game four is Sunday at 3:30PM EST in New York.

Game three: (4) Orlando Magic vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks, Philips Arenahawks_logo

  • Final Score: Hawks 88, Magic 84.
  • Tempers flared between Hawks’ Zaza Pachulia and Magic’s Jason Richardson late in the game. Both players were ejected.
  • Hawks’ Jamal Crawford: 23 points, three rebounds, and hit the go-ahead three point shot to seal Atlanta’s victory.
  • Magic’s Dwight Howard: 21 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocks.
  • Key Stats: Atlanta’s largest lead was 14 points. Both teams were tied in fast break points at nine.
  • “I didn’t call bank. I think the bank’s closed right now,” Crawford quipped.
  • “In that situation, I’m never going to back down,” said Pachulia, who had two long scratches on his right arm after a tough night tussling with Dwight Howard. “That’s just my personality.”
  • Atlanta leads series 2-1. Game four is Sunday at 7:00PM EST in Atlanta.

Game three: (2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (7) New Orleans Hornets, New Orleans Arenalakers_logo

  • Final Score: Lakers 100, Hornets 86.
  • Lakers’ Pau Gasol hit a three point shot to help Los Angeles gain a hold on the series.
  • Lakers’ Kobe Bryant: 30 points, six rebounds, and three steals.
  • Hornets’ Chris Paul: 22 points, five rebounds, and two steals.
  • Key Stats: Lakers outrebounded the Hornets 43 to 38. Lakers’ Gasol scored 13 points in the second half.
  • “They are probably a lot bigger than we are but the rebounding to a degree is about attitude,” Hornets coach Monty Williams said. “We just have to believe we can get those rebounds.”
  • “It was just about playing my game and being assertive and being comfortable out there,” Gasol said. “Don’t try to overthink it. Don’t try to think about the last play. Just try to make the right play. It was a much better game on my part.”
  • Los Angeles leads series 2-1. Game four is Sunday at 9:30PM EST in Los Angeles.
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