Playoffs Day 12
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 13: Lou Williams #23 of the LA Clippers handles the ball during the game against the Sacramento Kings on January 13, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Pre Game: Welcome to Day 12 of the NBA Playoffs and today, we have 2 elimination games, #4 Houston vs #5 Utah and #1 Golden State vs #8 Los Angeles. Both of these series are 3-1 with the advantage going to the higher seed, but both lower seeds are trying to fight and force a Game 6.
*Blake Griffin underwent knee surgery and will be expected to return next year for the Pistons.
Game 1: In the first game of the night, #4 Houston vs #5 Utah as the series enters Game 5. The Jazz won game Game 4 behind Donovan Mitchell’s big night, but they were blown out when they played on the road. If the Rockets win, they will play the Warriors in the 2nd round. The Rockets won a very closely contested game, winning 100-93. James Harden had 26 points, Royce O’Neale had 18 points. The Jazz loses the series 4-1 for the 2nd straight year to the Rockets, who will play the winner of the #1 Golden State vs #8 Los Angeles series.
Game 2: In the 2nd game of the night, the #1 Golden State Warriors face off against the #8 Los Angeles Clippers. The Warriors won a decently close Game 4 on the road, and are now looking for the gentleman’s sweep. If you are the Clippers, you don’t really care if you lose, because you are rumored to get the 2 biggest free agents this year to play on your team: Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard. At the end of the 1st half, the Warriors led 41-37. KD and Curry combined for 22 points, Gallinari and Beverly combined for 21 points. The Clippers led by 8, 71-63 at the half. Lou Williams had 18 points, 16 for Danilo Gallinari, 21 for Kevin Durant, 15 for Klay Thompson. With 8:59 left in the 3rd, the Clippers led by 15, 81-66. At the end of the 3rd, the Clippers led by 10, 104-94. 22 for Lou Williams, 20 for Danilo Gallinari. Kevin Durant had 35 for the Warriors, 18 for Stephen Curry. Lou Williams came up with clutch baskets in the 4th and carried the Clippers to a 129-121 win. Lou Williams had 33 points, 50 combined for Gallinari and Harrell. KD had 45 points, 46 combined for Steph and Klay. The Clippers now trim the series lead down to 3-2 as Game 6 goes back to LA. The Warriors now have the pressure to win Game 6 and get the series over with and face the Houston Rockets in the 2nd round.
I hope you enjoyed today’s post, and please leave a comment on how your team is doing and any future posts that I should do. Enjoy the rest of the NBA Playoffs!
