NBA playoffs: Boston, New York and Sacramento celebrated in the first matches

The Celtics easily did the job against the Hawks, the Knicks made a break in Ohio, the Kings triumphed in the playoffs after 17 years of waiting

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Combined 70 points in their playoff debuts: Fox and Monk, Photo: Reuters
Combined 70 points in their playoff debuts: Fox and Monk, Photo: Reuters
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

Last night was a victory Philadelphia over Brooklyn, the NBA playoffs began, and continued with games in Boston, Cleveland and Sacramento.

BOSTON - ATLANTA 112:99

Last year's finalists, the Boston Celtics, opened the playoffs with a routine win over Atlanta and showed that they can be counted on as serious contenders.

Already at halftime, the team from Massachusetts had a 30-point advantage (74:44), but in the continuation, there was a relaxation, so the Hawks came to minus 12 at the beginning of the last quarter (96:84).

However, the guests from Georgia were unable to achieve a complete turnaround, so the "Celts" took a 1:0 lead in the series.

Jaylen Brown was the best player of the home team with 29 points and 12 rebounds, Jayson Tatum scored 25 with 11 steals, and Derrick White scored 24.

Dijonte Marie scored 24 points for the "Hawks", Trae Young had a bad shooting night (5/18 from the field), and scored only 16 points, while Clint Capela and John Collins stopped at 12.

CLEVELAND - NEW YORK 97:101

The real playoff battle was seen in Ohio, where the Knicks scored an important break right at the start of the series.

The match between two excellent defensive teams did not disappoint, and suspense was present throughout the match.

The X-factor was Jalen Branson, who scored 21 of his 27 points in the second half.

Julius Randle returned from a one-month layoff due to an ankle injury, and his offensive rebound at 99:97 with nine seconds left decided the winner.

Randle had 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Josh Hart had 17, including a crucial 49-pointer with XNUMX minute XNUMX seconds left in regulation to give the Knicks the lead back.

Donovan Mitchell scored 38 points in his postseason debut for the Cavs, but a lack of experience and a lack of production off the bench cost the Cavaliers.

Darius Garland scored 17 points, and Jarrett Allen had a double-double (14-14).

SACRAMENTO - GOLDEN STATE 126:123

After 17 years of waiting, Kings fans can enjoy playoff basketball again, and their pets returned the great atmosphere in the stadium with a triumph over the reigning champions.

This game is just an introduction to the great series ahead of us, and Sacramento drew the "first blood".

Led by Dieron Fox (38 points) and Malik Monk (32 points), the "Kings" managed to settle the match in the last four minutes, although the guests from San Francisco spent almost 30 minutes of the match in the lead.

Fox gave the hosts back the lead (50:115) with a three-pointer with three minutes and 114 seconds to go, and with Monk's throws and Sabonis' layup, the Kings got to plus five (119:114), which turned out to be enough capital for the finale itself.

The guard duo from Kentucky was led by Trey Laljs with 16 points, while Harrison Barnes scored 13.

Steph Curry was the most effective "warrior" with 30 points, Clay Thompson added 21, Andrew Wiggins, who returned after a two-month break, had 17 points, the same as Jordan Poole.

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