Eight matches, eight home wins at the start of the NBA playoffs - the first seven passed without drama, and then the last reminded why the playoffs are so anticipated.
The best team in the West during the league part welcomed the team that entered the playoffs as the last through the playoffs and thanks to a bit of luck managed to take a 1:0 lead - Oklahoma defeated New Orleans in an exciting match (94:92).
Although the Pelicans played without their best player Zaion Williamson, they had a chance to silence the very noisy "Pejkom Center" in the last attack, but with the result 94:92 for Oklahoma, CJ McCollum missed a three-point shot.
"I got the ball in time, I should have attacked a little earlier, faster... But credit - it was a great defense," McCollum described the last attack to CBS.
McCollum was the tragic for the visitors, but Shay Gilgeous-Alexander was once again the hero of the hosts - his cool-headed play in the very finish gave Oklahoma the lead at the start of the playoffs.
The Canadian master finished the game with 28 points, followed by Jaylen Williams with 19 and Chet Holmgren with a double-double performance - 15 points, 11 rebounds.
"It was an incredible match, and the boys were exactly what I expected - perfect," he praised his teammates after the Gilgis-Alexander match.
With New Orleans, Trey Murphy was the most effective with 21 points, McCollum scored 20, while Jonas Valanciunas scored 13 points and even 20 rebounds.
New Orleans did not succeed without Williamson, but Milwaukee did without Giannis Antetokounmpo - although without the help of the injured Greek superstar, the Bucks defeated Indiana 109:94 and took a 1:0 lead in the East quarterfinal series, mostly thanks to the other big star Damian Lillard.
The guy who arrived from Portland at the start of the season scored more than half of the team's points in the first half, and even then it was plus 27 (69:42) for the host. With 35 points in the first 24 minutes, Lillard set an NBA playoff record, as he managed to reach 30+ points in the first half three times in the playoffs.
Lillard remained at 35 points until the end, but he was certainly the most efficient player in the victory, while Khris Middleron scored 23 points. With the Pacers, Pascal Siakam scored 36 points and 14 rebounds.
Later last night, our time, the LA Clippers also scored an easy victory - and without Kawhi Leonard. On the wings of James Harden, who scored 28 points (hitting six three-pointers from 11 attempts), the team from the "city of angels" was better than Dallas (109:97).
With the Mavs, Luka Dončić scored 33 points and 13 rebounds, Kyri Irving 31 points.
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