The Denver Nuggets eliminated the San Antonio Spurs with a win in Game 7, the Toronto Raptors opened their Round 2 series with the Philadelphia 76ers with a win, while Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are questionable to face Houston in Game 1.
Jokic, Nuggets hold off Spurs 90-86 in Game 7 to advance | Associated Press
Nikola Jokic recorded another triple-double in a 90-86 win over the San Antonio Spurs as he posted 21 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, along with three blocks and zero turnovers.
Jamal Murray hit a clutch floater to make it a four-point game late in the fourth and the Nuggets’ crowd was so loud that players couldn’t hear instructions from the Spurs’ bench to make a foul.
“I missed it,” LaMarcus Aldridge said of Popovich calling a foul. “That’s it.”
— RingerNBA (@ringernba) April 28, 2019
NBA playoffs: Kawhi Leonard dominates Ben Simmons, Philadelphia in Toronto’s Game 1 win | Herald Sun
The Toronto Raptors defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 108-95, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semis and Kawhi Leonard displayed a dominant performance as he posted playoff–career-high 45 points, joining Vince Carter as the only Raptor with 40 or more points in a postseason game.
The Sixers’ Ben Simmons said in a post-game press conference: “Personally, I think I did a pretty good job overall. He’s Kawhi, he’s a physical guy, a lot of length, (can) shoot the ball so he’s a tough guy to match up on. I don’t think we showed enough help — I think as a team we have to treat him like someone like (Milwaukee star) Giannis (Antetokounmpo), come over a little bit more and try to get the ball out of his hands. Downhill, he’s one of those guys who can get a bucket easily and he’s a physical guy, in terms of that we’ve just got to do a better job.”
🖐️ @kawhileonard propels the @Raptors in Game 1 with a #NBAPlayoffs career-high 45 PTS! #WeTheNorth
Game 2: Monday (4/29), 8pm/et, TNT pic.twitter.com/C2Vn2cATmJ
— NBA (@NBA) April 28, 2019
Harden: Rockets more than capable of series win | ESPN
The Houston Rockets had more time to rest prior to a Round 2 Western Conference duel with the reigning champion Golden State Warriors but the Warriors beat the Rockets in three of the past four NBA postseasons, and James Harden is aware of that fact. Still, The Beard thinks his team is more than capable this time around.
“We’re a very confident group of guys,” Harden said. “We’re more than capable. We’re excited about the opportunity. We know the difficulties and the challenges that are going to come along that way, but we’re prepared for them.”
James Harden on Rockets’ belief they should beat Warriors: “We’re a very confident group of guys. … We’re more than capable. We’re excited about the opportunity. We know the difficulties and the challenges that are going to come along that way, but we’re prepared for them.” pic.twitter.com/jFG7qqIFbU
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) April 27, 2019
Kerr: Curry, Thompson questionable for Game 1 | ESPN
According to Golden State Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr, guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thomspon are questionable to face the Houston Rockets in the opening game of Round 2 due to right ankle injuries.
“He’s OK,” Kerr said of Thompson. “He and Steph both came in this morning to get some treatment. And I haven’t even spoken with [Warriors director of sports medicine and performance] Rick [Celebrini] yet today so we’re upstairs watching film and getting ready. We’ll see how they’re doing [Sunday]. I’m not going to make a definitive statement on whether they’ll both play — let’s just call it questionable. And there’s nothing implied there; they both came in today and got some work, and we’ll see how they’re doing [Sunday].”
Injury report for tomorrow's Game 1 vs. Houston: Stephen Curry (right ankle sprain) and Klay Thompson (right ankle sprain) are questionable. DeMarcus Cousins (left quadriceps tear) and Damian Jones (left pectoral surgery) are out.
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) April 27, 2019
