Two big Game 5s on Tuesday night, and two blowout wins for the home teams. The Raptors and Nuggets now have control of their conference semifinal series. The other two series play Game 5s tonight, with all attention on the Rockets and Warriors breaking their own 2-2 deadlock. Elsewhere around the NBA, the offseason has started for many teams. The Cavaliers are reportedly interviewing a Spurs assistant as they seek a new head coach, and the Thunder got some bad news on Paul George, who needed shoulder surgery.
Kawhi Leonard has been carrying the Raptors in the playoffs, but on Tuesday night, they got production from just about everywhere. Now the 76ers must win twice in a row to avoid elimination.
Philly paper today #raptors #76ers pic.twitter.com/ZN9DrLgEu2
— sean (@roobahemakkar) May 8, 2019
Same story in Denver, where the Nuggets gave Nikola Jokic more help (especially Paul Millsap) and dismantled the Blazers 124-98. A series that had featured four very close games has its first blowout, and now Portland must respond at home in Game 6.
A sound victory, from start to finish! #NBAPlayoffs #MileHighBasketball https://t.co/lkIED9ydGb
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) May 8, 2019
They say a series doesn’t truly start until a road team wins a game. Still waiting on that to happen in Rockets vs. Warriors. But if it happens tonight, it’s a big advantage to James Harden and Houston.
SERIES TIED.
Rockets beat the Warriors, 112-108
Beard: 38 PTS | 10 REBS | 4 ASTS pic.twitter.com/MyhNSvZw6r
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 7, 2019
The Cavs have hired a coach who made his name in Europe before. But Ettore Messina would face a much different task than what David Blatt did when he took over LeBron’s team.
As #Cavs expand coaching search, they will meet with Spurs assistant Ettore Messina this week. The date and time are still being finalized, according to sources. But Cavs think this will be much different than David Blatt in 2014 https://t.co/va5gNIgtKe
— Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) May 5, 2019
Paul George clearly has been hurting for a while, and now we found out the reason: He needed shoulder surgery that likely will keep him out all the way into next year’s preseason.
Easy to understand Paul George’s dip in late season productivity. Per @wojespn the OKC All-Star played with a partially torn rotator cuff in one shoulder and a torn labrum in the other.
— Jeff Stotts (@InStreetClothes) May 7, 2019
TOP STORIES
• The rest of the Raptors joined Kawhi Leonard in dismantling the 76ers | ESPN.com
• Millsap, Jokic spark Nuggets’ 124-98 blowout of Blazers | Associated Press
• AP source: Cavs to interview Spurs assistant Ettore Messina | Associated Press
