NBA Playoff Roundup – Philly Steals Road Win, Thunder Destroy Lakers

One game in each of the conference semi-finals last night, and while one game was competitive until the last second, the other was only competitive for part of the first quarter.

Philadelphia 82 - Boston 81

The 76ers won a playoff game in Boston for the first time in 30 years with the win, and go back to Philadelphia with the series knotted up at one game each. Boston played one of the worst final minutes of basketball possible, with bad shot selection, bad clock management and an offensive foul on Kevin Garnett with 12 seconds left. The Celtics couldn't hit shots in the second or third quarters, when they scored a combined 24 points. Boston had 32 in the fourth quarter, and KG hit a meaningless three at the buzzer to make it a one point game, but it was too little too late. Jrue Holiday led the Sixers with 18 points. Game three is Wednesday night in Philadelphia.

Oklahoma City Thunder 119 - Los Angeles Lakers 90

The Thunder had 8 days off before this game. The Lakers had played in Denver last Thursday, then back in L.A. on Saturday, then flew out to Oklahoma after that game to play last night. And it looked like it on the court. OKC's youth, quickness, athleticism and hunger were too much for the Lakers. L.A. had a good game out of Andrew Bynum with 20 points and 14 rebounds, but it wasn't nearly enough. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined for 52 points and they both sat out the entire fourth quarter. If the Lakers can't figure out a way to defend Westbrook and OKC's pick and rolls, this series will be over really quickly.

Article by Eric Gray