Giannis Antetokounmpo went off and Donovan Mitchell got it done as the Bucks swept the Pistons, and the Jazz finally got a series win (but still trail 3-1) on Monday night looking at Game 5 back in Houston on Wednesday.
And we have a four-game night on Tuesday with Orlando @ Toronto (Raptors lead 3-1), Nets @ Philly (Sixers lead 3-1), Spurs @ Nuggets ( 2-2), and OKC @ Portland (Blazers lead 3-1).
Bucks 127, Pistons 104 (Bucks sweep 4-0) – Giannis hit 12-of-23 shots, two 3-pointers and 15-of-20 free throws for 41 points, nine rebounds, three assists, a steal and four blocks for the best playoff game of his career as the Bucks swept the Pistons, handing them their third straight sweep in the playoffs. Khris Middleton added 18 points, four boards and two 3-pointers, Eric Bledsoe had 16 points, five assists, two steals, a block and a 3-pointer, and Nikola Mirotic had 12 points and three 3-pointers in the win. The Bucks now get the Celtics, after they swept the Pacers, and hold home court advantage over Indy, as well as the rest of their Eastern Conference opponents.
Props to Blake Griffin, playing on one leg (his right one), and racking up 22 points, five rebounds and six assists. The Pistons held onto this game until the fourth quarter, but the Bucks took over in the final quarter and it wasn’t even close. If you played Reggie Jackson last night, congratulations are in order, as he had 26 points, seven assists and five 3-pointers, while my guy, Ish Smith, had two points in just 12 minutes, missing five of his six shots. The Pistons are done, again, and Andre Drummond’s 16 & 12 double-doubled wasn’t nearly enough. If the Bucks don’t come out of the East, I’ll be surprised. #Fishin’
Jazz 107, Rockets 91 – Rockets lead 3-1
Donovan Mitchell heard the chatter about not showing up in these playoffs and came through in a big way, hitting 11-of-26 shots and three 3-pointers for 31 points, seven rebounds, four assists and a steal in the win. He scored 19 points in the decisive fourth quarter when the Jazz pulled away. Kyle Korver was singing Mitchell’s props after the game, and he stepped up in a big way. Jae Crowder, who is now starting over old-man Derrick Favors, also came through with 23 points, four rebounds, one assist, two steals and three 3-pointers in his 33 minutes. Ricky Rubio came through with a double-double of 18 points 11 assists, a steal, a block and a 3-pointer, but didn’t shoot it very well (6-of-17), and Rudy Gobert was useless in fantasy with just four points, nine rebounds, two assists, a steal and three blocks in 24 minutes. Weird. Royce O’Neale was a solid fantasy play with 11 points, a playoff career-high 11 boards, a block and two 3-pointers, while Joe Ingles (3 points) joined Gobert in a fantasy night off. And despite not starting, Favors came through with 12 points, 11 boards, a steal and a block in his 24 minutes, and may have beaten some of you. Crowder should be in your DFS lineups on Wednesday.
For the Rockets, James Harden went off for 30 points, six triples and hit 8-of-8 free throws, and also had three rebounds, four assists and two steals. But if you had Harden against Chris Paul in DFS, you might have lost. CP3 had 23 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, five steals, two blocks and two 3-pointers to cap off a great fantasy night. Eric Gordon hit five 3-pointers and had 16 points, P.J. Tucker added 13 points and six rebounds, while center Clint Capela disappeared. Capela hit just 1-of-6 shots for four points, seven rebounds and two assists in 28 minutes, as this was not the night for fantasy centers. The Rudy Gobert & Capela disappearing acts should make you think twice about using either of them in Game 5. The Rockets’ bench did nothing, with Austin Rivers offering five points, and nothing more off the pine. Spend your money on other centers going forward, as this game was all about guards about Mitchell, Rubio, Paul, and Harden, and no one else.
Tuesday night is going to be fun, if nothing else.
Orlando Magic @ Toronto Raptors (Raptors lead 3-1)
Brooklyn Nets @ Philly Sixers (Sixers lead 3-1)
San Antonio Spurs @ Denver Nuggets ( 2-2) Winner takes the series?
OKC Thunder @ Portland Blazers (Blazers lead 3-1).