By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Day 1 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs was concluded with the Golden State Warriors, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Philadelphia 76ers beating the Denver Nuggets, the Memphis Grizzlies and the Toronto Raptors respectively to go up 1-0 in their series.
After the Utah Jazz escaped Dallas and the Mavericks with a victory, the Timberwolves became the second team to win on the road by downing the Grizzlies 130 – 117. In his first-ever playoff match, Anthony Edwards registered a game-high 36 points plus six assists to lead Minnesota.
Karl Anthony-Towns added 29 points and 13 rebounds while Malik Beasley had 23 points for the Timberwolves. Ja Morant (32 points, eight assists) and Dillon Brooks (24 points) stood out from the Grizzlies.
Nikola Jokic posted 25 points, 10 rebounds and six assists but the Denver Nuggets needed a lot more to overcome the Golden State Warriors. Behind 30 points by playoffs debutant Jordan Poole, the Warriors took a 123 – 107 win in Steph Curry’s return to action after a month of absence.
Curry entered the game off the bench and played just 22 minutes, scoring 16 points on 5-13 shots. Klay Thompson added 19 points in his first playoff game after the 2019 Finals.
Nemanja Bjelica scored eight points in 15 minutes.
Tyrese Maxey dropped a career-high 38 points on 14-21 shots and the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Toronto Raptors 131 – 11. The 21-year-old guard had 21 of his points in the third quarter.
Tobias Harris pitched in 26 points, six rebounds and six assists while James Harden finished with 22 points and 14 assists to help the Sixers get the win.
For the Raptors, Paskal Siakam had 24 points plus seven assists and OG Anunoby notched 20 points plus seven rebounds.