By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Moving to Game 2 of the Conference Quarterfinals of the NBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel, three teams jumped to 2-0 in their respective best-of-seven series, including the defending champions Denver Nuggets.
Serbian superstar Nikola Jokic posted a triple-double with 27 points, 20 rebounds, and ten assists to go with two steals, fueling a 101-99 victory versus the Los Angeles Lakers in Ball Arena on Monday evening. His side dug its way out of a 20-point hole with Jamal Murray beating the buzzer with a game-winning bucket.
“A 20-point lead in this league, it’s not safe, especially against the defending champion,” reacted LeBron James after a 26-point, 12-rebound double-double fell shy of a win in Mile High City, “We’ve got to do better. But we had our chances.”
JAMAL MURRAY CALLED GAME 🔥
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) April 23, 2024
Slovenian Vlatko Cancar (left knee surgery), has been on the Nuggets‘ injury list all season.
Hartenstein and the Knicks are up 2-0
In Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks edged out the Philadelphia 76ers, 104-101. Clutch efforts in offense and defense by German Isaiah Hartenstein pushed the hosts to a 2-0 lead before the series switches to Wells Fargo Center for the next two contests between the Atlantic Division rivals.
“It doesn’t mean much. I mean, job’s not finished. I mean, it’s only two games. You have to win four to get it done. We’re just gonna keep going day by day,” pointed out the 25-year-old center after piling up 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three blocks.
Fellow European starter, British O.G. Anunoby threw in ten points, four rebounds, one assist, and one block. Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic added six points, two assists, and two rebounds off the bench. On the wrong end of Game 2, French Nicolas Batum registered six points, five rebounds, and one assist.
Wagner brothers in a 0-2 hole
A 2-0 start for the Cleveland Cavaliers behind a 96-86 victory versus the Orlando Magic in Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.
For the visitors, German Franz Wagner finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal. His brother Moritz Wagner had 12 points, six rebounds, and two steals. Georgian Goga Bitadze stayed on the bench and British Admiral Schofield was inactive.
Mo Wagner posterized Jarrett Allen 😳
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) April 23, 2024