The 2014 NBA playoffs maintained its momentum Wednesday, once again saving the best for last.
Day 5 began with the Miami Heat hosting the Charlotte Bobcats, followed soon after by the Dallas Mavericks visiting the San Antonio Spurs. The third and final Game 2 showcased the Portland Trail Blazers squaring off with the Houston Rockets.
Miami was the only team that held serve on its home court, as both squads in the state of Texas succumbed to lower-seeded opponents.
That said, two of the three games featured stellar hardwood play.
Let’s go ahead and recap ‘em all.
Miami 101, Charlotte 96
The scrappier team put up a valiant fight. It just wasn’t quite scrappy enough.
The Heat generated a 10-point lead after the first quarter—only to see it stagnate at half, drop to seven after three frames and nearly evaporate all together with 11 seconds left in the game. Kemba Walker’s three-pointer reduced the deficit to 98-97 and resurrected hope for the inferior Bobcats.
Alas, LeBron James hit two key free throws and Dwyane Wade sealed it with a steal of Chris Douglas-Roberts on Charlotte’s final possession. His make from the foul line officially closed it out for Miami’s 18th-straight win over the Bobcats.
James did his point-forward thing with 32 PTS, 6 REB and 8 AST, while the third leg of the Big 3 Chris Bosh added 20 points on 8-of-11 from the field. Wade went for 15 PTS and 6 REB for a Heat club that shot 52.2 percent all told.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist led the road squad with a rare 22 PTS-10 REB double-double. Big man Al Jefferson contributed 18 PTS and 13 REB despite an increasingly debilitating plantar fasciitis (foot). Walker made just 5 of 18 from the floor for his 16 PTS and 8 AST.
The series travels to Charlotte on Saturday (7:00 PM ET) with the defending champs owning a commanding 2-0 lead.
Dallas 113, San Antonio 92
Note to stat-line enthusiasts: make sure you read the entire box score.
At first glance, 50 percent from the field, 50 percent from three-point range and Manu Ginobili going for 27 PTS on 9-of-12 shooting might reveal the fruits of a winning collaboration on the hardwood.
But delve a little deeper, and a total losing effort is all that’s apparent.
The Mavericks generated more rebounds, assists, steals, fast-break points, points in the paint, total made shots and, of course, more overall points. They also committed 16 fewer turnovers, as San Antonio coughed up a whopping 24 by game’s end.
Dallas outscored the Spurs in every quarter. In fact, after falling behind for a brief moment early in the second, the Mavs never again relinquished their lead—even after San Antonio filled the AT&T Center with total euphoria following a 10-0 run just before half. This just wasn’t the night for the defending Western Conference champions.
Individually, the lightning-quick Monta Ellis totaled 21 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST and 3 STL, while the seemingly ageless Shawn Marion notched 21 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST and 3 STL. The effective duo helped overcome a poor shooting outing by the historically efficient Dirk Nowitzki (7-of-19; 16 PTS), who also received a technical foul on a frustrating overall day at the office.
Tim Duncan and Kawhi Leonard, who usually represent the elder and youthful dominance of San Antonio, attempted just five shots apiece, combining for a mere 17 points. Tony Parker was second on the team with a lowly 12 PTS and 3 AST.
Game 3 is set for Saturday at 4:45 PM ET in Dallas.
Portland 112, Houston 105
Again, please read the box score from start to finish.
The Rockets outgunned Portland on the fast break (plus-14 points) and in the paint (plus-38 points) on Wednesday night. Seeing this discrepancy would normally reveal a team that played to its accustomed pace and one who had dominated the interior.
That might normally hold true—except when the opposition’s best produces a transcendent night on the hardwood.
LaMarcus Aldridge powered the Blazers with his second-consecutive 40-point outing. His 43 points, not to mention eight boards and three blocks, kept his team in reach during Dwight Howard’s monster first quarter, and held Houston at bay at every point thereafter. Better yet, 12 of Aldridge’s 18 makes also originated from beyond 15 feet—showing that the 6’11’’ forward wasn’t just putting back bunnies.
The Rockets came to within striking distance at 106-103 with 30 seconds remaining after James Harden drilled a 25-footer. But, unfortunately, his backcourt counterparts Damian Lillard and Mo Williams effectively ended it with six free throws down the stretch.
All told, Harden suffered through yet another miserable shooting night (6-of-19) en route to a sub-standard 18 PTS and 4 AST. Howard compiled 32 PTS, 14 REB and 4 BLK, but committed six turnovers and was a total non-entity late in the game due to foul trouble.
Williams and Dorell Wright collected an impressive 28 points from a Blazers’ bench unit that otherwise ranks dead last in scoring. Floor general Lillard added 18 PTS, 8 REB and 11 AST, while dirty-work specialist Robin Lopez had 6 PTS, 10 REB, 2 AST and 3 BLK.
This first-round series resumes in Portland on Friday at 10:30 PM ET.
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