The NBA Playoffs standings has the Brooklyn Nets on top of the Toronto Raptors 1-0 to take a first round series lead in the eastern conference postseason and Paul Pierce helped get things done at the end, while the Indiana Pacers were upset by the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1 on the road and that came after the Warriors won over the LA Clippers to start their western conference series.
The Nets played a tough game against the Raptors on Saturday and they got a great finish from Pierce to get the victory, as he added nine of 15 in the final frame and both Joe Johnson and Deron Williams ended up with 24 points as the team got a 94-97 victory against Toronto, who won the Atlantic division and the number three seed. Pierce helped seal the game for the Nets and Williams added 18 points in the first half to get things going and now head coach Jason Kidd has his first playoff victory and the team has the chance to keep going in Game 2 against the Raptors.
The Nets missed 19 straight three pointers at one point and they made just four of 24 in the maytchup, but they made them down the stretch when they were needed and the Raptors never could catch up. The team forced 19 turnovers from the Raptors and gave out just nine and they kept Kyle Lowry mostly at bay, as he scored 22 points and Jonas Valanciunas had 17 points and 18 rebounds to lead the Raptors and according to the AP, he is the second player to have a double-double in his playoffs debut. Greivis Vasquez scored 18 points and the game was made more difficult after the shot clocks went dead on the hoops and that forced the announcer to count down the clock manually for players.
Golden State won over the Los Angeles Clippers and that came after David Lee had a great game and things got close at the end and now the Clips will have to try and win back home court. Lee had 20 points and 13 rebounds with three assists and Chris Paul was great for the Clippers, adding 28 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and four steals. The game was hard fought on both sides and now they have a 1-0 advantage over the Clippers heading into Game 2.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are playing Game 1 against the Memphis Grizzlies, while the Sunday schedule has the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Bobcats and Miami Heat, Wahsington Wizards and Chicago Bulls, while the Portland Trail Blazers are set to visit the Houston Rockets for Game 1.