Day one of the 2014 NBA Playoffs wasn’t a mirage. This truly is one of the strangest beginnings to the postseason in recent history.
Easter Sunday didn’t spare anyone from scares.
On Sunday, April 20, two more home teams fell to lower-seeded teams. The two squads that survived both trailed against the underdogs relatively late in their respective games before securing close victories.
Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s action.
1. LaMarcus Aldridge erupted for 46 points and 18 rebounds, and Damian Lillard put up 31 points as the Portland Trail Blazers held on for a 122-120 overtime win over the Houston Rockets. Dwight Howard had 27 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks for the Rockets, but James Harden shot 8-of-28 from the field and Houston converted 8-of-35 from 3-point range as a team.
Aldridge and Lillard are the first teammates with 45 and 30 in the same game since Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen with the Chicago Bulls in 1992.
2. Aldridge’s 46 points set a new franchise postseason record.
3. Nene Hilario posted 24 points on 11-of-17 shooting as the Washington Wizards went on the road and stunned the Chicago Bulls 102-93. 13 separate players scored in double-figures during this game, but it was Washington that ultimately converted late free throws to escape with the win.
This marks Washington’s first postseason victory since April 14, 2008.
4. The original Big Three shined as the San Antonio Spurs stormed back to earn a nail-biting 90-85 win over the Dallas Mavericks. Tim Duncan posted 27 points in 38 minutes, Tony Parker scored 21 and Manu Ginobili tallied 17 off of the bench. San Antonio went on a 19-4 run to close out the game and come back from 10 points down with 7:45 left in the fourth quarter.
If you want a key statistic, try this: the Spurs shot just 3-of-17 from the field without Duncan on the court.
5. LeBron James scored 27 points and Dwyane Wade had 23 on 10-of-16 shooting to help the Miami Heat pull away for a 99-88 win over the Charlotte Bobcats. It was a single-digit game entering the fourth quarter, but Al Jefferson suffered a plantar fasciitis injury early and Charlotte struggled to overcome his limited mobility late in the game.
With his scoring output, LeBron passed Larry Bird for eighth on the all-time NBA playoffs points scored list.
Bonus Fact: An NBA-record five road teams won Game 1 of their respective first-round series.