Another day and another pair of road victories for lower-seeded teams. Are the home teams becoming the underdogs?
It certainly feels like it.
Wednesday, April 23 played host to yet another puzzling day in the 2014 NBA Playoffs. A championship favorite was blown out on its home court, the two-time defending champions were nearly upset and a lower-seeded team completed a two-game sweep at their opponent’s venue.
Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s games.
1. The Dallas Mavericks went on the road and stunned the San Antonio Spurs with a 113-92 decimation of the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. Monta Ellis scored 21 points and Shawn Marion added 20 as the Mavericks countered 27 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field and 5-of-5 from 3-point range by San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili.
As for how this game got out of hand, the Spurs matched a season-high with 22 turnovers.
2. The Mavericks’ win snaps a 10-game losing streak against the Spurs.
3. LeBron James scored 32 points and Chris Bosh added 20 as the Miami Heat escaped with a 101-97 win over the Charlotte Bobcats. Al Jefferson fought through injury to post 18 points and 13 rebounds, and Kemba Walker stepped up big in the clutch, but Charlotte fell short of the upset.
Bosh tied a career-high with four 3-point field goals.
4. The bright spot for Charlotte was Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who finished with a season-high 22 points and 10 rebounds. MKG’s previous season-high was 16 points on November 15, 2013.
5. Star big men dueled as LaMarcus Aldridge led the Portland Trail Blazers to a second straight victory over Dwight Howard and the Houston Rockets 112-105. Aldridge went off for 43 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, while D-12 finished with 32 points, 14 boards and four swats.
Aldridge is the first player to score at least 40 points in consecutive playoff games since LeBron James in 2009.
Bonus Fact: Road teams are 9-7 during Round 1 of the 2014 NBA Playoffs.