Rockets hit 22 3-pointers, crush Spurs
James, Irving lead Cavaliers past Raptors in series opener
SAN ANTONIO — Trevor Ariza scored 23 points, James Harden added 20 points and 14 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets stormed past San Antonio 126-99 on Monday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, the Spurs’ worst loss in a series opener under Gregg Popovich.
The Rockets were 22 for 50 on 3-pointers, the most 3s attempted and made against the Spurs in their long postseason history.
Houston had six players in double figures, including 20 points and 13 rebounds from Clint Capela. Game 2 is Wednesday in San Antonio. Houston led by as many as 39 points, including a 30-point lead in the first half, in the opener of the first series between the rivals since the Rockets’ victory in the 1995 Western Conference finals.
While the hot shooting wasn’t completely unexpected from the explosive Rockets, the defense was. Houston was active in rotating to San Antonio’s shooters and had both defenders stay on Kawhi Leonard on screens.
Leonard had 21 points, fighting his way to 5-for-14 shooting.
Tony Parker added 11 points and Jonathon Simmons had 10 for the Spurs.
Houston led 69-39 lead in the first half, the Spurs’ largest halftime deficit under Popovich.
Popovich called a timeout 80 seconds into the game, berating David Lee for a missed defensive assignment.
Houston hit 12 3-pointers in the first half, the most San Antonio has allowed to a playoff opponent in the opening two quarters.
The game got testy in the second half with a pair of ejections.
Nene was thrown out at the close of the third quarter after grabbing Dewayne Dedmon by the throat after the Spurs center and Harden got in each other’s face. Dedmon was thrown out in the fourth quarter after arguing with officials.
CAVALIERS 116, RAPTORS 105:
In Cleveland, LeBron James considered swigging a beer while scoring 35 points, Kyrie Irving added 24 and the Cleveland Cavaliers picked up where they left off following a long layoff and throttled the Toronto Raptors 116-105 on Monday night in the opener of their Eastern Conference semifinal.
The Cavs hadn’t played since April 23, when they completed a four-game sweep of Indiana. But the defending champions didn’t show signs of rust and were well-prepared to face the revenge-seeking Raptors, who lost to Cleveland in last year’s conference finals.
Toronto dropped to 1-12 in playoff openers. Game 2 is Wednesday night. Kyle Lowry scored 20 and DeMar DeRozan 19 for the Raptors, who were within seven in the third quarter before James dropped a 3-pointer, converted a three-point play, drained another 3 and then considered washing down a brew.
After drawing a foul on a missed layup, James playfully hopped toward the sideline, where a courtside server was passing by. The threetime champion reached and grabbed a beer bottle from her tray and brought it toward his lips before putting it back.
By then, he and the Cavs had already downed the Raptors.
With trade acquisitions Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker, this Toronto team seemed better equipped to beat Cleveland than the one which lost in six games in last year’s playoffs.
Trouble is, James only seems to be getting better.
Before the game, Toronto coach Dwane Casey talked about the big comebacks that have been a theme in these playoffs. The Raptors blew a 25-point lead to Milwaukee in the first round, while the Cavs overcame a 25-point deficit and pulled off the biggest secondhalf rally in playoff history.
“There’s no lead safe in the NBA,” he said.
That’s what happened to the Cavs in the first half as they built an 18-point lead only to watch the Raptors go on a 19-3 burst to pull within 41-39.
But Cleveland regrouped and, playing a turnover-free second quarter, led 62-48 at half.