Oladipo, Pacers stun Cavaliers
Victor Oladipo scored 32 points and the Pacers held off Cleveland’s second-half rally for a stunning 98-80 victory Sunday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference series in Cleveland, handing LeBron James and the Cavaliers’ their first loss in the opening round in eight years. Indiana was in control from the outset, opening a 21-point lead in the first quarter and leading by 23 in the third. The Cavs stormed back and got within seven, but Oladipo hit a big 3-pointer and Bojan Bogdanovic helped put Cleveland away with a 3 to make it 88-71. The Pacers completely outplayed the three-time defending conference champions, whose turbulent regular season has carried over into the playoffs. Game 2 is Wednesday night. James scored 24 points with 12 assists and 10 rebounds for his 20th career triple-double. But James got little help as Cleveland’s four other starters — Kevin Love, Jeff Green, Rodney Hood and George Hill — combined for 25 points.
Celtics 113, Bucks 107, OT
In Boston, Al Horford had 24 points and 12 rebounds and the Celtics overcame Khris Middleton’s long 3 that beat the fourthquarter buzzer to top Milwaukee in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference series. The Celtics led 99-96 with 0.5 seconds left in regulation when Middleton took an inbounds pass on the far right wing and hit a contested 35-footer.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 35 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists before fouling out in overtime.
Rockets 104, Timberwolves 101
In Houston, James Harden scored 44 points and powered a big fourth-quarter run that allowed Houston to outlast the Minnesota in Game 1.
Minnesota scored four straight points to get within 3 with about 30 seconds left. Chris Paul added two free throws after that for Houston, but a tip-in by Karl-Anthony Towns got Minnesota back within 3. After a bad pass by Paul gave the Timberwolves a chance to tie it with 1.5 seconds left, Jimmy Butler’s shot was short.
The Timberwolves had a onepoint lead with about seven minutes left when Houston used a 9-0 run, with the last seven points from Harden, to make it 94-86 with about four minutes to go.
Thunder 116, Jazz 108
In Oklahoma City, Paul George scored 36 points to help Oklahoma City beat Utah in Game 1 of the Western Conference series.
George set an Oklahoma City playoff record with eight 3-pointers, blowing past the previous record of five. Russell Westbrook had 29 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, and Carmelo Anthony added
15 points.