Surprise: Nets roll in opener
PHILADELPHIA — D’Angelo Russell flashed some postseason magic, playing like the All-Star leader the Nets needed with 26 points, and Caris LeVert scored 23 to lead the visitors to an impressive 111-102 win Saturday over the 76ers in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.
The sixth-seeded Nets turned Philly in the city of 20,000 boos — and that’s just counting the ones echoing throughout the Wells Fargo Center — as they smoked a 76ers team that resembled one straight out of the early Process era.
Jimmy Butler scored 36 points and saved the 76ers, widely considered a favorite to at least reach the East semis, from losing by 25. Joel Embiid slogged his way through 24 forgettable minutes on his bum left knee. Ben Simmons was a postseason dud against Russell, his high school teammate.
Russell, LeVert and Spencer Dinwiddie gave the 76ers fits off the dribble, buried open looks from 3-point range, and suddenly a team that got hot late just to make the playoffs has the upperhand on the road over a 51-win team stocked with stars.
“We’ve got the right pieces to keep it going,” said Russell, who scored 19 points in the second half.
Poised for a postseason breakthrough, Russell flourished and hit a string of jumpers in the third that never let the 76ers seriously chip away at the lead. LeVert’s third 3 in the fourth made it a 16-point game and there was no looking back for one of the biggest wins since the Nets moved to Brooklyn. Russell raised his arms in celebration as he headed down the tunnel into the Nets’ locker room.
Magic 104, Raptors 101: D.J. Augustin scored 25 points, including the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds left, and the Magic earned the road victory and took a 1-0 lead in the first-round series.
Aaron Gordon had 10 points and 10 rebounds, Evan Fournier scored 16 points and Jonathan Isaac had 11 as the seventhseeded Magic became the latest team to beat the Raptors in the opening game of a playoff series.
The Raptors are 2-14 playoff openers. in
NBA: Luke Walton and the Kings agreed to a four-year contract that will make him the team’s coach, ESPN reported. Walton, 39, and the Lakers mutually parted ways Friday after he went 98-148 and failed to make the playoffs in three seasons as coach. He replaces Dave Joerger, who was fired Thursday after three seasons.
Soccer: Juventus failed in an attempt to clinch its eighth straight Serie A title, falling 2-1 to host and relegation-threatened Spal. With the second leg of its Champions League quarterfinal against Ajax on Tuesday, Juventus rested Cristiano Ronaldo and a number of other key players. Juventus still holds a 20-point lead over second-place Napoli, which visits last-place Chievo Verona on Sunday. Both clubs will have six league matches remaining after the weekend’s action. ... Paul Pogba scored two penalties to help Manchester United edge visiting West Ham 2-1 in English Premier League play. United pulled within fourth-place Chelsea, which travels to leagueleader Liverpool on Sunday . ... La Liga leader and defending champ Barcelona settled for a scoreless draw against host and lastplace Huesca. With the second leg of its Champions League quarterfinal against Manchester United on Tuesday, Barca rested Lionel Messi and a number of other key players also missed the match. Barca still holds a ninepoint lead over secondplace Atletico Madrid, which beat Celta Vigo 2-0. ... Brazilian great Pele underwent surgery for the removal of a kidney stone. Pele, 78, was hospitalized in Sao Paulo on April 2 after spending five days in a Paris hospital for a urinary infection.
Also: Eagles CB Jalen Mills and Wizards F Devin Robinson were arrested after a fight outside a nightclub, Washington police said. The Wizards announced that they were “disappointed” in Robinson’s actions, and that they wouldn’t be extending him a qualifying offer for next season. The Eagles didn’t comment on Mills’ status with the team . ... Mercedes teammates Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton qualified 1-2 for Sunday’s Formula One Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, while Andretti Autosport driver Alexander Rossi secured the pole for Sunday’s IndyCar race in Long Beach, Calif. ... Led by figure skating world champ Nathan Chen, the U.S. won the title at the World Team Trophy in Fukuoka, Japan. ... Owendale rallied to take charge entering the stretch and went on to win the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes by 13⁄4 lengths over Anothertwistafate at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. Owendale earned 20 points toward the Kentucky Derby.