The NBA playoffs opened Saturday and Sunday with competitive games, upsets, great – and surprising – individual and team performances and worrisome injuries to key players.
The lower seed won four of eight Game 1s, including the seventh-seeded Los Angeles Lakers beating the Memphis Grizzlies, the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.
Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox, a favorite to win Clutch Player of the Year, scored 38 points in his first playoff game, a Kings victory over the Golden State Warriors.
And injuries are already a menace with Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Memphis’ Ja Morant and Miami’s Tyler Herro exiting games and not returning with injuries.
NBA PLAYOFFS: Scores, schedules, matchups and predictions for first round
Here are the Game 1 winners and losers of the weekend:
Winners
► Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Clippers
Leonard had a game-high 38 points on 13-for-25 shooting in the Clippers’ win against the Phoenix Suns, and while Westbrook was just 3-for-19 from the field, he was a factor elsewhere with 10 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks and two steals. He had key offensive rebounds and defensive stops in the final minutes.
► Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat
He’s Playoff Jimmy for a reason. He brings it – win or lose – all the time and especially in the postseason. Butler had 35 points, 11 assists, five rebounds and three steals in Miami’s 130-117 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. Tyler Herro’s broken right hand sapped some sweetness from the win.
► Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Brunson lifted the Knicks to a 101-97 road victory against Cleveland, scoring 21 of his 27 points in the second half – 12 in the third and nine of New York’s final 14 points in the fourth. The Cavs failed to contain Brunson, who got to his spots and had access to his offensive skills.
► Sacramento Kings
Sacramento has a subdivision of winners from its 126-123 victory over the Golden State Warriors:
— The Kings, for the first playoff victory since beating the San Antonio Spurs in a six-game series in 2006.
— De’Aaron Fox, for scoring a game-high 38 points, including 29 in the second half and 15 in the fourth quarter. Fox showed why he is legit candidate to make All-NBA.
— Malik Monk, for scoring 32 points off the bench, while shooting 8-for-13 from the field and 14-for-14 from the free throw line. Monk wasn’t a finalist for Sixth Man of the Year, but he belongs in the conversation.
► James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia’s success depends on All-Star Joel Embiid’s performance. However, the Sixers’ outlook turns more favorable when Harden played like he did in their 121-101 victory over the Brooklyn Nets: 23 points (7-for-13 on 3s) and 13 assists. Harden needs those kinds of games if Philadelphia is going to reach the conference finals for the first time since 2001.
► Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
The Atlanta Hawks had no answers for Tatum and Brown in Boston’s 112-99 victory. Brown had 29 points and 12 rebounds, Tatum had 25 points and 11 rebounds and they shot a combined 22-for-46 from the field. Using a small-ball lineup and spreading the court – sometimes with five players on the perimeter – Tatum and Brown had plenty of space to create for themselves or others.
► Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
Hachimura scored a playoff career-high 29 points (5-for-6 on 3-pointers) with 21 coming in the second half – including 12 in the third quarter – of the Lakers’ 128-112 victory against Memphis. Reaves had 23 points – nine consecutive points when the Lakers began to pull away from the Grizzlies late in the fourth quarter.
Losers
► Phoenix Suns
The Suns wasted strong performances from Kevin Durant (27 points, 11 assists, nine rebounds), Devin Booker (26 points) and Torrey Craig (22 points), and their bench was outscored 34-10 at home.
► Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
Young had just 16 points on 5-for-18 shooting, including 1-for-5 on 3s. His eight assists were tempered by five turnovers. While single-game plus-minus can be misleading, the Hawks were outscored by 14 points with Young on the court against the Celtics.
► Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland guards Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland need offensive help. Mobley had just eight points on 4-for-13 shooting. He had 11 rebounds, including five offensive, but more points and better efficiency are necessary. Lacking depth, the Cavs rely on Mobley, and they can’t lose Game 2 at home.
► Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies lost home-court advantage against the Lakers. Making matters worse, star guard Ja Morant injured his right hand in the fourth quarter and didn’t return to the game. Morant told reporters his status for Game 2 was in jeopardy.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA playoff openers winners, losers: Kings, Knicks, Lakers shine