NBA recap: Clippers abandoned in Western semi-finals, Heat take Game 1 of Eastern Finals

The Los Angeles Clippers were ejected as the Miami Heat defense entered NBA playoff games on Tuesday in Orlando.

ADEBAYO BLOCK HELPS MIAMI WIN

All-Star Bam Adebayo blocked a shot by Jayson Tatum in the closing seconds to lead the Miami Heat to a 117-114 victory over the Boston Celtics in overtime in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

“When you have big competition like this, you just have to make plays that you can’t even explain,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “And that was Bam tonight.”

Goran Dragic scored 29 points, Jae Crowder added 22, Jimmy Butler had 20 and Adebayo had 18 for the Heat.

Butler tripled the lead late in regulation to send the game into overtime. He also scored the lead baskets in overtime.

Jayson Tatum scored 30 points for the Celtics, Marcus Smart had 26 points, Kemba Walker had 19 and Jaylen Brown added 17.

DOOR CUT WITH CLIPPERS

The fifth-seeded Denver Nuggets advanced to the Western Conference Finals with a 104-89 win by No. 2 seed Los Angeles Clippers in Game 7 of their semifinal series.

Jamal Murray scored 40 points to lead the Nuggets to a surprising comeback from a 3-1 series deficit.

Denver became the first NBA team to rebound from a 3-1 deficit twice in the same postseason. They defeated the Utah Jazz in the first round.

The Nuggets will face the top LA Lakers in the next round beginning Friday.

Nikola Jokic contributed 16 points, 22 rebounds and 13 assists for Denver, and Jerami Grant and Gary Harris added 14 points each.

The Clippers, who never made the Western Finals in franchise history, got 20 from Montrezel Harrel.

Kawhi Leonard only had 14 points, Patrick Beverley scored 11. and Paul George finished with 10.

Both Clippers superstars were atrocious from the field, shooting 6 of 22 and 4 of 16 respectively.

MORANT IN THE FIRST TEAM OF ALL ROOKIES

Memphis Grizzlies NBA Rookie of the Year Ja Morant leads the 2019-20 All-Rookie first team.

Also on the team were Miami Heat guard Kendrick Nunn, Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson and Golden State Warriors forward Eric Paschall.

On the second team are Tyler Herro of the Heat, Terence Davis II of the Toronto Raptors, Coby White of the Chicago Bulls, PJ Washington of the Charlotte Hornets and Rui Hachimura of the Washington Wizards.(Compiled by Tristan Lozano)