The 2020 National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs are almost completed. 17 teams will advance to the postseason to compete but only eight teams will advance to the semifinals.
In the Western Conference, the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Memphis Grizzlies in order to qualify for the playoffs, where they will play against the Los Angeles Lakers.
#1 Los Angeles Lakers vs #8 Portland Trail Blazers
The Lakers dropped the first game against the Trail Blazers with Blazers’ guard Damien Liliard scoring 34 points to give his team a 100-93 win. The Lakers won the next three games, giving them an edge in the series. Forwards LeBron James and Anthony Davis led the way, securing a 3-1 lead. The Lakers honored Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi Bryant, who both died earlier this year, with custom uniforms worn during the game.
#4 Houston Rockets vs. #5 Oklahoma City Thunder
The series between the Rockets and the Thunder is a highly contested one as they sit at a 2-2 series tie. The Rockets won the first two games of the series earning an early advantage but the Thunder would come back to tie it up with Thunder’s guard Dennis Schroder scoring a floater to tie the series. Both teams have former star players competing on opposite sides as former Thunder star, Russell Westbrook, now plays for the Rockets and former Rockets star, Chris Paul, now plays for the Thunder.
#3 Denver Nuggets vs #6 Utah Jazz 4
The Nuggets captured their second win of the series after dropping three straight. Nuggets’ guard Jamal Murray has been leading the charge but even after scoring 50 points in game four, the Nuggets still trail 3-2. Jazz’s guard Donovan Mitchell also scored 50 points in game four and is one game away from leading his team to the conference semifinals.
#2 Los Angeles Clippers vs. #7 Dallas Mavericks
The Clippers and the Mavericks have gone back and forth in the series with both teams securing two wins to tie the series. Clippers’ forward Kawhi Leonard has led the way for the Clippers but Mavericks’ guard Luka Doncic has also been a driving force on offense and defense. In game four, Doncic led the Mavericks with 43 points, 17 rebounds and 13 assists along with a step back three pointer to tie the series. In game five, the Clippers went on to secure another win, one shy of advancing to the next round.
On the Eastern Conference side, the #5 seed Miami Heat upset the #4 seed Indiana Pacers by sweeping them 4-0. The #2 seed Toronto Raptors accomplished the same feet against the #7 Brooklyn Nets. The #3 seed Boston Celtics easily dismantled the #6 seed Philadelphia 76ers 4-0 , as they move on to face the Raptors in the East Conference Semifinals.
#1 Milwaukee Bucks vs #8 Orlando Magic
The Bucks currently have a 3-1 lead in the series as they look to move on to face the Heat in the East semifinals. Bucks’ forward Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way for the Bucks to win three straight games after losing game one. Magic’s forward Nikola Vucevic has led the way for the Magic after scoring 35 points in his first game. As the NBA playoffs continue, more games are to be played as we get closer to see who will end up playing for the title.
Armin Mesinovic can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @arminmesinovic