The NBA Playoffs are heating up, and the first round delivered another action-packed night. Four teams walked away victorious — including a statement win from the Indiana Pacers, a comeback thriller by the Knicks, and more playoff woes for the Lakers.
🏀 Indiana Pacers 117 – Milwaukee Bucks 98
The Pacers opened their series with a commanding victory over the Bucks, taking a 1-0 lead in front of a roaring home crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
While Giannis Antetokounmpo dropped 36 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, he had little support, with Damian Lillard sidelined due to a venous thrombosis. The Greek superstar was Milwaukee’s only offensive spark, recording just one assist – his lowest since January.
Pascal Siakam powered Indiana with 25 points, while Tyrese Haliburton orchestrated the offense beautifully with 10 points and 12 assists. Indiana’s aggressive defense shut down the Bucks’ options and repeated last year’s playoff dominance over Milwaukee.
🔥 New York Knicks – Detroit Pistons
The Knicks pulled off a thrilling comeback win at Madison Square Garden, bouncing back from a shaky start to defeat the Pistons and even the series 1-1. Cade Cunningham’s heroics weren’t enough this time, as New York tightened its defense and found late-game rhythm behind Jalen Brunson.
🐺 Timberwolves and 🏔 Nuggets Secure Wins
Elsewhere in the West, the Minnesota Timberwolves continued their strong playoff start by downing the Lakers, who once again struggled to find consistency. The Denver Nuggets, led by another impressive outing from Nikola Jokic, secured a narrow but important victory at home.
