With Giannis Antetokounmpo still doubtful for Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers, the Milwaukee Bucks will look to veteran guard Damian Lillard to repeat his heroics from Game 1. Lillard dropped 35 points in his playoff debut for the Bucks, leading the team to a 1-0 series lead. Despite Antetokounmpo’s absence, the Bucks may opt to rest their star forward to avoid further injury, potentially giving Lillard the opportunity to continue his impressive performance.
The Denver Nuggets overcame a 20-point deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers, taking a 2-0 series lead. Jamal Murray led the comeback, finishing with 21 points and 15 rebounds. The New York Knicks also secured a 2-0 lead over the Atlanta Hawks, despite playing without their top two scorers. Immanuel Quickley and Obi Toppin stepped up for the Knicks, combining for 39 points. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers lost to the Miami Heat, continuing their playoff struggles. Joel Embiid was hobbled by an injury, and the team lacked a reliable supporting cast.
Donte DiVincenzo’s miraculous three-pointer with just 13 seconds remaining propelled the New York Knicks to a thrilling 104-101 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series. The win, clinched by an 8-0 scoring run in the final 27 seconds, marked a pivotal moment in Knicks playoff history, reminiscent of iconic postseason performances by legends such as Willis Reed, Patrick Ewing, and Larry Johnson.
The Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves face off in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinals series, with the Wolves holding a 1-0 lead. Despite losing the first game by a wide margin, the Suns remain confident in their ability to turn the series around. Led by All-Star guard Devin Booker, the Suns will need to find a way to get him open and create more scoring opportunities. The Wolves, on the other hand, will look to continue their strong defensive play and capitalize on the contributions of Anthony Edwards and Bradley Beal. With both teams expected to give it their all, Game 2 promises to be a closely contested battle that could determine the direction of the series.
The Indiana Pacers will take on the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 2 of their first-round Eastern Conference series in the 2024 NBA Playoffs on Tuesday, April 23rd, 2024. The game is scheduled to commence at 8:30 p.m. ET at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. According to Dimers’ predictive analytics model, the Bucks are favored to win the game with a 56% chance of victory. The model also predicts that the Pacers and Bucks each have a 50% chance of covering the spread, while the 221.5-point over/under has a 52% chance of staying under.
Verno and KOC analyze the key moments and storylines from Monday night’s NBA playoff games, including Jamal Murray’s game-winner against the Lakers, the Knicks’ gritty win over the Sixers, the Cavs’ new-found identity, the Timberwolves’ potential with Anthony Edwards, Khris Middleton’s importance to the Bucks, the Mavs-Clippers series dynamic, and the Pelicans’ chances against the Thunder.
The Phoenix Suns suffered a disappointing defeat in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, losing by a margin of 25 points. Now, the team faces an additional setback as Grayson Allen, a key three-point shooting guard, is listed as questionable for Game 2. Allen sustained a sprain in his right ankle during the first game and his availability for tonight’s matchup is uncertain.
Despite their 0-2 deficit against the Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid remains confident in his team’s ability to win the series. Embiid expressed his belief that they should be leading 2-0 and emphasized that they will make necessary adjustments and emerge victorious. He acknowledged the need for improvement but stressed that the Sixers are the superior team and will continue to fight.
In the ongoing NBA playoffs, the Denver Nuggets sensationally defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 101-99 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in their series. The game-winning shot was made by Jamal Murray over Anthony Davis, leaving the Lakers with an uphill battle to stay in the series. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers started their series against the Dallas Mavericks with a 109-97 victory. Terance Mann and Amir Coffey played pivotal defensive roles in containing the dynamic duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, despite their combined 64 points.
The Los Angeles Clippers are set to host the Dallas Mavericks in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series, but the status of star forward Kawhi Leonard remains in doubt due to a right knee inflammation. The Clippers are hoping Leonard will be able to return soon, but they are not rushing his recovery process to avoid further injury. In Leonard’s absence, Paul George and James Harden have stepped up offensively, and Ivica Zubac has provided a strong presence in the paint. However, the Clippers will need Leonard back on the court if they want to make a deep run in the playoffs.
