The Vegas Golden Knights have taken a commanding 2-0 lead in their Western Conference first-round series against the top-seeded Dallas Stars after a 3-1 victory on Wednesday. Jonathan Marchessault and Jack Eichel powered the Golden Knights to their second consecutive road triumph, with a goal and an assist each. Noah Hanifin added another goal for Vegas, while goaltender Logan Thompson made 20 saves. Dallas drew first blood on a power play courtesy of Jason Robertson, but Vegas responded swiftly with two goals within 2:13 to seize the lead. Marchessault tied the game, and Hanifin gave the Golden Knights the advantage before the second period ended. Eichel sealed the deal with an empty-net goal, extending Vegas’s winning streak against Dallas to six games.
Results for: Western Conference Playoffs
In a thrilling Game 2 of the Western Conference first-round playoff series, the Vegas Golden Knights emerged victorious against the Dallas Stars, solidifying their 2-0 series lead. Despite Dallas’s regular season dominance as the No. 1 seed, the eighth-seeded Golden Knights, the reigning Stanley Cup champions, have proven to be a formidable opponent on the road.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has solidified his status as a premier playoff performer, leading his team to a 2-0 advantage over the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. With a postseason-high 33 points, alongside 5 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals in a 124-92 victory, Gilgeous-Alexander has established himself as a force to be reckoned with on the court.
The Oklahoma City Thunder continued their impressive playoff start by defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 124-92 in Game 2 of their first-round Western Conference series. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 33 points, while Chet Holmgren added 26 points and seven rebounds, and Jalen Williams contributed 21 points. Jonas Valanciunas led the Pelicans with 19 points, but the team struggled offensively without injured star Zion Williamson. Oklahoma City shot a blistering 59% from the field and made 14 of 29 3-pointers, while also outrebounding New Orleans 37-35 and limiting them to eight offensive rebounds. The Thunder also capitalized on the Pelicans’ turnovers, scoring 22 points off of them. Game 3 of the series will be played in New Orleans on Saturday night.
Los Angeles Lakers coach Darvin Ham has dismissed any concerns arising from Anthony Davis’ recent remarks that appeared to criticize the team’s performance. Davis, following the Lakers’ Game 2 loss in their playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, expressed his frustration over periods during which the team seemed disoriented. However, Ham insists that he does not perceive Davis’ comments as an indictment of his coaching style or the team’s organization. He attributes Davis’ statement to the emotional toll of the game and the disappointment of the team’s performance.
Kawhi Leonard, who has been out with right knee inflammation for the last nine games, is set to make his return for the Clippers in Game 2 of the Western Conference playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks. Clippers coach Ty Lue confirmed that Leonard has been cleared to play after participating in non-contact portions of practice last week and completing necessary medical check-ups.
The Edmonton Oilers claimed a convincing 7-4 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in the opening game of their Western Conference first-round playoff series. Led by Connor McDavid’s five assists and Zach Hyman’s hat trick, the Oilers built an early lead and never looked back, despite the Kings’ late goals. Los Angeles acknowledged Edmonton’s superiority and vows to improve their performance in Game 2 on Wednesday.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are off to a strong start in their playoff series against the Phoenix Suns, winning the first game by a score of 120-95. The Timberwolves will look to extend their lead in the series when the two teams face off again on Tuesday. The Suns will be looking to bounce back from their loss and tie the series at 1-1. The game is expected to be a close one, with the Timberwolves going off at just a three-point favorite. The oddsmakers are predicting a defensive showdown and set the over/under low at 211.5 points.
The Dallas Mavericks take on the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 2 of the Western Conference first round playoffs on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Clippers hold a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. The game will be televised on TNT and can also be streamed live on SlingTV or DirecTV Stream. The Mavericks, led by Luka Doncic, are looking to even the series while the Clippers, led by Paul George, aim to take a commanding 2-0 lead.
After a slow start to the game, the Nuggets fought back to defeat the Lakers 97-95 on the back of clutch shots from Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. Anthony Davis was unstoppable in the first half for the Lakers, but the Nuggets’ defense tightened up in the second half to limit his impact. Nikola Jokic also had a strong game for the Nuggets, finishing with 26 points and 11 rebounds.