If you were lucky enough to have all of Saturday watching the 2021 NBA Playoffs on day one then you know how crazy it was. The games didn’t lull or ease into dramatics. They started with a flair and excitement. From the tip in the early afternoon in Milwaukee until the Trail Blazers took on the Denver Nuggets late at night. Each game had its own spice.
In the first game, we saw Milwaukee and Miami go at each other. Duncan Robinson got the Heat going early with his three-point shooting.
Duncan Robinson (3/3 3PM) is outscoring the Bucks early on ? pic.twitter.com/TI2svjmF1s
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 22, 2021
We got to see the Greek Freak do things that only he can do. Watch him fly through the defense and slam this basket down.
Giannis flew in ? pic.twitter.com/pdTNZ2bRF8
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 22, 2021
The Miami Heat have not looked like themselves from the NBA Bubble last season. They were the Eastern Conference darlings that made it to the NBA Finals against the Lakers. In this game, they looked like Bubble Heat.
Jimmy Butler sent the game to overtime with Giannis guarding. The lay in basket looked a little too easy with Brook Lopez on help defense.
Butler lays it in to force OT ?pic.twitter.com/APFn6JaeqF
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 22, 2021
The Bucks would go on to win the game in overtime thanks to Khris Middleton being a cold-blooded killer under pressure.
KHRIS MIDDLETON WITH THE GAME WINNER IN GAME 1 ??pic.twitter.com/cwDyGyqi6e
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 22, 2021
Over in Los Angeles, the Mavericks took on the Clippers. This rematch from the NBA Bubble should be an exciting series. Dorian Finney-Smith got it started with a big dunk.
DORIAN FINNEY-SMITH WENT BANG BANG ?pic.twitter.com/ALkbKL6KpE
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 22, 2021
It wouldn’t be a Mavs series without Luka Doncic doing things that amaze.
Luka is getting busy ? pic.twitter.com/rGWWdif7zM
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 22, 2021
Maxi Kleber tried his best to provide defense on this fast break, but forgot who was sprinting down the court at him. Kawhi may be wanted for assault after this one.
KAWHI JUST DUNKED MAXI KLEBER INTO ANOTHER REALM ???pic.twitter.com/ZaGVBN6Xby
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 22, 2021
As the fourth quarter went on, Dallas pulled away. Kristaps Porzingis and Doncic did what they needed to do and Dallas got good defense from their supporting cast. KP put the topper on this one.
Porzingis with the exclamation point on the Dallas W ? pic.twitter.com/iwOJKX20fc
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 22, 2021
One of the most anticipated series has to be the Boston and Brooklyn series. This game was so much fun to watch. The Nets three of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden were all impressive. Jayson Tatum tried his best to fend the trio off.
Tatum with the stepback triple over KD ? pic.twitter.com/IltJUcrnuC
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 23, 2021
Kyrie played so fluid and with such ease all night.
Kyrie showing out early ? pic.twitter.com/GfIgnGUe3X
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 23, 2021
Video game moves by Kyrie ? pic.twitter.com/lThzFlZjSM
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 23, 2021
The scariest part of the game came when KD fell hard, he got right back up even though it looked like he may have dislocated his shoulder. He was fine and got right back up.
KD took a hard tumble late in the first half but seemed to be okay as he walked it off ? pic.twitter.com/OAFS5RCc0C
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 23, 2021
The Nets would go on to take the win over Boston in a convincing fashion.
The Nets are happening ? pic.twitter.com/K8bAcsK6Ty
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 23, 2021
In the final game of the night, the Denver Nuggets hosted the Portland Trail Blazers. Carmelo Anthony returned to Denver once again to a chorus of boos. The fans might have regretted that in the first quarter.
Playoff Melo is ALIVE ??
He has 12 points in 5 first quarter minutes against the Nuggets ? pic.twitter.com/INLUjOKVKt
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 23, 2021
Without Jamal Murray on the floor, the Nuggets have to get offense somewhere else. Markus Howard is great at getting buckets.
Markus Howard is nice with it ? pic.twitter.com/FuH1gEnVfN
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 23, 2021
Nurkic had a nice little dunk over the defender.
Nurkic with the rack attack ? pic.twitter.com/SolgNwcogh
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 23, 2021
Of course the Joker, Nikola Jokic was going to put in the work. Many see him as the regular season MVP.
Jokic is so nimble ?pic.twitter.com/aCblVzCl2O
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 23, 2021
Damian Lillard showed out of course. Here he is extending the Portland lead.
Dame is nice nice ? pic.twitter.com/wcgVWw9LKX
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 23, 2021
The Blazers would go on to win big against Denver. 123-109 at home is not how you want to start a playoff series if you are the Nuggets.
