CELTICS, SIXERS, MAGIC, CAVS, LAKERS, HORNETS, SPURS, JAZZ HAVE FIRST BLOOD

 

OK, it was showtime. 16 teams, eight per conference, paired off for a seven game series. And for the survivors that would just be for starters. For the home teams in Game 1 it's always crucial to hold your home court otherwise you're relying on the mercy of the opposition, not always a good idea. Still, there was nothing left to say at this point but "play ball".

In the East, the Celtics faced the Hawks in Boston. Spot the difference between the team that had caught fire in the regular season and the one that...hadn't. Not a hard task. The Hawks couldn't handle the Celtics defence, with Garnett playing his part by contributing 10 rebounds along with his 28 points. Hawks have their work cut out for the rest of the series, Celtics win this one 104-81.

The Pistons faced the Sixers in Detroit. The Pistons were unlikely to lose this one and looked to pulverise the Sixers, even finding time to chillout with a watching ex-Piston during timeouts! The Sixers started something resembing a comeback in the third but the Pistons were still leading 70-63 with a quarter to go. The Sixers still had the momentum though and Andre Miller led the comeback as the Sixers won 90-86 to make the series a bit more interesting.

The Magic faced the Raptors in Orlando. Well the home side were in no mood to hang around and pulverised the visitors in the first quarter. Credit to the Raptors though, they nibbled away and the deficit in the second and third quarters but it wasn't good enough and Dwight Howard banked 25 points to give the Magic and 114-100 win, their first playoff win since '03!

The Cavs faced the Wizards in Cleveland. It was actually the Wizards that had the early pace in the game and it was all the Cavs could do in the second quarter to make sure things were tied at half time. Even then, the Wizards were leading 69-65 at the end of three. However you aren't going to keep LeBron down all game and his 20 second half points gave his side a 93-86 win.

In the West, the Lakers faced the Nuggets in LA. Well the Lakers had the edge in the first quarter but the Nuggets did have a nibble back in the second, anyone's game at half time. However the visitors were blown away in the third and the credit for that really goes to Paul Gasol with 36 points in the game. The fourth quarter was really a lost cause, Lakers won 128-114.

The Hornets faced the Mavs in New Orleans. Well the Mavs certainly knew that they had the class to cause an upset and they ran the show throughout the first half leading 52-40 at half time. The Hornets steamed back into the picture though, turning the game round in the third with Chris Paul coming up with 35 points in his first ever playoff game. Hornets won 104-92.

The Spurs faced the Suns in San Antonio. Shaq got fouled a lot in the first half leading to the big man complaining about "floppers" after the game but his side were still leading 48-40. The Spurs took a nibble out of that lead in third third quarter but it took a stronger fourth quarter for them to really get back into the game but even then, they were only able to tie things up at 93, forcing overtime!

Overtime proved to be tight with each side only getting the odd shot off, the Suns looked to have pulled off an upset at one point but the Spurs still came back to tie the game at 104. Cue second overtime with was more of the same, the Spurs having the edge this time but the Suns were matching them and the Manu Ginobli made the late drive to win the game 117-115. This one is going to be explosive.

Finally, the Jazz faced the Rockets in Houston. The Rockets weren't helped by an injury to at least one key player but the Jazz never really gave them a way into the match. They didn't anhiliate the Rockets, more like nibble them to death. Andrei Kirilenko led the way with 21 points and the Jazz won 93-82 which leaves the Rockets with a nervy sense of deja vu.

That's just Game 1.

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