NBA ‘scapegoat’ sends message to Lakers as contender ‘exposed’; title twist as superstars go down: Wrap

NBA ‘scapegoat’ sends message to Lakers as contender ‘exposed’; title twist as superstars go down: Wrap

Milwaukee superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and Memphis star guard Ja Morant suffered serious injuries that threatened to disrupt two title contenders on Sunday in NBA playoff series-opening defeats.

The Los Angeles Lakers took advantage of Morant’s absence late in the fourth quarter for a late surge that produced a 128-112 victory at Memphis while the top-seeded host Bucks, who lost their Greek star in the first quarter, fell 130-117 to the eighth-seeded Miami Heat.

Who will win it all? Watch the NBA Playoffs and every game of the NBA Finals LIVE on ESPN on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

Morant screams in agony after nasty fall | 00:41

Mon, 17 Apr

Monday April 17th

Giannis Antetokounmpo injured during Game One. Stacy Revere/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

“We’ll monitor him,” said Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer, who added an x-ray came back “clear” on Antetokounmpo.

“We have to wait and see what the doctors say… you’ve got to take it day by day and see how he’s doing and how he feels.”

The Heat, among the NBA’s worst 3-point shooting teams this season, made 15-of-25 from beyond the arc at Milwaukee.

Jimmy Butler led Miami with 35 points and 11 assists while Bam Adebayo added 22 points and Kevin Love had 18 off the bench. Gabe Vincent was 4-of-5 from 3-point range and Love was 4-of-7 on 3-pointers.

With Antetokounmpo scoring only eight points, Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 33 points and Bobby Portis added 21 off the bench.

While the Bucks had gone 11-8 in games without Antetokounmpo this season, the Heat led by as many as 15 points with the big man gone.

Miami suffered its own injury setback when guard Tyler Herro suffered a broken right hand diving for a loose ball in the final seconds of the second quarter and did not return for the second half.

Herro is reportedly set to be sidelined for between four and six weeks.

Antetokounmpo averaged 31.1 points and 11.8 rebounds a game this season, ranking in the NBA’s top five in both categories for a Bucks squad that had an NBA-best 58-24 record.

Memphis ranked second in the Western Conference at 51-31 and Morant averaged 26.2 points a game.

Herro averaged 20.1 points a game for the Heat this season.

– Clippers defeat Suns –

Kawhi Leonard scored 13 of his game-high 38 points in the fourth quarter to spark the Los Angeles Clippers to a 115-110 victory at Phoenix in their series opener.

Russell Westbrook, who the Lakers traded to their city rivals in February, had nine points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and three blocked shots, the biggest on Devin Booker in the final seconds to help seal victory.

Kevin Durant had 27 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds but suffered his first loss since joining the Suns from Brooklyn.

Aussie Jock Landale impressed in his eight minutes off the bench. He scored four points to go with a block and two rebounds.

Clippers forward Paul George was out with a sprained right knee and is questionable for the playoffs.

– Lakers stun Grizzlies to send statement –

Japan’s Rui Hachimura came off the Lakers bench to match an NBA record for reserve playoff scoring with 29 points while a closing 30-11 LA run.

“That’s probably the best game he has had in his career,” Memphis’ Desmond Bane said of Hachimura.

“Let’s see if he can do it again on Wednesday.”

Austin Reaves, making his playoff debut, scored 14 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter for the Lakers after Memphis opened the period with an 11-2 run for a 101-98 lead.

Anthony Davis had 22 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocked shots for the Lakers while LeBron James contributed 21 points, 11 rebounds and five assists and D’Angelo Russell added 19 points and a game-high seven assists.

It was the first time since 1988 the Lakers had four players with 20 or more points in a playoff game.

Jaren Jackson led Memphis with 31 points