NBA PLAYOFFS (FIRST-ROUND OPENERS)…
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Toronto 134 – Brooklyn 110… The Raptors made 22 of 44 3-point attempts in bombing the Nets. Fred VanVleet was 8-of-10 from beyond the arc and led all scorers with 30 points. Serge Ibaka delivered 22 points off the bench. Game 2 is tomorrow.
Boston 109 – Philadelphia 101… The Celtics came up big in the fourth quarter to rally past the 76ers. Jayson Tatum piled up 32 points and 10 rebounds. Jaylen Brown added 29 points. Game 2 is tomorrow.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Denver 135 – Utah 125 (OT)… Jamal Murray scored 10 of his 36 points in the overtime period as the Nuggets spurted past the Jazz. Nikola Jokic had 29 points and 10 boards. Donovan Mitchell’s 57 points weren’t enough for Utah. Game 2 is tomorrow.
L.A. Clippers 118 – Dallas 110… Kawhi Leonard put up 29 points and 12 rebounds as the Clippers held off the Mavericks. Paul George tossed in 27 points. Luka Doncic scored a game-high 42 points for Dallas, which lost Kristaps Porzingis in the third quarter following his ejection for picking up his second technical foul. Game 2 is tomorrow.