2019 NBA Playoffs Capsule Recaps 4/15/19: Warriors Blow 31-point Lead, Sixers Bounce Back

Philadelphia 76ers 145 – Brooklyn Nets 123

After being booed by their own fans after a Game 1 loss, the Philadelphia 76ers flipped the script in Game 2 and came out with a vengeance.  The game was close through the first half, with the Brooklyn Nets going into the half trailing by just one point, but the Nets had a complete collapse in the third quarter.

The 76ers went on a 14-0 run to start the third quarter and they went on to score 51 points in the third quarter, which topped their entire scoring output in the second half of Game 1.

The Nets seemed to go away from what worked for them the best in Game 1 when the game was on the line. Instead of using ball movement, and the pick-and-roll plays the 76ers struggle to defend, they started to settle for hero ball when they got desperate.  Caris LeVert tried to take over the game several times but relied on isos to try to score, but he often couldn’t finish or didn’t know where to go with the basketball when the defense cut off his drive.

Philadelphia was led by Joel Embiid, who had 23 points and 10 rebounds. Ben Simmons bounced back from a subpar Game 1 to finish with a triple-double of  18 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds, and Boban Marjanovic had a big night off the bench with 16 points and eight rebounds.

The series now shifts to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center for Game 3 on Thursday night and Game 4 on Saturday.

Los Angeles Clippers 135 – Golden State Warriors 131

If you decided to turn your TV off due to the late start and the blowout that was happening in Oakland during Game 2 of the Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers series, you missed out on the greatest comeback ever in the NBA playoffs, as the Los Angeles Clippers never gave in and persevered, even when down 31 points to pull out an unlikely victory.

Several Clippers played a big role in the comeback. Patrick Beverley’s defense, including a strip of Stephen Curry and putting the clamps on a much-taller Kevin Durant was tenacious. Montrezl Harrell came off the bench showing the same fire he did in Game 1, snatching away rebounds and scoring at the rim, and the Warriors defense seemingly had no answer for Lou Williams.

Then when the game was on the line, rookie Landry Shamet, who was acquired in the trade deadline deal sending Tobias Harris to Philadelphia, knocked down the dagger three-pointer to finish the job.

The Clippers outscored the Warriors 85-58 in the second half and dominated with scoring in the paint. Lou Williams led all scorers with 36 points and 11 assists.

The Clippers have now taken control of home court as the series moves to Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4. Game 3 is on Thursday and the Warriors will be without DeMarcus Cousins, who suffered a quad injury that could be significant.