NBA playoffs wraps up first round

Drew Bogumill Staff Writer

The first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs is close to an end, and there is plenty to talk about.

Starting with a huge upset, No. 8 Miami sent No. 1 Milwaukee home after only five games. The Heat’s Jimmy Butler dominated in the series, averaging 37.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists — including an incredible 56-point performance in game four.

In perhaps the most exciting series of the first round, the Golden State Warriors overcame the Sacramento Kings in seven games. This series was back-and-forth the whole way, but in the final game, the Warriors handled the Kings with ease, as Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry dropped 50 points.

Cleveland also saw the end of their season, coming up short against the New York Knicks. The Miami Heat are facing the Knicks in the second round of the playoffs.

In a very anticipated matchup, the Los Angeles Clippers took on the Phoenix Suns and their new superstar, Kevin Durant. After the first two games, it looked as though the series may go the distance, but Phoenix won four games straight to take the series 4-1.

“I’m very disappointed with how the series went,” said Tucker Sutton, a junior accounting manager. “Kawhi Leonard is my favorite player, and to see him and Paul George having to deal with injuries right now is very sad because I believe we would have really had a chance to win the series with them healthy.”

In another Western Conference matchup, the No. 1 Denver Nuggets took on the No. 8 Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Timberwolves barely avoided getting swept, winning game four in overtime, but Denver closed it out the next game, with big performances from stars Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic.

The No. 2 Boston Celtics faced off against the No. 7 Atlanta Hawks. The series proved to be closer than many expected, with Trae Young consistently playing exceptionally well, but Boston finished the series in the six games.

“The series was exciting but did not go exactly as I wanted,” said Jackson Kiser, a sophomore business major. “I am a Hawks fan, so it really hurts to see the season end, but I still had fun watching the series.”

The Philadelphia 76ers went head-to-head against the Brooklyn Nets for the last series in the Eastern Conference.

The 76ers, backed by superstars Joel Embiid and James Harden, swept the my family here makes it, obviously, a very special day,” Sapp said. “To get to have your family see the special day we had and get to be here and celebrate. It has been a long baseball career, so it was very special. Coming out

Nets and are now facing the Celtics in round two.

The No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers took down the No. 2 Memphis Grizzlies in six games. There was a lot of talk around, and in, these games, especially involving Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks. Brooks talked a lot of trash at the beginning of the series, but was quickly hushed by the king himself, LeBron James.

After Brooks’ comments, the Lakers won three

“We just have to continue to do what we always do,” said head coach Nolan Belcher. “If we show up to practice, work hard, concentrate on the little things and prepare the right way, then, hopefully, that will translate to good success in the tournament.” of the next four games.

The Bobcats will play Columbus State again for the first game of the PBC Tournament on Friday, May 5, at Georgia Southwestern University.

“I really want the Lakers to win the whole thing,” said Alex Paparo, a sophomore philosophy major. “Seeing LeBron get a fifth ring would be awesome, and it would officially cement him as the greatest basketball player of all-time.”

The 2023 NBA Playoffs have already been full of excitement and surprises. Fans can only speculate as for what’s to come next.