NBA playoffs winners and losers: LeBron James struggles as Rockets stay alive, Payton Pritchard heats up
CBS Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- The Raptors, Spurs, Celtics, and Rockets all won their NBA playoff games on Sunday, keeping the second round of the playoffs undecided as no team has yet clinched advancement.
- The Raptors tied their series with the Cavaliers 2-2 in a defensive, low-scoring game, while the Spurs overcame a 17-point halftime deficit to lead their series 3-1 against the Trail Blazers.
- The Celtics recorded their largest road playoff win in franchise history against the 76ers, taking a 3-1 series lead, with Payton Pritchard scoring 32 points off the bench.
- The Rockets avoided a series sweep by defeating the Lakers 115-96, with Amen Thompson leading Houston's offense and LeBron James having a rare poor performance with just 10 points and eight turnovers.
- Key performers included rookie Collin Murray-Boyles for the Raptors with crucial defense and rebounds, De’Aaron Fox for the Spurs with a strong second-half showing, and Boston’s dominance on the boards against Philadelphia, while notable struggles came from LeBron James, the Cavaliers' backcourt duo, and Scoot Henderson of the Trail Blazers.
