The first round of the NBA playoffs rolled out Monday in Orlando with the Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors and the Denver Nuggets emerging on top.
LA Clippers 118, Mavericks 110
Kawhi Leonard of the LA Clippers dribbles the ball up court during Round One, Game One of the NBA Playoffs on August 17, 2020 at AdventHealth Arena in Orlando, Florida. (AFP)
The Clippers withstood another stellar performance from Luka Doncic and had an advantage in the ejection of Kristaps Porzongis to get past the Mavericks 118-110 in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series.
Doncic scored 42 points and had nine assists and seven rebounds in his playoff debut.
He made history as he broke the most points for a player in his NBA playoff debut. Doncic broke John Williamson's record of 38 points in 1979.
Doncic was also the first 21-year-old to score 40 since LeBron James with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2006.
Porzingis was ejected when he received his second technical foul in the third quarter for arguing a call.
Kawhi Leonard had 29 points and 12 rebounds and Paul George added 27 points for the Clippers.
Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 18 and Porzingis and Seth Curry had 14 markers each for Dallas.
Celtics 109, Sixers 101
Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics goes up for a shot over Josh Richardson of the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half of Game One of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 17, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (AFP)
The Boston Celtics beat an undermanned Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference playoff series.
Jayson Tatum scored 32 points and hauled down 13 rebounds to lead the Celtics past the Sixers, 109-101.
Joel Embiid carried the load for the Sixers who were without Ben Simmons who is out indefinitely following knee surgery. Embiid topscored with 26 points and 16 rebounds while Alec Burks and Josh Richardson added 18 points each.
Jaylen Brown added 29 for the Celtics. Kemba Walker chipped in 19.
Celtics' Gordon Hayward injured his ankle when he stepped on the foot of teammate Daniel Theis.
Raptors 134, Nets 110
Fred VanVleet of the Toronto Raptors handles the ball against the Brooklyn Nets during Round One, Game One of the NBA Playoffs on August 17, 2020 in Orlando, Florida at AdventHealth Arena. (AFP)
The Toronto Raptors cruised past the Brooklyn Nets 134-110 in the first game of their first round best-of-seven Eastern Conference playoff series.
The defending champions rained triples on the Nets, with Fred VanVleet scoring most of his 30 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the outside.
Toronto shot a sizzling 22-of-44 from three-point range, matching a season-high and matched a franchise playoff record.
Serge Ibaka had 22 points, Pascal Siakam had 18 points and 11 rebounds, Kyle Lowry had 16 points and seven rebounds, and Marc Gasol scored 13 for Toronto.
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot matched a carrer-high 26 points, Joe Harris scored 19, and Caris LeVert had 15 points and 15 assists for Brooklyn who trailed the Raptors all throughout the game.
Nuggets 135, Jazz 125
Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets drives to the basket against the Utah Jazz during Round One, Game One of the NBA Playoffs on August 17, 2020 in Orlando, Florida at The Field House. (AFP)
The Denver Nuggets bucked 57 points from Donovan Mitchell and held on to win against the Utah Jazz in overtime 135-125 in Game 1 of their first round Western Conference playoff matchup.
Mitchell's 57 markers is a playoff record and surpassed Karl Malone's 50 set against the Seattle Supersonics in 2000.
Jamal Murray scored 10 of his 36 points in the extra period to lead Denver to victory.
Denver had a chance to win in regulation but Nikola Jokic missed a hook shot at the end of the fourth quarter.
Utah played without guard Mike Conley who attended to the birth of his son in Ohio. The infant was named Elijah Michael.
Mitchell lamented a play in which he was called for an eight-second violation and which enabled the Nuggets to score a triple in the return play and get back in the game.
ADD:
The World Wrestling Entertainment will tape episodes of its wrestling shows under the "Thunderdome" setup at the Amway Arena, home of the Orlando Magic.
Under the Thunderdome setup, fans will be seen cheering wrestlers in video boards in real time, similar to what is being seen in the bubble games.
Only essential personnel will be in attendance at Anway, WWE said.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said physical distancing will be implemented and wrestlers and WWE staff will get regular virus testing
WWE said Amway will be hosting the WWE matches for the ''foreseeable future." (Compiled by Tristan Lozano)