By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun
ANKARA (AA) – The 2021 Playoffs started in the NBA as eight teams took the floor on Saturday night.
In the first match of the evening, the third-seeded in Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks, defeated the sixth-seeded Miami Heat 109-107 in the overtime period.
The Heat's superstar Jimmy Butler managed to extend the game to OT with a layup in the last second, but Khris Middleton had his own game-winner to finish the game in the extra time.
The second-seeded Brooklyn Nets — playing all three of its superstars — managed to topple seventh-seeded Boston Celtics 104-93, behind Durant's 32 points.
Nets' big three combined for 82 points, meanwhile Celtics' young star Jayson Tatum's 22 points were not enough.
In the Western Conference, fifth-seeded Dallas Mavericks surprised fourth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers as they got 113-103 win to lead the series 1-0.
For the Mavs, Luka Doncic performed a 30-point triple-double, Tim Hardaway Jr. chipped in with 21 points.
The sixth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers won against the third-seeded Denver Nuggets, behind Damian Lillard's 34 points and 13 assists.
*Results:
Eastern Conference
(3) Milwaukee Bucks – (6) Miami Heat: 109-107 (OT) (Heat lead series 1-0)
(2) Brooklyn Nets – (7) Boston Celtics: 104-93 (Nets lead series 1-0)
Western Conference
(4) Los Angeles Clippers – (5) Dallas Mavericks: 103-113 (Mavs lead series 1-0)
(3) Denver Nuggets – (6) Portland Trail Blazers: 109-123 (Blazers lead series 1-0)
*First team home team
