NBA Playoffs 2019: Live updates from Game 1 of Bucks-Celtics and Warriors-Rockets

NBA.com Staff

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NBA Playoffs 2019: Live updates from Game 1 of Bucks-Celtics and Warriors-Rockets image

The two Game 1s of the Conference Semifinals did not disappoint.

The Boston Celtics handled the Milwaukee Bucks on a stellar defensive performance from Al Horford on Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Golden State Warriors edged the Houston Rockets on a big game from Kevin Durant.

If you missed any of the action, we had you covered with live updates and highlights from the two Game 1s.

Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets

Final: Warriors 104, Rockets 100

It was a hectic finish at Oracle Arena where the Rockets had a chance to tie the game on a James Harden 3-point attempt in the final seconds.

Kevin Durant finished with a game-high 35 points, scoring nine points in the final quarter to close out the Rockets. Harden tried to will his team to victory scoring 10 points in the fourth, but fell one bucket short of extending the game.

Stephen Curry was the one who closed out the game with a clutch 3-pointer to put the Warriors up by 5 with under 30 seconds to go.

Also worth noting: Chris Paul was ejected in the final seconds of the fourth quarter.


End of third quarter: Warriors 83, Rockets 76

Kevin Durant caught fire in the third frame with 15 points on 4-for-7 shooting, getting to the free throw line often, burying seven of his nine free throw attempts.

He scored half of his team's points in the quarter, giving the Warriors' a seven-point advantage heading into the fourth.


Halftime: Warriors 53, Rockets 53

Houston closes the half on a 9-0 run to tie things up at the break.

After going 1-for-14 from beyond the arc in the first quarter, the Rockets finally got going from the perimeter. They converted eight of their 14 attempts from long range in the second quarter to cut the Warriors lead and tie things up before the half.

James Harden (16 points) and Eric Gordon (14 points) lead the Rockets' offence while a balanced scoring effort from Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green keep the Warriors going.


End of first quarter: Warriors 28, Rockets 19

Golden State uses a 10-0 run at the end of the first quarter to take a nine-point lead into the second.

Draymond Green is leading the way for the Warriors with eight points, five assists and four rebounds in the quarter, Kevon Looney has six points on perfect 3-for-3 shooting while both Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry have scored five points apiece.

James Harden is 2-for-9 from the field but is 5-for-5 from the free throw line for his game-high 10 points. After Harden, Eric Gordon has five points on 2-for-6 shooting and the Rockets are 5-for-21 (23.8%) from the field as a team and 1-for-14 (7.1%) from deep.

Golden State is 12-for-19 (63.2%) from the field and 2-for-4 (50%) from beyond the arc but has turned the ball over eight times already.

Pregame

After being listed as questionable, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are good to go and will start in Game 1

Houston will be without reserve guard Austin Rivers as he is out with an illness


Final: Celtics 112, Bucks 90 (Boston leads 1-0)

The Celtics steal home court from the Bucks with a 22-point win in Game 1.

Kyrie Irving led the way for Boston with 26 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds in 33 minutes of action. Al Horford got the job done on both ends of the floor as he finished with 20 points, 11 assists and three blocks while doing an excellent defensive job on Giannis Antetokounmpo, who finished with 22 points on 7-for-21 shooting.

Milwaukee suffers just its ninth home loss of the year as it loses home court advantage in the series opener.

As a team, the Bucks shot just 31-for-89 (34.8%) from the field and 13-for-39 (33.3%) from deep while the Celtics were 47-for-87 (54.0%) from the field and 13-for-31 (41.9%) from beyond the arc.

After Giannis, Milwaukee got 16 points (on 5-for-12 shooting) from Khris Middleton and 13 points from Nikola Mirotic, who was 5-for-9 from the field. Starters Brook Lopez (1-for-5), Sterling Brown (1-for-7) and Eric Bledsoe (1-for-5) combined to score 12 points on 3-for-17 (17.6%) shooting from the field.

End of third quarter:  Celtics 88, Bucks 71

Boston outscores Milwaukee 36-21 in the third frame to take a big 17-point lead into the fourth.

Al Horford led the way with 11 points in the third while Kyrie Irving scored six points, dished out five assists and grabbed four rebounds in the frame. Horford now has 17 points on the night while Kyrie is up to 19 points, nine assists and six rebounds.

Horford's doing it on both ends, too.


It's been a rough night for Giannis Antetokounmo, who is 4-for-16 from the field for 13 points while Khris Middleton has a team-high 16 points on 5-for-12 shooting from the field. The Bucks are now shooting 23-for-66 (34.8%) from the field on the game.

Halftime:  Celtics 52, Bucks 50

After trailing by as many as 15 points, the Bucks close the half on a 25-12 run to cut the halftime deficit to two points.

Kyrie Irving leads the way for the Celtics with 13 points (on 6-for-10 shooting) and four assists while Gordon Hayward has added 10 points (on 4-for-6 shooting) off the bench.

Boston finishes the first half shooting an impressive 51.2% percent from the field.


Khris Middleton spearheaded the Bucks second-quarter run as he finishes the first half with a game-high 14 points including 3-for-4 shooting from deep. Milwaukee's MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has scored eight points(on 2-for-7 shooting) while both George Hill and Nikola Mirotic have each added nine points off the bench.

Despite shooting 37.5% from the field, Milwaukee has stayed in the game with its 3-point shooting and ability to get to the line. The Bucks are 8-for-20 from deep and have connected on 12 of their 15 free throw attempts. Boston has hit just five threes and is 3-for-4 from the charity stripe.

End of first quarter: Celtics 26, Bucks 17

The Celtics are everywhere defensively to start this game, keeping the Bucks to 17 points on 27.8 percent shooting from the field in the first quarter.

Khris Middleton and George Hill were the only players on the Bucks to make a field goal in the opening frame. They were a combined 5-for-9. Everyone else on the team was 0-for-9.

Giannis Antetokounmpo in particular struggled, with his only point coming from the free throw line.


Kyrie Irving, meanwhile, is off to a strong start for the Celtics with eight early points.


Pregame

Boston is going with a starting lineup of Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Marcus Morris Sr. and Al Horford.


No surprise here, as the Bucks stick with the starting lineup of Eric Bledsoe, Sterling Brown, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez


NBA.com Staff

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