Series 1 and 2
The 2017 Warriors and 2005 Mavericks win the first two series in Region 1, time for the next two.
5. 2015 LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS V. 12. 1992 PHOENIX SUNS
I don't think we've seen a team from the 2010s lose to any earlier squad; that 3 ball era has so far been too much for the past to overcome, we'll see if that plays out here.
Clippers: 56-26, 2nd in Pac Div, 1st in Off, 15th in Def.
d. Spurs West First Rnd 4-3
Lost Rockets West Semis 4-3
#65 overall seed
Coach: Doc Rivers
Starters:
C D.Jordan (26 Texas A&M) 11.5 PPG 21 PER 12.8 Win Shares
F B.Griffin (25 Oklahoma) 21.9 22.8 9
F M.Barnes (34 UCLA) 10.1 11.3 4.3
G C.Paul (29 Wake Forest) 19.1 26 16.1
G JJ Redick (30 Duke) 16.4 16.2 6.7
Rotation Reserves
C S.Hawes (26 Washington) 5.8 9.8 1.2
F G.Davis (29 LSU) 4 10.8 1.4
F H.Turkoglu (35) 3.7 10.5 1.2
G A.Rivers (22 Duke) 7.1 10.6 .8
G J.Crawford (34 Michigan) 15.8 16.6 3.6
Leaders: Griffin 4th in 2s, Redick in 3s, Jordan 1st in Rebounds, Paul 1st in Assists, Paul 1st in Steals, Jordan 3rd in Blocks, Jordan 1st in FG%, Jordan 1st in Rebounds/Gm, Paul Assists/Gm, Paul 5th Steals/GM, Jordan 4th Blocks/Gm, Jordan 1st Effective FG%, Jordan 1st Rebound %, Paul 1st Asst %, Jordan 4th Block %, Paul 1st Off Win Shares, Jordan 1st Def Win Shares.
CP3 leads the league in offensive Win Shares, Jordan in defensive Win Shares and when you add Griffin, that's a strong trio.
Suns: 53-29, 3rd in Pac Div, 5th in Off, 8th in Def.
d. Spurs West First Round 3-0
d. Blazers West Semis 4-1
#192 overall seed
Coach: Cotton Fitzsimmons
Starters:
C A.Lang (25 Arkansas) 7.7 PPG 13.8 PER 5.8 Win Shares
F T.Chambers (32 Utah) 16.3 15.9 4.4
F D.Majerle (26 Central Mich) 17.3 17.8 9.8
G K.Johnson (25 Cal) 19.7 19.9 10
G J.Hornacek (28 Iowa St) 20.1 18.9 11.6
Rotation Reserves:
C M.West (31 Old Dominion) 6.1 12.5 3.9
F T.Perry (26 Temple) 12.3 13.8 5.7
F E.Nealy (31 Kansas St) 3.1 12.9 1.5
G N.Knight (24 Dayton) 5.8 11.1 .5
G C.Ceballos (22 Cal St Fullerton) 7.2 16.9 1.3
Leaders: Johnson 2nd Assists, Johnson 2nd Assts/Gm, Johnson 3rd Asst %, Lang 4th Block %
KJ and Hornacek are both double digit Win Shares, nobody is over 20 PER.
Compare Lineups
C Jordan Clips
C Jordan Clips
F Griffin Clips
F Majerle Suns
G Paul Clips
G Hornacek Suns
Bench Suns
So - the Clips have the two best players on the floor, but all in all the rosters are comparable. Clips are favored here.
GAME ONE
FIRST QTR:
11:50: LA: Matt Barnes 2FT 2-0 Clips
11:36: PHO: Tom Chambers 1 FT 2-1
10:28: PHO: Jeff Hornacek 2 FT 3-2 Suns
8:42: LA: Barnes 2 FT 4-3 Clips
7:27: PHO: Hornacek from 17, KJ assist, 5-4 Suns
7:07: LA: Chris Paul long 2, Griffin asst, 6-5 Clips
6:50: PHO: Hornacek left wing 3, Lang asst, 8-6 Suns
4:39: PHO: Andrew Lang scoop, Majerle asst, 10-6
4:30: LA: DeAndre Jordan drives the baseline, Griffin asst, 10-8
4:18: PHO: Hornacek contested from 16, KJ asst, 12-8
4:06: LA: JJ Redick buries a 3 from the top of the arc, Jordan asst, 12-11
3:48: PHO: Helluva quarter for Horacek, he cruises in for a layup, 14-11
3:36: LA: Barnes from the left wing, CP3 assit, 14-13
3:21: PHO: Dan Majerle from the foul line, KJ asst, 16-13
3:06: PHO: Chambers right side J, Majerle asst, 18-13
2:53: LA: Ooh, Ahh...it's Blake Griffin tearing home a dunk, 18-15
2:46: PHO Kevin Johnson from the right wing, Hornacek asst, 20-15
2:12: PHO: Chambers 1 FT 21-15
1:57: LA: Jamal Crawford layuop, Paul asst 21-17
:59: LA: CP3 from the paint, 21-19
:17: LA: Spencer Hawes 21-21
FIRST QTR SCORE: CLIPS 21 SUNS 21
10 for Hornacek and we're tied heading to the second.
SECOND QTR:
11:20: LA: Glen Davis 2 FT 23-21 Clips
10:29: PHO: Negele Knight pull up J, 23-23
10:10: LA: Crawford corner 3, Rivers asst, 26-23
9:06: LA: Hedo Turkoglu 3 from the wing, 29-23 Clips
8:48: LA: Austin Rivers dunk, big start to the quarter for the Clippers. 31-23
8:08: PHO: Cedric Ceballos bank from the right side. 31-25
7:50: PHO: Tim Perry from the right side, 31-27
7:08: PHO: Ceballos from the wing and that's 6 straight from the ring, 31-29
6:46: PHO: Ed Nealy 2 FT 31-31
6:32: LA: Blake Griffin from the foul line, Paul asst, 33-31
6:25: PHO: KJ from the wing, 33-33
6:16: LA: Barnes 1 FT 34-33
5:33: LA: Griffin 2 FT 36-33
5:25: PHO: KJ driving layup, 36-35
4:23: PHO: Perry one hander from the block, Majerle asst, Suns take the lead, 37-36
4:11: LA: Crawford 3 from the wing, the modern team starting to unload the 3s, 39-37
3:57: PHO: Hornacek long 2, 39-39
3:25: PHO: Perry in traffic 41-39
2:56: LA: Griffin banks one in, CP3 assit 41-41
2:25: LA: Barnes corner 3, there's another Clipper 3, 44-41
2:15: PHO: Mark West off glass, 44-43
2:05: LA: Griffin 2 FT 46-43
1:42: LA: Griffin jump hook, Paul asst, 48-43
1:16: LA: Redick 3 ball from the corner, 51-43
:57: PHO: Hornacek flashes in for a dunk, KJ asst, 51-45
:44: LA: Griffin powers home a dunk, Crawford asst, 53-45
:21: PHO: Tim Perry from the block, 53-47
:00: LA: Matt Barnes hits a 3 from half court! 56-47
HALFTIME: CLIPS 56 SUNS 47
6 three pointers in the quarter; here's another team from the 2010s just pouring home the 3 ball.
11:39: LA: CP3 banks one from the wing, 58-47
10:12: PHO: Majerle 3 from the top, 58-50
9:26: LA: Crawford from the wing, Paul asst, 60-50
9:16: PHO: Thunder Dan Majerle pounds one down, 60-52
7:06: LA: Blake gets the dish from Paul, drives to the goal and the foul, 63-52
6:39: LA: DeAndre Jordan gets the tough inside bucket, he picks up the foul, 66-52
5:49: PHO: KJ 2 FT 66-54
5:34: LA: Blake in traffic 68-54
4:57: PHO: KJ hits a foul line J, 68-56
4:45: LA: Jordan finger roll, 70-56
3:33: PHO: West drills a bank shot, KJ assist, 70-58
3:25: LA: Griffin foul line turnaround, Paul asst, 72-58
2:56: LA: Blake from the paint, Crawford assist, 74-58
2:01: LA: CP3 hits a triple from the wing - that probably salts game one. 77-58
1:47: PHO: Lang 2 FT 77-60
1:13: PHO: KJ 1 FT 77-61
:41: LA: Griffin 2 FT 79-61
:24: PHO: Chambers contested bank, Knight asst, 79-63
THIRD QTR SCORE CLIPS 79 SUNS 63
Looks like game one is all but in the books, the favored Clips just cruising now.
FOURTH QUARTER:
11:46: LA: CP3 short J, 81-63 Clips
11:24: PHO: Majerle from 10 81-65
10:46: LA: Blake the nice flip shot, 83-65
10:35: PHO: Chambers goes off glass 83-67
10:18: LA: Barnes foul line J, 85-67
10:05: PHO: Hornacek from the block 85-69
9:32: PHO: West muscles his way to the hole, 85-71
9:08: LA: DeAndre from 4 feet, 87-71
8:51: PHO: Lang gets the put back, 87-73
8:27: PHO: Lang nice short turnaround, 87-75
8:00: PHO: Chambers busts a long 2, KJ assists and theyve cut it to 10, 87-77
7:00: PHO: Perry lays it in, Hornacesk asst, it's single digits 87-79
6:43: LA: But the Clips counter with the 3 ball - it's Paul from the corner 90-79
6:27: PHO: KJ with the nice layup, 90-81
5:30: PHO: West tips it in and the lead is cut to 7, 90-83
5:22: LA: Jordan 1 FT 91-83
So, at the 5 minute mark, the Suns are hanging around, trailing by 8.
4:26: LA: Crawford hits the long 2, 93-83
4:11: LA: Blake hits a long 2, 95-83
4:04: PHO: Majerle from the wing, 95-85
3:48: LA: Griffin flies in for a rip roaring dunk, 97-85, does that do it?
3:39: PHO: Majerle hits a dead red 3, 97-88
3:28: LA: CP3 from the foul line, 99-88
2:47: LA: CP3 lays it in, 101-88
2:39: PHO: Hornacek 2 FT 101-90
2:23: PHO: Chambers 1 FT 101-91
2:02: LA: Redick hits the floater, 103-91
2 minutes left.
1:57: PHO: Chambers corner 3, 103-94
1:53: LA: Barnes 2 FT, 105-94
1:44: LA: Paul 1 FT 106-94
1:34: LA: Paul 2 FT 108-94
1:25: PHO: Steve Burtt from the lane, 108-96
1:00: PHO: Knight hits a 3 from the wing, 108-99
:59: LA: Paul 2 FT 110-99
:49: PHO: Hornacek 3, 110-102
:47: LA: Griffin 2 FT 112-102
:16: PHO: Majerle 3, 112-105
:12: LA: Griffin 1 FT 113-105
:08: PHO: The Suns closing hard, Hornacek 3, but it's a little late, 113-108
:07: LA: Griffin 1 FT 114-108
:02: PHO: Majerle hits a 3 114-111
:00: LA: Griffin hits 2 more foul shots and it's done.
FINAL: CLIPS 116 SUNS 111
The Suns hit nearly 50% from 3, driving hard at the end of the game, but couldn't quite overcome the 16 pt deficit and the Clips take Game 1. The Clips big 3 all come up huge.
Griffin 37 pts, 10 boards - Player of the Game
Paul 23 pts, 16 assists
Jordan - 10 pts, 26 boards
Barnes - 17 pts
Crawford - 12 pts
Majerle - 20 pts, 10 boards, 7 assists
Hornacek - 25 pts, 5 assts
Johnson - 13 pts, 16 assts, 6 boards
Chambers - 14 pts, 7 boards
Lang - 8 pts, 12 boards
Perry - 10 pts, 4 boards
GAME TWO
1ST QUARTER
11:51 LA: JJ Redick comes right out and nails a shot from the wing, Clips 2-0
11:44: PHO: The Suns shot the hell out of the 3 ball in game one, Majerle gets one here. 3-2
11:33: LA: Blake Griffin from 16, Paul asst, 4-3
11:04: LA: Bombs away for Redick, 7-3
10:20: LA: Chris Paul from the lane, 9-3
10:03: LA: DeAndre Jordan from the block, 11-3, look out, Clips trying to end this series.
9:49: PHO: Kevin Johnson in traffic, 11-5
9:42: LA: Jordan hits the runner, 13-5
9:18: PHO: Andrew Lang buries a 9 footer, KJ asst, 13-7
9:08: LA: Jordan from the paint, 15-7
8:51: PHO: Lang midrange, Hornacek asst and the foul, 15-10
8:36: LA: DeAndre Jordan gets the putback 17-10
8:23 PHO: Dan Majerle hits a floater, KJ asst, 17-12
7:52: PHO: Jeff Hornacek hits an 18 footer, Chambers asst, 17-14
6:34: LA: Griffin lays it in, CP3 asst, 19-14
6:25: PHO: Hornacek drives hard for the layin, 19-16
5:33 PHO: Tom Chambers skies in for a hard dunk, 19-18
4:58: LA: Griffin from the wing and the foul, 22-18
4:39: PHO: KJ banks one in, Hornacek asst, 22-20
4:19: PHO: Majerle pounds home a huge dunk and ties the score, 22-22
3:51: LA: Matt Barnes drills a dead eye 3. 25-22
3:40: PHO: Hornacek hits a long 2, Majerle asst, 25-24
3:32: PHO: Hornacek corner 3 and the Suns take the lead. 27-25
2:48: LA: Blake gets the putback 27-27
2:11: PHO: Mark West drives to the goal, 29-27
1:53: LA: Jordan dunks home a Paul lob and gets the foul, 30-29 Clips
1:07: LA: Austin Rivers 2 FT 32-29
:42: LA: Rivers 1 FT 33-29
:12: PHO: Cedric Ceballos layup, 33-31
:03: LA: Rivers hits the floater, 35-31
:00: PHO: Ceballos at the buzzer, 35-33
FIRST QUARTER SCORE: CLIPS 35 SUNS 33
That could be the highest scoring first quarter of the tournament to date; Jordan's got 11 for LA, Hornacek 9 for the Suns.
SECOND QTR:
10:36: PHO Tim Perry goes high off glass and it's tied 35-35
10:25: LA: Hedo Turkoglu hits a corner 3, 38-35
10:17: PHO: Knight 1 FT 38-36
9:41: LA: CP3 drives to the tin and gets fouled, 41-36
9:28: PHO: Hornacek elevates and rocks one home, 41-38
8:34: LA: Jamal Crawford hits a corner 3, 44-38
7:59: LA: Uh oh - Blake steps back for a 3 and now it's 47-38
7:49: PHO: Hornacek layup, 47-40
7:31: PHO: KJ 2 FT 47-42
7:18: LA: Crawford hits a 3 from the wing, that's a dozen Clipper points in the last 2:30 minutes. 50-42
7:11: PHO: KJ 2 FT 50-54
6:55: LA: Griffin finger roll, 52-44
6:24: LA: Griffin layup from Paul, 54-44
6:05: LA: Redick corner 3, Paul assist, 57-44
5:39: LA: Barnes corner 3, Paul assist and that's that, the Clippers have just slapped down the Suns, 60-44
5:20: PHO: Lang 2 FT 60-46
4:46: PHO: Chambers left side step back J, 60-48
3:22: PHO: Chambers 2 FT 60-50
3:07: LA: CP3 triples from the left wing, the 3 ball for the modern teams has just been a full assult on the rest of NBA history to date in this tournament. 63-50
2:28: PHO: KJ 2 FT 63-52
2:21: LA: CP3 layup 65-52
2:09: PHO: West 2 FT 65-54
1:58: LA: Blake hits a long 2, 67-54
1:40: LA: Crawford slamma jamma 69-54
1:30: PHO: Perry from the lane 69-56
1:02: PHO: West fadeaway, 69-58
:45: PHO: Majerle long 2, 69-60
:32: LA: Griffin ends the half with a long 2, 71-60
HALFTIME SCORE: CLIPS 71 SUNS 60
Just a helluva performance for the Clippers, just burying Phoenix in points; honestly, also a pretty good effort from the Suns just to stay alive. Griffin's got 20.
THIRD QUARTER
11:48: PHO: Chambers 2 FT 71-62
11:29: LA: Glen Davis flips it in, 73-62
10:35: PHO: Ed Nealy baseline J, 73-64
10:21: LA: Big Baby Davis hits a ten footer 75-64
8:51: LA: Redick 2 FT 77-64
7:49: LA: CP3 hits a 3 from the top of the arc, the lead is now 16, it's over, 80-64
6:46: LA: Blake hits the bank, 82-64
6:31: LA: Blae again, it's a 20 point Clipper lead. 84-64
5:39: PHO: Majerle layup. 84-66
5:17: PHO: Majerle again, 84-68
5:00: LA: Barnes hits a driving layup, and the foul, 87-68
4:27: LA: Blake from the block, 89-68
3:34: LA: Crawford hits a long 2, Paul asst, it's a beating, 91-68
2:34: LA: Turkoglu hits a 3 from the wing, 94-68
1:29: PHO: Knight hits a dead on triple. 94-71
:48: PHO: Crawford short turnaround, 96-71
:26: LA: CP3 flies in for a dunk, the Clippers are going to sweep this series 98-71
THIRD QTR CLIPS 98 SUNS 71
Just a matter of finishing this one off; the Clippers will advance to the next round.
FOURTH QTR;
11:13: LA: Redick comes out and hits a 3, 101-71
10:45: LA: Jordan 1 FT 102-71
10:33: PHO: Ceballos hits the pull up 102-73
10:11: LA: Davis from the left, 104-73
9:55: PHO: Nealy in the paint, 104-75
9:45: LA: Paul layup 106-75
9:32: PHO: Ceballos dunk, 106-77
9:16: PHO: KJ 2 FT 106-79
8:44: PHO Hornacek from 13, 106-81
7:25: LA: Crawford hits a 3, 109-81
6:45: LA: Griffin 2 FT 111-81
6:38: PHO: Hornacek 2 FT 111-83
6:25: LA: Redick 2 FT 113-83
6:00 LA: Paul from the foul line 115-83
4:51: I think I'm going to change the way I report this a little bit and more broadly cover stretches of time, particularly when a game is out of reach.
This game ends, the final here is 125-95 Clips. In the last five minutes:
Clips Pts: Barnes, Jordan, Bullock (3) Hamilton (3)
Suns Pts: West, Burtt, Burtt, Burtt (3), Knight (1)
FINAL: CLIPPERS 125 SUNS 95
The Clips take both games and the series; they'll move on to face the winners of the next series.
Griffin - 28 pts, 11 boards - Player of the Game
Paul 19 pts, 18 assts
Jordan 14 pts 19 boards
Barnes 11 pts, 5 boards
Redick 15 pts
Crawford 15 pts
I think I'll noodle around with the reporting of this a little bit, doing it in chunks makes some sense outside of a game competitive in the 4th quarter. Highlights until then.
4. 1980 NBA CHAMPION LOS ANGELES LAKERS V. 13. 1955 NBA CHAMPION SYRACUSE NATIONALS
Careful readers will note there's been a change since the preview; the simulation doesn't include the original team in this slot, the 1950 Nationals; so I just went forward until I found their first title team that wasn't already in the field, that's this team. It gives us (I think) the only Champion v Champion matchup in the round.
Lakers: 60-22, 1st in Pac Div, 1st in Offense, 9th in Defense
d. Suns West Semis 4-1
d. Sonics West Finals 4-1
d. Sixers NBA Finals 4-2
#64 overall seed
Coach: Paul Westhead
Starters
C K.Abdul-Jabbar (32 UCLA) 24.8 PPG 25.3 PER 14.8 Win Shares
F S.Haywood (30 Detroit Mercy) 9.7 13.9 3.1
F J.Wilkes (26 UCLA) 20 17.6 10
G M.Johnson (20 Mich St) 18 20.6 10.5
G N.Nixon (24 Duquense) 17.6 14.9 6.7
Rotation Reserves
C J.Chones (30 Marquette) 10.6 11.3 3.5
F M.Landsberger (24 Ariz St) 7 17 1
F D.Ford (27 UC Santa Barbara) 3 8.3 .9
G B.Holland (23 UCLA) 2.8 14.3 .3
G M.Cooper (23 N Mexico) 8.8 12.5 4
Leaders: Abdul-Jabbar (5th Def Rebounds, 1st Blocks, 1st Blocks/game, 3rd Block %, 1st Win Shares, 1st Win Shares/48, 1st VORP)
Johnson (1st Triple Doubles)
Westhead took over early in the season; Pat Riley is an assistant. It's Magic's rookie season; he and Kareem have PERs over 20, he, Wilkes and Kareem all have double digit Win Shares. This is really just a seven man rotation.
Nationals: 43-29, 1st in East Div, 7th in Off, 1st in Def
d. Celtics East Div Finals 3-1
d. Pistons NBA FINALS 4-3
# 193 overall seed
Coach: Danny Biasone
Starters
C R.Kerr (22 Illinois) 10.5 PPG 18.2 PER 5 Win Shares
F D.Schayes (26 NYU) 18.5 23 12
F D.Farley (22 Indiana) 5.9 12.7 3
G G.King (26 Charleston) 8.9 12.8 3.8
G P.Seymour (27 Toldeo) 14.6 15.1 6.7
Rotation Reserves
C R.Rocha (31 Oregon St) 11.3 12 5
F J.Tucker (22 Duquense) 5.3 11.2 .3
F E.Lloyd (26 West Virginia St) 10.2 11.6 3.6
G B.Kenville (24 St Bonaventure) 7.1 13.6 3
Leaders: Schayes (1st Def Win Shares)
There's Schayes and then everybody else on this Nationals squad; tough to see a circumstance where they take this series from the Lakers.
Lineup Matchups:
C Abdul-Jabbar (Lakers)
F Schayes (Nats)
F Wilkes (Lakers)
G Johnson (Lakers)
G Push
Bench: Nats
GAME ONE:
FIRST QUARTER:
9 MINUTE MARK: LAKERS 11 NATS 11
Pts: Lakers: Magic, Wilkes, Kareem, Magic, Magic (1), Haywood
Nats: Farley (1), Schayes (3), Farley (3), Seymour, Schayes
6 MINUTE MARK: LAKERS 18 NATS 13
Pts: Lakers: Kareem, Haywood (3), Wilkes
Nats: Kerr
3 MINUTES: LAKERS 24 NATS 24
Pts: Lakers: Wilkes, Nixon, Nixon
Nats: Kerr, Seymour, Kerr, Farley (3), Seymour
END OF 1ST QTR: LAKERS 36 NATS 30
Pts: Lakers: Wilkes, Wilkes, Nixon, Kareem, Landsberger, Kareem
Nats: Schayes, Kerr, Kerr
Okay, new format, I think this is the format going forward through 3 quarters and then if it's a single digit game we go posession for possession. Nats hanging in here, the game was tied three minutes ago and now the Lakers are up 6. Jamal Wilkes has 10 for LA, Red Kerr 10 for Syracuse.
SECOND QUARTER
9 MINUTES: LAKERS 41 NATS 32
Pts: Lakers: Holland (3), Chones
Nats: Lloyd
6 MINUTES: LAKERS 48 NATS 38
Pts: Lakers: Chones, Cooper, Chones, Haywood (1)
Nats: King, Lloyd, Rocha
3 MINUTES: LAKERS 56 NATS 47
Pts Lakers: Kareem, Kareem, Haywood, Wilkes,
Nats: Schayes (3), Kenville, Rocha (1), Kenville (3)
HALFTIME: LAKERS 62 NATS 55
Pts: Lakers: Magic, Haywood, Kareem
Nats: King, Rocha, Lloyd, Schayes
Nats still hanging tough as we hit the half; Kareem's got 14, Schayes 12.
THIRD QUARTER
9 MINUTES: LAKERS 70 NATS 65
Pts: Lakers: Wilkes, Cooper, Wilkes, Nixon
Nats: Seymour, King, Schayes, Schayes, Farley
6 MINUTES: LAKERS 74 NATS 72
Pts: Lakers: Kareem, Magic
Nats: Seymour (3) Lloyd, Kerr
3 MINUTES: LAKERS 78 NATS 78
Pts Lakers: Nixon, Kareem
Nats: Lloyd, Schayes (Nats take lead), Schayes,
THIRD QTR SCORE: LAKERS 84 NATS 89
Pts: Lakers: Nixon, Kareem
Nats: Kenville, Farley, Rocha, King 1FT, Kerr, Seymour
Man, look at this - Syracuse is up 5 on the Lakers as we go to the 4th quarter; Schayes has 20.
4TH QTR:
11:40: LA: Jamal Wilkes gets a pass from Jim Chones, hits a J from the foul line, gets fouled, converts, and the Lakers cut it to 89-87.
11:31: SYR: The Nats waste no time, Schayes getting the ball to Red Kerr, who hits a long 2, 91-87.
The Lakers come down, Chones misses from the left wing, Lloyd gets the board for the Nats, Seymour misses from the baseline, Chones boards, gets the ball to Magic, Magic goes to the goal and is fouled on the shot.
10:48: LA: Magic hits one FT and it's 91-88 Nats.
10:22: SYR: George King dishes to Red Rocha who hits a contested turnaround to make it 93-88 Syracyse.
Spencer Haywood turns it over on the Lakers next trip, Schayes has a drive to the bucket rejected by Kareem; the Lakers come down and Cooper misses from the block.
9:27: SYR: Red Rocha dunks, Schayes asst, 95-88, it's Syracuse's biggest lead.
9:19: LA: Magic takes it himself, goes right to the glass and gets fouled. He hits both. 95-90
On the Nats possession, Schayes misses the pull up, Wilkes gets the board but has it stolen, and then Dick Farley throws a pass out of bounds to get the ball to LA as the clock is stopped with 8:45 remaining.
Wilkes again has the ball stolen, Schayes misses at 8:10, a Norm Nixon pass is stolen at 7:58
7:40: SYR: Dolph Schayes drives hard to the bucket for a dunk, 97-90
Nixon misses a short bank.
7:20: SYR: Red Kerr short J, Seymour assist, 99-90
7:11: LA: Spencer Haywood short J, Nixon asst, 99-92
Farley misses from 15 on the next trip, Nixon then misses from the foul line, the teams each miss on the next trips down.
5:51: LA: Kareem hits a sky hook, and he's fouled, the Lakers cut it to 4, 99-95
After a Syracuse turnover, there's an iso play run for Wilkes. He's fouled on the shot.
5:31: LA: Wilkes 2 FT 99-97
5:17: SYR: George King hits a runner off of a Rocha dish, 101-97
The Lakers miss twice on the next possession; the Nats then miss twice, the Lakers turn it over, the Nats miss, but ge tthe rebound.
3:34: SYR: Red Rocha gets the put back, 103-97
3:20: LA: Magic runs the break, gets it to Chones who dunks it. 103-99
3:08: SYR: The Nats come right down and Bill Kenville dunks from a King pass, the Nats are up 6, big underdogs on the road. 105-99
Wilkes comes down and misses, Kareem gets a block on the other end, each team turns it over.
1:48: SYR: George King 2FT 107-99, big 8 point Nats lead.
1:36: LA: Magic doesn't even look at anyone else, he goes down, gets fouled on the drive, makes them both. 107-101
The Nats miss, this time Magic finds the big fellow.
1:08: LA: Kareem sky hook and the foul. 107-104.
:52: SYR: Paul Semour 2 FT 109-104
:45: LA: Magic again, drives hard to the lane, hits a 5 footer. 109-106
Offensive foul on the other end, giving the Lakers the ball - it's Haywood who takes the shot, misses. Kerr winds up with it.
:19: SYR: Kerr 1 FT 110-106
Lakers now need two scores, just 19 seconds left here in game one. Magic throws to Kareem who kicks to Haywood.
:14: LA: Haywood from the foul line. 110-108
Lakers trail by a bucket. Quick foul.
:11 SYR: Dick Farley 2 FT 112-108
Lakers again trail by 2 scores. Magic misses a 3 from the corner - and Kerr gets the board. Kareem fouls Schayes.
:04: SYR: Schayes 1FT 113-108
FINAL: NATIONALS 113 LAKERS 108
We get our biggest upset to date; the Nats were not in the initial field, they go on the road and take game 1. Now they just need 1 more of the next two and they will advance.
Schayes - 23 pts, 18 rebounds - Player of the Game
Kerr - 19 pts, 6 boards
Seymour - 15 pts, 5 boards, 6 assists
Farley 13 pts
King 11 pts
Rocha 13 pts 5 boards
Lloyd 10 pts 5 boards
Kareem 26 pts, 10 boards, 4 blocks
Wilkes 21 pts, 9 boards
Magic 16 pts, 7 boards 5 assists
Haywood 14 pts 8 boards
Nixon 14 pts
GAME TWO
FIRST QUARTER:
9 MINUTE MARK: LAKERS 10 NATS 4
Pts: Lakers: Kareem, Haywood, Wilkes, Kareem, Kareem
Nats: Schayes, King
6 MINUTE MARK: LAKERS 19 NATS 13
Pts: Lakers: Nixon (3) Kareem, Wilkes, Wilkes
Nats: Seymour (3) Seymour King, Seymour
3 MINUTES: LAKERS 23 NATS 22
Pts: Lakers: Kareem, Wilkes
Nats: Schayes (3), Rocha, Seymour, Seymour
END OF 1ST QTR: LAKERS 31 NATS 28
Pts: Lakers: Kareem, Cooper, Kareem, Nixon
Nats: Rocha (3) Rocha (3)
Red Rocha hits a 3 at the buzzer to bring the Nats within 3; very similar to the game one start, the Lakers threatening to pull away but Syracuse hangs in there. Kareem's got 14.
SECOND QUARTER:
9 MINUTE MARK: LAKERS 39 NATS 33
Pts: Lakers: Nixon, Nixon, Kareem, Wilkes
Nats: Tucker (3) Kerr,
6 MINUTE MARK: LAKERS 46 NATS 37
Pts: Lakers: Kareem, Magic, Kareem (1) Haywood
Nats: Farley, King,
3 MINUTES: LAKERS 48 NATS 41
Pts: Lakers: Nixon
Nats: Schayes, Kenville
HALFTIME: LAKERS 58 NATS 45
Pts: Lakers: Haywood, Magic, Wilkes, Kareem, Magic
Nats: Rocha, Schayes
That's more of what we expected coming into the series, LA up 13 at the half. Kareem with 21.
THIRD QUARTER:
9 MINUTE MARK: LAKERS 68 NATS 47
Pts: Lakers: Magic, Wilkes, Kareem, Kareem, Wilkes
Nats: Schayes,
6 MINUTE MARK: LAKERS 71 NATS 55
Pts: Lakers: Magic (3)
Nats: Kerr, Kenville, Kenville, Lloyd
3 MINUTES: LAKERS 79 NATS 62
Pts: Lakers: Nixon, Cooper, Kareem, Nixon
Nats: Kenville, Kerr, Seymour (3)
END OF 3RD QTR: LAKERS 83 NATS 71
Pts: Lakers: Nixon, Haywood
Nats: Kenville, Kenville, Schayes (3) Farley
Lakers maintining the lead, Nats go on a late run, but it's still a dozen as we hit the 4th. Kareem's got 27, the tournament high is 38.
4TH QTR:
9 MINUTES: LAKERS 91 NATS 73
Pts: Lakers: Landsberger (1) Magic, Kareem, Haywood (3)
Nats: Farley
6 MINUTE MARK: LAKERS 101 NATS 81
Pts: Lakers: Kareem, Landsberger (3), Haywood (3), Chones
Nats: King, Kerr, Rocha, Schayes
3 MINUTES: LAKERS 108 NATS 85
Pts: Lakers: Nixon, Chones, Landsberger
Nats: Tucker, Seymour
FINAL: LAKERS 110 NATS 91
Pts: Lakers: Mack
Nats: Gabor, Gabor (3)
Easy one for the Lakers and they send this series to a decisive Game 3.
Kareem 31 pts, 14 boards, 4 blocks - Player of the Game
Wilkes - 16 pts, 10 boards, 8 assists
Magic - 13 pts, 10 boards
Nixon - 20 pts
Haywood - 14 pts
Schayes - 16 pts, 10 boards
Seymour - 16 pts, 9 assts
Rocha - 12 pts, 10 boards
GAME THREE
Series deadlocked at a game each. One to decide it. Who moves on to face the Clippers?
1ST QTR
9 MINUTES: LAKERS 8 NATS 6
Pts: Lakers: Wilkes, Kareem, Nixon, Haywood
Nats: King (1) King (1) Farley, Seymour
6 MINUTE MARK: LAKERS 18 NATS 11
Pts: Lakers: Magic, Kareem, Magic, Magic, Haywood
Nats: Schayes, Schayes, Kerr
3 MINUTES: LAKERS 30 NATS 17
Pts: Lakers: Wilkes, Kareem, Wilkes, Holland, Lee, Kareem
Nats: Seymour, Rocha, Lloyd
1ST QTR SCORE: LAKERS 34 NATS 26
Pts: Lakers: Ford, Holland
Nats: Seymour, Schayes, Rocha, Rocha, Lloyd (1)
Late Nats run, pretty similar to the first quarters of the prior 2 games, puts this one within shouting distance, that stretch between 6 and 3 minutes where the Lakers poured in a dozen points gives them this advantage. Kareem's got 8.
2nd QTR
9 MINUTES: LAKERS 44 NATS 32
Pts: Lakers: Haywood, Mack, Haywood, Chones, Nixon
Nats: Kenville, Kenville, Seymour
6 MINUTE MARK: LAKERS 52 NATS 35
Pts: Lakers: Magic, Wilkes, Magic, Magic
Nats: Schayes (3)
3 MINUTES: LAKERS 57 NATS 44
Pts: Lakers: Kareem, Magic (3) Kenville (1)
Nats: Kerr, Kenville, Farley, Schayes
HALFTIME SCORE: LAKERS 63 NATS 47
Pts: Lakers: Kareem, Magic, Haywood,
Nats: Rocha (1) Kerr
The Lakers are rolling pretty good now; it's more of what was expected coming into the series and they're 24 minutes away from moving on. Magic's got 17.
3RD QTR:
9 MINUTES: LAKERS 73 NATS 55
Pts: Lakers: Kareem, Haywood, Chones, Wilkes, Magic
Nats: King, Tucker, Tucker, King
6 MINUTE MARK: LAKERS 81 NATS 59
Pts: Lakers: Cooper, Kareem, Cooper, Wilkes
Nats: Seymour, Rocha
3 MINUTES: LAKERS 88 NATS 65
Pts: Lakers: Chones, Chones (1) Wilkes, Haywood,
Nats: Seymour, Seymour, Schayes
3RD QTR SCORE: LAKERS 94 NATS 67
Pts: Lakers: Kareem, Nixon, Magic
Nats: Farley
Dominant performance by LA - they're running the Nationals right out of the Forum. 21 for Magic.
4TH QTR:
9 MINUTES: LAKERS 100 NATS 72
Pts: Lakers: Kareem, Nixon, Nixon
Nats: Schayes, Tucker (3)
6 MINUTE MARK: LAKERS 111 NATS 82
Pts: Lakers: Wilkes, Kareem, Cooper, Haywood (1) Cooper, Nixon
Nats: Seymour, Schayes, King (3) Seymour
3 MINUTES: LAKERS 117 NATS 86
Pts: Lakers: Wilkes, Kareem, Lee
Nats: Farley (1) Kerr (3)
FINAL SCORE: LAKERS 125 NATS 92
Pts: Lakers: Byrnes, Lee (1) Lee (3) Lee
Nats: Osterkorn (3) Tucker (3)
The Lakers dropped game 1, but rebound (wordplay) strong to take 2 and 3 and they'll face the Clippers in the next round.
Kareem - 24 pts, 16 boards
Magic - 21 pts, 9 boards, 7 assists
Wilkes - 18 pts, 9 boards,
Haywood 15 pts, 9 boards
Nixon - 12 pts, 5 assists
We're halfway through Region 1, Round 1 - here's the All Tournament Team so far:
Center - Kareem '80 Lakers
Forward - Durant '17 Warriors
Forward - Griffin '15 Clips
Guard - Curry '17 Warriors
Guard - Paul '15 Clips
