OAKLAND, Calif., Sporting Alert – Stephen Curry missed Golden State’s Game 2 first round playoff series against the Rockets, but the defending champions still found a way to go 2-0 up. Box Score
Curry, dealing with a right ankle problem, was forced to sit out Monday night’s game, but backcourt mate Klay Thompson, although just making 8 of his 20 shot attempts, went 15-of-16 from the free throw line on his way to scoring 34 points. Watch highlights
“Ahh, it’s so much easier without him out there. When Steph’s out there, his man just sags in the paint, he doesn’t move the ball, he’s a very selfish teammate,” a joking Thompson said after the game.
“I’m just kidding, man, he’s the exact opposite of that. I think we showed it’s hard to fill that void. No one’s going to do it by themselves.”
Andre Iguodala shot 7-for-10 from the floor and made 4 of his 6 three-point attempts to add 18 points off the bench while Shaun Livingston, who started in the place of Curry scored 16 points on 7-for-9 shooting to go with six assists.
Draymond Green finished with an allround performance of 12 points, 14 rebounds, 8 assists and two steals, with Andrew Bogut getting 10 points and seven rebounds in the win for the Warriors, who shot 49.4 percent.
James Harden finished with 28 points and 11 assists to lead the way for the Houston Rockets, with Patrick Beverley and Jason Terry each scoring 13 points and Dwight Howard adding 12 points and 10 rebounds in the defeat.
Houston, which shot 44.3 percent, was losing six straight and 14 of 15 to the Warriors.
Game 3 in the series is Thursday in Houston.
DALLAS DOWNS OKC – Box Score
At the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, reserved guard Raymond Felton scored 21 points to help the Dallas Mavericks upset the Thunder 85-84 in Game 2 to even their Eastern Conference series at 1-1. Watch highlights
The Mavericks were hammered 108-70 by Oklahoma City in Game 1 on Saturday and the home side thought it had won Game 2 as well, but Steven Adams’ last-second layup was waved off by the officials after a review showed that he failed to beat the buzzer.
Felton, in the starting lineup for the injured J.J. Barea, shot 8-for-16 from the field, while pulling down 11 rebounds, and Dirk Nowitzki added 17 points for Dallas, which registered its first win over OKC this season.
According to ESPN Stats & Info, the sixth-seeded Mavericks were pulling off their “biggest playoff upset in 20 years, based on the betting line.”
Kevin Durant scored 21 points for the Thunder, but had a disappointing night shooting the ball, as he shot 7-for-33 from the field and was 2-for-11 from 3-pointers. He also had seven turnovers.
KD
“It’s one of those nights. I just have to stick to my routine, go out there tomorrow & get ready for practice.” pic.twitter.com/87BW2B4bPB— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) April 19, 2016
The All-star forward, who is now tied with Michael Jordan for the most misses (26) in a playoff game since 1997, also grabbed nine rebounds.
It was also an off night of shooting for Russell Westbrook as well, as he shot the ball 22 times and made just eight buckets.
Westbrook added 14 rebounds and six assists for Oklahoma City, which was 31-for-92 overall from the floor, and 7-for-32 from 3-pointers.
Serge Ibaka ended with 12 points and eight rebounds in the defeat.
Deron Williams scored 11 of his 13 points in the first quarter for the Mavericks, who will host Game 3 and 4.
“We’re very proud to win this game, but we know that now it’s on.” – Coach Carlisle.
RECAP: https://t.co/mN4wIa63I1 pic.twitter.com/F6KhD1BGvT
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) April 19, 2016
Game 3 in the series is Thursday night.
RAPTORS EVEN SERIES WITH PACERS – Box Score
At the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Jonas Valanciunas grabbed a double-double of 23 points and 15 rebounds to help the Raptors tie up their first round series with the Indiana Pacers at 1-1 with a 98-87 win on Monday. Watch highlights
However, it was a struggling night for guard DeMar DeRozan, who made just 5 of his 18 shots for 10 points.
“We’ve all got to step up,” Valanciunas said. “It’s not an individual sport.
“Some nights are tough for Kyle, some nights it’s tough for DeMar, tough for me. Everybody has tough times, so everybody has got to pull for each other.”
Kyle Lowry added 18 points, nine assists and seven rebounds and Cory Joseph finished with 16 points off the bench for Toronto, which shot 44 percent in the win.
Patrick Patterson contributed 14 points for the Raptors, who led by as many as 19 points.
Paul George led the Pacers with 28 points and Monta Ellis added 15 in the defeat.
