Cavaliers 97-89 Hawks Game 1
The Cavaliers win 97-89. James scores 31 points, Mozgov scores ten points and 11 rebounds. Teague scores 27 points, Horford scores 16 points, Millsap scores 13 points and Kent Bazemore scores ten points for the Hawks. Cleveland leads East Finals 1-0. Coach Blatt on Lebron:
When he gets hot. He gets smoking hot.
Coach Budenholzer on Carroll:
DeMarre is a complete player. He has a big impact at both ends of the court.
Smith:
Once I start shooting. Everybody keeps telling me to keep shooting.
James on Carroll injuries:
We’re all a brotherhood. You don’t want anybody to get hurt like that.
Warriors 110-106 Rockets Game1
The Warriors win 110-106. Curry scores 34 points, six rebounds and five assists and Green scores 13 points and 12 rebounds. Harden scores 28 points, Ariza scores 20 points and Smith scores 17 points and seven rebounds for the Rockets. Golden State leads West Finals 1-0. Coach Kerr on team:
It really stretches people out. Houston does the same thing. It was an interesting chess match, because they like to go small and we like to go small.
Harden on Game 1 loss:
You can’t give a really good shooting team easy layups and confidence. That’s what we did in the second quarter.
Coach McHale on Howard’s injuries:
Hopefully Dwight is healthy and we can play big. We didn’t have that option with Dwight out.
Rockets 113-100 Clippers Game 7
The Rockets win 113-100. Harden scores 31 points, Howard scores 16 points and 15 rebounds and Ariza scores 22 points. Griffin scores 27 points and Paul scores 26 points and 10 assists for the Clippers. Houston wins West Semifinals 4-3. Harden on Game 7:
It’s the ultimate confidence-booster. There’s only a handful of teams that’s done that. We fought back. We fought three really hard games and came away with it.
On West Semifinals Series:
When you’re down 19 on the road, it’s easy to give in and just say, ‘Maybe next year’. But I think the injuries throughout the entire year kind of made us fight through adversity no matter what. We always find a way to fight, and another case was being down 3-1.
Howard:
Please, we can’t let them pull an us on us.
Griffin on Game 7 loss:
It’s disappointing. We were close, but close doesn’t really count. Almost doesn’t count. We were up 3-1 and didn’t put them away. We can’t look at anybody but ourselves.
Hawks 94-91 Wizards Game 6
The Hawks win 94-91. Carroll scores 25 points, Teague scores 20 points and Millsap scores 20 points. Beal scores 29 points for the Wizards. Atlanta wins East Semifinal Series 4-2. Korver on Game 6:
It went in and it’s just like, `You’ve got to be kidding me. That did NOT just happen’. I thought he got it off. I was getting ready for overtime. And then … you’re like, ‘Heeeeyyyy! All right! We’ll take it!’.
Carroll:
I was about to cry. I said, `Not again.’ … But the basketball gods were on our side.
Coach Wittman:
I still feel, and I know our guys feel, we should have won this series.
Rockets 119-107 Clippers Game 6
The Rockets win 119-107. Howard scores 20 points and 21 rebounds and Harden scores 23 points. Paul scores 31 points and 11 assists, Griffin scores 28 points and Reddick scores 15 points for the Clippers. The West Semifinals Series is tied 3-3. Howard on Game 6:
We kept saying, `We’re not going to quit. We kept believing. We never gave up on each other.
Griffin on Game 6 loss:
We took our foot off the gas, stopped defending, a lot of things.
On Game 7:
It’s about who wants it more.
Coach Mc Hale:
That group just went out there and they just scrambled, they fought and they played their tails off on defense. They had a great sense about them that they were going to accomplish something.
Cavaliers 94-73 Bulls Game 6
The Cavaliers win 94-73. Dellavedova scores 19 points, James scores 15 points and Thompson scoress 13 points, 17 rebounds. Butler scores 20 points and Rose scores 14 points for the Bulls. Cleveland wins East Semifinals Series 4-2. James on Cavaliers:
These guys work their tails off every single day when you guys are not around. Yes, I’m a little bit surprised because of how we’ve handled the postseason so far. These are first-timers right here (Dellavedova and Thompson) as well as Kyrie and Kev before the injury. They want to be good, they want to be great, and every single day they prepare the right way.
On teammates:
I do everything for my team, do everything for my teammates. I want these guys to be able to feel this moment. That’s what I came back here for. I’ve got four guys that never made the postseason that played a huge role on this team.
Coach Thibodeau on Bulls:
Yeah. Until they tell me I’m not, I expect to be here. That’s the way I’m going to approach it.
Warriors 98-78 Grizzlies Game 5
The Warriors win 98-78. Thompson scores 21 points, Curry scores 18 points. Gasol scores 18 points, 12 rebounds and Randolph scores 13 points and ten rebounds for the Grizzlies. Golden State leads West Semifinals Series 3-2. Green on Grizzlies:
It’s like wine. It gets better with time.
Coach Kerr:
I think I said the first couple games, `Our defense was good enough, but it wasn’t championship defense. I was wrong. This is what it’s going to take.
Coach Joerger on Game 5 loss:
Everybody’s saying we couldn’t score because Tony Allen’s on the floor. We put up 78 without him.
Hawks 82-81 Wizards Game 5
The Hawks win 82-81. Horford 23 points and 11 rebounds. Beal scores 23 points, Pierce scores 11 points, Porter scores nine points and ten rebounds and Wall scores 15 points, seven assists and four steals for the Wizards. Atlanta leads East Semifinals Series 3-2. Horford on Game 5:
I wasn’t supposed to be involved in the play at all. When I saw the ball go up, I just ran in there.
Coach Budenholzer on Horford:
A heck of a play by Al.
Coach Wittman on Game 5 loss:
Hey, these guys are fighting. I love it. They made one more play than us.
Rockets 124-103 Clippers Game 5
The Rockets win 124-103. Harden scores 26 points, 11 rebounds and ten assists, Howard scores 20 points and 15 rebounds. Griffin scores 30 points, 16 rebounds and Paul scores 22 points and 10 assists for the Clippers. Los Angeles leads West Semifinals Series 3-2. Harden on Game 5 win:
I’m all right. We won, so that’s all that matters.
Coach Rivers on Rockets:
They were more focused. They played like they were the desperate team and we didn’t play very desperate.
Howard on Harden:
This is win or go home and I’m pretty sure he wants this as bad as we all do and he showed that tonight.
Cavaliers 106-101 Bulls Game 5
The Cavaliers win 106-101. James scores 38 points, 12 rebounds, six steals and three assists and Irving scores 25 points. Butler scores 29 points and Dunleavy scores 19 points for the Bulls. Cleveland leads East Semifinals 3-2. Irving on James:
I commend him for putting us on his back.
James on Game 5:
Yay. No turnovers! That was the first stat I was looking at after the game. I was trying to be efficient for my teammates and I was very efficient.
Gibson on ejection:
I was surprised (to be ejected). I really just tried to release my foot because as soon as I got up off the ground, I just felt somebody tugging on my leg.
Coach Thibodeau on James:
We were slow. He was quicker.
Warriors 101-84 Grizzlies Game 4
The Warriors win 101-84. Curry scores 33 points, Green scores 16 points and ten rebounds, Thompson scores 15 points. Gasol scores 19 points and ten rebounds, Randolph scores 12 points and 11 rebounds and Conley scores 10 points for the Grizzlies. The West Semifinal Series is tied 2-2. Coach Kerr on Game 4 win:
Tonight we took a step towards understanding that sense of urgency and kind of competitiveness and physicality to the game. It was probably our most competitive effort, definitely of the series, but probably of the playoffs just in terms of understanding you got to play every second.
Bogut:
This series could have been close to over if we hadn’t come out like we were supposed to tonight. You know it’s never over until the end, but being down 3-1 going home is a pretty tough task, so 2-2 right now in a three-game series and we like our chances.
Coach Joerger on Memphis loss:
We lost our composure early in the first half, especially in the first quarter. We needed to keep that closer in the first quarter. We had a chance there. Our offense really struggled tonight, and it put our defense in a bad way.
Cavaliers 86-84 Bulls Game 4
Cavaliers win 86-84. James scores 25 points,Mozgov scores 15 points and Smith scores 13 points. Rose scores 31 points, Butler scores 19 points for the Bulls, The East Semifinals Series is tied 1-1. James on win shot:
I was supposed to take the ball out. I told Coach there was no way I’m taking the ball out unless I could shoot it over the backboard and go in. So I told him, Have somebody else take the ball out.’ The play that was drawn up, I scratched it. I just told Coach, Just give me the ball. We’re either going to go into overtime or I’m going to win it for us.
Rose on James:
There’s nothing you can do about it. He hit a great shot. He’s a hell of a player. We just have to make sure that if we’re in that position again, just make sure that we force him out a little bit more or make someone else get the ball.
Coach Thibodeau:
I thought the last two (games) could have gone either way. They’re hard fought. They’re a great team.
Grizzlies 99-89 Game 3
The Grizzlies win 99-89. Randolph scores 22 points, Gasol scores 21 points and 15 rebounds and Conley scores 11 points. Curry scores 23 points, Thompson scores 20 points for the Warriors. Memphis leads West Semifinals 2-1. Coach Joerger on Game 3 victory:
This was a huge win for our franchise, a huge win for our team. The crowd was fantastic.
Curry on Game 3 loss:
I have to play better for us to win games, especially on the road. I hold myself to a high standard. I haven’t reached it yet. So looking forward to the challenge of getting that level in Game 4, setting the tone and (it) could be a different outcome.
Coach Kerr on Warriors:
They’re learning. It’s part of the process. You see teams go through this all the time in the playoffs. It’s the only way to figure it out, to go through the pain of losing a game like tonight.
Wizards 103-101 Hawks Game 3
Wizards win 103-101. Beal scores 17 points, Pierce scores 13 points. Teague scores 18 points, Schroder scores 18 points for the Hawks. Washington leads East Semifinals 2-1. Pierce on Game 3 victory:
I’m still soaking it up. because I don’t have too many more of these left.
Beal on Wizards win:
We got comfortable. We thought the game was over.
Porter on Game 3 win:
Luckily we didn’t all get on top of him. Just try to save his body for the next game.
Clippers 124-99 Rockets Game 3
The Clippers win 124-99. Reddick scores 31 points, Griffin scores 22 points and 14 rebounds and Jordan scores 15 points. Harden scores 25 points and 11 rebounds and Howard scores 14 points and 14 rebounds for the Rockers. Los Angeles leads West Semifinals series 2-1. Paul on teammates:
I got through. Austin was unbelievable. I was probably his biggest cheerleader in the third quarter. I just kept saying, `I don’t want to play anymore if I don’t have to.
Harden on Game 3 loss:
It was a blowout, but it’s still one game.
Austin Rivers on his father, Coach Rivers:
Our relationship has always been coach-player. He’s hard on me, but it’s because he wants the best for me.
Bulls 99-96 Cavaliers Game 3
The Bulls win 99-96. Rose scores 30 points, Butler scores 20 points. James scores 27 points and 14 assists for the Cavaliers. Chicago leads East Semifinals 2-1. Rose on Game 3 performance:
I’m just thankful and grateful that my teammates gave me the ball. They believed in me down the stretch. They kept getting me the ball, kept encouraging me to play the way that I usually play. And no, I did not call glass.
Butler on Game 3 win:
It was huge. We needed that. That’s what he does.
James on Game 3:
You follow the game plan, they make a shot – you live with it. It’s when you make mistakes during the game plan, those would be the ones that are hard to live with. I know it’s easy for me to say that. The shot was not made on me. The guy took a tough shot. Tip your hat to him.
On Noah hard foul:
I’m a father with three kids. It got very disrespectful. I’m OK with competing against Jo. I love the competitive nature, but we should leave it there. The disrespectful words that he said to me were uncalled for.
Rockets 115-109 Clippers Game 2
The Rockets win 115-109. Harden scores 32 points, Howard scores 24 points and 16 rebounds and Ariza scores 15 points and 13 rebounds. Griffin scores 34 points and 15 rebounds, Crawford scores 19 points and Jordan scores 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers. The West Semifinals Series ties 1-0.
Harden on Game 2 victory:
I knew my team was battling extremely hard and basically it was up to me to go out there and push us forward…We let Game 1 slip away and we didn’t want that feeling for Game 2. It’s going to be a tough two games in a row, but we’ve got our mojo now.
Coach Rivers on Game 2 loss:
We got out of the rhythm, offensively, and that’s where the game changed for us. We got stuck trying to go to Blake too much, and we forgot about the guys on the other side of the floor. That hurt us.
Griffin:
It definitely feels like we let one get away. We came here to win two. But we’ve got to protect home court now. We can’t hang our heads.
Cavaliers 106-91 Bulls Game 2
The Cavaliers win 106-91. James scores 33 points and Irving scores 21 points. Butler scores 18 points, Rose scores 14 points and ten assists and Gasol scores 11 points for the Bulls. The East Semifinals Series ties 1-1.
James on Game 2 comeback:
It was in my locker and I decided to give it a go. It was time for it to make a comeback.
On Cavaliers injuries:
We’re a little banged up, we’re short-handed, so I have to be aggressive. Even more aggressive than my usual self, and I was happy I was able to make a couple of plays to help our team win tonight.
Irving on James:
There wasn’t one possession where he wasn’t dominant. When he has that mindset, he’s the greatest player playing our game right now.
Grizzlies 97-90 Warriors Game 2
The Grizzlies win 97-90. Randolph scores 20 points, Conley scores 22 points and Gasol scores 15 points. Curry scores 19 points, six assists and five rebounds, Thompson scores 13 points for the Warriors. The West Semifinals are tied 1-1.
Curry on Game 2 loss:
We’re not going to overreact to one bad shooting night.
Coach Joerger on Conley:
Tremendous heart. He gave us an extra element.
Gasol on Conley:
He said he got great looks out of one eye, so I’m very happy for him.
Coach Kerr on Game 2 loss:
I thought we lost our poise tonight. We were in such a rush.
Hawks 106-90 Wizards Game 2
The Hawks win 106-90. Carroll scores 22 points, Horford scores 18 points and Millsap scores a double-double (18 points and 11 rebounds). Sessions scores 21 points, Beal scores 2o points and seven assists and Pierce scores 15 points for the Wizards. The East Semifinals are tied 1-1.
Carroll on Game 2:
We knew this was a game we had to win. It was kind of a funky game.
Bazenmore on Wizards:
It’s dangerous, man. Oh, their best player is not playing, so they don’t have a chance. But they still have a very dangerous team.
Sessions on team:
Just try to push the team, just like John does. It wasn’t just me. Everybody tried to step up.