NBA Playoffs 2020: Lakers close out series 4-1 against Portland Trail Blazers; Other Saturday results

Los Angeles Lakers cruise to round two of Playoffs

The Los Angeles Lakers are through to the next round of the Playoffs but the Blazers definitely made them earn it. After losing the series opener, the Lakers are officially moving on to the second round after four straight wins.

A late 20-7 run put Portland away despite a close matchup all night long as Lakers won 131-122, and the LeBron James-Anthony Davis combination scored 79 points on the way to victory. The Lakers now look set to face either the Houston Rockets or the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Blazers, without Lillard, Trevor Ariza, Rodney Hood, and Zach Collins managed to make a No. 1 seed sweat.

 

LeBron James and Anthony Davis scored a combined 79 points on 28-of-37 shooting in Game 5. They got to the basket at will and hit their jumpers with ease.

It remains nearly impossible to defend their pick-and-roll with only two players.

And just like the Kobe-Shaq Lakers that beat the Blazers on the way to their first championship 20 years ago and buried them with an alley-oop from Bryant to Shaq; the event was replayed yet again to eclipse Game 5, an alley-oop to Davis.

Related: NBA Playoffs 2020: Postseason games to resume on Saturday August 29th

Giannis Antetokounmpo leads Milwaukee past Orlando to clinch series

The Milwaukee Bucks, just like the Los Angeles Lakers, were pegged back in Game 1 of their series tie with the Orlando Magic team. Everyone expected a rollercoaster ride but after Game 1, doubts were cast.

The Bucks have ousted all that notion after winning the next four games to close out the series 4-1 and are on to the second round.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQklYQo91mg

Days after walking out on their scheduled matchup with the Orlando Magic, and sparking boycotts across the sports world following the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the Bucks returned to the floor on Saturday for Game 5. They had little trouble, pulling away in the fourth quarter for a 118-104 win, to take the series, 4-1.

It seemed like they would coast to victory, and they almost did but the Magic kept on fighting and gave them a bit of a scare in the fourth.

Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 28 points and 17 rebounds to lead the way. The Bucks now set up a clash with the Miami Heat, who swept the Indiana Pacers.

As for the Magic, this is the second straight season that they’ve lost in the first round in five games, and the injuries to Jonathan Isaac and Aaron Gordon injured cost them a chance in the series.

Houston Rockets take 3-2 lead over OKC in series

Although Russell Westbrook’s return to the floor may have headlined Game 5 of Houston’s first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, it was actually the Rockets’ magnanimous defence that ultimately led the way in a 114-80 victory.

The Thunder shot a ghastly 31.5 per cent from the field, hitting only seven of their 45 3-point attempts. And once Dennis Schroder was ejected in the third quarter, they had no consistent means of generating offence.

James Harden scored a game-high 31 points and Robert Covington made a career playoff-high six three-pointers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4TgJ-k0Ups

The Oklahoma City Thunders are now only a game away from elimination.

Their epic season now relies heavily on finding ways to score without compromising their defence. But if Game 5 was any indication, the Thunder are merely picking their own poison.

They can space the floor or they can defend James Harden, but in all likelihood, they can’t do both. They have one lifeline left as they fight for their postseason lives come Game 6.