NBA
Premier NBA Highlights From Tuesday (August 18, 2020)
View Tuesday’s top NBA Playoffs highlights including No. 8 seeds upsetting No. 1 seeds, Harden's handles, and more!
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
On day two of competitive NBA Playoff action, each conferences No. 1 and No. 8 seeds, and No. 4 and No. 5 seeds went to war in Game 1 of their series’. There was no lack of gems from Tuesday’s highlights as the hometown Orlando Magic shocked the world by dicing up the Bucks who hoisted the best record in the NBA during the regular season. On paper, the Rockets and Thunder are evenly matched but Houston took the win in typical three-point fashion, and the Bubble MVP Damian Lillard led Portland past L.A. to cap off the night.
Enjoy the best highlights from Tuesday’s NBA Playoff action all in one place:
In a seemingly lopsided matchup, Orlando’s Vucevic rose to the occasion versus Milwaukee with a magical performance, posting playoff career-high scoring, led by his sweet shooting from mid-range and behind the arc.
Orlando takes Game 1 👀
— NBA TV (@NBATV) August 18, 2020
Nikola Vucevic led the way for the Magic with 35 PTS & 14 REB. pic.twitter.com/jklw20EadU
Lillard was once again a handful to deal with and his off-the-bounce long range marksmanship was the source of those problems. The Lakers are surely missing their defensive specialist guard Avery Bradley who’d fair the best at containing Dame’s multi-dribble three-point shots. This could be a long series for LA, without Bradley, the way Dame is playing.
Dame (34 PTS & 6 3PM) put on a show to help the Blazers win Game 1 ⌚️ pic.twitter.com/m3U34pqq5B
— NBA TV (@NBATV) August 19, 2020
Still without former MVP Russell Westbrook, James Harden flourished against OKC, making an impact with 37 points on his patented step-back three and effective euro-step. Scoring at this rate comes at no one’s surprise as he was awarded the regular season scoring title for the third consecutive season.
🚀 @JHarden13 paces the @HoustonRockets Game 1 W with 37 PTS (6 3PM), 11 REB! #NBAPlayoffs #WholeNewGame
— NBA (@NBA) August 19, 2020
Game 2: Thurs. (8/20) - 3:30pm/et, ESPN pic.twitter.com/BrNZEEEIXe
An all-time great himself, LeBron James has already surpassed the late-great Kobe Bryant for the third most triple-doubles as a Laker in a hard-fought battle with Portland which saw LA fall short despite James’ historic effort. LBJ also became the first player to ever produce a 20+ point, 15+ assist, 15+ rebound playoff performance.
.@KingJames (23 PTS, 17 REB, 16 AST) becomes the first player in @NBAHistory to record 20+ PTS, 15+ REB, and 15+ AST in a playoff game. #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Cll1RKVcY0
— NBA (@NBA) August 19, 2020
The inevitable back-to-back MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo dialed in his usual self with 31 points and 17 rebounds on powerful finishes at the hoop, but his Bucks teammates didn’t hold up their ends of the bargain as the Magic stole Game 1.
Giannis put up 31 points and pulled down 17 rebounds. pic.twitter.com/3JT62Gpl5Y
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) August 18, 2020
In Game 1 of a heated rivalry between T.J. Warren and Jimmy Butler, it was Butler who emerged victorious through scrappy play on defense and surprisingly potent shooting from deep, only averaging 24.4% on three-pointers this season.
😤 @JimmyButler scores 10 of his 28 PTS in the 4th as the @MiamiHEAT take Game 1 over IND! #NBAPlayoffs #WholeNewGame
— NBA (@NBA) August 18, 2020
Game 2: Thurs. (8/20) - 1pm/et, ESPN pic.twitter.com/wp7IzSGmJB
Usually known as a power player, Bam Adebayo navigated his way to a pure finesse finish in a stumbling string of events that miraculously resulted in two-points.
Bam with the finesse 😳 pic.twitter.com/G4KiuTL0IE
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 18, 2020
The Lakers’ Alex Caruso never fails to put on a show in some capacity as he decided to elevate here after slashing through the lane and slammed home the dynamite tomahawk flush.
Caru-SHOW 🔨🔨
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) August 19, 2020
(via @Lakers) pic.twitter.com/LiDWYtEwhj
Jeff Green flashed moments of youthful spurts on Tuesday against OKC and contributions like this tough lay-in were what helped catapult his squad to victory. He stepped up big with Russell Westbrook out with a quad injury.
Jeff Green dances to the rack! 😳 pic.twitter.com/5k5hYM3S7W
— NBA (@NBA) August 19, 2020
Full game highlights of today’s close playoff games will be posted here once they conclude.
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