Second round nba playoff schedule

Sunday's 130-119 loss against the Orlando Magic marked an unwanted record for the Pelicans. New Orleans had twice previously lost 11 games in a row – in 2004 as the Hornets and again in 2012 as the Pelicans. But the Pelicans (6-21) topped that mark after being outscored 41-27 in the third quarter at home to the Magic (12-14). Final from the Smoothie King Center. pic.twitter.com/KHAOO8SxOZ — New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 15, 2019 It has been a season of change for the Pelicans, who lost All-Star Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster trade. The Pelicans received Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart and three first-round draft picks in return, while they signed free agent JJ Redick.New Orleans also secured sensational talent Zion Williamson with the number one pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. But Pelicans fans are still waiting for Williamson to make his regular-season debut as the 19-year-old recovers from a knee injury. More NEW ORLEANS … [Read more...] about Pelicans set franchise record after 12th straight NBA loss

Spencer Dinwiddie scored 24 points as the Brooklyn Nets capitalized on Joel Embiid’s absence and led most of the way in a 109-89 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night in New York. Dec 15, 2019; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie (8) goes to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers center Al Horford (42) during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports The Nets led for the final 41:54 in the first meeting between the teams since the first round of last spring’s postseason. Embiid averaged 24.8 points in the four games he played in that series but sat out with an upper respiratory illness and missed his sixth game of the season. Dinwiddie helped the Nets improve to 10-5 without Kyrie Irving (right shoulder impingement) by shooting 9 of 21 from the field and adding six assists. It was Dinwiddie’s fourth straight 24-point game and 13th game scoring at least 20 since being elevated to the … [Read more...] about NBA roundup: Nets snap Embiid-less Sixers’ win streak with 109-89 rout

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Buffalo Bills didn’t have many playoff experiences during a recent two-decade stretch. Bills coach Sean McDermott and his quarterback Josh Allen are helping to change the culture in Buffalo. Allen threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Kroft with 7:55 to play and the Bills clinched a playoff spot, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-10 on Sunday night. “(McDermott) preaches playoff caliber and that’s the standard we hold ourselves to,” Allen said. “The goal is to get yourself into the playoffs to have a shot at the Super Bowl.” The Bills (10-4) have done that. They secured their second playoff berth in three seasons under McDermott. Buffalo trailed 10-7, but scored on two possessions in the fourth quarter, as Allen rallied the Bills for a comeback win for the fifth time this season. Consecutive interceptions by Jordan Poyer and Levi Wallace on Pittsburgh’s last two possessions sealed the victory. The surging Steelers … [Read more...] about Allen’s fourth-quarter TD clinches playoff spot for Bills

The AFC's best defense will likely be the one still standing at the end of the postseason by Bryan DeArdo @BryanDeArdo Dec 16, 2019 at 2:20 am ET • 8 min read PITTSBURGH -- All week long, the Buffalo Bills' defense listened to the national media talk about the defense they would share the field with during Sunday night's game between two teams fighting for the AFC's last two playoff spots. When the game was over, the Bills' defense was the ones that did that talking after forcing five turnovers and four interceptions of Steelers quarterback Devlin "Duck" Hodges in the Bills' 17-10 victory, a victory that clinched Buffalo's second playoff berth in three years. "We've been hearing about their defense," Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson told reporters from the winning locker room. "We've been hearing about T.J. Watt, all those guys. We ain't getting enough respect. We came out here and played our game." The Bills' defense did play … [Read more...] about Defense key not only to Bills’ win over Steelers but also how the playoffs shake out in the AFC in January

Huge things have been expected of the 21-year-old raw talent since a scouting tape of the then teenager created headlines around the world — and he’s beginning to show why there was so much hype around him. Maker, who pulled himself from the NBA Draft in recent years was in October signed by the Houston Rockets on a league-minimum Exhibit 10 contract before being cut and dropped to the Rockets' G-League affiliate in Rio Grande Valley a few days later. It seems he’s finally found his feet in the second-tier competition. On Saturday (AEDT) Maker exploded off the bench in a game-swinging cameo where he put up nine points, five rebounds, three steals, two assists and a block in just 19 minutes on the floor. He was a standout again for the Vipers on Sunday when he was a perfect three from three from the field in the Vipers’ win over Oklahoma City Blue. Most impressively, the Vipers were a game high +11 when Maker was on the court for 19 minutes, despite the team … [Read more...] about Aussie Matur Maker impresses in NBA G-League performance

EditorsNote: minor edits Dec 15, 2019; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) passes against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports The visiting Buffalo Bills clinched a playoff spot Sunday night when Josh Allen’s 14-yard tiebreaking touchdown pass to Tyler Kroft was the difference in a 17-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. With the score tied at 10, Allen found Kroft at the right pylon to cap a six-play, 70-yard drive with 7:55 left in the fourth quarter. Buffalo (10-4) has won four of its past five games, and Pittsburgh (8-6) had won seven of eight. Allen was 13 of 25 passing for 139 yards with an interception, and he also ran for a touchdown. Steelers quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges, an undrafted rookie who had been 3-0 as a starter, was 23 of 38 passing for 202 yards and a touchdown to James Conner, who returned from a shoulder injury. Hodges also … [Read more...] about Bills beat Steelers in defensive battle, clinch playoff berth