NBA Playoffs 2016: Top Scores and Highlights from Round 1 Bracket
The Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder have all punched their tickets to the second round of the 2016 NBA playoffs. Notably absent from the list are the reigning champion and record-breaking Golden State Warriors.
Although the Warriors hold a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Houston Rockets, the outlook has become more murky for the new regular-season-wins record holders. That's mostly because Stephen Curry is expected to miss at least two weeks with an MCL sprain.
At the least, it will test the defending champions' resiliency as they look to remain afloat until Curry is clear for action. Let's check out the path that lies ahead for them and everybody else still battling in Round 1 before taking a closer look at the teams that have already moved on.
Round 1 Bracket Scores
| Game | Matchup | Series/Date |
| - | (1) Cavaliers vs. (8) Pistons | - |
| 1 | Pistons 101 at Cavaliers 106 | 1-0 CLE |
| 2 | Pistons 90 at Cavaliers 107 | 2-0 CLE |
| 3 | Cavaliers 101 at Pistons 91 | 3-0 CLE |
| 4 | Cavaliers 100 at Pistons 98 | 4-0 CLE |
| - | (4) Hawks vs. (5) Celtics | - |
| 1 | Celtics 101 at Hawks 102 | 1-0 ATL |
| 2 | Celtics 72 at Hawks 89 | 2-0 ATL |
| 3 | Hawks 103 at Celtics 111 | 2-1 ATL |
| 4 | Hawks 95 at Celtics 104 (OT) | 2-2 |
| 5 | Celtics 83 at Hawks 110 | 3-2 ATL |
| 6 | Hawks at Celtics | April 28 |
| 7* | Celtics at Hawks | April 30 |
| - | (3) Heat vs. (6) Hornets | - |
| 1 | Hornets 91 at Heat 123 | 1-0 MIA |
| 2 | Hornets 103 at Heat 115 | 2-0 MIA |
| 3 | Heat 80 at Hornets 96 | 2-1 MIA |
| 4 | Heat 85 at Hornets 89 | 2-2 |
| 5 | Hornets at Heat | April 27 |
| 6 | Heat at Hornets | April 29 |
| 7* | Hornets at Heat | May 1 |
| - | (2) Raptors vs. (7) Pacers | - |
| 1 | Pacers 100 at Raptors 90 | 1-0 IND |
| 2 | Pacers 87 at Raptors 98 | 1-1 |
| 3 | Raptors 101 at Pacers 85 | 2-1 TOR |
| 4 | Raptors 83 at Pacers 100 | 2-2 |
| 5 | Pacers 99 at Raptors 102 | 3-2 TOR |
| 6 | Raptors at Pacers | April 29 |
| 7* | Pacers at Raptors | May 1 |
| - | (1) Warriors vs. (8) Rockets | - |
| 1 | Rockets 78 at Warriors 104 | 1-0 GSW |
| 2 | Rockets 106 at Warriors 115 | 2-0 GSW |
| 3 | Warriors 96 at Rockets 97 | 2-1 GSW |
| 4 | Warriors 121 at Rockets 94 | 3-1 GSW |
| 5 | Rockets at Warriors | April 27 |
| 6* | Warriors at Rockets | April 29 |
| 7* | Rockets at Warriors | May 1 |
| - | (4) Clippers vs. (5) Trail Blazers | - |
| 1 | Blazers 95 at Clippers 115 | 1-0 LAC |
| 2 | Blazers 81 at Clippers 102 | 2-0 LAC |
| 3 | Clippers 88 at Blazers 96 | 2-1 LAC |
| 4 | Clippers 84 at Blazers 98 | 2-2 |
| 5 | Blazers at Clippers | April 27 |
| 6 | Clippers at Blazers | April 29 |
| 7* | Blazers at Clippers | May 1 |
| - | (3) Thunder vs. (6) Mavericks | - |
| 1 | Mavericks 70 at Thunder 108 | 1-0 OKC |
| 2 | Mavericks 85 at Thunder 84 | 1-1 |
| 3 | Thunder 131 at Mavericks 102 | 2-1 OKC |
| 4 | Thunder 119 at Mavericks 108 | 3-1 OKC |
| 5 | Mavericks 104 at Thunder 118 | 4-1 OKC |
| - | (2) Spurs vs. (7) Grizzlies | - |
| 1 | Grizzlies 74 at Spurs 106 | 1-0 SAS |
| 2 | Grizzlies 68 at Spurs 94 | 2-0 SAS |
| 3 | Spurs 96 at Grizzlies 87 | 3-0 SAS |
| 4 | Spurs 116 at Grizzlies 95 | 4-0 SAS |
Highlights from Round 1 Winners
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs have flown below the radar in the championship conversation this season. That's because while the Warriors and Spurs were running over opponents with the greatest of ease, the Eastern Conference's top team was going through a drama-filled campaign.
Yet despite all of the headline stories out of Cleveland, including the firing of head coach David Blatt in January, the team kept finding ways to win. The Cavaliers secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference under new head coach Tyronn Lue, and they advanced past the Detroit Pistons in routine fashion.
LeBron James averaged 22.8 points, 9.0 rebounds and 6.8 assists in the series sweep, and the four-time MVP feels good about the direction of the team, per Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com.
"We're not satisfied with what we've done, but we are happy where we are today," James said.
In turn, the Cavs are suddenly right back at the forefront of the title picture with James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love all healthy and playing well. Winning a title is always about peaking at the right time, and it seems like Cleveland is trending in that direction.
San Antonio Spurs
The end result for San Antonio was never in doubt against an undermanned Memphis Grizzlies squad. The good news for the Spurs is how quickly and efficiency they dispatched their Round 1 foes, winning by an average of 22 points as they swept Memphis, giving them some extra time to rest before the next series.
Their aging stars should also be ready to roll for what will likely be a grueling stretch over the next three series if they are going to capture the title. Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili (33, 40 and 38 years old, respectively) all played less than 23 minutes per game in the first round.
While this team now belongs to Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge, at least in terms of top-end production, the Spurs are going to need their veteran leaders to shine against the Thunder. Quixem Ramirez of the San Marcos Record expects an extended series:
The silver lining for San Antonio is the fact Oklahoma City allowed the Dallas Mavericks, owners of the league's 16th-ranked offense, to average 105 points over the final three games. If that type of defense continues, the Spurs should benefit from a multitude of open looks thanks to their ball movement.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Like Cleveland, OKC spent most of the season playing in the shadow of the Warriors and Spurs. The Thunder feature enough talent to play the role of spoiler in the Western Conference, however, and they have a golden opportunity to prove that in the next series.
While there were some defensive lapses against Dallas that the Thunder must clean up during the break before Round 2, the offense was clicking on all cylinders. OKC averaged 112 points per game and shot 48 percent as a team in the series.
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook rightfully attract most of the attention, but Serge Ibaka could be the key to the Spurs series. Not only does he protect the rim defensively, but his physical prowess could give San Antonio some issues on the other end of the floor as well.
John Schuhmann of NBA.com provided a hopeful stat for Oklahoma City:
All told, OKC emerged from a hard-fought battle with the Mavericks no worse for wear. The Thunder also became better prepared for the rest of the postseason in the process. It should make for a highly entertaining clash with the Spurs for a spot in the conference finals.
