Celtics and Cavs take command, Rockets tie series

The top two teams in the Eastern Conference took command in the opening games of the playoffs, as the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics head to Miami and Orlando with a 2-0 lead and the job done at home.

The defending champions defeated the Orlando Magic 109-100 at TD Garden, with Jaylen Brown stepping up in Jayson Tatum's absence to score 36 points. The 28-year-old played 42 minutes, adding 10 rebounds and five assists to his standout performance.

They are a good team, we have to take care of the ball better," Brown said in remarks picked up by AFP. "We are a team, we have an excellent work plan and today we were able to carry it out." On defense, the Celtics set the tone by holding Orlando to just 24% shooting from beyond the three-point line (7-of-29).

Kristaps Porzingis recorded a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Dominican veteran Al Horford got the start, contributing nine points and 10 rebounds in 32 minutes of play time.

The Florida squad failed to score more than 30 points in any of the four quarters, with Paolo Banchero leading the way with 32 points.

The first-round series resumes Friday with the first of two straight games at the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida.

Mitchell stifles Heat comeback attempt

In another result, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Miami Heat 121-112, led by an inspired Donovan Mitchell who scored 17 points in the fourth quarter, going a perfect 6-for-6 from the field.

Miami trailed by as many as 19 points but fought back to get within two points with three minutes remaining in the final period. However, an unstoppable Donovan Mitchell sealed the game, hitting four three-pointers to push the lead out of reach. Shooting guard Tyler Herro led the Heat with 33 points, including four from beyond the arc.

"I just wanted to find a rhythm," Mitchell said. "My job is to lead every night, and today was all about scoring. We have to keep growing; they are a good team, and we have to be ready to play on the road." Mitchell finished with 30 points, six rebounds, and six assists.

Among the changes made by Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was the inclusion of Nikola Jovic in the rotation, who made one of his eight three-point attempts.

Bad night for the Warriors: loss and Butler's injury

The Houston Rockets secured their first home win in the NBA playoffs since the 2019 season, defeating the Golden State Warriors 109-94 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

However, the major news of the game was the injury to Jimmy Butler, who took a shocking fall in the first quarter while chasing a rebound. An inadvertent collision with Amen Thompson resulted in a pelvis injury, and Butler was unable to return to the game.

Jalen Green had a stellar performance, finishing with 38 points, six assists, and four rebounds. "We were just aggressive," Green said. "We knew what we had to do, and we executed the plan today. The coaching staff did a great job. It's a physical sport, and that's what we want. We'll play hard, and we know that's what we have to do from here on out," he added.

Jonathan Kimunga and Pat Spencer each scored 11 points off the bench for Golden State but couldn't compensate for Butler's absence. Stephen Curry contributed 20 points in 37 minutes, including four 3-pointers.

The series will continue Saturday at the Chase Center with the first of two consecutive games in San Francisco, California.