NBA 2016 Playoffs Spurs, Heat, Cavaliers, Clippers Win Game One

The 2016 National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs began over the weekend as the race to become champions heats up.

There were wins for the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heats.

Game One of the Playoffs in the Western Conference started with Golden State’s 104-78 blowout of Houston and followed with Oklahoma City’s 108-70 thumping of Dallas on Saturday.

On Sunday, it was San Antonio continuing the trend with a 104-76 drubbing of Memphis and the Los Angeles Clippers handing the Portland Trail Blazers a 20-point beatdown, 115-95.

In the Eastern Conference first round on Sunday, the Cleveland Cavaliers got 20 points each from LeBron James (22 points, 11 rebounds, six assists), Kyrie Irving (31 points, six assists, five rebounds) and Kevin Love (28 points, 13 rebounds) to take a 1-0 series lead over the Detroit Pistons, while Luol Deng (31 points, seven rebounds) and Hassan Whiteside (21 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks) led Miami to a 123-91 blowout of Charlotte.

Recap of the scores:

CAVALIERS 106, PISTONS 101 – Cleveland leads 1-0.

Game Two is on Wednesday in Cleveland.

HEAT 123, HORNETS 91 – Miami leads 1-0.

Game Two is on Wednesday in Miami.

SPURS 106, GRIZZLIES 74 – San Antonio leads 1-0

Game Two is on Tuesday in San Antonio.

CLIPPERS 115, TRAIL BLAZERS 95 – Los Angeles leads 1-0.

Game Two is on Wednesday in Los Angeles.

Monday’s schedule:

Indiana Pacers will be at Toronto Raptors with the Pacers leading 1-0

Dallas Mavericks plays at Oklahoma City Thunder with Thunder leading 1-0.

Houston Rockets plays at Golden State Warriors with the Warriors leading 1-0.

NBA 2016 Playoffs Spurs, Heat, Cavaliers, Clippers Win Game One

Van Gaal: Spurs Have Several Threats

Louis van Gaal knows Manchester United will have to deal with the whole Tottenham Hotspur team in order to win Sunday’s clash, not just the Barclays Premier League’s top scorer Harry Kane.

Kane’s 22 goals have helped Spurs mount a serious title challenge this season; they are second in the table and still harbour hopes of clawing back leaders Leicester City in the final seven games.

United are aiming to keep up the pressure on fourth-placed Manchester City with victory at White Hart Lane and, as van Gaal insisted in Friday’s pre-match press conference, that will require a collective effort.

“Harry Kane is, of course, a very good striker, but he hasn’t scored against us,” van Gaal pointed out. “When I say that then I am challenging him also, so it is not so smart.

“Yes, Kane is important. But we defend also against the attack of Tottenham Hotspur because we have analysed them and [Christian] Eriksen and Dele Alli are also important.

“Maybe I can start with [goalkeeper Hugo] Lloris, who does very quick set-plays, or [Toby] Alderweireld, who has a very good pass. It is the whole team that you have to solve, not just Harry Kane.”

Asked for his thoughts on opposite number Mauricio Pochettino’s work at Tottenham, van Gaal replied: “They have a very good squad and he has made a team of this squad, a team that presses high with a good positional game and they score a lot of goals.

“They also have a lot of clean sheets, though, which shows they are a well-organised and structured team. I think you can give credit to him.”

Leicester, who are in action earlier on Sunday away at Sunderland, could be 10 points clear by the time United’s game kicks off in north London, which would increase the pressure on Spurs.

“It is not easy for them – very difficult, in fact,” van Gaal stated. “The pressure is now on Tottenham Hotspur because they have to close the gap on Leicester City. I think that Leicester are in a very good position.”

Credit: Manutd

Van Gaal: Spurs Have Several Threats