NBA Playoffs: Who stepped up Game 2? Tyler Herro six 3s in leading Heat to Game 2 upset over Celtics
Game 2 is all about adjusting and responding for the losing team in Game 1.
Here are the players in each NBA Playoff series who need to make their presence known and deliver in Game 2 for their teams to even the series. See who did so and who didn't as this story will be updated after each day of Game 2s.
Eastern Conference
Game 1: (4) Cavaliers 97, (5) Magic 83
Who needs to respond for Orlando in Game 2: Gary Harris. Went scoreless in Game 1 on 0-for-6 shooting, going 0-for-5 from 3. He’s 2-of-18 from the field (2-of-14 on 3s) in his last three games. This can’t continue. He doesn’t have to score 20, but Harris can’t go '0-for' while playing 30-plus minutes.
Game 2: Cavs 96, Suns 86
Did Harris step up?: The veteran guard scored 14 points, going 4-of-7 from 3. Definitely an improvement from Game 1's performance, but the Magic are shooting a poor 34.3% from the field in the playoffs, going 17-of-72 from 3.
Game 3: Thursday in Orlando.
Game 1: (2) Knicks 111, (7) 76ers 104
Who needs to respond for Philadelphia in Game 2: Tobias Harris, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Nicolas Batum. They combined for 20 points on 7-of-18 shooting (3-of-10 from deep) in Game 1. Harris gave them nine boards to help Joel Embiid on the glass, but the Sixers need one of them to raise their level.
Game 2: Knicks 104, 76ers 101
Did Harris, Oubre Jr. and Batum step up?: First off, the Knicks pulled a Reggie Miller on the 76ers in being down five late in the fourth quarter and hitting two 3s in a span of 14.3 seconds to take a one-point lead with 13.1 seconds left in the game. Philadelphia blew the game, but Joel Embiid, who isn't 100%, and Tyrese Maxey, who was ill Monday, combined for 69 points. The 76ers need a third scorer. Oubre, Harris or Batum needs to answer that call. They a combined 8-of-23 for 20 points Monday night.
Game 3: Thursday in Philadelphia.
Game 1: (1) Celtics 114, (8) Heat 94
Who needs to respond for Miami in Game 2: Tyler Herro. Through three quarters, Herro had just five points on 2-of-10 shooting (1-of-6 from 3) and the Heat were down big, 91-59. The Celtics let up in allowing Miami back in the game, but without Jimmy Butler, Herro must be that second scorer to Bam Adebayo.
Game 2: Heat 111, Celtics 101
Did Herro step up?: Yes sir. Herro knocked down 6-of-11 3s in scoring a team-high 24 points as the Heat hit a record 23 from deep. Add the 14 assists to just three turnovers and five rebounds, Herro delivered the type of performance Miami could definitely use in trying to knock off the top overall seed in the playoffs.
Game 3: Saturday in Miami.
Game 1: (3) Bucks 109, (6) Pacers 94
Who needs to respond for Indiana in Game 2: Tyrese Haliburton. Damian Lillard not only cooked the Pacers for 35 points, he answered Haliburton’s ‘Dame Time’ moment during the In-Season tournament. Haliburton had just nine points in his playoff debut, but has an opportunity to show who he is as a player in the postseason. Shake loose from Pat Beverley's defense, embrace the raucous road crowd and give it right back to Lillard and the Bucks.
Game 2: Pacers 125, Bucks 108
Did Haliburton step up?: He didn't need to score big as Pascal Siakam went for 37 in leading the Pacers to a response win, but Haliburton posted a double-double of 12 points and a game-high 12 assists to only two turnovers. He controlled the tempo like a point guard should.
Game 3: Friday in Indianapolis.
Western Conference
Game 1: (3) Timberwolves 120, (6) Suns 95
Who needs to respond for Phoenix in Game 2: Devin Booker. He had a rare off Game 1 to a series with 18 points on 5-of-16 shooting. Got in foul trouble, but T-Wolves wing Jaden McDaniels continues to defend him well. Booker missed all four of his shots from the field, playing the entire third quarter when Minnesota took the game over. The franchise player has to play like it.
Game 2: T-Wolves 105, Suns 93
Did Booker step in Game 2?: Not really. He did score 20, but shot 1-of-6 from 3 and committed six turnovers. The Suns, as a team, struggled offensively, committed 20 turnovers that led to 31 Minnesota points, but Booker, between the poor shooting from 3, the constant convos with the referees and turnovers, he didn't step up.
Game 3: Friday in Phoenix.
Game 1: (2) Nuggets 114 (7), Lakers 103
Who needs to respond for Los Angeles in Game 2: D’Angelo Russell. Russell doubled the 6.3 points he averaged in last year’s Western Conference finals, which the Lakers lost in four to the Nuggets, with 13 in Game 1, but he can’t go 1-of-9 from 3 in a game they trailed by only six points midway through the fourth quarter.
Game 2: Nuggets 101, Lakers 99
Did Russell step up: Most definitely. Russell posted 23 points, hitting 7-of-11 from 3, six assists to four turnovers and three rebounds. He put the Lakers up two, 97-95 with 1:03 left in the fourth quarter, but Jamal Murray stunned the Lakers with a fader jumper over Anthony Davis as time expired to give the Nuggets the thrilling win after trailing by as many as 20 points early in the third quarter.
Game 3: Thursday in Los Angeles.
Game 1: (4) Clippers 109 (5), Mavericks 97
Who needs to respond for Dallas in Game 2: Mavs big men. Paul George, James Harden and Russell Westbrook totaling 63 points offset Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving combining for 64, but Dallas can’t allow Ivica Zubac to post 20 points and 15 boards with 10 points coming in the tone-setting first quarter (34-22 Clippers). Daniel Gafford and rookie Dereck Lively II need to show some interior resistance.
Game 2: Mavs 96, Clippers 93
Did the Mavs big mens step up?: Gafford suffered a lower back injury in the first half and only played 10 minutes. So he was a non-factor, but this wasn't about scoring. The Mavs got scorers starting with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Dallas needed its bigs to slow down Zubac. Mission accomplished. Zubac still posted a double-double of 13 points and 12 boards, but didn't impact the game like he did Game 1. Lively II's seven points and nine boards were noticeable, but Maxi Kleber getting minutes as the five forces Zubac to defend the perimeter.
Game 3: Friday at Dallas.
Game 1: (1) Thunder 94 (8), Pelicans 92
Who needs to respond for New Orleans in Game 2: Brandon Ingram. I still believe the Pelicans should’ve gone to him instead of CJ McCollum in that final possession since they needed a two to force overtime, but Ingram must find his offense against the shorter but foul-drawing machine that is Lu Dort.
Game 2: Thunder 124, Pelicans 92
Did Ingram step up?: Not really. How in the world does Ingram only take 10 shots (5 made) with Zion Williamson watched the game in street clothes? Scoring 18 points, Ingram should be the top option even with Dort defending him. The Pelicans committed 18 turnovers with Ingram tallying three. Pelicans need more from him.
Game 3: Saturday in New Orleans.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: NBA Playoffs: Who stepped up Game 2? Herro, Haliburton, Russell
