Round II - Game 1: DEN/PHO & NYK/MIA (Sat 4/29 & Sun 4/30)

Knicks w/o Randle were in control by 6-12pts for most of the 1st half but the Heat were coming alive in closing minutes of 1st half cutting the lead to just 5. The Heat continued their rampage beating the Knicks by 11 in Q3 for a 6pt lead to open Q4. The 4th was a nip & tuck with NY getting back to -2 or even only to watch the Heat make big plays down the stretch to hold on by 1 for the Qtr and win by 7 as Butler was hobbled by a turned ankle. Despite the "turn" of events, the Knicks lost their composure, the game and HCA.

Last night, despite a terrific (short of great) game from KD, the Nuggets easily dispatched the Suns. With 6 players in double figures, led by Murry 34pts, Jokic 24pts & Gordon 23pts, the Suns lacked the offensive fire power or defensive chops to keep up. Other than KD and Booker (27 pts), the Suns only had Paul & Ayton in low double digits. They just haven't had enough time together since the trade that brought in KD to gel and it doesn't look like they will last more than 5-6 games.