Atlanta, San Antonio Claim NBA Playoff Victories

The Boston Celtics? They couldn't make anything. Shaking off a dismal performance in the playoff opener, Korver swished four 3-pointers in the opening minutes to propel Atlanta to a stunning 21-point lead before many fans had settled into their seats Tuesday night. There wasn't much doubt after that, the Hawks cruising to an 89-72 victory and a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference series.

"We all have pride, right?" said Korver, who went 1 of 10 on Saturday and missed all seven of his 3-point attempts. "I wanted to come out and play better the second game."

As good as Korver and the Hawks were in the early going, this one will be remembered more for the Celtics' grisly start. They scored just seven points over the first 12 minutes, the lowest-scoring opening quarter in a playoff game since the NBA went to a shot clock in 1954.

"I don't know what it is," said Boston's Jae Crowder, looking a bit shell-shocked after scoring just two points on 1-of-9 shooting, "but we've got to change something."

Crowder had plenty of company in his shooting misery.

Boston star Isaiah Thomas was held to 16 points on 4-of-15 shooting, going 1 of 6 beyond the arc. Marcus Smart stepped in for the injured Avery Bradley and went 1 of 11, also making just 1 of 6 from 3-point range. The Celtics finished at 32 percent overall (28 of 88), 5 of 28 from long range.

San Antonio 94, Memphis 68

The more things change the more the San Antonio Spurs remain constant. Twelve years to the day after holding Memphis to franchise lows in total points and points in a quarter, San Antonio put another stranglehold on the Grizzlies.

Patty Mills had 16 points, Kawhi Leonard added 13 and San Antonio never trailed in beating Memphis 94-68 on Tuesday night to sweep the first two games of the first-round series in imposing fashion.

The Grizzlies' lowest postseason production came two days after they suffered their largest postseason defeat.

"We're coming to a gunfight with some spoons," Memphis forward Matt Barnes said. "We've got to do something to try to switch this up at home next game."

If history and the Grizzlies' current state are any indication, Memphis' prospects don't look good heading into a home game Friday night.

The Spurs first established those dubious records against the Grizzlies on April 19, 2004, on their way to a sweep of their first-round series.

Tuesday, April 19 Scoreboard

Atlanta 89, Boston 72

EASTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 2
    
San Antonio 94, Memphis 68

WESTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 2

Wednesday, April 20 Schedule (All Times Central)

Charlotte at Miami, 6 p.m.

EASTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 2

Detroit at Cleveland, 7 p.m.

EASTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 2

Portland at Los Angeles, 9:30 p.m.

WESTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND - GAME 2