University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA in the NBA - Playoff Update
May 6, 2013
UCLA alumni concluded their participation in the 2012-13 NBA playoffs with the elimination of the Los Angeles Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.
Western Conference No. 1 seed Oklahoma City defeated No. 8 seed Houston, 4-2, but lost All-Star guard Matt Barnes, center Ryan Hollins) were eliminated by No. 5 Memphis, 4-2. Eastern Conference No. 8 seed Milwaukee Bucks (forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute) were eliminated 4-0 by No. 1 seed and defending NBA Champions Miami Heat.
In other Bruins in the NBA news, Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard Jrue Holiday placed fifth in the voting for the Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award, which was won by Indiana's Paul George. Orlando Magic guard Arron Afflalo finished 21st. UCLA alumni who have won the award include current Minnesota Timberwolves center Kevin Love (2010-11) and forward Don MacLean in 1993-94 when he played with the Washington Bullets.
Washington Wizards forward Trevor Ariza placed 17th in the voting for the Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year, won by Memphis' Marc Gasol. Westbrook finished in 20th place. UCLA alumni Mark Eaton twice (1984-85/1988-89) won the defensive honor with the Utah Jazz, and he is the NBA record-holder for most blocks in a season (456) and career average blocked shots per game (3.50).
Oklahoma City
The Thunder won the first two games in Oklahoma City to take a 2-0 advantage over Houston. But Russell Westbrook was injured in Game Two, a 105-102 Thunder win in Oklahoma City on April 24, when he got tied up in the second quarter with Houston's Patrick Beverley. Westbrook played through the injury and completed the contest, but the next day was diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his right knee and had season-ending surgery on April 27. In the first two playoff games, Westbrook averaged 34.0mpg, 24.0ppg, 6.5rpg, 7.0apg and 3.0spg and shot .415 from the field, .222 from three-point range and .857 from the foul line.
Game Three, a 104-101 Thunder win at Houston on April 27, was the first game that Westbrook had missed in his five-year NBA career, playing in all 394 regular season and 45 playoff games. Since being selected as the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft by Seattle, Westbrook has been a starter throughout his NBA years, except for the first 17 games at the start of his professional career in 2008. He is a three-time All-Star who won a Gold Medal on the U. S. men's basketball team at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
After winning the first three playoff games, Oklahoma City dropped the next two, but won Game Six on May 3 in Houston, 103-94 to wrap up the series 4-2. The Thunder will now face No. 5 Memphis in the next round of the playoffs as the Grizzlies on Friday night (May 3) eliminated the Clippers.
Western Conference No. 1 Oklahoma City vs. No. 8 Houston (OKC wins 4-2)
April 21 - at Oklahoma City 120, Houston 91 (Westbrook - 30 minutes, 19 points, game-high tying 8 rebounds, game-high 10 assists, 2 steals)
- April 24 - at Oklahoma City 105, Houston 102 (Westbrook - 37 minutes, team- high tying 29 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, game-high 4 steals; injured right knee, had surgery, will miss rest of playoffs)
- April 27 - Oklahoma City 104, at Houston 101
- April 29 - at Houston 105, Oklahoma City 103
- May 1 - Houston 107, at Oklahoma City 100
- May 3 - Oklahoma City 103, at Houston 94
Los Angeles Clippers
After winning the first two playoff contests at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the Clippers dropped the next four in a row, including three contests in Memphis, and lost the series, 4-2. In Memphis, the Clippers average losing margin in three games was 15.3ppg. The Clippers were hampered with injuries to key starters center Blake Griffin (right ankle) and guard Chris Paul (left thumb).
Down 3-2 and heading into Game Six at Memphis on May 3, Matt Barnes was not going down without a fight, although the Clippers did lose, 118-105 to end their playoff run. Barnes played 36 minutes and registered a career-high playoff and game- high 30 points (11-14 FG, 6-7 3PT FG, 2-3 FT), game-high 10 rebounds and one steal. Barnes made his first seven shots, including his first five three-point attempts and scored 21 points in 20 minutes. Barnes will be a free agent this summer.
During the Clippers playoff run, Barnes in six games averaged 27.0mpg, 11.8ppg, and 5.0rpg and shot .545 from the field, .412 from three-point range and .842 from the foul line. Ryan Hollins, in five games, averaged 7.4mpg, 2.2ppg and 1.0rpg and shot .556 from the field and .500 from the foul line.
Western Conference No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 5 Memphis (Memphis wins 4-2)
- April 20 - at LA Clippers 112, Memphis 91 (Barnes - 22 minutes, 10 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal; Hollins - 8 minutes, 2 points, 1 assist)
- April 22 - at LA Clippers 93, Memphis 91 (Barnes - 20 minutes, 7 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 blocked shot; Hollins - 3 minutes)
- April 25 - at Memphis 94, LA Clippers 82 (Barnes - 26 minutes, 12 points, 2 rebounds; Hollins - 9 minutes, 4 rebounds, 1 blocked shot)
- April 27 - at Memphis 104, LA Clippers 83 (Barnes - 25 minutes, 6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal; Hollins - 7 minutes, 5 points, 1 assist, 1 blocked shot)
- April 30 - Memphis 103, at LA Clippers 93 (Barnes - 30 minutes, 6 points, team-high nine rebounds, 1 assist, 1 blocked shot, 1 steal; Hollins - 8 minutes, 4 points)
- May 3 - at Memphis 118, Clippers 105 (Barnes - 36 minutes, career playoff-high 30 points, game-high 10 rebounds, 1 steal; Hollins - did not play)
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks lost all four games to Miami by an average of almost 15 points a contest. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute started all four contests and averaged 34.0mpg, 8.3ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.8apg and 1.0spg and shot .435 from the field and .722 from the foul line. The Heat will now play Brooklyn or Chicago, the teams play Saturday night (May 4) at Brooklyn with the series tied at 3-3.
Eastern Conference No. 1 Miami vs. No. 8 Milwaukee (Miami wins 4-0)
- April 21 - at Miami 110, Milwaukee 87 (Mbah a Moute - 29 minutes, 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal)
- April 23 - at Miami 98, Milwaukee 86 (Mbah a Moute - 32 minutes, 6 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, team high tying 2 steals)
- April 25 - Miami 104, at Milwaukee 91 (Mbah a Moute - 33 minutes, 12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists)
- April 28 - Miami 88, at Milwaukee 77 (Mbah a Moute - team-high 40 minutes, 9 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists)