2017 NBA playoffs scores, highlights, and updates: Cavaliers and Spurs both take 2-0 lead in series

Paul George batted down any notion that his recent comments about C.J. Miles and Lance Stephenson were an attempt to throw his teammates under the bus during shootaround on Wednesday. He called any rhetoric to the contrary “complete ignorance.”

“Everybody knows how close I am with my teammates, and to really make that the highlight of the series — I said that only to motivate us and to win the series,” George told reporters. “That’s what this thing is about. Winning. And trying to bring a championship to Indy, and try to get out of this first round.”

The NBA has fined Memphis Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale $30,000 for public criticism of the officiating of Game 2 of their first-round playoff matchup against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, the league announced on Wednesday.

Fizdale decimated the refereeing crew Monday night for failing to call fouls on his players during their 96-82 loss to the Spurs. San Antonio shot 32 free throws compared to Memphis’ 15. Kawhi Leonard attempted more foul shots (19) than all Grizzlies players combined.

Kevin Durant suffered a strained left calf in the Golden State Warriors’ Game 1 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, according to ESPN.com’s Chris Haynes. He is questionable for Game 2 on Wednesday.

Durant never exited the Warriors’ 121-109 victory over the Trail Blazers due to injury. He played 35 minutes, scored a team-high 32 points on 12-of-20 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds in their opening playoff game.

The Memphis Grizzlies tweeted the design of a new T-shirt after head coach David Fizdale lit into the officiating crew after a slew of no-calls contributed to a 96-82 Game 2 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday.

The Spurs attempted 17 more free throws than the Grizzlies in Game 2 with Kawhi Leonard taking more foul shots (19) than Memphis as a whole (15).

Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale didn’t hold back when he rammed the officiating crew for lopsided foul calling after Memphis’ 96-82 Game 2 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday.

The rookie coach may be in line for a hefty fine from the league office, but he also had a point.

We had two first-round games on Monday night, and both followed a similar pattern. The No. 2 seed jumped out to a big lead, the No. 7 seed made a tough comeback, but ultimately the better team pulled away in the end. Yes, it was Cavaliers-Pacers and Spurs-Grizzlies on Monday. Here is your recap:

The Pacers took the Cavaliers to double-overtime in Cleveland at the end of the regular season. Then they had a one-point loss with a chance to win Game 1 of the playoffs. On Monday, they found themselves down five late with a chance to make one more run. They’ve been able to hang with the Cavaliers, but they just can’t get over the hump. Partially because the Pacers have some major defensive flaws, but mostly because the Cavaliers are just too good.

Grizzlies coach David Fizdale went on a wildly passionate rant against the referees at the end of his team’s Game 2 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. It’s going to cost him in fines, but otherwise is a gold mine for apparel sales.

If you missed it, here’s what he said:

The Grizzlies went down 0-2 against the Spurs on Monday night. It was a hard fought game for Memphis in which it was down 26 points and got within four in the fourth quarter but could ultimately not close the deal.

It’s hard to beat the Spurs and Memphis coach Dave Fizdale knows that. But what he’s not happy about is the officiating in the game. The Spurs got twice as many free throws than the Grizzlies over the course of the game. Not only did they get twice as many, Kawhi Leonard had 19 of those, more than the entire Grizzlies team combined. Needless to say, Fizdale was not happy.

The Memphis Grizzlies marched back from a 26-point deficit to cut the lead to four points early in the fourth quarter on the road against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2. Ultimately they fell short of a complete comeback, losing 96-82. But this mishmosh of the old, the young, and the under-appreciated has some fight to it.

The Spurs ran away with the first game of the series by 31 points, and a sweep looked apparent. That mindset was fair halfway through this game as well, until Mike Conley kicked into second gear, and Zach Randolph woke from his slumber.

LeBron James isn’t bothered by his current series with the Indiana Pacers. And honestly, why should he be? Yes, Paul George is a force, but the Cavs have decided to just double team him and make the rest of the Pacers beat you. (It’s working.) So what is James really concerned about after the game? HE WANTS TO GO TO COACHELLA.

James said he was taking a break from social media, but you know he’s been lurking. Just like you, he’s probably watched every single Instagram story from Coachella this weekend. He probably saw Cam Newton looking dapper in Indio.

Vince Carter is out here talking trash, and earning a technical foul for it, as his team is getting crushed by the San Antonio Spurs in the first half.

Kyle Anderson, who is 23 years old, was on the receiving end of the 40-year-old Carter’s rant.

The extremely strange Pacers continue to confuse the heck out of us. Many thought before the season there was no way this roster would fit together and those doubters continue to be proved correct. They have Paul George, who has been shooting the lights out since early March. But after that the roster is a jumbled mess that never quite looks comfortable playing together. In game 84 of the season, at a crucial moment in a playoff game, after a timeout, you’d think they would be on the same page. But guess what? NOPE.

This wasn’t even that tricky of a play. Jeff Teague gets caught on a LeBron James screen, and while George sags back, he still lets Kyrie Irving go untouched to the basket. Myles Turner looks confused the entire possession, not sure if he should guard Korver, Love, or maybe even Irving. They were confused in Game 1 as well, many times switching Teague to try and guard James. It’s unbelievably hard to guard a team that has James and four shooters on the court at any time, but the Pacers have looked beyond lost in this series on the defensive end.

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Indiana Pacers for the second time in a game that was closer than it needed to be, 117-111. A LeBron James-led defense showed signs of improvement, but it still has a ways to go.

That might work against Indiana, but the second round may not be so forgiving.

Lance Stephenson got destroyed by Kevin Love in the third quarter on Monday night. For some reason Nate McMillan made him guard Love, and Love scored eight straight points on him. His retaliation? This shot.

It sadly didn’t count, but, hey, it’s all part of the Lance Stephenson experience.

J.R. Smith will not return to the Cavaliers’ second playoff game against the Indiana Pacers on Monday with a left hamstring injury. It was announced he wouldn’t return at the start of the second half after he played 18 first-half minutes.

He scored just three points on 1-of-3 shooting and had one turnover.

Game 1 of the Cavaliers and Pacers first-round series came down to a final shot. The first quarter of Game 2 was also close, but LeBron James did get in this gorgeous breakaway dunk. But ya know, Larry Bird’s Pacers have been bounced in the playoffs by LeBron three times already. He is tired of it.

Larry is not afraid to show his emotions during a Pacers game. He once did a literal “SMH” at the Pacers defense. There was also this time in the 2014 playoffs against the Hawks.

Cavaliers employees sign part of the floor at Quicken Loans Arena to cheer on their team.

“Repeat ‘17” and “Go Cavs” are a few of the messages inscribed. It’s a nice gesture.

The San Antonio Spurs clicked on all cylinders in their 111-82 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1. Memphis could get over its painful Game 1 defeat by beating the Spurs in Game 2 at AT&T Center tonight at 9:30 p.m ET on TNT.

In the early stages of Game 1, the Grizzlies couldn’t miss their shots. When the Spurs took their second timeout in the first quarter, Memphis was ahead, 22-9. However, in classic Spurs fashion, they made adjustments and began playing like a well-oiled machine from there.

With each opening game of the playoffs in tow, the stage has been set for the first round. Now, fans are treated to a delightful duo of No. 2 vs. No. 7 matchups on Monday that will influence the way both series pan out.

Coming up first is an Eastern Conference showdown between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Indiana Pacers.