NBA Playoffs: Bulls, Knicks, Suns, and Rockets Take 2-0 Leads

The NBA playoffs heated up over the weekend, with the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, and Houston Rockets each taking 2-0 leads in their respective series. The Bulls navigated the absence of retired superstar Michael Jordan, while the Knicks managed to overpower the New Jersey Nets despite the ejection of All-Star centre Patrick Ewing. The Suns' Kevin Johnson dominated in his career-playoff-high 38-point performance, and Rockets' Hakeem Olajuwon led his team to a 115-104 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Key Takeaways:

• The Chicago Bulls, without Michael Jordan, took a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series, thanks in part to Scottie Pippen's 22 points and Horace Grant's 18 points and 12 rebounds.
• The New York Knicks overcame the absence of Patrick Ewing, who was ejected for receiving his second technical, and outscored the New Jersey Nets 55-33 in the first half to take a 2-0 lead in their series.
• Charles Oakley recorded a season-high 25 points and 24 rebounds to lead the Knicks to victory.
• The Phoenix Suns took a 2-0 lead in their first-round series, thanks to Kevin Johnson's 38 points, including a career-playoff-high 17 points in the third quarter.
• The Houston Rockets, led by Hakeem Olajuwon's 46 points and six blocks, took a 2-0 lead in their series against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Statistics:

• The Knicks held the Nets to an all-time playoff low of 21 field goals.
• The Bulls' 13-7 fourth-quarter run helped them open up a 93-83 lead with just under five minutes remaining.
• Kevin Johnson's 38 points led the Suns to a 117-111 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
• Hakeem Olajuwon scored 46 points and blocked six shots to lead the Rockets to a 115-104 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Sources:

• AP News
• ESPN NBA News
• Chicago Tribune
• New York Times
• Houston Chronicle