Cavaliers' Mitchell, Warriors' Curry and Celtics' Tatum in the spotlight going into Game 2s

Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell, Golden State's Stephen Curry and Boston's Jayson Tatum have been the driving forces for their teams throughout the season.

It is no surprise that all three are in the spotlight going into their respective Game 2s of the NBA Playoffs on Wednesday night.

Mitchell scored 30 points in the top-seeded Cavaliers 121-100 victory over the Miami Heat on Sunday night. It was the 26th time in 55 playoff games that the all-star guard has had at least 30 points. Mitchell's 28.1 points per game in the playoffs is seventh all-time among players with at least 50 postseason games and he is averaging 34.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists in Cleveland's last seven playoff contests.

Mitchell knows he is viewed as a scorer, but he is hoping his defense and forcing steals begin to stand out more against the Heat.

“Obviously, the 30 is cool. I mean that’s what I’m known for but I think for me it’s just steals, being in the passing lanes, getting on the boards, boxing out, diving on loose balls, different things like that. That’s really what’s going to continue to take us to that next level,” he said.

Curry needs three points to become the 11th player in league history to reach 4,000 points in the playoffs. The superstar guard led Golden State with 31 points in Sunday night’s 95-85 win at the Houston Rockets that included two off-balance 3-pointers in the second half.

The seventh-seeded Warriors — who are used to the rigors of postseason play — look to go up two games on a Rockets squad in the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

“I think the only real advantage is you don't get rattled if there's runs. The composure matters because then you can make plays down the stretch,” said Curry, who needs 49 points to surpass Tony Parker for 10th on the career playoff scoring list.

Tatum has 2,728 points — seventh-most by a player in NBA history before turning 28. But the all-star forward is listed as doubtful against the Orlando Magic with a bone bruise in his right wrist.

He suffered the injury during the fourth quarter of the Celtics' 103-86 victory on Sunday when he went up for a dunk and landed awkwardly after being hit hard by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

Asked about Tatum’s status after the Celtics practiced Tuesday morning, coach Joe Mazzulla said the All-Star was limited, and day-to-day.

Boston veteran Al Horford called the play excessive.

“There was something extra there,” Horford said. “It was about the second or third time he especially KCP went at (Tatum) in that way.”

When/Where to Watch: Game 2, 7 p.m. EDT (TNT)

Series: Celtics lead, 1-0

BetMGM says: Celtics by 12.5.

What to Know: The Celtics trailed by a point at halftime in Game 1 before using a 30-18 third quarter to take control in a 103-86 win. Derrick White had 30 points and Payton Pritchard added 19 off the bench to lift a Boston team that started slowly but finished with 16 3-pointers. The Magic — who are 1-12 on the road all time in Game 2s — came in allowing opponents an NBA-low 11.4 3-pointers per game but were hurt more by their 15 turnovers which led to 24 Boston points.

When/Where to Watch: Game 2, 7:30 p.m. EDT (NBA TV)

Series: Cavaliers lead, 1-0

BetMGM says: Cavaliers by 12.5.

What to Know: Cleveland pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 21-point victory in Game 1. Cleveland was led by Mitchell (30 points), Ty Jerome (28 points) and Darius Garland (27 points), marking the first time in franchise history three players scored at least 27 points in a playoff game. It is expected to be another physical matchup in the paint between Miami's Bam Adebayo and Cleveland’s Evan Mobley. Adebayo held Mobley to three points in the 6:24 they were matched up against each other while Adebayo scored six points in 6:49.

When/Where to Watch: Game 2, 9:30 p.m. EDT (TNT)

Series: Warriors lead, 1-0

BetMGM says: Rockets by 2.5.

What to Know: Jimmy Butler returned to “Playoff Jimmy” with 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists as the Warriors stole home court from the Rockets 95-85 in Game 1. Houston needs better execution from guards Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green, who were 7 of 34 from the field. Houston made just 6 of 29 from beyond the arc and was 11 of 20 from the foul line. The Rockets grabbed 22 offensive rebounds and got 23 points from their bench. With another win, Golden State coach Steve Kerr would take sole possession of sixth place in most playoff victories. Kerr and Larry Brown are tied with 100.

AP Sports Writer Kyle Hightower contributed to this report.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown (7), left, and Jayson Tatum (0) play against the Orlando Magic during the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) smiles from the bench during the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets in Houston, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins, right, reaches for the ball as Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) heads up the court in the second half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series, Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn't scoring the way he usually does, but the Oklahoma City Thunder are still winning the way they normally do.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, averaged 31.1 points during the regular season. In the Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers, he is averaging 20 points and taking only 14 shots per game.

Oklahoma City has still won the first two games by an average of 18 points. Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren each scored 22 points, and the defending champion Thunder beat the Lakers 125-107 on Thursday night.

Ajay Mitchell, starting in place of injured Jalen Williams, is averaging 19 points on 50% shooting in the series for Oklahoma City.

“I think the coaching staff does a good job at just getting all of us ready,” said Mitchell, a second-year guard. "And we have a lot of competitors. Like, everyone’s a competitor on our team. So every time the lights are bright, everyone’s ready to go.”

Holmgren is the leading scorer for the Thunder in the best-of-seven series with 23 points per game. The 2026 All-Star also is averaging 10.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.

Jared McCain, a midseason acquisition from the Philadelphia 76ers, barely played in the first round against Phoenix but has averaged 15 points and made 8 of 10 3-pointers in the series.

“He goes in there, stays in character, stays aggressive," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "He’s going to shoot the next shot. He makes the right plays, plays inside the team. He competes defensively, has had good defensive possessions for us. And he was huge tonight. You need that in a playoff series.”

The Lakers again were without scoring champion Luka Doncic, who is out indefinitely with a strained left hamstring. They also were missing forward Jarred Vanderbilt, the reserve forward who dislocated the pinkie on his right hand during the second quarter of Game 1. The Lakers had three players finish with five fouls, limiting their aggressiveness late in the game.

Los Angeles guard Austin Reaves, who struggled with his shot in Game 1, scored 31 points on 10-for-16 shooting in Game 2. LeBron James, coming off a 27-point effort in Game 1, followed that up with 23.

With the Lakers up 63-61 early in the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander got tied up with Reaves and was called for his fourth foul. Upon review, it was upgraded to a flagrant 1 for Gilgeous-Alexander's follow through. Oklahoma City's Alex Caruso was called for a technical foul as the situation was being sorted out.

Gilgeous-Alexander left the game with the Lakers up 65-61, but the Thunder rallied and took control without him. On a fast break, Holmgren found a trailing Jaylin Williams, who hit a 3-pointer and was fouled. His free throw put the Thunder up 85-74.

The Thunder outscored the Lakers 32-15 while Gilgeous-Alexander was out in the third quarter to take a 93-80 lead into the fourth.

“It was amazing," Gilgeous-Alexander said. “They strung together stops, they’re playing the right way offensively and things are going their way. Full confidence in those guys. They know how to win basketball games. And we've proven that. They’ve proven that no matter who’s on the floor, they know how to get the job done. And they just did it again tonight."

The Lakers cut Oklahoma City's lead to five in the fourth quarter before the Thunder pulled away again.

Los Angeles will host Game 3 on Saturday.

“We just stuck with it,” Holmgren said. “It’s the game of basketball. It’s not always going to go your way. It’s about how you respond. And this team has proven many times that we know how to respond. And we did so tonight.”

This story has been corrected to show that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 20, not 19, points per game against the Lakers.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren (7) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves (15) in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell, front, works for a shot as Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves, rear, defends in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James stands on the court in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket past Los Angeles Lakers' Deandre Ayton (5) and LeBron James, rear, in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) works to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)