Blowouts were everywhere on Sunday in the NBA playoffs

Posted April 18, 2016 7:00 am

By The Associated Press

Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh, left, jokes with forward Luol Deng, center, and guard Dwyane Wade (3) during the second half of Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Charlotte Hornets, Sunday, April 17, 2016, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) The Associated Press

Sunday was a truly rare day in NBA history.

That's a great thing for Miami, San Antonio and Los Angeles Clippers. Not so much for Charlotte, Memphis and Portland.

Of the four games played Sunday in the NBA playoffs, three were blowouts decided by 20 points or more - Miami's 123-91 win over Charlotte, San Antonio's 106-74 win over Memphis and the Clippers' 115-95 win over Portland.

According to STATS, it was only the fourth such day in NBA playoff history and the first since May 8, 1999 (when the New York Knicks beat Miami by 20, Atlanta downed Detroit by 20 and Utah topped Sacramento by 30).

The only other times three blowouts by 20 or more occurred on the same playoff day was twice in 1985, first on April 18 (Denver beating San Antonio by 30, Detroit beating New Jersey by 20 and the Lakers downing Phoenix by 28) and again on April 28 (Boston over Detroit by 34, Denver beating San Antonio by 27 and Philadelphia downing Milwaukee by 22).

So far in these playoffs, five of the eight games were decided by at least 20 points, with Golden State rolling Houston by 26 and Oklahoma City topping Dallas by 38 on Saturday. It took 51 playoff games last season before five were decided by such a large margin.

There are three Game 2s on Monday: Indiana at Toronto, Dallas at Oklahoma City and Houston at Golden State.

San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan (21) holds the ball as he prepares for the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies, Sunday, April 17, 2016, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) The Associated Press

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts watches action in the second half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers, Sunday, April 17, 2016, in Los Angeles. The Clippers won 115-95. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) The Associated Press

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