NBA Playoffs 2015: Updated bracket after Rockets beat Mavericks

Apr 18, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward Josh Smith (5) and guard James Harden (13) walk off the court after the end of the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks in game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward Josh Smith (5) and guard James Harden (13) walk off the court after the end of the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks in game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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The NBA playoffs wrapped up the first day of action with a great game between the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks.


The Dallas Mavericks took the San Antonio Spurs to the brink last season in their opening round series, but things have started in a bad way their next year back. Dallas hasn’t been matched up with the Spurs, rather a dangerous Rockets team headed up by MVP candidate James Harden and big man Dwight Howard.

It was a brutal takedown on Saturday night, as the Mavericks were destroyed by the Rockets in just about every way. Dwight Howard had four blocks within the first five minutes of the game and the energy level for the Rockets was through the roof from there.

Houston was aggressive, they were poignant and they were dominant. If this is any indication of how the series will go, Dallas is in serious trouble.

Here’s a look at what the NBA Playoffs look like after the Rockets dismantled the Mavericks on Saturday night.

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2015NBABracket_form
2015NBABracket_form /

The Rockets dominated the game out of the gate and the Mavericks were only marginally effective from there on out. It’s a great way for Houston to start the series and it’s hardly surprising given their seeding. The Mavericks aren’t a bad team but they’re just outmatched in every way. Chandler Parsons and Dirk Nowitzki are solid and Monta Ellis is there too but Rondo isn’t letting things flow through him.

Maybe that’s a good thing though, as the Mavericks have been utterly disappointed with how Rondo has been playing, and if ‘Playoff Rondo’ is going to show up in the postseason, he certainly hasn’t shown up yet.

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