5 surprises from the first weekend of the NBA playoffs

The opening weekend of the 2018 NBA playoffs featured plenty of surprises, from unexpected upsets to out-of-nowhere performances.

With the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers each looking vulnerable heading into the 2018 NBA playoffs, this year’s postseason proceedings appeared to be rife with drama.

If the opening weekend is any indication, the playoffs are poised to deliver.

From LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers running into an unexpected roadblock to a wildly entertaining nightcap between the New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, we’ve already been treated to a bevy of surprises through the first two days of the 2018 playoffs.

Who in their right mind would have expected Derrick Rose and Jamal Crawford to each outscore Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns? Or for Delon Wright to outpace his All-Star teammate, Kyle Lowry, while helping the Raptors snap their infamous Game 1 losing streak?

While certain series have gone as expected — sorry, San Antonio Spurs, but you’re toast agains the Golden State Warriors without Kawhi Leonard — most appear to be competitive after their respective Game 1s. That hopefully sets the stage for a wildly entertaining first round.

What were the biggest surprises from the opening weekend of the 2018 NBA playoffs? Let’s take a look.

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