Aurélie SACCHELLI, published on Monday, April 19, 2021 at 00:25
Sunday’s first two games of the day in the NBA saw Atlanta win over Indiana, and New York win over New Orleans after overtime. Miami then beat Brooklyn with a Bam Adebayo buzzer basket.
Eighth victory in ten games for Atlanta! The Hawks recovered well from their loss to Milwaukee on Thursday, outscoring Indiana 129-117 in a game that started at 1:00 p.m. local time and dominated almost from start to finish. The Pacers were the first to score, but then they were no longer able to take the lead. Atlanta won the first quarter 35-23, then led 66-57 at halftime. The Pacers came down to -1 twice late in the third quarter, even leveling 105-105 with 5’09 remaining. But Atlanta hit the accelerator to finish 24-12, including 3-point shots from Kevin Huerter, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Trae Young. Young, precisely, was capital in this victory, with 34 points, 5 rebounds and 11 assists, while Clint Capela again offered himself a huge double-double: 25 points and 54 rebounds! Opposite, Indiana was able to count on 29 points and 8 assists from Malcolm Brogdon and the double-double from Domantas Sabonis (18pts, 14rbds) but that was not enough. Atlanta is fifth, Indiana 9th.
The Knicks go on
In the other game of the day, the New York Knicks signed a fifth straight win against New Orleans after overtime: 122-112. This meeting was hotly contested, with no less than twelve changes of leader. The Pelicans generally dominated the first quarter of an hour, but never had more than five points in advance. And it was then the Knicks who took control, to have a fifteen point lead just before half-time (57-44, mt). But New Orleans came back and even led by seven points at 3’44 from the end (92-99). Derrick Rose then scored six straight points to bring his team down to 101-98, and it was ultimately Reggie Bullock who snatched overtime for the Knicks by scoring three points (103-103) two and a half seconds from the buzzer. It was therefore necessary to play an extension, which the New Yorkers won quite widely: 19-9 after leading from start to finish. Julius Randle finished with 33 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists and 5 steals for the Knicks, sixth in the East, while Zion Williamson finished with 34 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists for the Pelicans, eleventh in the West with this third loss in a row.
Adebayo crucifies the Nets
Bam Adebayo hero of the Heat! The pivot offered the victory to the defending NBA vice-champions against the Brooklyn Nets, by scoring with the buzzer (109-107)! While the score was 107-107 for 43 seconds, “Bam” managed a small “step back” to score two points on the buzzer and crucify one of the favorite teams for the title. A victory arrived after a very close meeting, and marked by the premature exit of Kevin Durant, touched in the leg. The two teams took turns in this game, but neither was more than seven points clear. There were 19 leader changes in total (64-60, mt), and the Heat were still leading 99-92 with 6’50 to go, before the Nets came back and went ahead thanks to a 13-0 (99-105 at 4’04 from the buzzer). But it was then Miami who managed a series, scoring the last eight points of the game in the last three minutes, and therefore this last capital basket from Adebayo, who finished with 21 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists. Landry Shamet (30pts) carried the Nets, alongside a Kyrie Irving with 20 points and 9 assists. But that failed to secure the victory and Brooklyn remains second behind Philadelphia, while waiting to learn more about Kevin Durant’s injury. Miami, for its part, ended a three-game losing streak and took 7th place.
NBA / REGULAR SEASON
Sunday April 18, 2021
Atlanta Hawks – Indiana Pacers : 129-117
New York Knicks – New Orleans Pelicans : 122-112 ap
>>> Stats by Frank Ntilikina (NYK): 4 minutes of play, 0 points (0 shots), 1 assist, 1 against, 3 fouls
Miami Heat – Brooklyn Nets : 109-107
>>> Stats by Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot (BRO): 16 minutes of play, 7 points (3 out of 5 shots including 1/2 to 3pts), 1 rebound, 1 pass, 1 interception, 2 fouls
Charlotte Hornets – Portland Trail Blazers
Orlando Magic – Houston Rockets
Toronto Raptors – Oklahoma City Thunder
Dallas Mavericks – Sacramento Kings
Los Angeles Clippers – Minnesota Timberwolves
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