Four days from the end of the regular season, things were much more settled in the East than in the unbreathable Western Conference, which seems to postpone the final diagnosis every night. But Tuesday evening, even in the East, we decided to stretch the suspense and play the good students with the “Commissioner” Adam Silver, as if to remind us that this play-in was a hell of a great creation.
And it was the Brooklyn Nets who took the lead. Very annoyingly for them. While they remained on three successes in a row and only need two victories to win the last direct spot for the play-offs, Jacque Vaughn’s men fell at home to the Minnesota Timberwolves (102 -107), however weighted by three consecutive defeats, but carried on Tuesday by Karl-Anthony Towns (22 pts, 14 rebounds) and who suddenly returned in the senseless battle for a play-off ticket in the West. “Now every success seems to count double and every defeat triples, it’s just crazy”said Wolves coach Chris Finch at the exit.
With this setback, the Nets, who shot only 43% and abandoned the game in the last four minutes, are treading water and see the Miami Heat return. Winner of the last of the class in the East, the Detroit Pistons (105-118), thanks to a saving effort in the final quarter, the Heat are only one success away from the Nets, but have a unfavorable tie-break on the Brooklyn franchise. They are there in any case, in the fight, in the foam of Jimmy Butler (27 pts, 8 rebounds, 8 assists). “We just need to give him the ball and we know he will make the right decisions. That’s what he does “commented Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.
Embiid at 52 points, four games in a row at more than 40 points for Mitchell!
A little further to the east, things have progressed well on the other hand. In the star game, between Philadelphia and the Boston Celtics, respectively 3rd and 2nd in the Conference, the Sixers locked their third place thanks to a success (103-101) carved by the skilful hands of Joel Embiid, author of 52 points (13 rebounds, 6 extra assists) at 20 out of 25 on shots! This is the third game with more than 50 points this season for the “Cameroonian-American-French” pivot. What made his coach, Doc Rivers, say at the exit: “The MVP race is over.”
Cleveland, too, did the job and secured its fourth place – synonymous with home field advantage in the first round of the play-offs – by dominating Orlando (113-117), in the shoes of Donovan Mitchell (43 pts), author from a fourth game in a row to more than 40 units! “50 wins is not nothing. Now we have to be focused on the play-offs”dropped the hero of the Cavs.
Milwaukee, for its part, has almost the pole in its pocket. Dominating in Washington (128-140), with a triple-double from Giannis Antetokounmpo (28 pts, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) and an almost triple-double from Jrue Holiday (26 pts, 10 assists, 9 rebounds), the Bucks do not can be deprived of first place in the East more than if they lose their last three games and Boston takes it all. Finally, respectively winners in Charlotte (100-120) and Chicago (105-123), Toronto and Atlanta will now fight for the best folding seat in play-in.
