The results of the night in the NBA
Cavs @ Knicks : 93-102
Kings @ Warriors : 125-126
Celtics @ Hawks : 129-121
Nuggets @ Wolves : 108-114, after extra time
New York Knicks 3-1 Cleveland Cavaliers
– This series played on a little rough and old-fashioned basketball is turning to the advantage of the Knicks, who are only one victory away from their first qualification for the semi-finals of the Conference for 10 years . New York filled up at Madison Square Garden, thanks to more offensive consistency and rebounding dominance. Ah, and to a better offensive leader, you might say…
– Jalen Brunson was great for the Knicks again, with well-timed baskets, 29 points and that visible mentality of a guy who doesn’t want to get fired up and knows his team hasn’t done anything yet. His 3rd quarter buzzer shot and mid and long range address were incredibly valuable.
Brunson was well helped by a RJ Barrett aggressive (26 pts) and a Josh Hart exhausting activity on both sides of the field the first playoff game of his career in the five.
– Difficult not to talk about the match of Donovan Mitchell. The Cavs weren’t able to rely on their star on Sunday, hampered by New York’s strong defense and their own struggles to find rhythm and positions. In this Garden that he did not go far from joining before being sent to Cleveland and in front of part of his family, “Spida” twisted: 11 points at 5/18 with 6 ball losses. Darius Garland (26 pts, 10 wt) is the only one to have maintained hope among the Cavs.
– Much has been said about the decibels of Sacramento, but Madison Square Garden has lived up to its legend once again, whether during the game or around the room. The excitement is real and the NBA is necessarily doing a little better when the Knicks are competitive, that’s undeniable. See Spike Lee vibrating crouched and ready to enter the field, it’s a good sign as to the local fervor.
Sacramento Kings 2-2 Golden State Warriors
– Unbreathable and exhausting. These are the two qualifiers that come to mind to evoke this series disputed at a totally frantic pace and which retained its suspense on Sunday. The Warriors were hot, were still jostled in the body and in the heart, but they held on and won their game 4 at home against the still uninhibited Kings.
The two teams did not let go and Sacramento did not go far from creating a sensation. Harrison Barnes even had a 3-point match point after Golden State succeeded – for once – in deterring De’Aaron Fox to take the winning shot.
Just before, Stephen Curry, phenomenal in attack (32 pts at 11/22) had made a nice mistake while the Warriors were at +5 and headed for victory. A “Chris Webber”, as they say in the jargon. The Warriors were out of a timeout, but Curry called for one anyway. Result: a successful throw, possession for the Kings and a 3-point basket from Malik Monk to come back to a point 30 seconds from the end…
Steph Curry pulled a Chris Webber and called a timeout for the Warriors pic.twitter.com/psJJgacaq7
— Oh no he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) April 23, 2023
In the end, there were no serious consequences and we can even salute Curry’s good defense on Fox on the last action of the match.
STEPH LOCKS UP FOX TO SEAL THE GAME 😤 pic.twitter.com/SW5hpfGse4
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 23, 2023
– The leader of the Kings, precisely, continues to prove that he has passed a gigantic milestone this season. Fox landed 38 points disgusting anyone who tried to deny him access to the circle or his favorite mid-range spot. Draymond Greenwho defended on him for part of the second half after falling out with him in the first (which resulted in a double technical fault), did his best to slow him down.
– Draymond Green, precisely, started on the bench for his return from suspension, in agreement with Steve Kerr. As the primary defenseman on the shooter, Green pushed the Kings to a 5/15. When he took care of Fox after the break, the latter only shot at 2/7 and did everything to avoid being in his company. We can still blame him for a few gross mistakes and reckless risks with an early technical foul on the truffle, but his comeback has done the Warriors good defensively in particular.
– The Kings probably should have tried harder to win Game 3 without Draymond Green or Gary Payton II. The shot was playable. There, even if they were still excellent and competitive in game 4. We think of Keegan Murray, rookie, but full of composure to plant 23 points and 5 3-point baskets. Or Davion Mitchell, huge intensity in defense and not clumsy on the other side (12 pts).
Boston Celtics 3-1 Atlanta Hawks
– Boston is only one victory away from joining Philadelphia. Game 4 of the series against Atlanta turned to the advantage of the Celtics, more solid and sure of their forces despite honorable resistance from the Hawks.
– After missing 6 of his first 7 shots, Jaylen Brown took off the protective mask he had been wearing for two months. Result: the All-Star winger seemed free and slammed 31 points at 12/22, to match his comrade’s offensive energy Jayson Tatum (31 pts too).
– Outclassed by the Hawks’ bench in game 3, the Celtics’ bench responded to this night. Robert “Timelord” Williams had 13 points, 15 rebounds and 2 blocks, Malcolm Brogdonfreshly elected 6th man of the year, brought him 14 points and 4 assists.
– Trae Young tried to keep the Hawks alive and we must recognize this combativeness after difficult weeks and without very marked impact. The Atlanta point guard had 35 points and 15 assists tonight.
Denver Nuggets 3-1 Minnesota Timberwolves
– There will be no sweep in the West. The Wolves pulled out to win in overtime against Denver, after being scared by spoiling a good 12-point lead in the 4th quarter. They still saved the honor at home, by surviving the gigantic match of Nikola Jokic in attack (43 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists) and the expulsion of Karl-Anthony Towns (17 pts, 11 rebounds) during overtime.
– Minnesota can thank Anthony Edwardswhich allowed him not to let go in the 3rd quarter (16 of his 34 pts) and sealed the fate of the match with 3 points during overtime, by catching a cold Aaron Gordon 11 seconds from the buzzer.
ANTHONY EDWARDS DAGGER 3!!!! pic.twitter.com/j42FslgEFD
— Oh no he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) April 24, 2023
– Rudy Gobert finished in double-double (14 pts, 15 rbds), but was not to his advantage at the end of the match with a lost ball and a blocked shot which allowed the Nuggets to fight back at the end of the 4th and a walk which kept the Nuggets in the game during overtime. Having to defend on Nikola Jokic is no small feat, especially when the Serb is in this ruthless mood.
– Mention to Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who we saw decisive in his defense of his cousin Shai Gilgeous-Alexander during the play-in. This time, it was on offense, with two 3-point baskets at the start of overtime, that “NAW” was invaluable.
NAW coming up big in OT…
Timberwolves up 5 with 2 minutes to play on TNT. https://t.co/AwyWxroddg pic.twitter.com/AVqwWmb9AC
— NBA (@NBA) April 24, 2023
The program for the next night
CQFR: CP3 depresses the Clippers, the Lakers and the Heat hit hard
2023-04-24 04:27:00
#NBA #Warriors #tearing #York #qualified
