These last tense days of the regular season in the NBA. The tournament play-in, which debuted in the Orlando bubble, is taking another dimension this season, and that is that everyone wants to cross the border that separates playing a game from being a full-fledged playoff team.
Against this background the faces Boston and Portland met last night at the TD Garden. The first came as sixth in the Eastern Conference tied to Miami (7th). The second did it being seventh in the Western Conference just one game behind the Lakers and Mavericks. Yes, it was vital for both of them to win last night and it was the Blazers who ended up smiling.
In an even match at all times (no one reached a 10-point margin), Terry Stotts’s boys were more successful in the decisive moments. With just over a minute to go, two free throws by Jayson Tatum left the difference on the scoreboard by two points in favor of the Blazers. It looked like it was going to be an exciting finale, but the Celtics did not score again as Lillard, Carmelo and company finished the game for their fourth consecutive victory.
“I think we are playing our best basketball at the right time. It is very important to understand the importance of each game, what we must achieve going into the playoffs and what we must achieve to reach the playoffs, “said CJ McCollum, who had 10 of his 33 total points in the fourth quarter.
The Blazers guard was good, but the accompaniment did not disappoint in the least. Damian Lillard went to 26 points and 13 assists, Norman Powell had another 23 points and Carmelo Anthony added 13 more from the bench. It seems that things are working at the right time.
Boston, in trouble
There was less satisfaction in the greens at the end of the game. After tracing 32 points to San Antonio, Brad Stevens’ men were unable to overcome Portland. Jayson Tatum shone again with 33 points, but neither such performance nor a tremendous 20 of 39 from 3-pointers was enough to avoid defeat and be outmatched in the rankings by the Miami Heat. “We need to take the need-to-win mentality,” says the All-Star forward.
Regarding what is ahead of the Celtics, they must play against Orlando and Chicago before experiencing a double confrontation with Miami. Those two games against Florida could be decisive.
(Photograph by Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
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