Aurélie SACCHELLI, Media365, published on Monday, May 24, 2021 at 7:56 AM
After Philadelphia’s victory over Washington, the NBA night continued with Utah and New York’s home losses to lower-ranked Memphis and Atlanta, respectively, and Phoenix’s victory over the Lakers.
Qualified in extremis for the play-offs after beating San Antonio and Golden State in the play-in, Memphis offers himself the No. 1 of the regular season, away! The Grizzlies went to win 112-109 on the floor of Utah and thus regain the home advantage! Still deprived of its offensive leader Donovan Mitchell, the Jazz did not have the weapons to dominate an impressive Memphis team, which hardly trembled during this meeting. Utah led for much of the first half, even having a fourteen point lead midway through the second quarter, but it was the Grizzlies who dominated the second from start to finish. On the momentum of a second quarter won 32-19, Talyor Jenkins’ men, led by the duo Dillon Brooks (31pts, 7rbds) – Ja Morant (26pts) took the lead and were 17 points ahead at the start of the last quarter. Utah, carried by a Bojan Bogdanovic at 29 points and a Mike Conley at 22 points and 11 rebounds, and even if Rudy Gobert (11pts, 15rbds) came out following his sixth foul at 4’25 from the end, was woke up and came back to -1 with six and a half seconds left thanks to five straight free throws from the Croat. But Brooks gave Memphis the win on a four-second layup behind the buzzer, with Bogdanovic then missing the 3-point shot that would have given the Jazz extra time. Utah, who only managed 25% of their 3-pointers (35% for Memphis), is hoping they can count on Donovan Mitchell in Game 2 on Wednesday. Otherwise, the series could be more complicated than expected.
Phoenix offers himself the champion
Second in the Western Conference, Phoenix had received a stocked gift in having to face the Lakers, defending champions, in the first round of the play-offs. But the Suns have perfectly mastered their first playoff game since 2010 by winning 99-90. They led the game almost from start to finish (32-25 at the end of the first quarter, 53-45 at halftime, 81-68 at the end of the third quarter), leaving only the Lakers to take the lead during the first few minutes. Phoenix didn’t crush the Californians, settling for most of the time with a five to ten point lead, but the Lakers never managed to come back to less than seven points throughout the second half.. LeBron James (18pts, 7rbds, 10pds) and Anthony Davis (13pts, 7rbds) were there, but the reigning champions fell on a big defense of the Colorado players, and especially on a Devin Booker on fire who, for his all first play-off game, finished with 34 points (franchise record of points for a Suns player starting in the finals), 7 rebounds and 8 assists. Deandre Ayton, added 21 points and 16 rebounds (the rebound franchise record for a Suns player starting in the finals), while Chris Paul, a regular in those games, finished with 7 points, 4 rebounds and 8 passes. Match 2 will take place on Tuesday, still in Phoenix, and the Lakers will pass a big test on their ability to go further this season.
Trae Young crucifie les Knicks
He too was playing his very first play-off match, and he too was the hero of his team. Trae Young offered the victory (105-107) to Atlanta on the New York floor with a floater nine-tenths from the end when the score was 105-105! The No. 5 in the 2018 draft, author of 32 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists, ended a hotly contested meeting where the two teams, who were respectively playing their first play-off match since 2013 and 2017, got together. are hit for blow. Atlanta certainly led in the score between the middle of the first and the middle of the third quarter (50-52 at halftime), but never by more than eleven points, and its lead abruptly melted, allowing the Knicks to return at 66-66 fifteen minutes from the end. New Yorkers Alec Burks (27pts) and Derrick Rose (17pts, 5rbds, 5pds) led 73-71 at the end of the third quarter and still 93-91 at 4’13 from the end, then the two teams passed. in turn, up to 105-105 and this basket of victory signed Trae Young! The hero of the Hawks was helped in this match by Bogdan Bogdanovic (18pts). On the Knicks’ side, Julius Randle was more clumsy than usual, settling for 15 points (and 12 rebounds) at 6 of 23 on shots. It should also be noted that Frank Ntilikina made his big debut in the play-offs. He played 32 seconds …
BASKET – NBA / PLAY-OFFS 2021
1st round
Eastern Conference
NEW YORK KNICKS (4) – ATLANTA HAWKS (5) : 0-1
Match 1 – New York Knicks – Atlanta Hawks : 105-107
>>> Stats by Frank Ntilikina (NYK): 32 seconds played, 0 points, 0 shots
Match 2 : New York Knicks – Atlanta Hawks on May 26
Match 3 : Atlanta Hawks – New York Knicks on May 28th
Match 4 : Atlanta Hawks – New York Knicks on May 30
Match 5 (if necessary): New York Knicks – Atlanta Hawks le 2 juin
Match 6 (if necessary): Atlanta Hawks – New York Knicks le 4 juin
Match 7 (if necessary): New York Knicks – Atlanta Hawks le 6 juin
Western Conference
UTAH JAZZ (1) – MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (8) : 0-1
Match 1 : Utah Jazz – Memphis Grizzlies : 109-112
>>> Stats by Rudy Gobert (UTA): 25 minutes of play, 11 points (4 of 4 on shots including 0 on 3pts), 15 rebounds, 3 blocks, 3 lost balls, 6 fouls
>>> Killian Tillie (MEM) did not play, by decision of the coach
Match 2 : Utah Jazz – Memphis Grizzlies le 26 mai
Match 3 : Memphis Grizzlies – Utah Jazz le 29 mai
Match 4 : Memphis Grizzlies – Utah Jazz le 31 mai
Match 5 (if necessary): Utah Jazz – Memphis Grizzlies June 2
Match 6 (if necessary): Memphis Grizzlies – Utah Jazz June 4th
Match 7 (if necessary): Utah Jazz – Memphis Grizzlies June 6
PHOENIX SUNS (2) – LOS ANGELES LAKERS (7) : 1-0
Match 1 – Phoenix Suns – Los Angeles Lakers: 99-90
Match 2 : Phoenix Suns – Los Angeles Lakers le 25 mai
Match 3 : Los Angeles Lakers – Phoenix Suns le 27 mai
Match 4 : Los Angeles Lakers – Phoenix Suns le 30 mai
Match 5 (if necessary): Phoenix Suns – Los Angeles Lakers le 1er juin
Match 6 (if necessary): Los Angeles Lakers – Phoenix Suns le 3 juin
Match 7 (if necessary): Phoenix Suns – Los Angeles Lakers le 5 juin
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