- miami Heat 115 – 91 ATLANTA HAWKS
The Heat lead 1-0 in the series.
One-way meeting at the FTX Arena to start this series between Miami, 1st in the East, and Atlanta, 8th. The Hawks have never been able to find their rhythm in attack, and this, from the first minutes of the first quarter. However, Nate McMillan’s men complete the first 12-minute period with a 14% shooting skill but only 5 points behind the Heat: 23 – 17. What’s next? A long blow out. Miami will get their hands on the game permanently and run for three quarters. The largest gap rises to 32 points. Erik Spoelstra’s players are effective in attack (52.4% on shots, 47.4% three points) and intractable in defense (12 interceptions – 3 blocks). The leader of the Conference therefore succeeds in entering his 2022 play-offs and takes control of the series before the second match scheduled for Wednesday.
Jimmy Butler finished the game with 21 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists as well as 3 steals. 16 points for PJ Tucker, 10 points and 9 assists for Kyle Lowry. Everyone joined the party (10 players with 5 or more points). We were expecting Tyler Herro coming off the bench, but nothing happened. The future best sixth man in the league finished the game with 6 points 3/11 on shots. His performance was well clipped by 27 points from Duncan Robinson. The Heat’s number 55 finishes with a magnificent 8/9 from long distance and a new personal best in the play-offs. Ct Hawks, Trae Young signs the worst performance of his season with a terrible 1/12 on shots (0/7 three points). The leader of Atlanta was extinguished, jostled throughout the meeting and will have to pull himself together very quickly for the survival of his team in this series. De’Andre Hunter finished with 14 points, Danilo Gallinari scored 17 points and took 5 rebounds.
- boston celtics 115 – 114 brooklyn nets
The Celtics lead 1-0 in the series.
We were expecting fireworks to start this series between Boston, 2nd in the East, and Brooklyn, false 7th. It must be said that we did not have to. The start of the match was intense (18 fouls whistled in the 1st quarter alone) and two teams who did not let go of a single sole when returning to the locker room: 61 – 61. As soon as they returned to the court, the match seems to loosen up. Everything goes faster, but the intensity and quality do not fall. Ime Udoka’s players take a small advantage in the third quarter time (+15 points ahead) but cannot keep it in front of the offensive talent of Kyrie Irving, who has decided to win for his return to TD Garden in play offs. The Nets end the game with a bang, take control and seem to be heading for victory. It was without counting on a completely crazy last minute. While Al Horford equalizes 111 everywhere, Kyrie Irving lights up behind the arc and gives his team a 3-point lead. On the time-out exit, the Nets forget Jaylen Brown who leaves in drive and revokes the Celtics 1 point 114 – 113. On the next possession, Marcus Smart and his people will carry out a crazy defensive sequence. Kevin Durant is forced to take a snack shot at the end of the clock and misses the target. In the continuity of the action, Ime Udoka does not take time out and trusts his players. Magnificent collective action from Boston which ends with a superb pass from Smart for Jayson Tatum. The number 0 arrives launched in the racket, erases Irving with a reverse on a step and sends the ball into the basket. Mermaid. 115 – 114 Boston. The Nets are sounded, the Garden explodes.
Jayson Tatum finishes with 31 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds and therefore the basket of victory. 20 points and 15 rebounds for Al Horford which gives us a standard performance. 20 points and a fire defense for Marcus Smart. Finally, Jaylen Brown finished lmui with 23 points and 4 steals. Nets, if Kyrie Irving was standard for his return with 39 points 12/20 on shots, the same cannot be said for Kevin Durant. The Nets star finished the game with 23 points 9/24 on shots, 6 losses on the ball and a feeling of having been limited, suffocated by the aggressive defense of the C’s. Game 2 scheduled for Thursday.
- milwaukee bucks 93 – 86 chicago bulls
The Bucks lead 1-0 in the series.
The defending champions made their debut in their 2022 play-offs once morest the Bulls, who were making their return to the play-offs following 5 years of absence (2016/2017). Mike Budenholzer’s players, who have dominated Chicago 4 times this season, were scared during this game. While they had their hands on the game and they had up to 16 points in advance, Giannis Antetokounmpo and his teammates let the visitors come back into the game in the last half of the quarter. Worse still, when Chicago passed in front less than six minutes from the end of the match, we felt a small moment of hesitation in the public of the Fiserv Forum. Finally, the Bucks regain the lead at the cost of a last effort and finally win by seven points: 93 86.
Giannis finished with 27 points, 16 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks. The Greek was as always the perfect leader of his Bucks. 11 points for a clumsy Khris Middleton (4/13 on shots), 18 points for Brook Lopez and 15 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds for Jrue Holiday. Opposite, DeMar DeRozan did not have the usual performance with 18 points but 6/25 on shots. Ms. concern for Zach Lavine who ends up with a 6/19 and 18 points. The only one really to stand out is Nikola Vucevic. Montngrin finished with a standard double-double: 24 points and 17 rebounds.
- phoenix suns 110 – 90 new orleans pelicans
The Suns lead 1-0 in the series.
Dirty evening for the volatile in the NBA. After the Hawks, who were trampled on by Miami, it was the Pelicans who had a bad night for their start in the play-offs. Oppos Phoenix, finalist last year, Willie Green’s men have done with their weapons in this first match. Quickly behind, the New Orleans players ran following the score until the end of the third quarter before picking up and making the Suns “doubt”: 79 to 71. Diligent and serious, Chris Paul’s teammates finished the job in the last quarter and eventually won by 11 points. Paul finished the game with a remarkable stat sheet: 30 points (12/16 on shots), 10 assists, 7 rebounds and 3 steals. Devin Booker did not force his talent and planted 25 points 8/19 on shots. Finally 21 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks for DeAndre Ayton who faced a serious client in the racket. Precisely, Jonas Valanciunas finished with 18 points and 25 rebounds. But this mammoth double-double is not enough. 18 points for Ingram who was very clumsy (6/17 on shots and 5 lost balls). Finally CJ McCollum finished top scorer for the Pelicans with 25 points, 6 assists and 8 rebounds. Reaction expected for Game 2 on Wednesday, still at the Footprint Center.