Atlanta, easy winner of Charlotte (132-103) and New Orleans, which dismissed San Antonio (113-103), Wednesday April 13, will play their qualification for the NBA playoffs, Friday, respectively in Cleveland and at the Clippers, in the last two decisive play-off matches.
The Hawks, Eastern Conference finalists in 2021, never trembled against the Hornets, whom they dominated almost from start to finish, counting up to 33 points ahead in the last quarter. After a first period next to his sneakers (8 pts, 3/13 on shots, 3 lost balls), Trae Young found his compass during the 3rd quarter, his fourteen points contributing to his team’s breakaway. He nevertheless finished on a mediocre 8/24 (1/7 from long distance) which made 24 points in total, embellished with ten assists.
“It took me a bit of time to get going, but my teammates did a hell of a job of making up for it. We have a lot of guys who can take the game on their own, at any point in a game,” commented the leader. His lieutenants were indeed more consistent, like DeAndre Hunter (22 pts, 7 rebounds) and Clint Capela, dominating in the racket (15 pts, 17 rebounds, 3 blocks). Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot also contributed to the collective effort (8 pts, 5 rebounds in sixteen minutes).
Opposite, LaMelo Ball, clumsy (7/23 for 26 pts, 7 assists), did what he could. But he missed a bit of everything in Charlotte, to hope for a better fate. Their season therefore logically ends there. For the Hawks, half the way is done and they will have to chain a second success at Cavs who will bravely play their joker, after the defeat conceded Tuesday in Brooklyn. The winner of this match will then challenge Miami, seeded N.1, in the first round of the play-offs.
In the West, New Orleans also quite easily took the measure of San Antonio, who woke up too late to make up for a delay that peaked at 21 units in the 3rd quarter. CJ McCollum was the great architect of Louisiana’s victory, since he finished top scorer with 32 points, including 27 in the first period alone (7 assists, 6 rebounds).
Brandon Ingram (27 pts) was the one who put the Pelicans back in place in the money-time, with two important baskets which calmed the desire for a comeback from the Spurs, who returned to -6, in the wake of Devin Vassell (23 pts, 7/13 behind the arc). The holidays now await the Texas team, which had the merit of fighting to hang on to the play-offs, at the expense of LeBron James’ Lakers, doubled in the home stretch. And for coach Gregg Popovich? The next few days will tell if the hour of retirement has come at 73, as at the end of each season in recent years.
For the Pelicans the next challenge promises to be taken up on Friday in Los Angeles where they will face the Paul George Clippers. At stake: a first-round accession where the opponent will be Phoenix, simply the best team in the regular season.