Thanks to their 111-110 success, the Hawks are only led 2 to 1 in their series of the first round of the NBA play-offs (disputed in the best of seven games) once morest the Miami Heat. They had lost their first two meetings.
With a “floater” scored four seconds from the final whistle following a missed shot from the Floridians, leader Trae Young offered victory to his team. “I just wanted to go to the basket,” said the player, author of 24 points for his team. “I knew there were only 10 seconds left, I didn’t want to set up a system for a three-point shot. So, I tried to go to the circle, to get a foul or make a “lay-up”.
The Hawks appeared to be heading for yet another loss and a crippling 3-0 deficit following going 21-0 in the third quarter to give the Heat an 84-68 lead.
The Bucks regain the lead
“We must not lose this game: that’s what I had in mind throughout the game and that’s how we played, especially during the last quarter,” Bogan said. Bogdanovic, author of 18 points off the bench for Atlanta, and who notably scored three three-point baskets in the last period.
“The way we played, without giving up before the end, it shows the character of this team,” said Bogdanovic. With his teammates, he will try to bring the series tied 2-2 on Sunday, still at home.
In Chicago, the defending champion Bucks regained a 2-1 lead in their series, making short work of the Bulls, swept by 30 points 111-81. Author of 41 points to offer his team the victory and the equalizer at 1-1 in match N.2, Bulls star DeMar DeRozan was limited Friday evening to 11 points, with a pitiful 4/11 in shooting .
On the Bucks side, it was a substitute, Grayson Allen, who finished top scorer, with 22 points scored to compensate in particular for the absence – at least until the end of the series – of Khris Middleton, the lieutenant of the “Greek Freak » Giannis Antetokounmpo (18 pts, 7 rebounds, 9 assists).
Suns win without Booker
Also deprived of a major player, Devin Booker, hit in the right hamstring, the Suns for their part won 114-111 in New Orleans, taking control of their series 2 to 1.
“We knew that we would play without our best player with the absence of “Book”, and that we would all have to be up to it”, commented following the meeting the leader Chris Paul, author of a great game: 28 points, including 19 in the last quarter, 14 assists, no lost ball. “I’m happy we won,” added the Suns veteran, well supported by pivot Deandre Ayton (28 pts, 17 rebounds).
Unhappy finalists once morest the Bucks in 2021, the Suns had a remarkable season, concluded with the best regular season record (64 wins – 18 losses).
