US-Sport compact Chicago and Oklahoma still in playoff race
Düsseldorf · While most Europeans are asleep, the North American professional leagues are buzzing. What Happened That Night in American Football, Basketball, and Ice Hockey.
Chicago Bulls’ DeMar DeRozan with coach Nick Nurse.
Photo: AP/Frank Gunn
Basketball: Chicago and Oklahoma still in playoff race
The former series champions Chicago Bulls can continue to dream of the playoffs in the North American professional basketball league following a remarkable comeback. The six-time ’90s champion defeated the Toronto Raptors 109-105 in the play-in game and now battles the Miami Heat for the final Eastern Conference playoff ticket on Friday. The winner eventually plays the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round starting Sunday.
Chicago caught up from a temporary 19-point deficit from the third quarter. Zack La Vine was the match winner with 39 points, 30 of which he scored following the break. “He was phenomenal,” said head coach Billy Donovan: “His performance was exceptional. He breathed life into us and he gave us hope.” For the Raptors, Pascal Siakam scored the best with 32 points.
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Photo: dpa/-
Hockey: New York Islanders secure final playoff ticket
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Photo: AP/Ashley Landis
The New York Islanders have completed the playoff field in the NHL. On Wednesday (local time) the Islanders won 4-2 (2-1, 1-1, 1-0) at home once morest the Montreal Canadiens and thus secured one of the two wildcard spots in the Eastern Conference of the North American ice hockey league. The Pittsburgh Penguins will not make it into the finals.
New York’s top scorer of the season Brock Nelson scored twice, the attacker opening the scoring and scoring in the second period to make it 3-1. Last season, the Islanders missed the playoffs and parted ways with then-head coach Barry Defiant.
The Dallas Stars still have a chance to secure first place in the Central Division following a 5-2 (2-2, 3-0, 0-0) win at the St. Louis Blues. The Stars now have 106 points, moving past the Colorado Avalanche, who have 105 points but a game to go. The German goalkeeper Thomas Greiss was not used for St. Louis.
Nico Sturm and the San Jose Sharks suffered a 1:3 (1:0, 0:1, 0:2) away loss at the Calgary Flames. As in his previous eight games, Sturm remained without a goal, but with 14 goals and 12 assists the 27-year-old attacker will still have the best season of his five-year NHL career. At the end of the season, the Sharks will take on Leon Draisaitl with the Edmonton Oilers.