2023-05-13 05:35:30
The Miami Heat won game six of their series once morest the New York Knicks (96-92) on Friday night to Saturday. Jimmy Butler’s teammates therefore go to the final in the East, like those of LeBron James in the West. The Los Angeles Lakers took out the defending champions, the Golden State Warriors, also in game six (122-101).
The reigning champion takes the door! Golden State fell heavily Friday in the NBA play-offs in Los Angeles, beaten in Game 6 by the Lakers (122-101), who will challenge Nikola Jokic’s Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals.
In the East, Miami also qualified at the expense of New York (96-92), ending its streak 4 wins to 2. The Heat, which reached this stage of the competition for the third time in four years, will face Boston or Philadelphia who will decide in the seventh game Sunday in Boston.
LeBron and the Lakers bring down the Warriors
The defeat suffered by the Warriors is historic – under the Steve Kerr era which began in 2014-2015, it was the first time that they were eliminated by a Western team, that is to say before the grand finale. Also, few would have imagined a month ago to see the Lakers, then tottering and forced to go through the dams, achieve this performance.
But LA no longer has the same face. Behind the stainless LeBron James, still giant and omnipresent (30 points at 10/14, 9 assists, 9 rebounds), and the essential Anthony Davis (17 pts, 20 rebounds) recovered from the blow received at a temple 48 hours earlier , the purple and gold have become a formidable team in a few weeks. The winter transfer window was successful, like D’Angelo Russell (19 points) still precious. And what regarding the revelation Austin Reaves (23 points), whose talent shines in full light, to the point that some dare to compare it with the illustrious Jerry West.
Stephen Curry (32 points), despite insufficient address (11/28), was the only one not to take water on the side of the Warriors, quickly overwhelmed in defense, confused in attack and adrift on the scoreboard (27-10) following just eight minutes.
Golden State, which aspired to continue its dynasty revived last year, is now going through a questioning, even if its elimination is not unworthy. Because these Lakers, resilient and inflated with confidence, have arguments to dream of a possible 18th record title.
The last dates back to 2020, in Orlando’s anti-Covid bubble. And had been obtained once morest Miami, which would see itself taking revenge. In the meantime, consistency prevails: this is the third time in four years that the Heat have reached the final in the East.
The Heat still at the rendezvous in the East
The Floridians fought to extinguish the inclinations of the Knicks, who started very strong in this meeting, since they led by 15 units in the first quarter, carried by the untenable Jalen Brunson, author of 15 points with a 5/6 behind the bow. The New York leader finished with 41 points on the clock (14/22), becoming the first player in the franchise to chain three play-off matches with at least 30 points, since Patrick Ewing in 1990.
In vain, because his solo efforts lacked support, Julius Randle (15 points, 11 rebounds) and RJ Barrett (11 points) shooting at 4/24 together. So much so that the Heat had more offensive weapons to catch up, even if Jimmy Butler was not on his best night (24 points, 7/22).
To support him, he had Bam Adebayo, who sounded the revolt of the team in the second quarter by scoring 11 of his 23 points (9 rebounds), and Max Strus (14 pts), author of important baskets in money time. “I like to wet the jersey for the victories, that’s what we do best. We’ve done it all season (…) There are very good players in this team”, rejoiced Butler, who will indeed need them to dream further.
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