Published on : 27/04/2022 – 07:54Modified : 27/04/2022 – 07:52
Los Angeles (AFP) – Miami defeated Atlanta (97-94) to reach the Eastern Conference semi-finals on Tuesday in the NBA play-offs, Phoenix approaching it in the West following its victory once morest New Orleans (112-97) , just like Memphis, saved by his “Spider-Man” Ja Morant once morest Minnesota (111-109).
Without their leader Jimmy Butler (knee) or Kyle Lowry (hamstring), the Heat had no trouble closing their series (4-1), relying on their usual virtues: collective efforts, combativeness of at all times, versatility in attack and intractable defense.
Opposite star Trae Young (11 pts, 2/12, 8 rebounds, 6 assists) once once more paid the price and, as the Hawks are ultra-dependent on it offensively, it was impossible for them to compete, despite the very big match of DeAndre Hunter (35 pts, 11 rebounds, 3 interceptions).
Led by 15 lengths in the 3rd quarter, they nevertheless returned to three units at the start of the fourth, but Victor Oladipo, talented on the return, weighed down by serious injuries in recent years, and Bam Adebayo, still as solid on the inside, came to calm this rebuff with important baskets.
Evidenced by the superb pass of the first (23 pts, 3 interceptions) sending the dunk the second (20 pts, 11 rbds) in the last minute, to respond to the basket behind the arc of Hunter who had just brought the Hawks closer to two units (97-93). Previously, Tyler Herro had brought his stone to the building, coming off the bench (16 pts).
“Only the beginning” for Oladipo
“There’s nothing I can’t handle. When they told me I started, I just did everything I might to help my team win… It’s not just the beginning,” commented Oladipo.
Quite quietly therefore, Miami, finalist in 2020, has assumed its status as the No.1 seed and is now waiting to know its opponent: Philadelphia or Toronto (3-2) who will meet on Thursday.
In the West, the Grizzlies now lead 3-2 once morest the Timberwolves and they owe it to Ja Morant.
The 22-year-old phenomenon, freshly elected player who has made the most progress this season, justified this status: on his own, he reversed a badly embarked situation, because his team was trailing by 12 units at the start of the last quarter. -weather.
One second from the buzzer, following a trampoline jump, he managed a left-handed curling movement for the winning basket. During the “mega-money-time”, the last two minutes of the game, he scored all 11 points for the Grizzlies, to end the quarter with 18 and finish the game with 30 in total, close to triple- double (13 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 interceptions). A recital.
Chris Paul wakes up
Minnesota can feed some regrets, following having believed to hold the victory in the wake of Karl-Anthony Towns (28 pts, 12 rebounds, 3 interceptions) who, finger on the lips following a winning shot to lead 106-102, believed to silence the FedExForum. Anthony Edwards (22 pts) also played the air conditioners by equalizing at 109-109 with 3.7 seconds remaining.
But Morant, also author of a stratospheric dunk in the 3rd quarter, flew away. The Memphis “Spider-Man” has made the mantra – “with great power comes great responsibility” – of the famous superhero created by Marvel his own, because he was not afraid to take them on.
The Suns have also regained the advantage (3-2) once morest the Pelicans, with a logical victory since they have always led the score, counting up to 18 points ahead.
Invisible during the previous match lost in Louisiana, Chris Paul recovered (22 pts, 11 assists), following in the footsteps of Mikal Bridges (31 pts, 12/17 on shots), very effective, and in the absence of Devin Booker (hamstring). DeAndre Ayton also contributed (19 pts, 9 rebounds).
Courageous, like Brandon Ingram (22 pts) and CJ McCollum (21 pts, 8 rebounds), but grape pickers behind the arc (5/25), the Louisianans will try, Thursday at home, to push the best team of the regular season to a decisive N.7 match.
© 2022 AFP