The results of the night in the NBA
Bucks @ Celtics : 81-109
Mavs @ Suns : 123-90
Boston Celtics – Milwaukee Bucks : 4-3
There will therefore be no remake of the 2021 Finals this year. There will also be no back to back for the Bucks. Milwaukee and Phoenix both took the door after games 7 played on Sunday, in a common scenario that we did not really expect: the dry and nasty slap.
It was first Boston who took advantage of the home field advantage and the confidence born of the success won in Wisconsin in game 6, ejecting the defending champions unceremoniously. Giannis Antetokounmpo was far too alone and his exploits (25 points, 20 rebounds, 9 assists) were not enough this time in the absence of Khris Middleton.
The Celtics put him up against a real wall for a new defensive masterclass to limit them to … 89 points. Apart from the first quarter won by the Bucks (26-20), Boston dominated this meeting without ever appearing in panic or in lack of solutions. The opposite of Milwaukee, which has gradually plunged, without being able to find the aura of last season. The shots did not come in and that’s an understatement (4/33 from 3 points) without Mike Budenholzer’s group being able to compensate with an iron defense.
The players of Ime Udoka managed to bring out a real collective spirit from this meeting, once again. The Bucks were probably unprepared for a Grant Williams Game. Whoever wanted to be nicknamed Batman in the regular season is not far from having won this right after slamming 27 points with 7 award-winning baskets, to support Jayson Tatum (23 pts).
The Celtics transformed this Game 7 into fireworks (22 3-point baskets, a record for Game 7 run in the NBA playoffs) and swept Milwaukee. Giannis was clearly out of breath late in the game after carrying the team on his shoulders.
☔️ ☔️ ☔️@Grant2Will : 27 PTS, 7x 3PM @JayTatum0 : 23 PTS, 5x 3PM@paytonpritch3 : 14 PTS, 4x 3PM
The @Celtics won 109-81 in Game 7, qualified for the Conference Finals! #NBASundays pic.twitter.com/IpOI8t7bg2
— NBA France (@NBAFRANCE) May 16, 2022
You have to realize that these Celtics have released teams embodied by two of the most dominant players of the moment and of their generation: Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Place now in the Heat collective, for a place in the NBA Finals.
Chris Paul who is still out after leading 2-0, it’s a task
Phoenix Suns – Dallas Mavericks : 3-4
Predicting a Conference Final for the Mavs early in the season, when Luka Doncic came back from the Olympics worn out and in good physical condition, was rather daring – Antoine Pimmel, who was part of the prophets, is currently jubilant in his pool of dollars – but that was underestimating the boy and his team. The Mavs knocked down, smashed and smashed the Phoenix Suns in ways they never expected.
Phoenix completely missed this game 7 at home, tarnishing the results of Chris Paul in such a situation (0-5) since the start of his career. CP3 is not responsible for the collective collapse, obviously. Hit in the thigh, the leader of Arizona simply could not float and pull everyone with him.
Led by 20 points at the break, then by 32 points at the start of the 4th quarter, the Suns were unrecognizable and very far from the team that dominated the regular season. Nobody above 12 points, ghostly executives and a coaching staff unable to counter the Texan plans, nothing was spared to the dumbfounded spectators.
They will at least have been able to see Luka Doncic’s career take on a new dimension, he will play his first Conference final after towing a team in which few believed, especially after the trade of Kristaps Porzingis against Spencer Dinwiddie. Dinwiddie is however the one who caught fire coming off the bench to slam 30 points and support Doncic as it should.
The Slovenian needed only 30 minutes to plunge the Suns into depression. With 35 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists at 12/19, Luka Doncic reigned over this game without dipping into his resources, which is excellent news for Dallas before challenging Golden State for a ticket to the Finals.
Luka Doncic WENT OFF in Game 7 dropping 27 points in the first half on his way to 35 points and the @dallasmavs win to advance to the Western Conference Finals! #MFFL@Luka7doncic: 35 PTS, 10 REB, 2 STL, 6 3PM pic.twitter.com/nf9j8T9J85
— NBA (@NBA) May 16, 2022
Reckoning time will come for Phoenix, and it will be painful, but right now is a time to rejoice for the Mavs and watch the journey of generational talent that is Doncic.