Bucks – Bulls : 109-114
The two teams are tied 1-1
The Bucks spent the entire game chasing the score and coming back up to the Bulls only to sink again. And, inevitably, at the end, they ran out of juice (and success) to really go back in front one last time. It is therefore Chicago that wins on the ground of the defending champions (114-109). With a great DeMar DeRozan. The superstar scored 41 points including the lay-up for the win 18 seconds from the buzzer. He recovered well after converting just 6 of his 24 attempts in Game 1.
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Overall, all of the bulls’ major players had lacked skill. They were much sharper last night. Nikola Vucevic posted 24 points and 13 rebounds. Zach LaVine added 20 points by shining in the money time. Alex Caruso, in support of the three, perhaps had an even greater impact by compiling 9 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks while defending to perfection. Even on Giannis Antetokounmpo at times. He also snatched a very important offensive rebound in the final seconds, leading to DeRozan’s basket.
The Bucks took a 9-0 from the start but they finally managed to catch up after the first quarter (28-29). The problem is that they plunged back just before the break (49-63). They forced themselves to come back to 3 lengths at the end of the third quarter… to then collect an 8-2 in just one minute (88-80)! The Bulls went 8-0 to take a 16-point lead at the start of the final period. Again Antetokounmpo – 33 points, 18 rebounds and 9 assists on the clock – and the Bucks did everything to pick up. Without finally going ahead. So now it’s a round everywhere.
Raptors – Sixers : 101-104
Philadelphia leads the series 3-0
There are key moments that define a playoff campaign. Depending on where the Sixers go in the coming weeks, Joel Embiid’s three-point shot for the win last night may go down in NBA history. The All-Star pivot, dominant since the start of the series and still author of 33 points and 13 rebounds on Wednesday night, disgusted the Raptors by giving the victory to his team in overtime (104-101). Served by Danny Green, he turned to plant the decisive basket behind the arc a handful of tenths of a second from the siren.
Toronto had done everything well. Nick Nurse’s players limited the fouls on Embiid and caused him to lose 6 balls. They led almost the entire game! Their 5-point lead (90-95) two minutes from the end of the fourth quarter was ultimately not enough. Tyrese Maxey and James Harden, author of 19 points each, brought the Sixers back to one length. The former MVP even equalized by converting only one out of two throws in stride. Mistakes on both sides. Precious Achiuwa (20 points) could have killed the game on the restorative line. He missed both of his attempts. Embiid also had his three-point chance. But he therefore reserved himself for the extension.
With this victory, Philadelphia is already stepping into the second round. Never has a team been eliminated after leading 3-0. Not even a formation coached by Doc Rivers, who wasted a 3-1 lead… three times. Joel Embiid’s Sixers are just too strong for the Raptors. And maybe not just for them.
Celtics – Nets : 114-107
Boston leads the series 2-0
The Celtics did not finish the NBA season with the best defense in the league by chance. They showed it again last night, during the Game won against the Nets (114-107). Ime Udoka’s players tightened the pressure on the two Brooklyn superstars to erase a 17-point deficit. “It was a good old-fashioned playoff game. We had to tear ourselves up and that’s what we did. I’m proud of our guys and the way we responded to adversity“, confided Jayson Tatum. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant have indeed suffered against the Boston defense. Already struggling in the first duel of the series, KD finished with 27 points but 4 of 17 on shots. didn’t score a basket in the second half, and Irving couldn’t replicate his Game 1 performance.
Still behind at the start of the fourth quarter, the Celtics quickly equalized through Jaylen Brown (92-92). The All-Star guard scored 10 of his 22 points in the final 12 minutes. A few moments later, Payton Pritchard, also decisive in money time, gave his team the first advantage of the game. But Boston didn’t stop there. The Massachusetts franchise went 23-4 to take off (108-96). Brooklyn didn’t score a basket for more than 3 minutes.
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