Although more than 2,000 kilometers separate the Boston Celtics from the Miami Heat on the map of the United States, the two NBA franchises have never seemed so close. The launch of their series in the Eastern Conference finals on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday under the Florida palm trees (2:30 a.m. French time) not only validates the fact that the two best teams in the regular season in the East will for a place in the final, but that the content on the floors might turn out to be quite similar.
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Los Angeles Clippers beat Toronto Raptors to return to winning ways
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
A great fight pitted the Los Angeles Clippers, fourth in the Western Conference, once morest the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday. The two teams did not leave each other throughout the meeting, and it was finally the Californians who won (105-100). They thus ended a series of three consecutive defeats ( once morest New Orleans, Phoenix and Denver).
George and Jackson make the difference
For this match, Toronto was without Kyle Lowry (hit in the back) and OG Anunoby (suffering from a calf). The LA Clippers, they were able to count on Patrick Beverley, who had not played for a month, following a broken hand. At the break, the Raptors were ahead, but by a short header (54-48). And, at the end of the third quarter, the two teams were still tied (82-82).
The last 12 minutes were just as tense. 2’30” from the buzzer, it was 99-99 on the scoreboard. Then Paul George slammed a three-point shot for the Clippers, imitated a minute later by Reggie Jackson. Apart from a free throw from Pascal Siakam, the Toronto Raptors have not scored in the money time. Thanks to this victory, Los Angeles is now third in the Western Conference, in place of Denver, beaten Monday by the Lakers (93-89).
The Clippers await the Lakers
Paul George (22 points), Marcus Morris (22 pts) and Reggie Jackson (18) were the most effective in the ranks of the Clippers. Kawhi Leonard scored 13 points. Nicolas Batum played 20 minutes, returning a stat sheet of seven points and a rebound. For her comeback, Beverley scored eight points. The Raptors, for their part, relied on Fred VanVleet (27 points, 13 rebounds) and Pascal Siakam (24 pts).
The two teams will return to the NBA courts on Thursday. The Clippers have a derby once morest the Lakers ahead of them, while Toronto will host Washington.
Sacramento enfonce Oklahoma City
On Tuesday, the Sacramento Kings won at the Oklahoma City Thunder (103-99), with seven players at more than 10 points (including Buddy Hield and Terence Davis at 18). On the Thunder side, Theo Maledon scored six points, and Jaylen Hoard, who started on the bench, scored nine (plus seven rebounds). Sacramento won a third straight win, while Oklahoma City now has four straight losses.
Chris Paul played Game 7 against Dallas with a quadriceps injury
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
For Chris Paul and the Suns, Game 7 of their Conference semi-final once morest Dallas turned into a nightmare. Humiliated by Luka Doncic and the Mavericks (90-123), the Arizona franchise also had to deal with the injury of its leader. According to ESPN, “CP3” limped off the floor, injured in the left quadriceps. When asked, Paul declined to say more regarding his injury.
Brilliant in the regular season (14.7 points, 10.8 assists), “CP3” had a very difficult series once morest Dallas. Apart from Game 2, which he finished with 28 points, the Mavericks defense – including Blues point guard Frank Ntilikina – never let him score more than 13 points. Sunday night, Paul spent 31 minutes on the floor for 10 points and 4 assists.
While he has just celebrated his 37th birthday, Chris Paul also assured that he would be there next season. No question for the leader to leave the floors. ” We will be back in a year. I will not retire “said the double Olympic champion (2008, 2012) according to ESPN. Paul still has two guaranteed contract years with the Suns.
Boston eliminates defending champion Milwaukee, joins Miami in Eastern Conference Finals
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
The champions have fallen. Despite 25 points and 20 rebounds from Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks were largely beaten by the Boston Celtics this Sunday in Game 7 of the second round of the play-offs (109-81). The Celtics join the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Still deprived of Khris Middleton (hit in the knee) for this game 7, the task was going to be complicated for the Bucks. Yet from the start of the match, Milwaukee took the lead. Thanks to a dazzling Antetokounmpo (10 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists) in the first quarter, the Bucks inflicted a 10-0 on the Celtics. This is the biggest gap of the game in favor of Milwaukee. Because from the second quarter, Boston, pushed by the supporters of the TD Garden, took the advantage and concluded the first period in front with the score 32-30. Only downside, the three faults of Jayson Tatum.
Antetokounmpo too lonely once morest the Celtics collective
The start of the second half was arguably the turning point of the game. Boston, in three-point success, took advantage of the spaces left by Milwaukee. Despite Tatum’s exit following his fourth foul, the Celtics widened the gap once morest the defending champion. Grant Williams (27 points, 6 rebounds), took over from Tatum with a great success at three bridges at this time of the match.
The Bucks who seemed, like last season’s MVP, physically borrowed, were lacking in efficiency in their shots. Unlike his opponent, Boston might rely on a powerful bench, like the entry of Payton Pritchard (14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists).
At the start of the last quarter, the molten TD Garden understood that their team was going to join a conference final for the first time since 2018. The meeting ended with a gap of 28 points in favor of the Celtics (109-81). Boston, which has not played in the NBA Finals since 2010, will face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. The other Game 7 of the evening, between the Phoenix Suns and the Dallas Mavericks, will start at 2 p.m. Sunday night through Monday.