PostedMay 28, 2021, 7:51 AM
The Lakers took control of their series in the 1st round of the NBA play-offs, with authority beating Phoenix to lead (2-1), as did Denver against Portland, Milwaukee having moved closer to the conference semifinals. in the East, at the expense of Miami.
Deandre Ayton and Lebron James on the rebound.
AFP
After taking responsibility for the defeat in Game 1, Anthony Davis responded as an NBA champion that he was in Game 2. And he confirmed that he no longer intended to disappoint (34 pts, 11 rebounds) by contributing largely to the victory of the Lakers (109-95). His 18 units in the 3rd quarter alone allowed his team to stand out. This victory is the first in the play-offs at Staples Center since May 18, 2012 for LA, since its coronation last year took place in the Orlando bubble.
The Californians could also obviously count on LeBron James (21 pts, 9 assists, 6 rebounds, but also 7 stray balls) and Dennis Schroder (19 pts) who was pushed when jumping to the basket, by Devin Booker (19 pts , 6/19 on shots), in the final seconds.
Even not bad: after his roll-ball, the German got up by doing push-ups and the leader of Phoenix was excluded, just like Jae Crawder (9 pts) for having contested the arbitration decision. An end of the match which illustrated the frustration of the Suns, who lacked impact inside (34 rebounds against 51), despite DeAndre Ayton (22 pts, 11 rebounds) and who could not count on a Chris Paul at 100%, suffering from the right shoulder (7 pts, 6 assists). Seeded No. 7, the Lakers can confirm their break against the No. 2 on Sunday at home.
Road Roller Bucks
Milwaukee is only one victory away from the semifinals of the Eastern Conference, after his new show of force in Miami (113-84). The Bucks can finish this series on Saturday, if they score a fourth success in a row. In the meantime, here they are very close to taking a scathing revenge on the Heat who had walked on them (4-1) last summer. At the time, Antetokounmpo was playing on one leg and players had their minds elsewhere following their historic one-match boycott in the name of fighting racial injustice.
It is therefore 100% or even 200%, in view of their domination in all areas of the game, that they approach this campaign in the best way and the finalist of last season can not help it. As in Game 2, the Bucks sparked collectively. Khris Middleton scored 22 points, Jrue Holiday 19 (12 assists) and Giannis Antetokounmpo did not have to force (17 pts, 17 rebounds).
“The last two matches have not been easy,” wanted to temper the Greek. “Obviously, we had a 30-point lead, but it’s not easy. When we focus on ourselves, play together, have fun, and get tough, good things are going to happen. And in those three matches, good things happened. ”
The Wisconsin franchise therefore knows what to do to try to win a 2nd NBA coronation, 50 years after the first ring gleaned by the legendary Lew Alcindor – future Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – and Oscar Robertson.
Austin Time in Portland
The last minutes are often the moment when Damian Lillard sends his missiles and gives victory to the Blazers. His 13 points in the last four minutes were not enough to prevent Denver from winning (120-115), to take the advantage in their very close duel.
Because before him in the 4th quarter, it was the leader opposite, Austin Rivers, who gave the Nuggets an irreparable lead by scoring 16 of his 21 points, including four baskets behind the murderous arc. And when CJ McCollum (22 pts) also hit the mark at long distance to return to 118-115 four seconds from the buzzer, it was Nikola Jokic who air-conditioned the room with a final tap.
To say that the Serbian hub showed why he was favorite for the MVP trophy of the season is an understatement, with his 36 points (11 rebounds, 5 assists) arguing for him. Game 4 is on Saturday and is already crucial for the Blazers.
(AFP)
