In the NBA, Boston has qualified for the second round of the playoffs. The Celtics had no mercy on a moribund Brooklyn, who failed to win a single match against Boston, ending a season to be soon forgotten.
Before the start of the season, Brooklyn was one of the top favorites for the NBA title. Expectations were high for the Durant-Harden-Irving trio, but the Nets’ season turned out to be a total flop.
Kyrie Irving was not allowed to play in Brooklyn for a long time because he is not vaccinated and was then left completely aside. Only in the 2nd half of the season was the playmaker taken out of the stable, but the ship had actually already listed.
James Harden, that other superstar, was no longer in Brooklyn at that time. The shooting guard was still a shadow of the scoring machine he once was at Houston and was funneled to Philadelphia with a big fail.
In its place came the enigma Ben Simmons: a master defender, but brittle in the head. The Australian always found a reason not to have to play and in the end did not even take a second into action for his new employer.
It was all too much to bear for last man standing Kevin Durant, who managed to lead the Nets to the playoffs at the last minute, but in it the strong Boston Celtics finally pushed the swaying Brooklyn over the edge last night. : 4-0 to Boston in the series, a humiliating clean sweep.
The impressive Celtics can confidently advance to the 2nd round in the Eastern Conference, Brooklyn has a whole summer to think about how to move forward.
Philadelphia can’t finish it again
Still in the Eastern Conference, Philadelphia failed to count out Toronto for the 2nd match in a row. The 76ers had won their first 3 games, but now bit the sand for their own people for the second time in a row against the Raptors: 88-103.
Joel Embiid played for the home team with a thumb injury. The center was good for 20 points and 11 rebounds, but could not avert the defeat. “Defensively I was terrible. I have no explanation for it. It has to be much better,” said Embiid afterwards.
The Raptors missed playmaker Fred VanVleet in Philadelphia with an injury, but could count on a fantastic Pascal Siakam (23 points and 10 rebounds).
Toronto, the NBA champions of 2019, can play the 6th game in front of its own audience and thus has an excellent chance to make it 3-3 in the series.
Striking: Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers has the dubious honor of being the only coach in NBA history to slip a 3-1 lead in the playoffs three times. It happened to him already with Orlando and twice with the LA Clippers. Bad omen for the 76ers?
Doncic leads Dallas to win against Utah
In the 5th confrontation between Dallas and Utah, the Mavericks were a size too big for the Jazz: 102-77. Luka Doncic was the star of the home team with 33 points and 13 rebounds, revelation Jalen Brunson added 24 points.
Utah has its back against the wall after a weak display and must win in front of its own people on Thursday to force a decisive 7th game. When Dallas wins, the Mavericks advance to the 2nd round.
Monday’s results:
- Brooklyn – Boston 112-116
- Philadelphia – Toronto 88-103
- Dallas – Utah 102-77
| first round (best of 7) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Conference | ||
| Miami Heat (1) | Atlanta Hawks (8) | 3-1 |
| Philadelphia 76’ers (4) | Toronto Raptors (5) | 3-2 |
| Milwaukee Bucks (3) | Chicago Bulls (6) | 3-1 |
| Boston Celtics (2) | Brooklyn Nets (7) | 4-0 |
| Western Conference | ||
| Phoenix Suns (1) | New Orleans Pelicans (8) | 2-2 |
| Dallas Mavericks (4) | Utah Jazz (5) | 3-2 |
| Golden State Warriors (3) | Denver Nuggets (6) | 3-1 |
| Memphis Grizzlies (2) | Minnesota Timberwolves (7) | 2-2 |
