Stellar performances of Devin Bookerwith 30 points, and Chris Paulwith 28 and 20 of these in the second half, gave this Wednesday a convincing victory by 129-109 to the Phoenix Suns against the Dallas Mavericks from Slovenian Luka Doncic, to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals. Although Doncic became the player with the highest scoring average in the history of the play-offs (33.5 points for 33.4 Michael Jordan), was also the vulnerable point of Dallas in defense, which they specifically attacked over and over again Chris Paul i Devin Booker in the second half, with brand changes, to win this duel almost every time.
Despite reaching the last period with only six points behind, the Mavs they collapsed in front of some Suns who showed their hunger for glory, led by a magnificent Chris Paul, in search of a ring that would crown an already historic career.
The Suns were confirmed as the black beast of the Mavs, against whom they have 10 consecutive victories, and have not lost since November 29, 2019, and will arrive in Dallas on Friday with a valuable advantage that brings them closer to the Western Finals. .
Paul took eight points at the break and finished with 28, six rebounds and eight assists, backed by one Booker who contributed 30, with four rebounds and four assists.
The team of Mounty Williams frustrated the night of Doncicwho scored 35 points, five rebounds and seven assists, but ended up sitting on the bench for the last few minutes, seeing his team no longer have any options to leave Phoenix with a win.
He was left without much support from his teammates, as he was the second best scorer Reggie Bullock, with 16 points. Spenser Dinwiddie he had a good start to the game, but finished with just 11 points and three of 10 shots.
Miami Heat – Philadelphia 76ers, 119-103 (2-0)
The Miami Heat, with a stellar team performance led by Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and the recovery of Victor Oladipo to the best level, won 119-103 the Philadelphia 76ers, without the Cameroonian Joel Embiid, and took an authoritative 2-0 lead in the semifinals of the Eastern Conference of the NBA.
A double-double of Butler, with 22 points and 12 assists, plus six rebounds, he threw a Heat in which Bam Adebayo contributed 23 points and nine rebounds, Oladipo contributed 19 points and Herro, sixth man of the year, sealed 18, with seven rebounds.
The Heat they imposed their superiority in organization, offensive power and defensive solidity, in front of 76ers who did not have enough with the 34 points of an excellent Tyrese Maxey, the true leader of the Doc Rivers team on Miami night.
James Harden, who had not gone beyond 16 points in the first game, scored 20 on Wednesday, with four rebounds and nine assists, but still failed to be a real protagonist in the face of Miami’s aggressive defense.
There are already 10 defeats for the 76ers in the 16 games played this year without Embolite, who remains down due to an orbit fracture and a slight concussion. Doctors study its evolution daily in an attempt to recover it as soon as possible, to prolong the history of a series that until now is being dominated by Heat.
