BM ON NBA/ Denver makes no concessions and goes 3-0, Atlanta wins and reopens the series with the Celtics – by Alessandro di Bari

In the NBA night Denver does not stop and overwhelms Minnesota once again. The Knicks triumph in Game 3 keeping the Cavaliers to just 79 points. Atlanta wins the first game of these playoffs and reopens the series with the Celtics.

ATLANTA HAWKS-BOSTON CELTICS 130-122

First home game and first win for the Hawks in these playoffs. Atlanta wins, maintaining the lead gained in the second quarter, 41-30, for the entire second half. Trae Young leads the hosts with 32 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds, followed by Dejounte Murray with 25, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, and Bogdan Bogdanovic with 15 scored. Jayson Tatum’s double-double, 29 points, 10 rebounds, Marcus Smart’s 24 and 8 assists and Malcom Brogdon’s 17 are not enough in Boston. The series is now 2-1 in favor of the Celtics and game 4 will be essential to understand if the initial inertia has really been reversed.

NEW YORK KNICKS-CLEVELAND CAVALIERS 99-79

The Knicks regain victory after the lesson suffered in game 2. Even in New York it is the second quarter to direct the game, the hosts score 28 points and concede 15. In the second half of the game, Brunson and his teammates escape is never disputed. Donovan Mitchell’s 22 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, Chris LeVert’s 17 and Darius Garland’s only 10 are not enough for the Cavs. Cleveland also becomes the first team of the year to stay under 80 points, shooting 38.8% from the field (31/80) and 21% from three (7/33). Instead, Jalen Brunson, 21 points and 6 assists, and RJ Barrett, 19 and 8 rebounds, lead the Knicks to victory.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES-DENVER NUGGETS 111-120

The Nuggets do not make discounts even away from the Ball Arena and with the third consecutive victory they bring the series to 3 to 0, one step away from closing. Denver never runs away during the match, 13 lengths behind at most, but essentially always remains ahead in scoring. The 36 scored by Anthony Edwards are not enough to save the T’Wolves, nor are the 27 by Karl Anthony Towns and the double-double by Rudy Gobert, 18 points, 10 rebounds. Michael Porter Jr. instead, he closes as the best scorer in Denver, followed by Nikola Jokic, author of a triple double with 20 scored, 11 rebounds and 12 assists, and Jamal Murray, with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists.

PLAYOFF TABLE:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Milwaukee Bucks vs Miami Heat (8) 1-1

(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs New York Knicks (5) 1-2

(3) Philadelphia 76ers vs Brooklyn Nets (6) 3-0

(2) Boston Celtics vs Atlanta Hawks (7) 2-1

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Denver Nuggets vs Minnesota Timberwolves (8) 3-0

(4) Phoenix Suns vs Los Angeles Clippers (6) 2-1

(3) Sacramento Kings vs Golden State Warriors (5) 2-1

(2) Memphis Grizzlies vs Los Angeles Lakers (7) 1-1

In foto Jokic e Gobert (Twitter)

Alexander of Bari