The results of the night in the NBA
Nets @ Pistons : 123-108
Knicks @ Pacers : 138-129
Wizards @ Hawks : 116-134
Raptors @ Celtics : 93-97
Bulls @ Bucks : 92-105
Grizzlies @ Pelicans : 131-138
Kings @ Mavs : 119-123
Lakers @ Clippers : 118-125
Classification
Podcast #85: Who will save their skin in the Wild Wild West?
The Battle of the Wild West
- The most important LA derby in a long time in accounting terms has once again turned in favor of the Clippers. For the 11th time in a row, Kawhi Leonard (25 pts) and his family dominated the Lakers, this elderly neighbor who loves to highlight his old and glorious stories. The Purple and Gold had already locked in at least one place for the play-in, but were hopeful of getting closer to a direct qualification for the play-offs.
The efforts of LeBron James (33 pts, 8 rbds, 7 pds) and Anthony Davis (17 pts, 11 rebounds) were not enough. Even without Paul George, the Clippers showed that their strike force remained important. Norman Powell (27 pts), which we quite often forget when analyzing the offensive dangers of Ty Lue’s group, finished top scorer for Clippers who were 19 points ahead at the break. The operation is magnificent for “the other LA team”, since it takes fifth place, ahead of Golden State, and for the moment forces the Lakers to go to the play-in.
- The Pelicans continue their forcing and are also only one victory away from 6th place. NOLA paid for Memphis at home by erasing a 19-point deficit to finally bring down the Grizzlies in overtime. The man of the match will not have been the one expected, even if Brandon Ingram (24 pts, 13 rebounds), CJ McCollum (31 pts, 10 rebounds) and Trey Murphy (30 pts) scored important baskets . Herb Jones, stamped defensive specialist, chose the right evening to break his NBA points record (35 pts) with 6 award-winning baskets. In the worst case, the Pels will dispute the play-in, which was far from certain a few weeks ago when the defeats piled up. In this part a little too open for the taste of the two coaches, Years Jackson Jr scored 40 points in the absence of Ja Morant, to respond to the three copies at least 30 pts from Jones, McCollum and Murphy.
- Dallas is still in the game for the play-in, after its victory at home against Sacramento. The Mavs can thank Kyrie Irving (31 pts, including 25 in the 2nd half), who activated the hard mode after the break with complex baskets of which he has the secret. Led by 13 points in the 3rd quarter after a new indigent collective copy and with a Luka Doncic who was sticking his tongue out a bit (29 pts, 10 rebounds, 6 wts anyway), the Texans reacted and Kyrie’s magic did the rest. Dallas has the same record as the Thunder and is hopeful of clinching 10th place in the last two regular games.
Kyrie Irving’s second half was special.
???? 25 PTS (19 in 4Q)
???? 6-7 3PM
???? 5 AST@dallasmavs overcome a 13-point deficit to secure the HUGE win! pic.twitter.com/XldPC5zFQ1— NBA (@NBA) April 6, 2023
The Eastern Conference
- The Nets touch the goal! Two games from the end, Brooklyn has a length and a tie-breaker lead over the Heat, thanks to its victory in Detroit. Mikal Bridges was again the leading scorer for his new team with 26 points, fueled by Spencer Dinwiddie, next to the plate at the finish, but bleeding in the pass (16 assists). After the departures of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, it was not easy to imagine this reshaped group holding on in the top 6. Congratulations Jacque Vaughn!
- The Bucks validated their first place overall by disposing of Chicago. Without Giannis Antetokounmpo, left to rest, nor Khris Middleton, hit in the knee during the match and preserved, Milwaukee still managed to gain the upper hand. This is the advantage of having so many weapons available. Bobby Portis (27 pts, 13 rebounds) and Brook Lopez (26 pts) did the job by orchestrating a 15-0 in the 3rd quarter which allowed their team to get comfortable against an opponent who could not do better than 10th in the East.
- In their distance duel with Toronto, the Hawks have undoubtedly taken a definitive advantage for 8th place. While Atlanta had a Wizards C team, thanks in particular to Trae Young (25 pts, 16 wt), the Raptors logically lost in Boston, where Joe Mazzulla had also done quite a bit. Malcolm Brogdon (29 pts), by his composure on the line in the money time, thus made the business of the Hawks with the help of Jaylen Brown (25 pts, 11 rbds).
- The Knicks already know they won’t do better than 5th, but they’re trying to keep their momentum going. New York won a fifth straight victory by going to win on the floor of the Pacers, in a game probably too open for the taste of Tom Thibodeau. The Knicks offense still got the upper hand thanks to the incandescent Immanuel Quickley (39 pts), to very good Quentin Grimes (36 pts, personal record in the NBA) and the impact Mitchell Robinson (14 pts, 16 rebounds). Evan Fournier played 11 minutes off the bench but unfortunately missed his three evening shots.
WHAT A GAME for this @nyknicks trio ????@IQ_GodSon: 39 PTS, 7 3PM@qdotgrimes: 36 PTS, 5 3PM@obitoppin1: 32 PTS, 5 3PM
They become the first trio of teammates in NBA history to record 30+ points and 5+ threes in the same game! pic.twitter.com/O8jfdAq1TC
— NBA (@NBA) April 6, 2023
