Golden State Warriors ancora ko, Kings sul 2-0. Maxey trascina i Sixers

San Francisco (United States), April 18, 2023 – The path to the NBA playoffs of the Golden State Warriors reigning champions: after giving way in the first act of the derby against i Sacramento Kingsthe yellow and blue franchise it was in fact also defeated in game 2 for 114-106. The Kings were once again a great choral performance, in which the contributions provided by Domantas Saboniswho brought home a tally of 24 points and 9 rebounds and in the final he was the protagonist in the action that led to the expulsion of Draymond Green and in fact turned the game around, and De’Aaron Fox (24 points and 9 rebounds). More than positive, however, Malik Monk’s performance coming off the bench who, after the 32 points sent to the scoresheet in game 1, brought home another 18. The Warriors, on the other hand, were not enough for the 28 points of a Steph Curry with the dust wet from the arc (3/13 in three-point shooting) and for the first time down 0-2 in a playoff series, the 19 points of Andrew Wigginswho returned to starting from the starting lineup after a long time, and the 22’s Klay Thompson (5/10 from long range). The Kings gave a first acceleration in a second quarter in which they managed to place a 41-29 break and then were able to resist the courageous return of the Golden State Warriors, who are also left without Draymond Green which, 7’03” from the end of the match, was expelled after stepping on the chest of Domantas Sabonis. After this key episode, the reigning champions managed to get back within 1 with Thompson’s bomb 3’11” from the siren, but on the other side Sabonis and Fox responded with five close points that fueled the decisive run of the Kings (17-8).

The Philadelphia 76ers also lead 2-0 in the first playoff series that have again defeated the Brooklyn Nets with a peremptory 96-84. The absolute protagonist of the success of the Pennsylvania franchise was the trio formed by Tyrese Maxey (33 points on 13/23 from the field and 6/13 on three-point shooting), Tobias Harris (20 points and 12 rebounds) and Joel Embiid (20 points and 13 rebounds). Too alone on the Nets front, however, the pair formed by Cameron Johnson (28 points with 11/18 shooting in 41′ played) and Mikal Bridges (21 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds). The key to the success of the Sixers is all contained in the change of pace made in the recovery on both halves of the field, but in particular in the defensive one: down by five lengths at the beginning of the recovery (51-44), the 76ers have tight the shirts of the defense properly conceding only 14 points in the third quarter to the Nets. Baskets from Maxey, Harris and Embiid did the rest and led to overtaking. Once put their head forward, Philadelphia then completed the work with a run of 28-21 in the fourth quarter.