The Clippers, the Lakers and the Heat create the surprise!

The results of the night in the NBA

Lakers @ Grizzlies : 128-112
Heat @ Bucks : 130-117
Clippers @ Suns : 115-110
Wolves @ Nuggets : 80-109

Memphis Grizzlies 0-1 Los Angeles Lakers

– The final gap (+16) is misleading as to the reality of this game 1, but the Lakers nevertheless had the merit of doing what was necessary to seal the Grizzlies at home. By relying on a Anthony Davis enormous in defense (22 pts, 12 rbds, 3 pds, 3 stls, 7 blks) and an unexpected tandem, Darvin Ham’s men made No. 2 in the West bite the dust.

The duo in question: Rui Hachimura – Austin Reaves ! While LeBron James was rather behind and on a luxury role player mode, Hachimura and Reaves won this game for the Lakers on offense. The Japanese slammed 29 points off the bench to become the first Laker since Magic in 1996 to reach 25 pts as a substitute. His outside shot (5/6) hurt the Grizzlies very, very badly, who had chosen their poison by giving him space. But beyond the impact of Nippon, it was that of the darling of LA fans for a few months, Austin Reaves, who changed everything.

In the 4th quarter, Reaves scored 14 points in 9 minutes at 5/5 by distributing two assists and without losing a single ball. His confidence and intensity, athletic and vocal, disarmed the Grizzlies. “I’m him ! I’m him”, bellowed the Arkansas native after his last basket. Certainly, the man of this end of match, it was well him.

‘I’M HIM”

Austin Reaves letting the world know ???? pic.twitter.com/9y15iGbAh0

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 16, 2023

– The evening turned into a nightmare for Memphis when I Morant landed badly on the hand after trying to attack the basket. End of the game for the All-Star point guard and maybe more, since he confessed after the game to be “10/10 on the pain scale”. We would be surprised to see him on the attack in the next game. It may not be so serious, as long as Tyus Jones is able to turn into a machine when he starts an encounter.

– The positive point of this match played perhaps a little early for the players of Taylor Jenkins, it is what proposed Jaren Jackson Jr. “JJJ” took time before returning the weapons and returned a copy 31 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks

– Without Steven Adams or Brandon Clarke, Memphis lacked size and will have to find a formula to avoid being crushed on the rebound in game 2. Maybe a little Kenneth Lofton Jr and his magic paw?

Phoenix Suns 0-1 Los Angeles Clippers

– The Clippers did not go to Phoenix with a flower in the gun while waiting for the return of Paul George. The Californians, led by a Kawhi Leonard in cyborg mode (38 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists) created the surprise on the floor of the Suns in game 1. The victory was not a hold-up, since the Clippers quickly led and counted until 16 points ahead before the game evens out.

Once Phoenix got back up to speed, notably thanks to Kevin Durant (27 pts), the good defense of the Clippers and the inability of the Suns to take a damn defensive rebound in the money time led to this first little surprise.

– Darvin Ham said he first wanted to make Russell Westbrook a defensive asset when he was at the Lakers. We will never have seen this version of the 2017 MVP at the Lakers, but we have already seen him in a game at stake with the Clippers. Admittedly, Westbrook shot at 3/19 in this game 1 against Phoenix and the reflex would be to overwhelm him for having once again unscrewed in attack in the playoffs. Except that would be an insult to his formidable and decisive activity on the other side of the field and to his composure at the end of the match.

Westbrook compiled 9 points, 8 assists, 10 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 blocks, with two successful shots to fold the game and a stunning defensive sequence in stride. ‘Brodie’ blocked Devin Booker’s attempt before bouncing the ball off him (see below) to dash the Suns’ last hopes. Westbrook set the tone in the 4th quarter and no one in Phoenix was able to match his energy level.

Russell Westbrook with the clutch defense on Devin Booker pic.twitter.com/4FWnVHMswR

— Oh no he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) April 17, 2023

– Nicolas Batum started and spent 21 minutes on the field for 3 points, 2 assists and 1 rebound. The Clippers bench was also very successful, with very positive differentials during their passages for Terance Mann, Norman Powell, Mason Plumlee and Bones Hyland.

Milwaukee Bucks 0-1 Miami Heat

– Even if it means living a match where everything goes wrong in this 1st round, as much as it is in game 1, right? This is what the Bucks will have to say to themselves, favorites of the bookmakers for the title, but dried by Miami at home to start the series. The Fiserv Forum quickly understood that the evening would be worthy of purgatory, when Giannis Antetokounmpo exploded his lower back by falling badly after a foul Kevin Love. The Greek Freak did try to come back several times before half-time, but his game was stopped after only 11 minutes on the pitch.

Of course, that changes things. But even before Giannis ended up in the infirmary, Miami had taken this match by the right end and put the level of desire, intensity and cunning required to create the surprise. In the absence of the double MVP opposite, Jimmy Butler was able to engage the “Jimmy Buckets” mode and was, by far, the best player on the floor. With 35 points, 11 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals and an energy that no one could match, Butler radiated and guided the Heat to this little upset built from start to finish.

– Chris Middleton (33 pts, 9 rebounds, 4 wt) was valiant, Bobby Portis (21 pts) and Jrue Holiday (16 pts, 16 wt) too, but he missed the terror and athleticism factor that Giannis brings with his mere presence. The Bucks will anxiously await news of their superstar’s back. With what we know of the Heat for a few years, and even if the road to this post-season has been strewn with pitfalls, it is certain that Butler and his people will take advantage of the slightest shooting window that will be theirs. offered to shock the world.

– There is still a major downside to be made on the Miami side. Tyler Herro broke his hand while throwing himself to the ground to dispute a ball. The Heat confirmed the injury and it obviously doesn’t feel very good for the future. Offensively, the 6th Man of the Year 2022 is essential for this team.

Denver Nuggets – Minnesota Timberwolves : 1-0

– Wouldn’t the most entertaining in this one-sided game 1 have been this beginning of the scuffle in the second half? Kyle Anderson et Christian Braun hung on, then Jamal Murray obviously wanted to fight it out. Little nugget heard by Antoine Pimmel and his fine hearing: this fan who challenged Rudy Gobert the moment Anderson rushed to tell him, “You should probably punch him”.

This scuffle might be the best part of this whole game???? pic.twitter.com/KKj04vEqTS

— betr (@betr) April 17, 2023

– In any case, if the Wolves do not show other provisions in the rest of the series, this one risks passing in a flash. Denver mastered his subject in the first half (+11) before taking out the slap box in the 3rd (34-12) by making Minnesota forget the basic concept of putting the ball in the basket. The executives of the Michael Malones didn’t have to sweat too much, Nikola Jokic still posting 13 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists, with the help of Jamal Murray (22 pts, 8 pds, 7 rbds) and the rest of the starting five, where everyone has exceeded the 10 point mark.

– Wolves seemed to stick their tongues out after their two recent play-in matches to come to this. We hope they will find some juice in game 2 to avoid such a bland match again.

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