What if Oklahoma City goes all the way? The Thunder are looking more and more like champions. The one symbolized by these teammates dressed in white who don’t let go during the 48 minutes of the match, and even a little more. After each final whistle, like a ritual, they gather and answer together, arm in arm, to questions from the broadcaster of the match, the American channel TNT. As if they were one. They are also one.
Oklahoma City struck hard by winning in Dallas last night to get back to 2-2 in their Western Conference semi-final. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s teammates learned the lessons of previous matches: trailing for most of the match, the Thunder players came back calmly during the fourth quarter, taking an advantage that they never relinquished .
Boston takes off against Cleveland
Their first place obtained during the regular phase was therefore not usurped. Facing stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, Oklahoma City managed the match masterfully, staying in contact then passing in front at the best moment, in the final minutes. “We’re starting to have a lot of experience,” explains Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the leader of this still young but very talented team. “We all have a role and we must stick to it,” he continues.
Opposite, the contrast is striking: Kyrie Irving, brilliant during the previous rounds, has faded somewhat (only 9 points), and Luka Doncic, the Slovenian star who is supposed to carry the Mavericks on his shoulders, has not knew how to transform into a superhero, as he usually knows how to do (18 points). His record is average and he especially missed a free throw, 10 seconds from the end, which would have allowed his team to return to equality. At 2-2, this semi-final takes on a very different color. She suddenly seems much more balanced, and very uncertain, as the talent is equally distributed on each side.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 60 PTS in the @celtics Game 4 win as Boston takes a 3-1 series lead!
JT: 33 PTS | 11 REB | 5 AST
JB: 27 PTS (9-15 FGM) | 8 REBBoston is now one win away from their third consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearance. pic.twitter.com/GDTFq1wqak
— NBA (@NBA) May 14, 2024
On the other side of the United States, in the Eastern Conference, the opposition seems a little less balanced between Boston and Cleveland. In front of LeBron James, who came to see his former team with his own eyes, in his hometown, the Celtics came to win on the Cavaliers floor, deprived of their leader Donovan Mitchell. Once again, Jayson Tatum confirmed his role as leader (33 points), well supported by his teammate Jaylen Brown (27 points). The Celtics now lead 3-1 and they only need one victory to reach the conference final for the third year in a row, after losing to Miami last year (3-4).
