The Lakers have pride
Back to the wall of the top 6, the Lakers, still deprived of LeBron James (ankle), won a convincing victory against Phoenix (123-110), showing commitment, authority and good basketball.
Anthony Davis, finally back at his best, was the big guy of the Angelinos.
(42 pts, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 interceptions, 3 blocks).
And he behaved as a leader, fighting on all the balls.
The hustle and awareness ... AD is giving everything he's got!
LAL up 8, 1:10 left on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/5mdAmOsMIH
- NBA (@NBA) May 10, 2021
Side Suns (2nd), who came very close to the score in the money-time after being 24 units behind, Devin Booker was not adroit (5/14, 21 pts), unlike the replacement Cameron Payne ( 24 pts, at 9/10).
After this encouraging success, LA must achieve a faultless in its last four matches, hoping for a misstep from Portland, to be able to move up to 6th place, which allows access to the play-offs without qualifying dams.
Especially since the Mavericks cemented their 5th place, by winning without forcing in Cleveland (124-97), despite the exclusion of Luka Doncic (15 pts, 5 assists) at the start of the third quarter, for having fouls Collin Sexton, hitting him in the groin.
Luckily for them, Tim Hardaway Jr, was having a good night (25 pts, 7/11 behind the arc).
The Heat takes the break
Dominating in the first period, punctuated with a 26-point lead, Miami then suffered the awakening of Boston, still managing to contain its rise to win (130-124).
A significant success since it allows the Heat to consolidate its 6th place, the last offering a ticket directly for the play-offs, while having the same record as Atlanta (5th).
The Celtics, now two wins behind their direct competitors with four games to play, appear to be in the play-offs.
A victory is therefore imperative Tuesday against the Floridians they face again.
In the meantime, on this match, they suffered the law of Jimmy Butler (26 pts, 11 assists, 8 rebounds), who was satisfied "with a victory which feels good (...) But we did not not completed this meeting as we should have.
So we still have to be able to do better. "
Opposite, the efforts of Frenchman Evan Fournier (30 pts, 8 assists) and Jayson Tatum (29 pts) were in vain, in the absence of Jaylen Brown still injured in an ankle.
Jimmy Butler helps the @MiamiHEAT defeat Boston and maintain # 6 in the East!
#HEATTwitter
26 PTS |
8 REB |
11 AST pic.twitter.com/CUqyehVbzp
- NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2021
Behind, Charlotte (8th, also play-off) missed an opportunity to get closer to the C's by bowing on his floor against New Orleans (112-110), despite 43 points scored by Terry Rozier, his new record .
The Pelicans, yet deprived of their two best players, Zion Williamson (broken finger) and Brandon Ingram (hip), hold on admirably to their dream of a barrage in the West.
They only have two wins left with San Antonio (10th) five games from the end of the regular season.
New York touches the play-offs
The Knicks are having a great season to everyone's surprise, rewarded with a game based on the current NBA's defensive backhand. And it was again seen at Staples Center, where they contained the Clippers' attack well, with a success (106-100) in the key. A success which owes to the excellent performance of Derrick Rose (25 pts, 8 assists, 6 rebounds), well helped by Reggie Bullock (24 pts) and Julius Randle (14 pts, 14 rebounds). Well established in 4th place in the East, they foresee their first participation in the play-offs in eight years. The Clippers, the most prolific long-distance team, were hampered in this exercise (34.3%) and Kawhi Leonard's 29 points were not enough to fill the gaps of Paul George (18 pts, 2/9 behind arc). Nicolas Batum (13 pts, 3 rebounds,3 assists) made his match off the bench. Already qualified for the play-offs, the Clippers remain third in the West.
Julius Randle in the clutch AGAIN ... @nyknicks hang on to win in LA!
pic.twitter.com/KqNHqsajfY
- NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2021
Dallas with peace of mind
The Mavericks, also sure to avoid dams, cemented their 5th place in the West by winning without forcing in Cleveland (124-97).
Luka Doncic (15 pts, 5 assists after 22 minutes) took the opportunity to spare himself, seeing that Tim Hardaway Jr was having a good evening (25 pts, 7/11 behind the arc).
With this 4th consecutive victory, the Texans are ahead of Portland (6th) and the Lakers (7th), who would do well to win in the evening against Phoenix to hope to directly hook the play-offs.
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